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Camera setup
Velum screen
The beetle images contained on this page were captured using a Polaroid DMC-2 digital microscope camera mounted on a Leica MZ7.5 high-performance stereomicroscope. PAX-it! imaging software by MIS Inc. was used to capture and save the images in TIFF format. The raw TIFF images were then digitally enhanced using Photoshop image-editing software by Adobe Systems Inc. and the resulting images were saved for viewing in JPEG format.
Most of the images are actually composite images. It was necessary in all but the most dorsoventrally compressed species for me to capture images of the same specimen in the same exact position at two or more 'visual depths'. The multiple images were then opened in Photoshop and the in-focus section(s) of the upper level image was laid on top of the lower level image. Two levels, one focused on the elytral suture and one focused on the outer margin of the specimen, were deemed adequate in most cases. Various factors, mostly time constraints caused by a lack of funding, prevented me from using more levels and creating images where all parts of the specimens were in focus.
Finding a way to adequately illuminate specimens for photography was and still is a challenge for many histerid species. Due to the shininess of many species, ring light illumination tends to produce a crater-like reflection in the resulting image. I have not experimented much with lighting, but have come up with a method I find satisfactory. It can probably be improved upon.
Specimens of most species were illuminated by a Schott-Fostec ACE light source outfitted with a dual gooseneck. The ends of the gooseneck were positioned at maximum distance from the specimen. The gooseneck ends were directed at various angles, depending on the specimen being photographed, in order to get maximum illumination of the specimen. For many of the species the light source was set to maximum intensity. Velum paper screens were employed to diffuse the light and prevent glare spots. These were placed as close to the specimen as possible. Adjustments to light source intensity, the PAX-it! exposure setting and the camera's aperture were made based on how the light played off each individual specimen.