Deep Look

🎥🟡Behind-The-Scenes EARTHWORMS POLL🟡🎥

Added 2023-03-05 16:03:01 +0000 UTC

We worked with cinematographer Kevin Collins for our recent earthworm episode. He filmed ALL of the live earthworm and cocoon footage.🙏 Which one is your favorite filming set up?

Worm Moss Set

Worm Farm Set

Worm Close-Up Set

Baby Worms Inside Cocoon Set

Here’s how Kevin filmed earthworms in his own words:

“Beyond providing aesthetic variety, multiple setups allowed me to emphasize different aspects of worm behavior and morphology. The moss set showcased worm locomotion from a ground level point of view. My 3D-printed “worm farm” enabled a subterranean perspective, and by keeping the worms comfortable in their own element, they engaged most readily in feeding and mating. The close-up set on white acrylic, with its abundance of light, proved useful for anatomy shots. With the aid of my tiny endoscope light source, I was able to highlight the squirming cocoon babies while maintaining a jet black background.

For me, the biggest challenge filming earthworms was their lack of eyes - or a proper head for that matter! Macro photographers typically rely on eyes as a focal point. Without eyes, I often had no clue whether my camera was trained on a worm’s anterior or posterior.”

Watch our earthworm episode here to see the results of his handiwork up close:

P.S. An endoscope has a light and a tiny camera attached to a flexible tube that allows doctors to examine our internal organs. Kevin repurposed this medical device to film developing baby earthworms. Bravo!🎉