About Laurence Poh
Pioneer of digiscoping, 1952–2004
Laurence Poh was an Ipoh-based businessman, birdwatcher, and photographer who discovered in February 1999 that a digital camera could be held to the eyepiece of a spotting scope to capture high-quality images of distant birds. That accidental discovery led to a technique now practised by birdwatchers worldwide — digiscoping.
Active with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Perak branch, Laurence combined his passion for birdwatching with his photographic skills, documenting over a hundred species of Malaysian birds and sharing his techniques freely with a growing international community. He passed away on 19 September 2004.
The Genesis of Digiscoping (1999)
The year 1999 is recognised as a watershed moment in the history of citizen science. It was in February of that year that Laurence Poh discovered that the new generation of point-and-shoot digital cameras could be successfully held up to the eyepiece of a spotting scope to capture high-quality images of distant subjects.
The First Accidental Image
Poh's very first foray into digiscoping occurred in a moment of frustration while trying to identify a distant raptor. In desperation, he held an Olympus C-900 compact camera against the eyepiece of his Leica telescope and took a picture. The resulting image was clear enough to identify the bird as a Crested Honey Buzzard. This accidental success proved that the “afocal” method — photographing through an existing optical system — could work for terrestrial wildlife.
The Nikon Coolpix Revolution
Following this discovery, Poh refined the technique using the Nikon Coolpix 950 and 990 models. These cameras were uniquely suited for digiscoping due to their swivel body design and internal focusing lenses, which allowed the camera's lens to remain as close as possible to the scope's eyepiece, reducing vigneting.
The resulting technique allowed for effective focal lengths ranging from 1,000 mm to over 3,000 mm, providing a cost-effective alternative to professional telephoto lenses. The name “digiscoping” was coined by Alain Fossé of France, a fellow member of the birds-pix mailing list, as shorthand for digital camera scope photography.
Contributions to Malaysian Ornithology
Laurence Poh was a vital participant in the scientific studies of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) Perak branch, where he leveraged his photographic skills to support research on rare and endangered species.
The Black Eagle Study at Pos Slim
The most significant scientific endeavour of Poh's career was his involvement in documenting the breeding biology of the Black Eagle (Ictinaetus malayensis) in the highlands of Perak. Working with a team that included Lim Kim Chye and Chiu Sein Chiong, Poh helped locate the first recorded Black Eagle nest in Malaysia in March 2003.
Laurence Poh's role as the one of the photographers allowed for the detailed documentation of nesting behaviours. The Black Eagle study serves as a prime example of how digiscoping could be used to gather data on sensitive species from a distance, minimising the impact on the birds' natural behaviour.
More on the Black Eagle: First breeding record in Malaysia paper.Migration and Behaviour Documentation
Poh also collaborated with international researchers like Dr. Robert DeCandido to monitor the migration of raptors and bee-eaters. His high-resolution images helped researchers distinguish between similar species and age classes, providing a level of detail previously difficult to achieve in the field. Furthermore, his photography captured rare behaviours, such as the "larder" of a Long-tailed Shrike in Ipoh, providing photographic evidence of the bird impaling prey.
Source: Long-tailed Shrike eating impaled skink.Nature Conservation and Advocacy
As a leading figure in the MNS Perak branch, Laurence played a key role in protecting the state's biodiversity. His website, laurencepoh.com, served as a virtual gallery and reference for the MNS, featuring a pictorial list of over 600 Malaysian bird species and promoting Malaysia as a premier birding destination.