395E Imaging and Microscope
- Former user (Deleted)
Sandra Herrmann
Summary:
Expedition 395E started out with a week-long transit that I used to get oriented in the Imaging Laboratory, including catching up on the immense information provided on the SHIL camera calibration. During coring, we recovered sediment and hard rock, however only sediment cores were split. Hence, the SHIL was only used in the “Section Imaging, Soft Sediment” setting. I ran the SHIL and SHMSL on my shift. I imaged hard rock samples and cores free-hand as requested by the science party. LSIMG (153) and COREPHOTO files (21) were stored on LIMS. Hard rock free-hand photos (149) were deposited on data1, folder 10.1 Core Description. PICAT, Closeup Station, SEM and microscopes were not used for imaging during expedition 395E.
Other added responsibilities included: outreach on social media, preparing press package for “turtle rescue”, checking the functionality of the Imaging Laboratory equipment and preparing a REQ for updated models, requesting and installing a Mac Mini/TV to watch rig floor/moon pool, shooting sample tools for curator etc. and work on the GEODESC shore project.
System Status:
PICAT, Closeup Station, SEM and microscopes
were not used for imaging during expedition 395E.
SHIL
Camera calibration
The SHIL had to be fully calibrated during 395E to image the 184.28 m of core recovered.
An abundance of documents exists on the topic in confluence. It is somewhat unclear which one to use. It would be of great, if the documents could be combined by an expert user to form a comprehensive quick start as well as a detailed guide. Lots of theoretical knowledge is mixed in with instructions and could be de-tangled for better understanding. I am happy to proof a new version, but was not comfortable enough to tackle this big task to reorganize the guides.
The calibration attempted at F22 at the beginning of the expedition was not successful. Darker stripes persisted along the starboard side of the image.
Therefore, both NIKON lenses were cleaned and reattached without a noticeable change.
After consulting the Imaging Specialist on shore and the various manuals, it was decided that the sediment-only (= more or less flat surface) imaging can be accomplished with a calibration at F16 (= less depth focus). That calibration was successful and deemed reasonable for the expected cores.
During expedition 395E the following challenges were observed and potentially need further investigation:
Watery cores result in a reflection of the light system in the image (as described in 390C report, Figure 1). Thus, the features of the cores were masked. I suggest to test the diffuser for the light source recommended in Exp390R technical report.
The CCD camera had to be re-calibrated after sitting unused for a period of 17 days between imaging section halves of Hole U1560A and the start of imaging of section halves U1561A. The biggest change was the pixel gain – black stripes (Figure 2) showed up on the starboard part of the image again. What could cause this change? Is the lens slowly sagging producing a slight de-focus and a simultaneous drift out of the calibration range?
The red-edge-effect (lens vignetting) as shown in Figure 3 was observed again this expedition. The effect has also been described during 390C.
Figure 1: Reflection of light system in watery cores.
Figure 2: "Black stripes" in the image after sitting for 17 days after U1560A recovery was imaged.
Figure 3: Lens vignetting.
Recommendation for SHIL setup: Change the current monitor to a mat screen monitor and add a mount that allows moving the angle of the monitor. The current model reflects the ceiling light so well that calibrating a sensitive instrument is made extra difficult. A flexible mount would additionally help seeing the calibration area (top right part of the JAI camera setting screen) without having the illumination from the bright lights shine into one's eye from the same direction.
VirtualPhotoTable was run on the core entry computer in the core lab. We encountered an issues with the software that were reported to the developer and solved a few days thereafter. The issue was that the guest account that runs the software was stripped of all privileges, which had to be reassigned.
List of general imaging duties provided:
Generated the headshot posters
Downloaded and proofed the line scan core images
Shot "free-hand" close-ups
Production, editing, capturing of the weekly photos
Produced all of the group photos
Printed the T-shirt stencils and coordinated the ironing party
Checked Core Lab microscopes
Items Received:
none
Items Order:
The HERO2 did not start up. A REQ was submitted to replace it with the HERO9, plus extra mounting accessories. The new camera will arrive in the next AF, the old one was handed over to the ALO to ship it back to College Station. All accessories for the old HERO are still in the Imaging Office and can be used with the new model.
The Gear 360 was used on personal devices. It is not good practice to rely on a person’s own equipment to use on board gadgets. Hence, a REQ for an Imaging Specialist cell phone as remote and processing device was submitted. Currently, the shore-based Imaging Specialist is checking model specifications in order to settle on a model to be ordered.
Charging cables and plug were missing for digital devices, that are not a CANON or a NIKON camera. A REQ has been submitted and approved for charging cables and plugs. They should arrive in the next AF.
We do not have a digital remote for the CANON camera so the Imaging Specialist is not in the group photos. A REQ has been submitted and approved for a wireless shutter release that works with the 1D Mark Canon cameras. The equipment should arrive in the next AF shipment.
A set of adapter rings and flash diffusers were added to the same REQ and acquired. They should arrive in the next AF. These will benefit request similar to the one’s on this expedition, where close-ups were too detailed and “free-hand” close-up shots were required. Lighting was challenging for those due to the wet samples (reflection) and harsh or low catwalk and/or lab lighting conditions.
Methods and Manual Changes:
We are missing lots of procedure descriptions for the Imaging Lab, such as how to set up a green screen for head shots and how to submit weekly pictures and to whom.
I was able to work on:
Tagging procedures: I uploaded a detailed guide authored by Karen Graber.
Keyword updates on the Imaging Specialist Mac – the Keywords were sinked with shore (Graber) a few times during the expedition as new keywords were added and IODP technician positions updated.
Weekly pictures: I started a list of SOPs for weekly photos on the "OLD Imaging Lab" confluence page.
PR images:
A total of nine weekly photo series were created, edited, tagged, captioned and transferred to shore.
Outreach/Social media:
We preformed two outreach broadcasts with ship tours – one by Beth Novak and one by Aaron DeLoach and his shift.
I prepared ship-related content and posted it on the JOIDES Resolution accounts on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram - an average of two posts a week, plus weekly picture releases were published consistently over the entire expedition.
Several chats and a meeting with USSP were helpful to steer the content, tagging and idea exchange for better practices. Draft are currently being reviewed and an improved plan should be forth-coming soon.
The Imaging Specialist provided a media package (images, story, cross-check with SIEM) as well as story editing for the “turtle rescue” story that was published on the Texas A&M Geosciences News.
File storge:
LSIMG (153) and COREPHOTO files (21) were stored on LIMS. Hard rock free-hand photos (149) were deposited on data1, folder 10.1 Core Description. RGB and ROI files were saved on data1, folder 26.1 RGB.
PR images were carried home on external hard drive.
Misc:
A mac mini/TV system has been installed in the Imaging Lab. TO switch between mac and TV, use HDMI/TV source button.