New member seeking fossil identification.

[Antihero32]

Hello everyone, I’m a new member and although I did read the guidelines for posting, my apologies if I don’t get everything correct. I found these fossils on the Treasure Coast of Florida in excavated rock from a site approximately 15 miles inland from the coast. I cannot say the depth at which these fossils were specifically recovered but typically the quarries in this area go down to an elevation of about -5.00’ from the existing ground which is around elevation 20.00’ +/- a few feet. I don’t know if this information is helpful or just makes this a lot to read but I appreciate any input or critiques.

[prehistoricpeasant]

F could be gator 

[Antihero32]

I was crossing my fingers for Plesiosaur but I guess that’s a pipe dream.  

[Harry Pristis]

Yes, a pipe dream . . . "F" is definitely not 'gator, either.

Your group images are not suitable for identifications in most cases.

 

Do you have editing software that came with your camera or with your scanner? Use the image-editing software (or download shareware from the Internet).

You can be as creative as you want to be with the editing software, but the following basic things will improve anyone's images:

GROUP IMAGES of more than a few fossils are not effective. The more individual fossils in an image, the greater the amount of table-top is in the image. Viewers cannot see the details of a fossil that might take up less than five percent of the total image. Photograph a single fossil (or two or three, if they're tiny), and post that image.
 

DON'T OBSCURE details of the fossil by pinching it between your fingers. If you want to use fingers to provide scale, support the fossil from below ... that is, on top of your fingers. To improve the focus, rest your hand with the fossil on a stable surface like a table or desk.

 

SCALE is important.  Provide measurements of your fossil in millimeters and inches for the widest audience.  Don't use a coin for scale; there are many foreign subscribers who don't know your coin's size.

 

LIGHT IT UP. Use as much ambient light as possible to reduce shadows...two light sources are a minimum. Eliminate yellowed images caused by tungsten filament bulbs by switching to the new compact flourescent bulbs. CFLs come in a "daylight" (6500K) version that you can use in any (non-dimming) fixture and produce very little heat. Some LEDs produce a near-daylight effect.

 

ELIMINATE SHADOWS by elevating the fossil on a glass or colorless plastic stage a couple of inches above the background. Illuminate the fossil AND THE BACKGROUND in this configuration. There are numerous things around the house to use for this purpose, from scrap window-glass to disposable plastic food/drink containers.

BRIGHTEN AND CONTRAST. BRIGHTEN the image until the fossil appears slightly washed, then adjust the CONTRAST until the fossil is bright and sharp and is a good color-match. Practice this until you get a feel for it.

CROP, CROP, CROP. Again, use the image-editing software to crop the image to only what is pertinent. Leave only a narrow margin around the fossil. The more of your kitchen counter-top in the image, the smaller the fossil image will be.

[Antihero32]

I knew there was probably a lot I was doing wrong but, wow. Thank you very much for the plethora of information. I look forward to incorporating all of your suggestions in my next photo session with these and will post again when I’m able to get some better photographic results. I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to explain all of that in such detail and in an easy to understand manner.