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 a large angle. For larger specimens this was somewhat of a problem. The new setup allows for the specimen to be more 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. I use Strathmore 400 Artagain C Black 446-8 19x25 for most moths. For black moths I use Stratmore 451-6 Blazer Blue) . The ring gives good even lighting.

         I use the normal AWB setting on my camera. I use my 100 mm macro lens and also my 18 to 55 mm lens for photographing. I turn the specimens sideways so that the long side of the specimen is vertical. This insures that I can crop the pictures in a square manner. I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 8. After transferring the pictures to my computer, I use the auto color correction to correct for the flourescent light. I then use the enhance color light adjustment to lighten the pictures one setting. This method makes the background black and gives the moth the correct color. I crop them and resize to 3 inches and 100 dpi.