Spirogyra glabra algae

[MicroBob]

Here another scanned slide. Many of these are extinct in the places they were found 20 years ago.
So these images in combination with the database are quite a valuable reference of what has been.
Right now we are working on the task to put these images on the internet in a well organized form.

Bob

[Wes]

Getting a good shot of the nucleus in Spirogyra is no easy task.

What microscope and camera have been used to generate these?

[75RR]

Getting a good shot of the nucleus in Spirogyra is no easy task.

Agree, particularly in pre-digital camera days.

[daruosha]

Right now we are working on the task to put these images on the internet in a well organized form.

I'll be glad if I can help.

[MicroBob]

Hi together,
Walter ended his activites round about when I joined the group 8 years ago, so I didn't get to know him well. As far as I know he used an Olympus microscope with DIC and an analog camera with which he exposed slides. Olympus put quite a focus on macro and micro equipment and they had their special light metering system too. It must have been quite an effort to generate all these great images in analog times, also costing considerable money. His microscope was donated to a youth scentist organisation. The over 2000 microphotos from him are well selected and documented so it really is a joy to work with them. The sad aspect is that mico life is on a steep decline in past decades. Some of our old members worked a lot on algae and gained a lot of expertise. The member with the longest membership time joined in 1956 - can you imagine that? Our old members repeat themselves in reporting that they just don't see today what they saw then - be it insects or pond life. This is unknown to the public but there really has been lost a lot of biodiversity in places like trenches or shrub beneath fields.

@Daruosh: Thank you for your kind offer! If the person who sets up the homepage of our main society has troubles I will contact you. I myself know nothing about web design and can just contribute ideas, contacts and energy, so your offer might come very welcome.

Bob

... and here an other Spirogyra glabra...

[Wes]

Wow the second shot is actually pretty damn good! Thanks for sharing.

[75RR]

That is a great second image.

How were the 'best' images selected?

[MicroBob]

Hi Glen,
I think Walter had a very high standard for his work and must have discarded lots of bad or average slides. Of cause it is much more fun to work on a collection of this quality than on the usual (e.g. mine) wild mix. He also prepared his database very well with good explanations how which is meant to be understood. Once I get this going I will phone him and tell him what we have made with his collection.

Here another Spirogyra, differnt species.
The sample is from Hetlingen at the Elbe outside of Hamburg. At this place a fortress against the Swedes was built in the 30 Year's War.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hetlinger_Schanze

Bob

[75RR]

Once I get this going I will phone him and tell him what we have made with his collection.

When you do contact him be sure to tell him that many members of the Microbehunter forum have been impressed by the quality of the images and his ability to capture critical moments.

[MicroBob]

When you do contact him be sure to tell him that many members of the Microbehunter forum have been impressed by the quality of the images and his ability to capture critical moments.

This is my intention. When used in the right way, such a collection can really move something in our time of decline in biodiversity and climate crisis. For me it would be really nice to hear that my work will have a little impact when I get old.

Bob