A Massive Photo Mission
In October 2024 the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) began a nine‑month campaign to photograph 641 objects for its new exhibition, "From These Lands: Sharing Our Natural and Cultural Heritage." The show showcases specimens from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories, celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The NMNH photography team, drawn from seven research departments, faced a unique challenge: each object required a different approach. From tiny insects to a colossal 1775 Menominee dugout canoe, the team had to adjust lighting, backgrounds and positioning for every shoot.
Behind the Scenes
Kristen Quarles, a digital collections specialist with 14 years at the museum, said the project was the most complex she had worked on. "It had the biggest payoff," she added. James Tiller, a photographer, described the process as a puzzle, sometimes making an object look like it was photographed elsewhere.
One highlight was the baby bison, nicknamed "Buddy." The finished image shows the young animal on a seamless white background. In reality, Buddy sat on a plywood platform in storage. Photographers Brittany Hance and Phillip Lee laid foam core and printer paper to create a smooth surface, then digitally edited the background to achieve the polished look.
The dugout canoe presented another obstacle. The 1775 canoe needed an overview shot and detailed images of specific sections, including its underside. Photographers raised the heavy canoe on support stands and worked around it to light and capture otherwise inaccessible areas. These images will aid future conservation work and research.
In a rare technique, Hance was told to wet a large rock to enhance its shine. "We were sitting with towels, dampening the rock," she recalled. She had to photograph it quickly before the water dried and the sheen faded.
From Gallery to Archive
After each photo, the image is edited to be visually compelling while staying true to the original specimen. Quarles explained that the edited images are uploaded to the museum’s online archives and will become part of the long‑term collections documentation.
The companion book, published this spring, features these photographs and anticipates the 250th anniversary celebrations. For visitors who cannot see the exhibition in person, the images offer a virtual journey through the objects and stories.
The NMNH team worked closely with scientists, collections staff and conservators to ensure the photographs can be used in research papers and conservation projects for years to come. "Our photos will make these objects accessible to the world long past their time on exhibition," Quarles said.
