Gammarus gnathopod, cross polarized. Eye added

[Charles Krebs]

It's always intriguing for me to have a look at the way muscle tissue responds to cross polarized light. Here I'm having a look at a gnathopod of a Gammarus, a small shrimp-like amphipod that is very common in my pond and lake samples. Plain to see where the strength of those "pincers" come from!

Olympus BHS, 4/0.16 S Plan Apo, 1.67 NFK photoeyepiece, Cross-polarized brightfield illumination, Canon 50D DSLR.


Olympus BHS, 10/0.40 S Plan Apo, 1.67 NFK photoeyepiece, Cross-polarized brightfield illumination, Canon 50D DSLR.

[Cactusdave]

A beautiful and revealing image.

[Mitch640]

Charles, very beautiful images. Could he be an early ancestor of humans? I see there is a lot of muscle right behind the eyes.

Your images keep answering questions I never thought to ask. It never occured to me that polarized light could reveal the differences in tissue types. Maybe I have some of that behind my eyes too. LOL

[RogelioMoreno]

Charles,

Beautiful details.

Hope to be using polarized light soon.

Rogelio

[Charles Krebs]

Thanks for the comments!

I had also photographed the eye, so I thought I would add it to this post rather than start a new one. Very unusual eye. I've always noticed it, but have never really gotten a shot that shows it well. (This one really does not either, but it is a little more detailed). Really needs to be 3D to see the unusual characteristics. The eye "facets" are slightly recessed in a white, rough, somewhat non-uniform "matrix". I'll have to see if I can show it better sometime

[morfa]

Absolutely amazing Charles! The cross-polarization works magic in the muscle tissue and I really like how it reveals the other parts as well.

I would love to see more and a cross polarized cross eye stereogram would make my day!

[ABEL]

Hello.

Precious Photos Charles.

I mix, in some occasions, the polarization with oblique light with good results. Thanks.