PLANNING AN EFFECTIVE WORKFLOW FOR DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IN GEOLOGY

Capturing high quality photographs of geologic collections is becoming easier and more affordable thanks to the growing accessibility of digital photography equipment. However, the prospect of starting an imaging project from scratch can be overwhelming and subject to a haphazard start. Adopting a workflow based on the following key steps will help to ease the process and create optimal practices for utilizing photographs of collections:

1. Prioritize parts of a collection to be photographed.
2. Create a clean work area with dedicated space and equipment for shooting.
3. Standardize photographic procedures and equipment settings.
4. Edit settings such as exposure, color correction, and cropping of each image file, if necessary.
5. Add important information to the metadata of each image, including copyright.
6. Save and store high resolution and downsized files for each image. Be aware of file sizes and formats in regards to storage space and future use.
7. Put images to use both within the institution and publicly.

Each step of an imaging workflow has multiple options, accommodating a range of needs and means with little compromise to quality. Detailed planning and testing of methods and setups will achieve an efficient working procedure while ensuring the consistency and usefulness of the images produced. Creating a good image in the camera is more accurate and less time-consuming than having to Photoshop every one afterward.

High quality, high resolution specimen images are a resource for collection documentation, teaching, data sharing, and research. Making images available on the internet is an easy and sustainable way to reach a broad community of potential users, from the youngest students to the oldest, grumpiest geologist, across the globe. It is well worth the effort to plan and implement a digital imaging project.