Trends in Biosciences 10(46), Print : ISSN 0974-8431, 9317-9321, 2017
REVIEW PAPER
Photography as a Conservation Tool in Science NISREEN HUSAIN1, PRANAB ROY2 AND TOUSEEF HUSSAIN TRAK3 1
Dept.of Zoology, Govt. Dr. W.W.P. Girls’ P.G. College. Durg, Chattisgarh Wildlife Photographer, Wildlife Society of India. Bhilai, Chattisgarh 3 Dept. of Botany, Govt. Degree College, Bhaderwah, Jammu & Kashmir email :
[email protected] 2
ABSTRACT Photography has been a generating source of hopes and expectations among scientists. It is considered as the unique medium that has opened entirely novel possibilities for scientific observations and experimentations. Yet, due to its promising applications, it has challenged most of the assumptions that had been taken for granted. Capturing the changes and details repeatedly through the lens of the camera, form the remarkable scientific research tool. It allows one to document the most important characteristics of any living animal and its actions. DNA analyzing with tissue sampling and gene analysis in the environment is also obtained through the same. The evolutionary aspects and its authentified studies has been made possible through image capturing. Perhaps the most powerful tool for documenting biodiversity is also the photography. The images taken of animals or ‘life’ in other words serves as the’ voucher’, and this virtual specimen to certain extent, is more valuable than the whole organism. It conquers over the degradation effects of preservation. Nature, wildlife and under-water photography inspires conservation. Thus photography is the essential component in various areas of science and research. Key words
Photography, Image, Experimentations
Observation,
Photography is the process of making pictures by means of the action of light. The skill is best known to capture moments and memories. Photography has always been taken as ‘the art of science’ and ‘the science of art’, due to which it equally has its roll and role over the interdisciplinary aspects of ‘Art’ and ‘Science’ as well. Photography approach includes four themes, i.e., observation, experimentation, archiving and the relations between art and scientific photographs. Photography has been known to establish the relation of trust with scientific practices. Also it is considered as an intermediary in the ongoing interactions between artistic and scientific ideas and representative methods. Photography has many practical applications in industries, medicines, archeology, astronomy, scientific research, graphic art, law enforcement, animation, and many aspects of contemporary life. The science of photography refers to the use of science, especially chemistry and physics, in its all aspects. This applies to the camera, its lenses physical operation,
electronic camera internals, and also the entire process of developing film in order to take and develop pictures properly (Kiesecker, 2013).
Photography and its relation with Science Photography has, since its inception, significantly contributed as a tool to many areas of scientific research. Consequently, it has been able to achieve a high level of prestige in the science field. Scientific observations and experimentations have been the central practice of science, may it be done with the naked eye, or with the equipments such as the telescope or microscope. The ability to make good observations is the core skill and a key component of the scientific process. The vast range of discoveries, from the detection of micro-organisms to the theory of evolution, has been studied as a result of observations. All through these events, observations made again and again by the scientists are often detailed through photography. Thus photography makes an ideal tool to capture and record the scientific series and cycle of observing, recording, testing and analyzing. Scientific research and Science as a career, are often made possible through photography. This art is often known as the ‘Scientist’s Passionate Art’, as it allows them to document and cover the publicize aspects of work (Ambrosia, 2009).
Different types of Photography important for Conservation in Science Digital photography: A very sound type of still photography is the Digital photography. Scientistists use digital images from orbit to study the Earth surface, and other remote sensing instruments to study other planets and moons. Many a times, in case of identification and analysis, the digital photographic format is brought into use. Such digital format are also, at times, called ‘Digital negatives’, that actually is the file that preserves most of the information from the captured picture. This follows the verification of its authenticity. Digital photography is more or less like the traditional photographs. However, as opposed to processing film in a photo lab, a digital camera is the connected to either a computer or a printing part. Pictures can easily be downloaded and e-mailed, are used in the computer presentations, with the command in computer and software skills; the digital photography proves quite a rapid and authentic element in the field of science. (Photoplate 1 & 2)
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2 Photoplate 1 and 2. Digital Photography
Time-lapse photography:
Macro-photography:
Motion photography involves the ‘time-lapse’ way of capturing. It focuses on continuous shooting of a specific subject at different time intervals. It is an advanced technique whereby the frequency at which film frames are captured is much lower than that used to view the sequence. When played at normal speed, time appears to be moving faster and thus lapsing. This photography is used to
Macro-photography brings out the minute details of the chosen subject. Flowers and insects are great subjects for macro-photography. It helps to get a closer and wider view to understand the details. It covers camera equipment, close-ups, reversing the lens, lighting, flash, tripods and much more. Macro-photography has the potential to bring us into a whole new tiny world. Things that are not normally visible to the human eyes looks amazing through macrophotography. (Photoplate 5 & 6)
record a very slow process, such as the withering or blooming of a flower, by taking a large number of photographs on a strip of film at regular intervals. The film is then projected at normal speed. It is, more or less, the cinematophotography technique. (Photoplate 3 & 4)
HDR (High Dynamic Range) photography: As the term itself indicates, HDR photography covers the wide range of image formation. It is all about capturing
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4 Photoplate 3 and 4. Time Lapse Photography
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6 Photoplate 5 and 6. Macro Photography
three different types of images, and merging them together which brings out amazing contrasts in the science photographs. HDR is usually considered as the technique to reproduce a greater dynamic range of luminosity than is possible with standard digital imaging technique. It aims to add more “dynamic range” to photographs, where it means life ratio of light to dark in photography. While shooting in a HDR, automatic capturing gives the brilliant results. Or otherwise camera could be set on a tripod and must be made sure that it doesn’t move. (Photoplate 7 & 8) Apart from the above mentioned techniques of photography that are important for making us understand
the various aspects of life science, there are other significant techniques too, viz., Hi-Speed and Under-water photography, and yet many other. (http:/ www.edgephotography.com.au/2017)
Pivot photography in Life sciences: The different techniques of photography, undoubtedly, enable the scientific mechanisms in proximity. However, the ‘Pivot photography’ that makes ‘Life-sciences’ possible in true sense, includes two broad fields, viz., ‘Nature photography’ and ‘Wildlife photography’. Most of the aspects are covered under these types.
