An apparatus for observing light emission from a light-emitting device structure (513, 707, 1517, 1617) disposed on a support substrate (505, 902, 1505, 1602) having a first contact layer accessible from a surface and a second contact layer included on the light-emitting device structure, the light emitting device structure being selected from either a vertical light emitting device structure or a lateral light emitting device structure, the apparatus comprising: a field plate device (501, 702, 901, 1501, 1601), the field plate device having a first face and a second face opposing the first face, the second face comprising a conductive layer (502, 703, 1502, 1609), the conductive layer being configured to be positioned in close proximity to at least a portion of the first contact layer (508, 1508, 1605) of the light-emitting device structure (513, 707, 1517, 1617) with an intervening gap medium; a voltage source connected to the conductive layer (502, 703, 1502, 1609) of the field plate device for producing a voltage and a capacitance per unit area of the field plate device, the voltage source being configured for generating a time-varying voltage waveform, the voltage source having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal configured to have a first potential connected to the conductive layer of the field plate device, the second terminal configured to have a second potential, the voltage source being further configured for injecting a capacitively coupled current to the light emitting device structure to cause at least a portion of the light-emitting device structure to emit electromagnetic radiation in a pattern; a detector device (708, 905) coupled to the light emitting device and configured to form an image of the electromagnetic radiation in the pattern derived from the light-emitting device structure; and an external light source configured to irradiate the light-emitting device structure to induce a photocurrent prior to the voltage source generating the time-varying voltage waveform and injecting the capacitively coupled current to the light emitting device structure. a field plate device (501, 702, 901, 1501, 1601), the field plate device having a first face and a second face opposing the first face, the second face comprising a conductive layer (502, 703, 1502, 1609), the conductive layer being configured to be positioned in close proximity to at least a portion of the first contact layer (508, 1508, 1605) of the light-emitting device structure (513, 707, 1517, 1617) with an intervening gap medium; a voltage source connected to the conductive layer (502, 703, 1502, 1609) of the field plate device for producing a voltage and a capacitance per unit area of the field plate device, the voltage source being configured for generating a time-varying voltage waveform, the voltage source having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal configured to have a first potential connected to the conductive layer of the field plate device, the second terminal configured to have a second potential, the voltage source being further configured for injecting a capacitively coupled current to the light emitting device structure to cause at least a portion of the light-emitting device structure to emit electromagnetic radiation in a pattern; a detector device (708, 905) coupled to the light emitting device and configured to form an image of the electromagnetic radiation in the pattern derived from the light-emitting device structure; and an external light source configured to irradiate the light-emitting device structure to induce a photocurrent prior to the voltage source generating the time-varying voltage waveform and injecting the capacitively coupled current to the light emitting device structure.