Willow (?) pollen 100x

[kit1980]

Pollen, stained with Lugol's iodine vapors and mounted in CytoSeal.
100x objective, oblique bright field, ~20 photos in the focus stack:



Post-processing attempt to make it look like SEM (could have worked better with non-oblique bright field, because of the shadows):



I decided that it's a willow pollen for some reason, but I'm not sure what kind of willow and even if it's really a willow.

Here is the tree I took the pollen from (western Washington state, near a small river), and I'll appreciate any tree identification help if it's possible from these images:

[Johann]

Very nice - great detail

[zzffnn]

Very nice! Thank you for sharing.

[mrsonchus]

Beautiful images of really nice mounts - I often use the 'pseudo SEM' PP look - I really like it and it's lovely and sharp in your images. Here's one a did a while ago of some permanently mounted pollen-grains from a section. The 3D SEM look is great - I love this technique.

ws_pseudo_SEM_pollen_stacked_1.jpg (94.38 KiB) Viewed 8217 times

Keep up the lovely mounts old chap - they're real treat - the Cytoseal's looking very interesting too - I may consider trying some.

Nice job, John B.

[charlie g]

Beautiful microtechnic, kit! The tumble to Spring'17 we share on this half of the globe is suggested by the cascade of your pollen, and Mr.Sonchas'es (sp?)!

Our Crocuses have been up a while..but it's my dear neighbor Trillium's which the dogs and I eagerly await!

charlie guevara, finger lakes/US

[billbillt]

Hi Kit,

There are very, very good!... Magnificent work!...


BillT

[billbillt]

Hi John B.,

I also love the psuedo-SEM look... If PS was not so expensive, I would have it..

BillT

[kit1980]

I also love the psuedo-SEM look... If PS was not so expensive, I would have it.

If by "PS" you mean Adobe Photoshop, I'd like to let you know that, except for Zerene Stacker, I use only free/open source programs for photography: Darktable, Gimp, and ImageJ.

[mrsonchus]

Hi John B.,

I also love the psuedo-SEM look... If PS was not so expensive, I would have it..

BillT

Hi Bill, I'm still using 'Photoshop Elements v9' - the 'elements' versions are the cheapo ones - I can't afford the 'full packages' either. But, all this effect is (sorry can't recall the specific sequence without looking through my notes - although I think I detailed it in a past thread) really is an 'invert', a convert to B&W and various contrast + sharpening adjustments - most editors would be able to do it I think - but if you can find PSE v9 I bet it'll be affordable (and it's a one-time not a dratted subscription).....

Good luck Bill!

[KurtM]

Those images are absolutely wonderful. Best of all, they complement each other; one causes me to go back and look at the other again. You probably deserve ten lashes with a wet noodle for ID, but are forgiven entirely on merit of the sheer beauty (and usefulness, pending ID) of the imagery!

Can you expound upon how you achieved the pseudo-SEM look?

Love your comment: "I use only free/open source programs for photography: Darktable, Gimp, and ImageJ." Me too. I am a big believer in Light Zone, but will be looking into the Darktable and ImageJ since you mention them (already a longtime fan of GIMP).

While I like free as much as the next guy, I often use the "donate" tab if I really like a program. Paint.Net is one I use very often, kind of a GIMP/Photoshop Lite.

[billbillt]

Hi John B.,

I also love the psuedo-SEM look... If PS was not so expensive, I would have it..

BillT

Hi Bill, I'm still using 'Photoshop Elements v9' - the 'elements' versions are the cheapo ones - I can't afford the 'full packages' either. But, all this effect is (sorry can't recall the specific sequence without looking through my notes - although I think I detailed it in a past thread) really is an 'invert', a convert to B&W and various contrast + sharpening adjustments - most editors would be able to do it I think - but if you can find PSE v9 I bet it'll be affordable (and it's a one-time not a dratted subscription).....

Good luck Bill!

Thanks my friend for the heads up about Photoshop Elements v9.. I will search Ebay and see what I can get!..

The Best,
BillT

[kit1980]

Thank you for your comments!

Can you expound upon how you achieved the pseudo-SEM look?

Something like that in gimp:
- Colors -> Desaturate -> Lightness
- Colors -> Invert
- Filters -> Distorts -> Emboss -> Bumpmap with depth ~6
- adjust contrast / base curve

[mrsonchus]

Thanks kit' -
I'm going to have a try at it some more today; your beautifully clear & sharp results are in my eyes of the highest standard. Great pre & post processing technique old chap.
You've got us all going with your excellent images kit'!

[gekko]

Beautiful images, and excellent detail.

[billben74]

Really nice. Love the bw.

[kit1980]

Thanks for the nice words!
Any help with ID? Can you even see the tree branch photo (the third one in the first post)? I sometimes can see it, sometimes can't.

[Crater Eddie]

No, I have never been able to see the third photo. The others are superb though.
CE

[kit1980]

No, I have never been able to see the third photo. The others are superb though.
CE

Thanks!
I've re-uploaded the image:

[billbillt]

I am not sure what kind of tree it is, but I am almost sure it is not a willow..

[kit1980]

I am not sure what kind of tree it is, but I am almost sure it is not a willow..

My photo is from a yet leafless tree.

Also by "some willow" I mean "probably pussy willow".
There are pussy willow photos on the net that looks quite similar to mine, like


(from https://solarbeez.com/tag/pussy-willow-tree-in-bloom/)

[billbillt]

Thanks for the photos.. I don't have pussy willows in my area.. I was only familiar with the tree in the photo I posted.. Around here it is called a "weeping willow"...

BillT

[mrsonchus]

Both names in use here in the UK, most commonly "weeping willow" I'd say. Sure is a lovely-looking spot!

[billbillt]

Both names in use here in the UK, most commonly "weeping willow" I'd say. Sure is a lovely-looking spot!

Thanks for the comments John B... The photo I posted was from a Google search, I don't recall where the location was.... The weeping willow grows rampant in my area... It is found almost anywhere a damp spot our water is found...

The Best,
BillT