When I was teaching in Primary School my favourite nature lesson was one where the children worked in small groups of 3 or 4, each group having their own square metre of ground to explore for minibeasts. All those small creatures which hide in holes and under things. This morning when I was tidying up the part of the garden next to the summerhouse I moved a small pile of old bricks. As there were several minibeasts using them as a home I grabbed the laptop and the endoscope to see what I could record:
millipede, woodlice and small slug
Minibeasts 01 from Midmarsh on Vimeo.
I need the practice in keeping the little camera still and far enough away for things to stay in focus - 60mm or more. With small creatures it is tempting to get too close, also the laptop screen was very hard to see in the brilliant sunshine. I will have to think of some form of sunshade for it - possibly a cardboard box on its side might do the job.
It is remarkably good quality John.
ReplyDeleteAdrian - better than I expected for a mere 300,000 pixels. Not many in this day and age.
DeleteYes but I'm reducing images for the web from up to 30MB to a few hundred KB. Digital resolution is now better than I remember film being. My computers can't handle 16bit files for HDR and panoramas so I have a new one on order. Custom built and cheaper than anything PC World can offer.
DeleteHow much was it? I really should get into video but not having fast broadband it is a real pain uploading it. Worse than editing it.
woodlice need a better name. :)
ReplyDeleteTWG - lots of common names to choose from on Wikipedia - I like 'roly-poly'.
DeleteOniscidea they are but Cheesypig is my favourite.
DeleteThat endoscope is serving you well John. I bet your pupils enjoyed their Nature studies with you. We always called them Woodpigs in our family.
ReplyDeleteJan: Any excuse to teach outdoors - work hard in the morning on the basics and be rewarded with some fun learning in the afternoon - back in the days when teachers taught how they thought best and not how politicians dictate.
Delete