Pollen grains

[colohank]

On Cranesbill, a little wild Geranium. Nikon D810, Nikon Plan 10X infinity microscope objective, Raynox DCR-150 tube lens on Nikon PB-6 bellows. Illuminated by two Godox MF-12 compact flashes w/ diffusers. StackShot, programmed for focus increments of 15 microns.

[klevin]

Interesting, but would it be better without the clever color lighting? Makes it hard for me to see what the true colors of the grains and other parts are.

[colohank]

No clever color lighting. Shot at 5600 degrees Kelvin.

[rjlittlefield]

I agree that the colors seem very blue. The cranesbills that I'm used to have bright yellow pollen, like what is shown at viewtopic.php?t=16582 . Perhaps you have a different kind of cranesbill, or perhaps the light is getting filtered by the surrounding petals, or perhaps something else. A quick look with a loupe under a desk lamp would let you check the true colors.

--Rik

[colohank]

I believe the hue in this instance is most affected by the color of the petals. In other samples, the pollen appears to be orange.

[Lou Jost]

I believe the hue in this instance is most affected by the color of the petals. In other samples, the pollen appears to be orange.

The bright petals are acting as blue-purple light sources illuminating the shadowed pollen.

[klevin]

I believe the hue in this instance is most affected by the color of the petals. In other samples, the pollen appears to be orange.

The bright petals are acting as blue-purple light sources illuminating the shadowed pollen.

Makes sense, and suggests that tinkering with the position of the flashes might make for a better picture? Not sure why the pollen grains on the left of the picture are illuminated partly by the petals, not directly by a diffused flash. Was one flash used as a backlight, behind the petals?

OTOH, maybe the OP experimented a bit and liked this shot the best? Interesting either way...