I would like to quantify a probable slight coloration/pattern change in frogs that were living under different conditions using digital photography. I've read the paper of Stevens et al (2007) about animal coloration studies using photographs and I've been thinking on building a Box that would allow me to take standardized pictures in terms of light. Here the description of my idea and my questions about:
- The Box would be close and have two bulbs at each side, and a fabric in front of them to prevent reflection – like in a Light box – with no other source of light inside of the Box. First, I don't know if the material of the fabric is relevant, and second, before I was I was thinking on using “day ligh lamps” as the frogs are diurnal, but it would get really hot inside of the box and it would be really difficult to transport. So, any other suggestion would be welcome.
- Of course, I would place a Colorchecker next to the animals during the photography sessions.
- I would like to use a glass or a transparent plastic on top of the animal to get “a more 2D photo”, but I don't know if it would be good, because of the reflection and I think some light waves cannot traverse these materials.
- The camera would be place always on the same position (i.e., there would be an “eye” into the box). I don't know much about cameras but if you have any specific non-so-expesive camera model suggestion, it would also be welcome.
Thanks in advance for your suggestions and advices!
make sure your light source is full spectrum and that your white balance setting is correct. Any glass or plastic will diffract light. Diffuse, non directional light will soften three dimensional form and flatten the subject. It is the intensity, quality and direction of light that provides the illusion of 3-dimensionality on a flat 2-d surface (the photographic print). Also make sure no edges of the box are included as that would add some linear perspective, which always implies a sense of spatial depth (as Brunelleschi intended in his 1534 Treatise). Make sure your fabric has NO reflective qualities, rather something that absorbs light. Neutral middle grey would be best. Black would throw off the light meter, unless you use a hand held 1degree spot meter and meter strictly off the frog, and then adjust for zone 3.
If you research the CRYPTIC coloration, please don't forget that it exists not against humans but against other predators (e.g. birds and carnivore mammals) which colour vision may be very different (e.g. dichromatic or tetrachromatic). I think, the standard digital photography is a bad solution in this case.
Hello Eugenia,
I know that you asked your question a year and a half ago, but I strongly recommend that you read the attached paper, also by Martin Stevens. The software described might be useful for your future experiments
Article Image Calibration and Analysis Toolbox – a free software sui...
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