My two cents on shell photography.

>Date:    Mon, 24 Jan 2000 09:10:05 -0500
>From:    Aydin Orstan <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Micro Photography

>I recommend a book called the Manual of Close-up
>Photography by Lester Lefkowitz (Leskowitz?). My copy is from the late 70s. It
>will teach you everything you need to know about close-up photography both
>technical & practical.

A really great book written for everyday folks.  Highly recommended.

>Date:    Mon, 24 Jan 2000 11:43:21 -0500
>From:    "Jose H. Leal" <[log in to unmask]>
>Subject: Re: Micro Photography
>
>Conch-lers,
>
>Brief note on macrophotography (not necessarily of 2 mm shells): for those
>considering a copy stand, I have been using for the last three decades copy
>stand setups that include tungsten lights in conjunction with 35 mm Kodak
>T-160 color slide film.

Jose,

I also use a copy stand and tungsten lights when I photograph unionids and
large freshwater gastropods.  But, I would strongly recommend using Kodak
64-T.  I used to use the 160-T ASA film but I found that the grain was just
not fine enough and the image quality suffered.  I really like the 64-T.  I
would also recommend using polorizing filters on the lens and over the
light source (floods).  This gives you total control over glare and color
saturation.

Question for the group.  If you had $2000 to spend on a digital camera for
specimen photography whic brand would you choose?  I don't know if it
matters, but I will be using a Mac for processing the resulting images.

Kevin

Kevin S. Cummings
Illinois Natural History Survey
607 E. Peabody Drive
Champaign, IL 61820
[log in to unmask]
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk.html