Biological Photography Class Activities
Biological imaging can be done in many places. Your instructor, with years of experience attempts to plan or time field trips, class lectures, and individualized instruction optimally to the weather patterns and phenology of the Itasca area, introducing students to very unique habitats.
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Biological Photography does not emphasize aesthetics as much as the imaging process. Your instructor can help you learn imaging skills so you can photograph most things. Images can be used in many ways so a second key goal is to show students easy techniques for this purpose.
Manipulate, Edit, and Label Images
In Biology and other disciplines images can be used in many ways. One goal is to show students how to easily manipulate images for use. The free software can easily be used for most of what you see here.
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Habitat and Scenic Views
Easy to use software provided with class cameras allows photos to be taken in series and “stitched” together to make a larger image or panorama. This technique is ideal for habitat documentation and travels where very unique landscapes or habitats are encountered.
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Bird Studies and Imaging
Diverse habitats of Itasca provide many opportunities for bird photography and study but birds are very active. Imaging skills help you document birds as you learn them, encounter them in travels, or teach biological subjects that can include avian biology.
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Mammal Studies and Imaging
Mammals are nocturnal for the most part and as such provide challenges for imaging. Your instructor has used video and sometimes very specialized equipment to document shrew behaviors. These are among the most challenging of mammalian photographic subjects.
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Flower Photography and Botanical Studies
Snapping a casual photo of a flower with a phone camera is one thing. In the biological photography class we strive for another - to learn and use flexible technique to capture essential attributes of plants in their habitats. There are many, many opportunities for this at Itasca.
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Aquatic Organism Photography
Imaging skills learned in the class are adaptable for imaging of aquatic organisms and habitats. The class uses aquatic camera housings for shallow water imaging and sometimes special aquatic chambers.
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Microscopy and Aquatics
Your instructor is a well-trained microscopist who can help those with interests in imaging microscopic organisms. This link will take you to some sample microscopy videos placed under the username, canondad on youtube.
Your instructor can introduce you to HD video and microscopy, enabling you to gain higher quality videos of microbes like this amoeba. Click on the quality tab to see the highest resolution.
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Insect Photography and Ecology
A recent example of Extreme Macrophotography by the photography instructor checking out a new video codec!
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Your instructor is very good at imaging insects using high magnification field technique. In experimenting with different equipment he has been able to gain expertise he can share with you if your interests are taking images of tiny insects. Itasca is a great place to photograph insects and here are some examples of your instructor’s work.
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Lichens and Fungi
The moist, wooded environments of Itasca are filled with a great diversity of fungi and lichens for those with interests in these groups. The beauty of Itasca is one never knows what little surprise awaits for those who are observant.