MicrobeHunter.com Microscopy Forum

Since we've kind of been on the subject of Hydra lately, I thought I'd post these photos taken last winter documenting a sight that knocked me for a loop, and still does. I had taken a new sample and was surprised to find a dozen or so Water Boatman aquatic insects, but not so much the usual Hydra a...

So what is this stuff? Where do you get it, and how are you going about growing the crystals for examination?

Fan, interesting questions! Re: biodiversity: what you postulate is plausible, but does cause me to recall strange samplings from the past. One was a small pond at an RV park (near SH 146 and Dickinson Bayou) which had obviously undergone aggressive chemical treatment to minimize aquatic growth and ...

And now for a little behind the scenes action. Instead of using a flash, I have been experimenting with slow shutter speeds, moderate f-stops, and high ISO -- and a heck of a bright light. Most shots in this thread are roughly 1/20 second, F/11, 1600 ISO. The lamp is a Burton 1100, which is a refine...

Let's see if I can answer all the questions. First, what am I using for the shots? Camera equipment: Canon T3i body Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens Kenko Auto Extension Tube Set DG for Canon EOS Lenses Pixel Mago ETTL Speedlite for Canon LED Ring Light illumi...

billbillt wrote:Where did you collect the Hydra from?..

Bill, right here: http://tinyurl.com/glkwl7g

So I set up a fresh new micro aquarium with fresh new sample in it, from the same county park pond where my last batch of Hydra came from. I was rather expecting to have hoards of Volvox, Cladocera, Ostracods, Conochilus, and who knows what else, based on what I've gotten from this place before. But...

Ha ha ha, Fan!! :lol: You're right, though, I am a tough guy! In July 2011 I got stung by jellyfish 12 days in a row while kayaking Galveston Bay, once across the face while doing an Eskimo roll. I can report that each day it hurts a little less -- you toughen up! Also, I recently got popped by a sc...

Yes, I think we've all run into the problem in one form or another. My solution is to copy everything to the clipboard periodically, so I can paste it back in case it goes away. The easy way to do it is by holding the Ctrl key down with left pinky finger while tapping the A key with index finger (Ct...

I love Tony Pattinson's two self-published books, and have been greatly inspired by them. In fact, this is what got me started on macro photography in micro aquariums. UK amateur microscopists ROCK. "Life in UK Freshwater" "The Freshwater Microscopist" See a book review here: http://www.microscopy-u...

Don't give up too soon, there's a very good chance you're just not seeing them for whatever reason. You should get more, not less, with a few weeks time. Get a good light, and I mean a really good light. Clean your glasses real good. Use a magnifying lens. Or take pictures and study the pictures.

Thanks again, all! I should have some interesting stuff coming up in the next few weeks and months, as winter time is prime time to hole up in the lab and do stuff like this (Rod knows what I mean!). Camera equipment: Canon T3i body Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 Macro USM Lens Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM...

A few more from this morning while testing the other tripod head and different camera remote control system. http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/Arky704/Macro%20Photography/9879_lzn%2012-18-15_zpsp9zumarz.jpg http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/Arky704/Macro%20Photography/9885_lzn%2012-18-15_z...

Thank you all! It's great fun to leave the world and rest of the universe behind, and hang out in a tiny bit of water for a while. Your kind comments go a long way towards motivating me to do more.

He who dies with the most toys wins. Very nice!

I got a new tripod and a couple new tripod heads, so here we are trying out and getting to know some new equipment. What better practice than to photograph these lovely models? Canon T3i body, and Canon 60 mm macro, and Canon 100 mm macro lenses + Kenko extension tubes. Illumination is an LED ring l...

To me, that thing looks like an AO Model 15 on New Year morning, its head all swollen up and about to explode...

YEAH Rod, where's your microtome stuff?? You were posting some pretty darn decent images last I saw (chopping up the wife's houseplants, hahaha). JimT, sorry for that outburst. Your sections are impressive and motivational. One of these days I will be inspired sufficiently to have a go with the gear...

Yes, let's talk about that tablecloth.

Just kidding, I'm jealous.

Yep, always seemed to me like astronomy and microscopy should go hand in hand. I mean, it's the same thing, only different. I'm forever amazed at how few amateur astronomers own/use microscopes, while it's fairly typical to hear that a microscopy enthusiast owns/uses telescopes. So hooray for us on ...

Finally found a suitable stand for my AO Spencer Model 26! Putting them together has converted the Model 26 into a Model 25, so now I have two. The more the merrier, I always say... http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i104/Arky704/Micro%20Stuff/portrait%2002_zpstwzdzkbz.jpg?t=1450109146 AO Spencer c. ...

Welcome, you'll find good company here among amateur astronomers masquerading as microscopy nuts. I go back far enough to know what sky fog is ... why, I still (vaguely) recall how to hyper Tech Pan, and the joys of fine tuning alignment by drifting (don't forget to trip over a tripod leg as your fi...

I try to approximate the density of the habitat it came from, myself, and err on the side of too much. My thinking is that more plants provide more nutrients, oxygen, protection, etc. But I'm no biologist.

Woo-hoo, a most excellent adventure -- everybody needs some pet Hydras! 8-) Very fascinating and surreal things that blur the line between plant and animal. They're found in green and brown varieties, looks like you got brown ones there. Keep watching, and you'll soon see how they get around: someti...

I have a huge soft spot in my heart for OLY microscopes -- CONGRATS OlyGuy!! Why, just sitting there it looks like it delivers wonderfully bright crisp views. I think Tasco products really turn people away from hobbies with their low quality lines. A real concern, alright, and one long shared in ama...

Well, I hope you weren't getting your hopes up too much Fan! If it was the type of DIC rig that's suitable for pond life, then maybe I could sink some serious coin into it. I really wasn't expecting it to amount to much, though, as this surplus dealer sets high prices (compared to eBay) for equipmen...

Thanks for the manual, 75RR! Phil, this is the first I ever heard of incident, or vertical, DIC. Okay ... asking price: $950. Wiggle room, maybe $50 if that. This guy believes it's worth $1800 all cleaned up. He doesn't know caca about microscopes, but has been running an industrial surplus business...

As I said in my original post, I don't know enough about DIC to determine how complete it is, and until I get a better grasp this one's a no go. Where do Optiphot DIC prisms live, I wonder? In the nosepiece or condenser? This nosepiece appears, to my uneducated eye, to have sliders for each objectiv...

75RR wrote:Have you considered getting a camera that does not ring!

If my camera captured images like Rod's, I wouldn't care if it gonged.

I'd have to sell a few bags of something else in order to generate that kinda money . Since this will probably go nowhere fast without a hint, let's say it's the best part of a cool grand.