Method 1

        This is the setup I use to photograph specimens. I have a piece of black construction paper that I have punched a small hole in. Under the paper, I have a piece of  foam that I insert the pins in. The black paper does away with shadows.
        There are two frames that I have placed a silky white cloth over and then I attach two clamp on lamps. I use regular incandescent light bulbs. I then use the setting on my digital camera for incandescent bulbs for the proper color balance.
         I record the specimen number, size of the specimen and the file name of the picture.
         I use my 100 mm macro lens and also my 35 to 70 mm lens with an extension tube for photographing. I turn the specimens sideways so the the long side of the specimen is vertical. This insures that I can crop the pictures in a square manner. After transferring the pictures to my computer, I crop them and resize to 3 inches and 100 dpi.

Method 2

        This is a new setup that I am starting to use. This is more portable and allows me to set the camera looking down squarely on the subject. The above setup required me to shoot at an angle. For larger specimens this was somewhat of a problem. The new setup allows for the specimen to be square to the camera.
        The box is made out of 3/4 plywood (14 x 16 inches). I put a rabbit on all four sides. I then made the sides out of 1/2 inch plywood, 2 7/8 inches high. Inside is mounted a 12 inch fluorescent ring bulb that is set up from the bottom.. I mounted a ballast transformer and hooked up a six foot cord. In the bottom, I hollowed out a 3 inch square and placed a piece of foam for the pins to stick into. Over that is a piece of black construction paper (try to get a good fine piece). The ring gives good even lighting. You need to set your camera for the right lighting type and then check when editing the pictures for proper light balance.
         I record the specimen number, size of the specimen and the file name of the picture.
         I use my 100 mm macro lens and also my 35 to 70 mm lens with an extension tube for photographing. I turn the specimens sideways so the the long side of the specimen is vertical. This insures that I can crop the pictures in a square manner. After transferring the pictures to my computer, I crop them and resize to 3 inches and 100 dpi.