Generally speaking I tend to take at least 4 images of any plant or animal. Plants are easier of course because they do not tend to hop around or fly off before I can get them in proper focus. The order for plants photos is mostly as follows: Whole plant; Flowers if any; Flower buds if any; Seed a…

I would have to agree with @vbjanos although there are times when I don’t know what is the most characteristic photo. For small plants, eg mosses, I aim for a close up which goes first and finish with an image showing the moss in association with other small plants. With bigger plants, I tend to d…

If there is one photo that allows identification, I prefer that first – except that if there’s an especially beautiful or interesting photo, I’d prefer that first. (Interesting? Interaction between organisms or a part that’s important for ID but usually omitted, etc.) It’s easy enough to page thr…

I do mostly plants. I tend to put the closest-up shots first, then move through the intermediate-distance ones, then finally to the context / habitat. That usually winds up putting the most impressive shot first, with the others providing additional details. Sometimes I modify this, though, and p…

I’ve wondered the same thing myself, thank you for asking it! I’ll say that personally, a close up shot of the reproductive parts (if present) and any nearby leaves is easiest for me at first glance. I really like your list, but I’d like to add- underside of the leaf! The underside can be distincti…

So right about the underside of leaves – and galls, butterflies, any number of things: https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/sedgequeen/81386-show-me-the-other-side

When observing, I try to recall the taxonomic keys I have used and try to get photos of the characters used there. Of course the characters vary from simple “tree vs shrub” to more complex “palea present or absent”. I usually try to get at least one photo that shows part or parts of the organism…

I read through or skimmed many of the comments. One very big consideration missing is: to the best of my knowledge, the CV still is taught on the FRST photo only. There was comment awhile ago that the 2nd photo was going to be use one day but I’ve not heard anything further. Any way, I’d guess th…

[image] ingolfaskevold: to the best of my knowledge, the CV still is taught on the FRST photo only The CV can be taught/trained on any of the photos from an observation, regardless of order. What you’re thinking of is that, when someone uploads an observation and queries the CV for that obser…

Not gonna lie, I usually put the prettiest photo first and the most relevant for identification second. If any of my leaf mine photos can be considered “pretty”, that is. lol

I take a lot quite a lot of insect pictures. If I have a nice still subject, I think back to my old technical drawing lessons and try to get a ‘3rd angle orthographic projection’, that’s three shots: side-on, front-on and top down. Sometimes I’ll try for a fourth, rear-end-on angle as well. Usually …

Order of pictures in obs

General

taylorse July 21, 2026, 10:52pm 17

FYI (for anyone who hasn’t heard), the iNaturalist Enhancement Suite can now run the CV on any of the photos. It is tremendously useful: https://forum.inaturalist.org/t/inaturalist-enhancement-suite-chrome-extension-by-sessilefielder/75349

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Order of pictures in obs

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