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8 Photoplate 7 and 8. High Dynamic Range Photography
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10 Photoplate 9 and 10. Nature Photography
‘Nature photography’ refers to different techniques of capturing moments taken outdoors. Such photography is devoted to displaying natural elements such as landscapes, plants, animals, hills, waterfalls, and close-ups of natural scenes and textures. Nature photography tends to put a stronger emphasis on the aesthetic value of the photo than other photography fields, such as photojournalism and documentary photography. (Photoplate 9 & 10) ‘Wildlife photography’ is concerned with capturing
animals in their natural habitats. The action and behavioral processes of animals in their natural way, such as eating, fighting, or in flight are considered. The habits and activities of animals are captured, and alternatively, more statics portraits may be used to depict the details in their natural environment. (Photoplate 11 & 12) Wild photography is a challenging style of photography, which requires a good photographer, who is a field expertise, with a lot of patience, sense of timing, and the correct angle for the perfect shot. Wildlife photography
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12 Photoplate 11 and 12. Wild Life Photography Photographs by Mr. Pranab Roy (Wildlife Photographer, Wildlife Society of India).
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involving various techniques is the best tool of knowledge and conservation in life sciences, that conveys the tales of actions and behavior of wild animals through short films, video clips or documentaries, easy to understand and study. (http://www.nwf.org/News-and-Magazines/National Wildlife/Archives/2009).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Conservation photography is the active use of the photographic process. Also that the ‘Conservation biology’ is the science of protection and management of biodiversity. Presenting sound evidence along with graphs, charts, tables and data should be enough to convince the policy makers and the public about the benefits of ‘conservation’. The use of photography combined with sounds was proposed as a viable alternative to the gathering of endangered species. However, neither the authors nor the International code of Zoological Nomenclature mentions any parameters for the use of such tools, which, individually may be unreliable. Evidences shown and data collected over weeks in the field, support the participation in conserving the natural resources through photography. Photographs act as ambassadors for conserving projects around the world. They speak louder than any number of words in a report sitting unread on a desk. That’s why ‘Conservation photography’ is so important. The high quality of the photography provides high credibility to the published material (Marshall and Evenhuis, 2015). The photography today, along with its art and science aspects, has the beauty that now anyone with even little skill in hand, can take photographs, and can tell a story and contribute to conservation projects that matters to them. It requires patience, waiting for conditions to be perfect before
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making an exposure and capturing an image. Images thus created and captured are both aesthetically appealing, and can be used for further environmental and cultural conservation. Photography thus, can play a critical role in calling attention to threats faced by the natural world. Photographs can give a voice to species and wildlife facing danger globally, due to pollution and climatic changes. It also contributes in a great way to illustrate the interaction between people who depends on and value nature (http:// www.photography.com/science-of-photography/2007; http://rps.org/news/nature-defination-agreed/2014).
LITERATURE CITED Ambrosia Chiara 2009. P hotography and Science-Art and Photography; http://metapsychology.mentalhelp.net/poc/viewdoc.php/type=bo…,1-3. “Blindsiding Wildlife with a Camera” 2009. (http://www.nwf.org/ News-and-Magazine/National-Wildlife/Photozone/Archives/ 2009/Blindsiding-Wildlife-with-a-Camera-aspx). National Wildlife. National Wildlife Federation. Kiesecker Joseph 2013. Photography as a Conservation Science Tool, Cool Green Science; https://blog.nature.org/science/2013/ 07/11/photography-conservation,1-6. Marshall Stephen A , Neal L Evenhuis 2015. New species without dead bodies: a case for photo-based descriptions, illustrated by a striking new species of Marleyimyia Hesse (Diptera, Bombyliidae) from South Africa. “Newborn Photography props” 2017. www.edgephotography.com.au). (May 2017).
(https://
“Science of Photography” 2007. (http://www.photography.com/ topics/science-of-photography/). Retrieved 2007-05-21. http://rps.org/news/2014/may/nature-defination-agreed. Accessed 2014.
Received on 08-12-2017
Accepted on 12-12-2017
