Frank Koehler wrote:
Nice thread, but I think the question has to be:
Can you see, which stetegy I use?

In nature photography, we have two mainstrem trends:

1) take a photo allways wildlife and don?t disturb the animal !

2) never, really never, use a flash (colours, dark background) !

Your strategy should look like following this rules:

1) take it wildlife if possible or on your desktop using parts of the natural environment (plant, flower, stone, bark) and allways collect the photographed specimen. It?s nice to show a photo in a forum, but it?s better to have a specimen under the microscope. I sent a lot of insects as photo and in ethanol to leading experts. It?s not unusual to get two different results ;-)

By the way: If you know, what the insects need, give it only, when they are on your desktop. Usually this is water, food and/or sex. Put males and females together (works in beetles allways), give them water drops, flowers ... and you have enough time to take a large series of photos. It?s nonsense to freeze insects or to cool insects down - only, if you need a longer time to come home. Flies you can tranquilise, if your room is really dark. Use only one light on your desktop behind a glas to minimize the UV stimulus.

2. Often you have to use a flash. Then take care, that the background (a good photo has a background!) will not be black or to dark. Use a slave flash for the background or a background nearby, which you can light with mirrors. A small mirror you can use outdoor too, to light the the dark parts of the animal. If it?s very bright you will have better results in an artificial shadow.

Best regards
Frank