Begin with an overall view
Place an already accessible specimen against a plain background and include its full outline. Keep the camera steady and avoid filters that intensify color or sharpen invented edges. If you can include a ruler without disturbing the specimen, keep it in the same plane and make its units readable. Otherwise record the size separately and label it approximate. A photograph without a scale should not become the basis for a precise measurement later.
Add details with a purpose
Make one image of the whole specimen and a few closer views of features you want to discuss. For example, photograph a pale band, the darker surrounding area and their boundary, rather than taking three nearly identical close-ups. Use consistent lighting where possible. Record whether a bright patch changes when the viewing angle changes. Do not paint, polish or otherwise alter the surface to make it resemble an example you found online.
Keep the image set understandable
Give the photographs a shared specimen number and simple view labels. Write which side appears in each detail and retain the original image beside any crop. If a result changes between views, save the disagreement instead of selecting only the most appealing name. Before asking someone for help, check that the overall view and the detail actually show the same object. This small editing decision makes your question more useful without requiring new equipment or a purchased identification tool.
Take it with you
- Capture the whole object before close details.
- Record scale honestly and preserve original images.
- Keep conflicting suggestions attached to the same specimen.
Rock ID
Rock observations and geology
Photo identifications and AI explanations may be wrong or incomplete. They are not safety assessments, certified appraisals or authenticity guarantees. Reference properties are not measurements of your specimen. Feature access and any paid options depend on current in-app terms.