Hello David, It's been some time! Thanks for that listing of the steps you use - that will be a great starting point for me! I assume your use of IPA in place of EtOH is from long experience as I recall you have been doing thin sections for years. If I might pick your brain a bit - I have both an AO...

Interesting topic as I have just started on my efforts to do thin sections, starting with botanical specimens. Since retirement, I am now aware of the benefit I enjoyed previously having labs available to me with their resources and ability to order most materials that are not so easily available to...

Hello Jacek, More questions! I have the equipment for fluorescence but have not done anything with it, so looking for whatever guidance you might have (it appears from your photos you have done quite a lot with fluorescence!) What light source are you using? Do you need to take an6y special precauti...

Hello Jacek,

Not only great photos, but great technique! Was the fly anesthetized or recently deceased? No matter - fantastic!

What filter did you use for the fluorescence?

All the best,
Mike

Hello Michael,

Amazing how creatures reproduce - these shots look especially 'painful' when considering the size of the parent vs. the offspring.

I wonder if they ever have more than two?

All the best,
Mike

Hello, After my earlier mistake of assuming DEF was the condensed moisture one sometimes gets on startups, and learning it is an additive injected into the exhaust system to reduce NO2 emissions, I looked at the makes up and see it is aqueous urea solution made with 32.5% urea and 67.5% deionized wa...

Jacek,

As usual, beautiful both technically and aesthetically. May I assume you are using fluorescent illumination?

All the best,
Mike

Very nice shots!

Mike

Hello Michael, Interesting! I would like some more info on this - I have a large supply of various feathers from when I was an avid fly tier/fisherman that I have been wanting to loo look at, just never got around to it. How did you mount them? Anything I need to know? I would guess you are using mo...

Hello Ralf,

Interesting and educational series - appreciate how you go from macro to micro with photos/info. Might have to look at the various lichens around my place.

Thanks,
Mike

Hello, Thanks for the comments! Walt - yes, just re-crystalized solution on a slide without cover; I am surprised at the apparent depth, although part of that is likely due to large crystals one sometimes gets with this material and/or the low mag being used, think it was either 6.3X or 16X. Seems t...

Hello All,

Still working to get the 'kinks' out of my technique - a slow process as one gets older!

At any rate, here is one of my favorite subjects, KFe2CN solubilized in water and allowed to air dry.


All the best,
Mike

Hello Leonard, Thanks for the detailed info on your methods as well as the additional shots - really striking with the absolute inky black background really making the crystals 'pop' IMHO! Is there much benefit in saving the shots as RAW images vs. PNG or some other? Only reason I ask is I am curren...

Thanks!

Hello, Guess the only thing I might argue is why title it 'Imperfect'? Looks great to me! Being especially interested in crystals under pol illumination, and having done some CuSO4 solutions allowed to dry with less than great, (let alone 'imperfect'!) results, I would be interested in hearing a bit...