THE NEW YORK ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.
Incorporating The Brooklyn Entomological Society
Archive Monthly Meeting October 2016
The massive to miniscule in detail, in color and in focus:
Photomacrography
Speaker: Mark R. Smith, M.S.
Macroscopic Solutions, LLC
Scientific photographer, geoscientist, entrepreneur and co-founder of tech company Macroscopic Solutions
https://macroscopicsolutions.com/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/107963674@N07/albums
Where: Kaufman Theater, AMNH, enter West 77th Street entrance
Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Time: 7 PM to 8:30 PM
The higher resolving capabilities of the electron, confocal and x-ray microscopes have classified these systems as the industry standards for decades; however, new focus-stacking technologies relating to digital macro photography have since simplified and advanced the use of standard light imaging in order to achieve higher resolving powers down to 0.4 μm. The images generated from these technologies show highly magnified details of colors and structures that represent samples in their most natural form. Thanks to UConn alum (2013 MS) Mark Smith, who has developed a technology built around the art of focus stacking, you may guarantee to never look at anything the same way again – whether it’s the jewel-toned cells on your favorite beetle, the intricate scales on a butterfly’s wing, or the otherworldly surface detail of your own tongue.
As co-founder of Macroscopic Solutions, Smith is offering an entirely new view of the world through an imaging technology called the Macropod Pro. The portable device is able to capture high-resolution 2- and 3-dimensional images, scans and models of items ranging from 1 micron in size to the very landscapes you walk upon in color, with an unlimited depth-of-field and in astounding detail. Photomacrography is the process of capturing and stitching together multiple exposures along the z-axis of an object in order to render an accurate image that is entirely in focus. Mark’s rigorous testing of various small, large, wet, dry, animate and inanimate specimens has led to the development of the Macropod Pro, which allows for ∞-100x single-frame, panoramic, time-lapse and 3D imaging using transmitted, reflected, cross polarized and fluorescent illumination. The system is non-destructive and requires no preliminary preparations to the sample. It also permits the use of high-definition video and 3D modeling using photogrammetry software, which converts focus-stacked imagery into polygons for VR and 3D printing applications. Mark’s techniques and technologies produce data-rich information that is more closely associated with human perception. This natural representation of scientific objects has more profound implications for the way students understand complex observations, are more likely to resonate with the general public and can increase the level of exposure and outreach of academic programs and natural history museums.
Dinner: Senn Thai Comfort Food, 452 Amsterdam Avenue, 9:00 p.m.
Society meetings are always open to the public with no admission charge.
Past Monthly Meetings