Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
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size of subject in photo

I realize that for strictly identification purposes, a "seed catalog" or flat, un-interestingly lit image is often submitted on this site. I prefer, from a photographer's standpoint to include good directional light, some pertinent background perhaps, and maybe off- centering the subject to make a more interesting composition. Some editors here seem to want only bulls-eyed, up very close images, and when they crop the image, digital noise becomes a problem. I choose to crop my own images and would rather have them deleted than have an editor make choices for me. Certainly the creation of a well lit, carefully composed photo is as important to the enjoyment and wonder of nature as is simple identification of a species from a poor or very average image. I will try to crop as closely in camera, as possible, keeping aesthetic concerns in mind, but will delete any of my submissions cropped by an "editor". Charles Baxter

Frankly, Charles, I don't understand the problem.....
The purpose of this site is to provide a database w/images of when and where species of insects occur and, in the end, to track ranges over time. It seems to me a "seed catalog" is just what is needed, especially since a clear close-up image of the bug is what leads to an ID. Lighting, outside of as full illumination of the subject as possible, is immaterial. As is composition. No one here is shooting full-page bleeds for Nature Magazine. The bug is the thing.
As to digital noise, that is an issue that comes with the territory, just as grain did for film. It is not the editor's fault that the physics that govern our universe limit the resolution of the image. Cropping in the camera is what I learned first time out back in the '60's with film that was generally much grainier than that available today. I have found no reason to change as many digi-cams' sensors are less than all that.
I personally applaud your attempt to uplift the macro world's aesthetic values, but they can be an impediment in the context of placing images here. Why not make two copies: one severly cropped to display here and another to print up or add to another website? That is what I do when I have a photo that to me looks better full-frame, but is not as useful on Bugguide.

 
Two images
Thank you for your reply. Making two images is a good idea. Very truly, Charles Baxter

 
Also
Many times it's good to post both on Bugguide. You can start with the image from farther away and then link the second closer image to it. This often works well with spiders... where we may want to see a web shot then the cropped image where we want to see the markings on the spider. Here is a good example...


We don't want to discourage the beautiful images, but we do want to encourage the images we need to make an accurate identification.

Instead of posting your concern here it might be better to make that comment on certain images when you post them. Something like "please don't crop this image" might work. It's often hard for editors who are dealing with dozens of images a day to remember one contributor's request. I hope I haven't cropped any of your images... if so I apologize, most contributors appreciate the help... but also most are not posting them for their aesthetic value.

 
cropping
Thank you , Lynette. I now better understand the submission requirements. Charles Baxter

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