Submitter's name:	Hans van Veluwen
Title:	Daphnia pulex
Camera:	Olympus OM-4Ti
Lens:	Zuiko Macro 20mm/F3.5 on Objective Lens Mount PM-MTob
Film:	Fuji Provia 100 (RDPIII-014)
Exposure:	Auto Mode, +1.5 stop exposure compensation
Aperture:	F8
Shutter Speed:	1/60 sec.
Magnification:	13.5x
Extension & support:	Olympus Auto Bellows + Extension Tube 14 (manual) on Macrophoto Stand VST-1 with Extension Bar VST-E on Trans-illuminator Base X-DE, metal stage plate, mechanical stage, microscopic glass with built-in water reservoir.
Main illumination (transmitted):	T28 Macro Twin Flash 1 with Wide Adapter T32, T Power Control 1, Iomega Zip AC/DC Adapter (5VA,1A) for the modelling lights, table tripod + cold shoe for flash head support.
Auxiliary illumination (incident):	Trans-illuminator LSD, Volpi Intralux 51-H Fibre Cold Light, blue filters.
Other equipment:	Varimagni Finder, Focusing Screen 1-12, Motor Drive 2, M18V Control Grip, Relay Cord 1.2m.
Subject info & technique:	The best way to freeze small living (and fast moving) subjects like this water flea (size: 0.5~1mm) at high magnifications is to use flash lighting. The T28 is the most suitable flash unit, especially for transmitted illumination with macro- & microphotography, because you can use its modelling lights to focus. I put one of the T28 heads on a miniature table tripod behind the X-DE (without its base lamp, using its rear hole) to provide the main lighting. The auxiliary dual incident lighting was added because not all parts of the Daphnia are equally transparent. The Extension Tube 14 was added to the Bellows because otherwise the front plate of the bellows touches the mechanical stage mounting screw. This gives the same functionality as the Adapter 0.5x.
Here you can leave some comments about this picture. Please fill out all the fields before submitting the form. Once you're done filling out the form, click the "Leave comments" button, after which you can see your comments down below.
Your name:
Your e-mail:
Comments:

Comment left by: Olaf Greve (no e-mail specified)

This to me seems to be the most challenging shot of the gallery so far. Great work, and to realise that this animal is actually alive and shot at 13,5x magnification is incredible!

Comment left by: siddiq (no e-mail specified)

quite a technical feat... you should've taken a self portrait amidst all the gear to submit for TOPE1 ;)

Comment left by: Mike Cormier (ronaldcormier@hotmail.com)

This shot is truely spectacular. I haven't worked out the effective magnification, but surely this must stretch the definition of macro photography into the micro photographic range. I'm really pleased to see this quality of high magnification work. How ever did you accumulate the rare pieces of Oly equipment that made this shot possible? Bravo!

Comment left by: Chris Barrett (drchrisbarrett@netscapeonline.co.uk)

What you don't mention is how it took you to get such a great shot. Your patience is amply rewarded!

Comment left by: Matt BenDaniel (matt@starmatt.com)

Wow! The photographer has ample skills!

Comment left by: Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com)

Technically superb! I can even see what the little critter had for breakfast . You are obviously an advanced macro shooter and I bet you've got quite a few other masterpieces in your portfolio. I can only gaze in awe.

Comment left by: The photographer (no e-mail specified)

Additional technical info: To limit the space it could swim in I removed as much water as possible with absorbing paper. I operated the screws of the mechanical stage with my left hand, and held the M.18V Control Grip in my right hand, so that I could fire as soon as it was in the picture. I also shot almost 30 shots on three different Crustacea so that I could pick the best one. Always bracket and shoot a lot with macro / microphotography! Yes 13.5x is at the edge where microphotography starts. I could also have made the shot with the same magnification using my Olympus KC microscope, photo eyepiece FK 3.3x and 4x objective.

Comment left by: Chuck Norcutt (norcutt@attglobal.net)

Wow!

Comment left by: John A. Lind (jlind@netusa1.net)

Excellent composition and lighting. All the work really paid off with a very interesting and visually pleasing image! Not much more to say than producing this was a superb technical feat to overcome all the difficulties.

[Previous]

[Return to index]

[Next]