Photomicrography

Photomicrography is the practice of taking photographs through a light microscope to document the appearance of specimens at high magnification. It combines optical microscopy with photographic recording to create images that preserve information about shape, color, texture, and spatial relationships at micro scales. Photomicrographs are used across biology, medicine, materials science, and geology for analysis, communication, and archival records.

Equipment and workflow: A standard photomicrography setup includes a microscope with an appropriate objective and eyepiece, a stable illumination system (often Koehler illumination), and a camera mounted to the phototube or ocular. Digital cameras, including dedicated microscope cameras, and more recently smartphone adapters, convert light into an image. Proper controls for exposure, white balance, and color accuracy are essential. Depth of field can be extended by focus stacking or stacking multiple focal planes.

Techniques and contrast: Common imaging modes include brightfield, darkfield, phase contrast, differential interference contrast, polarization, and fluorescence. Each technique highlights different structures or chemical properties. Confocal scanning and widefield fluorescence enable optical sectioning. In many cases, specimens are stained or labeled to enhance contrast and specificity.

Post-processing and reporting: Photomicrographs are often processed for alignment, noise reduction, and color balance, while preserving the integrity of the data. Scale bars, captions, and metadata are added for scientific use and reproducibility.

Applications: Photomicrography supports research and diagnostics in biology and histology, materials science, metallurgy, minerals, and microfabrication. It provides a visual record that can be shared in publications, textbooks, and digital archives.