Books and Killing Bottles

[Alfry]

I was in a branch of a major bookseller today browsing the shelves of photography and natural history as one does, when I spotted a book on macro photography that I hadn't seen before, why I don't know as its cover was bright yellow.
Always wanting to learn more I grabbed the book and started looking through.
The first thing I learnt to do was to make a killing bottle because this was apparently the easiest way to make insects stay still.
I am saddened, that still today, books advocating these sort of techniques are still in publication and wonder if any other members have come across this book, to be honest it went back on the shelf quicker than it came off and I didn't make note of the author.
I spend as much time as I can watching and photographing insects and whilst I realize that some collecting of specimens is necessary for scientific study I cannot see the justification in killing for the sake of a picture which probably would not be as good as one taken in the wild and live
I impose a rule on myself that I must leave whever I am as I found it for everyone else to enjoy.
I wondered what other peoples thoughts were on this subject
Ralf

[Kayleigh]

It saddens me to think that people have to kill something to get a good photo..
I would rather the insect still be alive and not get the shot I want than it be dead..
There was a pic in out local rag of a giant wood wasp they had killed it to get the pic, I was horrified as a year before we got a pic of a similar could have even been the same one..Who knows.. and we took the pic without touching it. Not the greatest of shots but better than the dead ones I saw on the web as the colour was vibrant and the dead ones were sort of grey.
It is a crying shame to kill just for a shot...

[naturegirl]

Here, here Kayleigh and Alfry!!

Well said you two!!

I agree wholeheartedly!!

It is only our ignorance that makes us unaware as to what is out there so why should it/they pay the ultimate price for our lack of knowledge!!

I WILL NOT kill simply because I cannot identify it!!

Naturegirl

[Hedge Witch]

Absolutely agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed above

I cannot see any justification for this - especially when I see the brilliant pictures of live insects taken by WAB members.

[Harry Eales]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

Absolutely agree wholeheartedly with the sentiments expressed above

I cannot see any justification for this - especially when I see the brilliant pictures of live insects taken by WAB members.

There is no need at all for anyone to kill an insect just to be able to take a photograph of it.

It's far easier to net a specimen, put it into a circular cardboard box (sold by entomological supply houses). This is then put into a 'Cool Box' for about 5 minutes. The lower temperature makes the insect torpid and drowsy. It is then quite simple to take it out of the box and position it against a suitable background or whatever. If it is a warm day the insect will recover and take flight within a couple of minutes. It's a well tried technique that has been used for many years, without being detrimental to the specimen.

Harry

[Action_Man]

Its far easier and more humane to place the insect onto a rock in a bath of water if you want to document it in photographic form, it only works with non-flying insects of course ...

[wildlifesnapper]

Hi

I can't believe that a newish book would even contain such a technique
Crazy!!

neil

[beebeautiful]

I would much rather have a mental picture (in my head) of a live insect than a physical photograph of a dead creature any day

Great suggestion Action Man to put your subject on a small island while taking pictures, and then set them free again