Hydrodictyon in Different Lighting

[JimT]

Ala Gekko's Haematococcus posting of illumination effects I decided to do a similar experiment. Not as good as his images but interesting illustration of different lighting methods.

All with Canon 60D, eyepiece projection, and 10x obj.

1 is bright field

2 is dark field

3 is oblique

4 is my DIY DIC filter

5 is polarized

[mrsonchus]

Excellent images, the last one is particularly interesting, it suggests (being polarized) structural information of the 'joins' between cells - very interesting to closely examine this region...
Thanks for a super post - It's making me consider fitting a polarizer to my 'scope...

[Crater Eddie]

All gorgeous photos, and a great find! I have never come across a sample of the "water net".
CE

[gekko]

Beautiful! Both the images with different lighting methods, as well as the composition showing the perfect geometry. Lovely algae too.

Ala Gekko's Haematococcus posting of illumination effects I decided to do a similar experiment. Not as good as his images but interesting illustration of different lighting methods.

I very much appreciate the complement, and you are absolutely right: not as good, but much better, and I really mean it.

[JimT]

Thank you John B. An easy way to get started with polarization is to get a pair of 3D glasses from your local movie house, break the lenses out, cut one to fit inside the microscope head and place the other one below the specimen. If your lamp doesn't get hot you can place it right on top the light.

CE, thanks. Maybe I should send you some of this pond water

Gekko, thanks. I don't think these were that good because of the difficult DOF (even with the stacking) and certainly not better than yours.

It was a fun project and I will probably do it again with other algae.

JimT

[apochronaut]

It is truly remarkable, just how much of nature is structured with a hexagon. Very interesting post and pictures.

[vasselle]

Bonjour.
Superbe.
Cordialement seb

[zzffnn]

Very nice photos. Thank you for sharing.

[SteveSteve]

Great photographs and really interesting to see the different lighting conditions.

What a beautiful species that is!

Cheers
Steve

[JimT]

Thanks all for the gracious comments.

[charlie g]

As already said...beautiful algae you give here...thank you,Jim T. I'm fond of your DF image...those marvelous struts, the symetries...it's like heading to dock at a space station,Jim T ...beautiful images...charlie guevara

[JimT]

Thank you Charlie

[gekko]

Gekko, thanks. I don't think these were that good because of the difficult DOF (even with the stacking)

I think the limited depth of field is a decided plus here, as it suggests very clearly the 3-mimntional nature of the "structure". Beautiful!