Diatom hat rack

Every 30 days the site administrators will pick a favorite image made through a microscope from the "Photography Through the Microscope Gallery" to be featured on the front page of the www.amateurmicroscopy.net website.

Moderators: MacroMike, nzmacro, Ken Ramos, twebster, S. Alden

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gslaten
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Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:48 am
Location: Tucson Arizona USA

Diatom hat rack

Post by gslaten »

Hi all,

After looking at some strew diatom slides I made a couple of years ago, I decided to make some new ones today. This time I took the advice prepare the strew on the coverslip, let it dry and invert the coverslip over a drop of Zrax on the slide. The assembly was heated to 125C til the bubbling stopped, then removed and allowed to cool. This leaves most of the diatoms at or near the coverslip surface. This slide was prepared from some cleaned Oamaru (NZ) material provided to me by Bill Dailey.

I have never seen this critter before, thought maybe someone could identify it for me. Reminds me of a hat rack.

Image

This is a stack of 15 images using Helicon Focus
CP4500
Electronic Flash/Tungsten Halogen
40X Neofluor
Converted to BW

Thanks for looking,

Gary

Charles Krebs
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Post by Charles Krebs »

Gary... I just love the forms and shapes of these diatoms. I have no idea what your "hat-rack" is, but you certainly obtained some very fine detail on its surface.
... gotta find that bottle of Zrax I bought last winter... :D

Wim van Egmond
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Post by Wim van Egmond »

Hello Gary,

Interesting shapes! It looks a bit like the part of an Odontella (formerly Biddulphia) type of diatom!

Wim

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Mike
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Post by Mike »

Hello Gary,

Nice shot and great detail. Now you have me thinking of going back and making some more diatom strews!

It appears you have won the battle with your flash system as the lighting is even across the photo.

All the best,

Mike
"Nil satis nisi optimum"

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Ken Ramos
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Post by Ken Ramos »

A great image you have there Gary and you did a good job with the HF, of which I have yet to download and try. Good work Gary and thanks for the post! :D
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Kenneth Ramos
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Kens Microscopy
Reposts of my images within the galleries are welcome, as are constructive critical critiques.

gslaten
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Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:48 am
Location: Tucson Arizona USA

Post by gslaten »

Hi,

Thanks for the nice complements everyone. Thanks to you Wim I have a starting point for what to look for.

Regards,

Gary

Wim van Egmond
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Post by Wim van Egmond »

This image shows the type of diatom:

http://www.marbot.gu.se/SSS/diatoms/Odo ... aurita.htm

But the one on your image is quite different from what I have seen. Is it fossil material?

best regards, Wim

gslaten
Posts: 186
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:48 am
Location: Tucson Arizona USA

Post by gslaten »

Hi Wim,

Thanks for providing the link to the photo. There is certainly a similarity as I compare them, but difficult to say for sure.

Yes, the strew is from fossil material provided to me by Dr. Bill Dailey.

Thanks for the help.

Gary

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twebster
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Post by twebster »

Hi ya' Gary :D

Thank you for providing this unique image. Your image will grace the front cover of www.amateurmicroscopy.net for the next 30 days. Thanks for your continued participation and support. :D

Best regards as always, :D
Tom Webster
Administrator

Phoenix "The Valley of the Sun", Arizona, USA

Think about this...maybe Murphy is an optimist!!!

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Ken Ramos
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Post by Ken Ramos »

Congrats Gary! =D> =D> =D> =D> One great diatom image. Fifteen images huh? Lotta work there Gary and it turned out great! Once again a big hand =D> Gary and thanks :D
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Kenneth Ramos
Rutherfordton, North Carolina
Kens Microscopy
Reposts of my images within the galleries are welcome, as are constructive critical critiques.

gslaten
Posts: 186
Joined: Fri Feb 04, 2005 7:48 am
Location: Tucson Arizona USA

Post by gslaten »

Hi,

Many thanks Tom and Ken. I truly appreciate being selected this month.

A truly fantastic group of forums.

Gary

Raymond
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Post by Raymond »

Very nice image! Well done.
I just browsed the genus Biddulphia in Klaus Kemp's Diatom Database, and I think this diatom is Biddulphia tridens (Ehrenberg) Ehrenberg.

Raymond

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nzmacro
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Post by nzmacro »

Very well deserved Gary. Amazing shot. Just wish I was as capable as this. Excellent work.

All the best Gary and very well deserved :D

Danny.

gslaten
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Location: Tucson Arizona USA

Post by gslaten »

Hi Raymond and Danny,

Raymond, I just did a Google search on Biddulphia Tridens and I believe you have nailed it. Thank you very much. I see you just joined the group and would like to give you a hearty welcome.

Danny, thank you very much for the congratulations.

Gary

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S. Alden
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Post by S. Alden »

I know I had commented on this, but um..well it is not here.

Congrats on an excellent image and one deserving of the Administrator's Pick :D
Sue Alden
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Repost of my images are welcome

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