Restoring Dehydrated Insects for Macro Photography

[@SongsToStartSmiles]

Allan, you are completely, delightfully, wonderfully mad. I've wanted to photograph insects since I was thirteen, and now I'm in my 70's, I'm finally getting there. Thank you beyond measure! You're videos are brilliant, funny, and informative. Best wishes in all things!

[@michaelmckeag960]

Your mention of the wearable magnifying “glasses” reminds me of conversations I have had with my dentist, me in the chair, she leaning over me, unselfconscious, a total dentistry geek. It’s like holding a conversation with a giant beady-eyed insect wearing a headlamp. I’m utterly charmed.

[@jimheaton6534]

I’m a brand new, fresh-out-of-the-box macro photographer who is beginning an at-home macro photo setup. I would take me a lifetime to create the methods and techniques you’ve described.

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

I am super-excited for you Jim. You can't know what an incredible journey you are getting ready to embark on. You can't ever see the world the same way once you get a glimpse of the indescribable world right under your nose. I have been doing this for a long time and still find it as breathtaking as it was on day 1. Take your time, you have a LOT to look at. Macro photography isn't the details that I talk about, it's not the cameras, objectives, or techniques... macro photography is a new way of seeing. Welcome!

[@hermanmunster4949]

I enjoy each and every one of your videos and I always learn something from them.

[@jeffstraw466]

Best instruction videos on KZbin. Well done Allen and thanks.

[@glarvenz]

Oh my goodness! What is it like inside your head? So detailed! I would like to see your method for washing dishes lol. Even though I would never attempt any of these incredibly detailed methods for washing insects, I just love watching your videos. Your sense of humor cracks me up as well. All of my insect shots are live but this subject absolutely fascinates me. Not sure I'm brave enough though 😄

[@marconius101]

Almost first..;-) I love your video's Allen. I especially liked the ones about the DIY light cage. i got inspired (and carried away) i ordered a lot of CNC parts from China, now everything is adjustable and still very stable in construction.. Thank you.....

[@Ahmadrahimify]

Very interesting, never thought of such process. Thank you Allan

[@johnd7564]

Always so helpful, and densely packed with useful information. Thanks!!

thats a very informative video for me. thank you very much!

[@garypannett2756]

Absolutely loving the videos Can I ask once you've rehydrate a specimen photographed it then dry stored it do you have to rehydrate it again to take further photos many thanks 👍

[@alainadamski7703]

Excellent Allan, I love this kind of comprehensive advices. Many thanks to you.

[@grodz437]

Great video, Allan!👏👏

[@keeskraaijeveld4704]

Great video again Allan, top. Thingy is, to get/buy dried insects, other then which I find in my garden :) . I treat these ones as you showed in other video's. But this video is educational again, thx.

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Hi Kees, I only rarely buy insects online. They are very expensive and the quality is never as good as a fresh insect. But I use these techniques on the insects that I do purchase and on those that I find.

[@luciegagnon1238]

Lol ! Love the insect earring! 😂

[@jimheaton6534]

You noticed that too!

[@ricomx29]

very instructive, as always, thanks ;). to your experience, is it possible to recover insect colors, such as beetle? Which product would you recommand to do so?

[@alasfour2000]

Hi Allan ,guess these episode need a pharmacist macro photographer that could understand all the chemicals you mentioned her 🙂.but it deserve to try 👍

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

Now I can finally live my dream of reanimating dead insects and ordering them to help me take over the world.

[@My.channel253]

All respect

[@ColdCoffeePhotography]

Great Video Allan, finding it difficult to find most of these here in the UK, unless they are called something else? - Does anybody have a UK supplier list or names please?

[@raymartinez9777]

Can the ammonium hydroxide and the SLSA be mixed and stored in a bottle instead of mixing it for each use?

[@dennisr.d.mascarenas3886]

Hi Allan, do you use a stereomicroscope to arrange the insects.. Thnx from Colorado USA.. 😎🇺🇸

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

Yes sir! I use a lovely Leica MZ6 for almost all my cleaning and positioning. I have tried many different magnifying platforms over the years and nothing else has come close to the optical clarity of working through this scope. The only reason I have not made many videos with footage through the scope is because I have had a hard time finding a surgical beam splitter that preserves stereo observation while recording (the one I have now leaves me with only one eye and no depth perception, making demonstrations impossible). I actually have one now, but still need to source the correct camera tube. As soon as that is done I will be getting a backlog of technique videos recorded - showing how I do all my cleaning and positioning. That was the long answer. But if you wanted the the short answer, it is - Yes.

[@dennisr.d.mascarenas3886]

@@AllanWallsPhotography Yes, this is quality. At university we used Leitz microscopes.. I'm enjoying and learning.. Thank you for so much.. Pikes Peak or bust... 🤣😎🇺🇸

[@keeskraaijeveld4704]

What is the reason for using cheesecloth? I was trying bandage from a first aid kit.... but didn't work well. :)

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

It holds the moisture well while preventing an accumulation of liquid water, which will macerate the specimen. Also, the brand that I use does not shed fibers.

[@keeskraaijeveld4704]

What kind of magnification (10x, 20X, etc ?) do you need for the microscoop for examining the insects?

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

For large specimens, 10x is usually plenty. But for the tiny bugs I like to shoot, 30x is perfect. You will seldom need more magnification, but it is great fun to play around with if you have more.

[@keeskraaijeveld4704]

My experience is, that after I cleaned eyes with Decon 90, they are ruined and shriveled/collapsed (right word in English?) after a few hours. It works perfect for the photoshoot, but after that the insect cant be used anymore (is my experience). Or am I doing something wrong?

[@AllanWallsPhotography]

If using Decon 90, it is critical that all traces of the solution are flushed away after treatment. I use a lab pipette to run distilled water over the eyes until they are completely clean. Doing that prevents subsequent breakdown of the eyes' supporting structures.