I'd like to have a bash at photographing some naturals from waters that I fish, just for fun really but also for fly tying inspiration.

Once I have the little beasties swimming around in a jar whats the best way to preserve them without damaging the tissues so I can photograph them without them wiggling around?

Cheers
Mot

Vodka......

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it will certainly damage more than the tissues Lol

If you put nymphs into sparkling water the CO2 stuns them and they quickly become still. The disadvantage of this method is that the bubbles can dominate the picture.I've yet to try cooled, boiled water but I think that may be the answer due to it's low dissolved oxygen content.

Using a clear glass dish gives the advantage of allowing experimentation with different coloured backgrounds to show the specmen in the best light.

Lighting is the most limiting factor, sunlight's my favourite light source but as it's in such short supply lately you can use a bright halogen lamp or try the flash - can be a bit hit and miss unless you have deep pockets.



Airborne specimens can be refrigerated for a few minutes to calm them down but they do revive pretty quickly giving you a limited window of opportunity, a bit of preparation in advance is essential to get a half decent shot. Using a tripod and the count down timer eliinates shake which ruins close up shots.

Handle the specimens with a soft artists brush to avoid damaging them, despite the rigours of their habitat inverts can be surprisingly delicate.

Vodka certainly does the trick but the specimens usually take on an unnatural form when they're immersed in it not to mention the limiting effect it can have on the quality of the images!

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Musha rig um du rum da

Thanks for the suggestions,

I was thinking I might try backlighting them on a lightbox and then light from the front with a daylight lamp, to try to bring out the colour. I have some extremely bright daylight lamps so that should not be too much of a problem. No idea if they would work, will have to try and find out through trial and error unless anyone knows better?

Tripod and remote/timer essential of course, I have both.

Its fixing the specimens without damaging them that I'm having trouble with. What do professional entomologists use to fix their specimens?

Formaldehyde or spirit, vodka does the trick.

http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/pdf/mari...sorting_QA.pdf

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Musha rig um du rum da

Thanks, guess its a balancing act between getting them to pose for the camera and not altering their appearance too much by preserving/fixing them. I'll have a go with vodka, its only for a bit of home photography anyway and nothing too serious. I could get hold of formaldehyde, but its not very nice stuff. Think I'll stick to the booze

I recall using CO2 to immobilise drosophila in the lab at university, although you needed a constant stream of it to keep them under, which would be difficult to recreate at home.

I'll post some picks of the results here when I get started.

Cheers

You'll be surprised at how effective it is mot, no need to create a constant stream at all, at least,not in the time it takes to take a decent picture. I look forward to seeing them

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Musha rig um du rum da

I've got a bottle of fizzy water and home, will try that too

Cheers

CO2 is useful. You can also buy canisters of it from aquarium suppliers (Tetra CO2 canister from Ebay ID fishfishfishcom). If you want to preserve it for the longer term then mix 80% isopropyl alcohol, 5% glycerol and 15% distilled water.

Watch out though, getting interested in this is a very slippery slope. Before long we'll be seeing you over at www.photomacrography.net...Front Page.

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Using a looper and a top makes for a much better furled leader!