Revisiting The Microcosmos With New Eyes

Have you ever looked into a still pond and wondered what lies beneath the surface? In a single drop of water, a hidden universe teeming with microscopic life thrives! Today, I'm taking a closer look at this hidden world, not only as a curious explorer but also as a photographer testing the capabilities of a new camera attached to my trusty microscope.

This dive into the microscopic isn't just about exploring, however. I'm also experimenting with a well-known technique that is nonetheless new to me - dark field illumination. This allows me to capture the intricate details of these tiny creatures in a whole new light, literally. The results, particularly with the crustaceans, have been truly breathtaking. Imagine tiny, jewel-toned creatures shimmering with a rainbow of colors previously hidden or muted under standard brightfield illumination.

While I am still unfortunately too much of a novice in microscopic life to put a name to many of the fascinating species that I have encountered in recent days, I hope that you too will be amazed at the vibrant world waiting to be discovered in a single drop of water! Enjoy!

Copepods (Family Diaptomidae):

Copepods (Genus Canthocamptus):

Copepods (Genus Diacyclops):

Mosquitos (Family Culicidae):

Genus Cothurnia:

Order Sessilida:

Planarian Worm (Genus Planaria):

Vorticellidae (Family Vorticellidae):

Delicate Fern Moss (Thuidium delicatulum):

Catherine's Moss (Atrichum undulatum):

Tree-skirt Moss (Pseudanomodon attenuatus):

Filimentous Green Algae (Genus Zygnema):

Genus Gonium:

Rotifer (Genus Rotaria):

Raphid Diatom (Order Cymbellales):

Unknown Diatom (Class Bacillariophyceae):

Order Podocopida: