A biological photographer is someone who takes and produces still photos and motion pictures for people working in the medical field, the natural sciences, and the general public. Her photographs are frequently used to educate others in the medical field, in a patient’s medical records, in research, and as an illustrative example in medical textbooks. A biological photographer, in general, captures organisms that are alive or were once alive. She must be well-versed in photography, photography equipment, and biological sciences, among other things.
A biological photographer’s job description is quite extensive. A photo, for example, could be used to document a medical event such as the absence of an organ, the presence of a tumor, the severity of a medical condition, or the progress made a patient with a medical condition. The entire surgery for a patient can be photographed or videotaped if the biophotography equipment is sterile. Furthermore, if a tissue specimen is collected, a photo of the specimen under the microscope using technical photography equipment may be taken.
Biophotography is very popular among doctors, students, researchers, and patients because they want to see what is going on visually. To process and manipulate the photos, a biological photographer may use a highly technical computer or software program. This allows people to see the specific item of concern more clearly. A photo, for example, can be magnified and clarified to become the ideal teaching tool or to allow a patient to compare the size of a tumor over several months.
A biological photographer is also known a variety of other names. Medical photographers, biophotographers, and scientific photographers are among them. One can specialize in a field of interest under any of the names. There are opportunities for ophthalmic photography, for example, for those who are interested in eye conditions. If tissue samples pique one’s interest, photomicrography (photos taken through the lens of a microscope) is a career option. Biological photographers are also used plastic surgeons and oral surgeons on a regular basis.
A biological photographer must be innovative in her approach to photography. The traditional method of photographing a medical condition may not work in some cases. As a result, the photographer will have to devise a new method of capturing the image. Furthermore, good people skills and communication skills are always advantageous. So that both the patient and the photographer are safe, a photographer must be able to explain what she is doing to medical personnel.
The field of biological photography is expanding for those interested in working in it. There are endless opportunities for work and advancement once a photographer establishes herself as a biological photographer. Pay varies greatly depending on whether she works for a hospital, university, museum, library, or other organization.