Pleurosigma angulatum + salt crystals

[75RR]

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Zeiss Planapo 63x/1.4, DIC, 235µm, stacked and stitched in Photoshop, Marine sample, Alboran Sea

Drying slide
.

[janvangastel]

Beautifull, 75RR. High resolution and sharp.

[75RR]

Many thanks janvangastel

[Element 56]

Very nice image!
Kirby

[75RR]

Thanks Element 56

Note: Have added 'stitched to the image info line as I had inadvertently left it out. It was a 3 stack stitch as Photoshop requires a good bit of overlap.

[Hobbyst46]

Beautiful. Are the chloroplasts just on the hidden valve side of the diatom ? Or more likely, that they decompose upon drying ? how long was the drying process ?

[75RR]

Many thanks Hobbyst46

The chloroplasts were further down, so there is only a hint of them.

Cover slip was not dry but drying out, there still were large areas (I use 22 x 32mm cover slips) with water but they were beginning to diminish fairly rapidly. The diatom was submerged.

I find that salt crystals begin to form when the water layer is very thin as it is when I decide to use the 63x (I wick the water out) as it has a silly working distance.

If I find grains of sand (even very small ones), I can't use the 63x. The cover slip really needs to be as flat as possible.

[KurtM]

A lovely image of a lovely diatom!

[75RR]

Thanks KurtM Agree they are elegant diatoms By the way, when was the last time you checked your PMs

[Sabatini]

Simply fascinating!!!
After seeing and tasting so much quality and good work as a result of experience and dedication ... I begin to feel an irrepressible desire to give up... Or try to improve the results of my work... this is frustrating!

[75RR]

Thanks Sabatini

I myself am still very much inspired by the photos of Charles Krebs Et al. for example.

I think photography through the microscope is a bit like Golf, one plays against the course, not against other players.

Besides, capturing what you see is only part of it, seeing what you see (and there are so many amazing things to see) is half the fun.

[Sabatini]

Thank you, 75RR, you are very kind for your motivation, you are very right, I always enjoy the whole process from the search of samples, the possibility and expectation of finding something new for me, and in general the friends to share and learn.