Beetle (Carabus nemoralis)

item details

NameBeetle (Carabus nemoralis)

ProductionSteve Rumsey; photographer; 1948; Auckland

Classificationblack-and-white prints, gelatin silver prints, black-and-white photographs, works of art

Materialsphotographic gelatin, silver, photographic paper

Materials Summaryblack and white photograph, gelatin silver print

Techniquesblack-and-white photography

DimensionsImage: 380mm (height), 304mm (length)

Registration NumberO.027684

Credit linePurchased 1998

Overview

This black and white photograph of a beetle was created in 1948 by Steve Rumsey for an entomologist at the Mt Albert Plant Research Station in Auckland. Using a special technical camera with a long bellows extension and interchangeable lenses, Rumsey has photographed the beetle from directly above, clearly documenting the insect's physical characteristics so that other scientists will be able to identify it.

A scientific view
Rumsey's role was to create photographic records of plant disease symptoms and insect pests for identification purposes, and also record stages in their life history development. Photographs like this were technical rather than artistic exercises. The challenge was to create images high in information that would supplement the scientific research being conducted by the Mt Albert Plant Research Station.