Documenting Resource Concerns with Digital Photography

Using digital photography to document resource concerns and illustrate conservation applications is now commonplace throughout NRCS offices.  The relative ease of capturing, editing, printing, transmitting, and storing digital images has made photographic documentation easier than ever before in our conservation history.  A few reminders, however, are useful when using digital photography as a documentation medium.

Remember the basics  The difference between good digital photography and lots of unusable digital images is adherence to the basics of composition, lighting, depth of field, and scale.  For example, the photograph of the Nielsen grist mill captures the horizontal and vertical elements in perspective and with accurate relationship to the setting.  This is an important composition element.  Mid-afternoon was chosen to take the photograph to enhance the lighting.  Close-ups illustrate how scale is important in a documentation photograph.  Plan photographs in advance and be prepared if a physical scale is necessary as part of the image.

Keep records  Taking the photograph is often the easy part of documentation.  Keeping a photographic log of the subject, where and when the photograph was taken, aspect ratios, names of persons in the photograph, and other pertinent information is often overlooked.  Indicating on a standard scale topographic map the direction of the photographic image can go a long way in documenting resource changes through time.

Printing and storing images  Use acid-free photographic papers to print images for long-term storage (archival) purposes.  Store printed archival images, back up digital images, and associated records in a secure environment, knowing that changes in technology might make your current digital storage medium obsolete.

Different standards may apply  If taking specialized resource documenting resource concerns digital photographs, some special standards may apply.  For example, using digital photographs in documenting historic properties may have restrictions in some states or require special archival papers or treatments.  Find out what restrictions might apply if taking specialized digital photographs for resource concerns documentation.

Learn and improve  Many digital cameras are supported with on-line tutorials that can bring out the built-in features of the camera as well as give grounding in basic photography.  If your office orders a new digital camera or you feel your digital photographs can be improved, on-line tutorials or outside classes could always improve your documentation photographs.
Your contact is Alan Spencer, NRCS cultural resources specialist, at 501-210-8921.