Actinoptychus solisi

[75RR]

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Zeiss Planapo 63x/1.4, DIC, 90µm, 50 image stack in Photoshop

A live if slightly crunched sample
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[Francisco]

Very nice!

[75RR]

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Thanks Francisco

[Wes]

Awesome! Thanks for posting.

[tlansing]

That is a very cool and beautiful photo, 75RR! I am curious how you captured the images to stack them. Do you take a short video focusing through the object, take individual photos, or some other means?

[75RR]

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Many thanks Wes and tlansing

I am curious how you captured the images to stack them.

Individual photos, my Zeiss Standard WL has 2µm graduation on the fine focus and one can halve that if one is careful.

I basically turn the knob as minimally as possible until I see a slight change of focus of the diatom's pores (some moving into focus or some moving out) while looking through the eyepieces.

That is the point I activate the shutter. There were 50 images in this stack. Camera is on a tripod (isolated from contact with the microscope) to help eliminate vibrations.

Also, I only post the ones that come out well ;)

[Lomonaut]

So much work for one picture but it's worth it, sublime!

[75RR]

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Many thanks Lomonaut, glad you liked it.

[Javier]

Lovely!