Reading path: Underwater images and evidence →
Show the feature that distinguishes the subject
A memorable portrait may not show the details needed to identify an organism. Before taking the photograph, ask which visible traits matter: body shape, appendages, color pattern, colony structure, or the arrangement of parts. Place the focus on that feature and avoid cropping it at the edge. A side view may reveal a profile that a head-on image hides; a second angle can clarify a structure without requiring contact. Do not alter an animal's posture to obtain a preferred view.
Include more than one scale
When conditions permit, make a close image and a wider habitat image. The close frame can show texture or diagnostic structures; the wider one can indicate whether the organism was attached to kelp, rock, shell, or another animal. Scale can help too, but an object placed beside a subject may disturb it or falsely suggest a measurement. Use a scale only when it can be held nearby without contact and with a clear, known dimension. Otherwise, record an approximate camera distance or include a familiar, nonintrusive reference in the frame.
Keep lighting and color interpretable
Strong color correction, hard flash, and deep shadow can obscure features or make colors look more certain than they are. Record whether the image used ambient light or artificial illumination, and keep the original file. Photograph both sides or views only when the organism presents them naturally. For a colony, show enough surrounding structure to distinguish an isolated branch from a larger growth. For a translucent animal, a simple background can reveal its outline better than a dramatic but cluttered composition.
Pair photographs with field notes
An image is most useful when it can be linked to the conditions under which it was made. Note the date, site, approximate depth, visibility, and habitat, along with any uncertainty about the organism's identity. For example, a close image of a hydroid branch may show its form, while a wider frame and note that it was attached to kelp help a specialist interpret the observation. Treat a tentative label as tentative. Photographs can support identification, but they may not reveal every trait needed for a confident determination.
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