subject: Microphotography: Do It Yourself Or Hire A Professional? [print this page] Getting a clear, highly detailed photograph of small objects is challenging. As the target gets smaller, the job becomes harder. For objects so tiny they need a microscope, a whole new set of challenges appears. Microphotography is the specialized practice of taking very large pictures of very small objects. If you need this kind of scientific photography you have three options.
Off The Shelf Equipment
Digital photography has come a long way, giving even inexperienced photographers the ability to take beautiful pictures. Cameras have settings for macro photography, the practice of taking pictures of small objects from a few inches away. However users quickly discover there are differences among small like an ant, tiny like the tip of an ant's antenna, and microscopic like a mite living on the tip of an ant's antenna.
Standard digital cameras are inexpensive and easy to use but simply don't have the capabilities necessary for microphotography. Most models are designed for the needs of the average consumer. Expensive equipment has more features, but microphotography is a specialized practice and off the shelf cameras won't have the capabilities needed to produce clear, sharp images at these magnifications.
Specialized Equipment
For people who want to do it themselves, specialized microphotography equipment is needed. These systems are more than just a good camera. They include the array of equipment necessary to get sharp, high color images with the depth of field necessary to make out all the details.
Ideally the systems should be customized for the specific needs of each client. A biologist photographing cells is not going to have the same needs as an engineer documenting microcircuits on a computer chip. Find a vendor who understand the specialized needs of different photographic subjects and will work with you to create the perfect microphotography system for your project. A large part of getting a good image is the expertise of the photographer, so look for a dealer who also offers the training necessary to get high quality, useful pictures.
Hiring A Professional
An experienced photographer with a cell phone camera takes better pictures than a novice with expensive equipment. The best camera in the world can't compete with years of experience and an intuitive understanding of optics and lighting. Of course the pros have both the experience and the equipment.
Microphotography professionals already know the pitfalls of this unique form of imaging. There will be no learning curve and they can produce high-quality images in a fraction of the time of someone just learning the ropes. They have the best tools, often using equipment -- which is simply not cost-effective for anyone other than a professional photographer to own. Find someone experienced with your subject and who offers both the option of taking pictures in a studio or coming out to your work site.
Depending on how often you need microphotography, either specialized equipment or hiring a professional are great choices for getting the photographic documentation your project needs.
