Laboratory Photography Suggestions

I am setting up for taking pictures of tissues collected in a laboratory for educational purposes. The laboratory

recently acquired a Rebel XSi kit and also an EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM lens. I am asking for suggestions in

terms of the background and lighting conditions that I would need to take these pictures, as well as possible settings

for this camera as I have limited background in DSLR cameras. We currently are able to use a white background,

which seems appropriate for contrasting with the tissues. We also have a tripod in the lab. Any ideas about what

type of lighting to use and where to get it from? Any help is appreciated.

Edwin, a lot depends upon how much magnification you need with the tissue samples. Does the tissue need to be translucent?

 

A ring light that fits on the lens and a small light box may be all you need. It is possible to add a slave flash to the light box as well if you need it.

 

Steve

How large are these tissue samples?

 

My thoughts would be to use a light cube, manually adjust white balance and determine correct exposure using a gray card, then use those settings in manual. After the initial set up, you only have to place the tissue samples in the same spot and use the same exposure settings.

Thanks a lot for your answers! The tissues are fairly small, about 1 square inch. There may be others that would probably be larger than that, but that would only be a small amount. Now I just need to find a light box and start playing with the camera. Any other suggestions are more than welcome.

Forgot to mention that the tissues do not need to be translucent. Any suggestions on where to buy these supplies?

This is a typical light cube:

 

http://www.ezcube.com/

 

The 12" cube should be all you need. That is sold without the lights. You can look around that site for lights

and stands. Typically, any light should work after you adjust the camera white balance. If you have any good

photo shops nearby, you can check to see what they have.

The white background may throw your meter off, giving incorrect exposure. That is why you use a gray card to

determine the correct exposure with the lights that you are using.<P>

 

Place the gray card in the same spot as the specimens will be.<BR>

With the camera in auto and the gray card filling the frame, see what the exposure settings are.<BR>

If they are something like f/8, 1/125 sec shutter speed, for example, set the camera to manual and always use

those exposure settings as long as you are using the same lights the same distance from the cube. The distance

of the camera to the specimen doesn't matter.

 

<P>You will also have to manually set the white balance according to your camera instructions to eliminate any

color cast given off by the lights.

My question right now would be which route to take. Should I buy a light box and some lights or should I just get a ring light/flash, or both? Also, I have seen both ring lights and ring flashes. Which one of these would be more appropriate for what I am doing? Thanks again for your help!

Hi Edwin - I run a microscopy lab and do alot of photography of product and samples, mostly macro. If your samples are going to be at all reflective (wet samples for example) you're going to be much better off with a light box and reflectors than with a ring light - the ring light will throw back nice donut-shaped specular reflections from reflective surfaces. I photograph alot of stainless steel parts and find that an off-camera flash with reflectors or diffusors works better than anything else. Your sample ultimately will dictate your lighting, but also pay close attention to white balance - and try to use manual or aperture priority instead of all the silly presets on the camera. --Rich