A few nivicolous myxomycetes..

razashaikh · Post by **razashaikh** » Sun Apr 22, 2018 10:46 pm

Amazing!

OioMik · Post by **OioMik** » Mon Apr 23, 2018 1:18 am

Very nice!

leonardturner · Post by **leonardturner** » Mon Apr 23, 2018 6:57 am

I like this series a lot. What magnification were you using?

Leonard

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Mon Apr 23, 2018 11:11 am

Thank you very much - I'm glad you like them. It's an easier subject than many of the others in this sections as at least they stay still.

These were shot with an Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro/EM5 mkII (focus bracketing approx 100 shots). Most images are cropped centre portions of original images, slightly cleaned. Sporangia are around 2mm tall.

This was my first outing with this kit and it is great for the field (once you figure out how to work it!). Thanks to the various members of this group who have kindly provided information on the camera recently.

I collected around 100 samples of myxomycetes in a week (yippee!), so I will be posting some studio work when I have time.

Roel Wijtmans · Post by **Roel Wijtmans** » Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:39 am

These are really beautiful! Now I really want to go out and try to find some slime molds to take pictures of.

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Tue Apr 24, 2018 11:51 am

Hi Roel

If you are in Sweden and can get to a mountain it is the perfect time of year for nivicolous (or snowline) species. Look very carefully at vegetation around the edge of melting snow at around 1200-1600 m. Check several sites as they are quite unpredicatable but abundant when found. I would be happy to ID any collections you make. If you want to send them to me, I can send you a link with information on how to package them.

"Normal" myxos are also available all year round.

Cheers,

John

Charles Krebs · Post by **Charles Krebs** » Tue Apr 24, 2018 7:14 pm

These are great!

The "auto stacking" with the Olympus bodies and that lens is amazing.

Roel Wijtmans · Post by **Roel Wijtmans** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 10:01 am

Hi John! Thanks for the advice, since I am a novice when it comes to finding slime molds. I only recently "decided" I wanted to try and find them, because they are so intriguing. I do not live too close to the mountains so I can't check for them over there, but I will definitely keep my eyes open for them in the woods where I live!

Once again, great photos, that second one is just amazing!

Roel

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Thu Apr 26, 2018 1:55 pm

Thank you Charles and Roel. Here's another one.. probably the same species as the second photo but a less mature version.

Like someone selling a mirror on ebay, I can be seen in the middle of every reflection..

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 6:00 am

I have the same camera as you and recently acquired the same 60mm macro lens. I haven't tried the combination yet and I would very much appreciate it if you could post the camera and lens settings you are using to get the stunning field macro stacks.
David

rjlittlefield · Post by **rjlittlefield** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 9:46 am

Some follow-up shots done in studio have been moved to A few nivicolous myxomycetes.. (in studio)

--Rik

Beatsy · Post by **Beatsy** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 9:58 am

Really nice shots and doubly amazing that they're stacked in camera. Now I'm motivated to look out for these "mixos" too. Forever distracted - and long may it continue

Pitufo · Post by **Pitufo** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 1:32 am

I should clarify that these are around 100 - 120 images shot in field using "focus bracketing" not stacking. I used the smallest step possible (1 or sometimes 2).

Focus peaking switched on.

Images were stacked in Zerene afterwards.

Cheers

John

Cactusdave · Post by **Cactusdave** » Thu May 03, 2018 12:53 pm

Thanks, that's very helpful.
David