Water flea (Cladocera), Heesch, Netherlands

Super bad quality, I know. I'm posting this somewhat as a personal bucket challenge thing, to at least be able to say that I once photographed a water flea :)

After pouring some of my mini pond's contents into a glass and inspecting it with a 2.5-5x macro lens, just this tiny bit of water revealed a world of life I'm largely ignorant about. All kinds of tiny little creatures were swimming around, including many water fleas.

I've tried for quite a while to get a good shot, but the roundness of the glass and these subjects being so nervous made it seemingly impossible to get one in proper focus. Or at least my patience ran out.

Be sure to check this top notch shot:

comments (13)

Pudding4brains

Lion

Promoted as an incentive to keep trying and expanding your macro abilities and experience - never stop learning and we will all enjoy the results in the long run :o)
And actually, I _do_ like the dreamy quality of it!
The shot by Jeroen Hoppenbrouwers is a stunner and trying to achieve that makes one realize so all the more.
But I always keep this in mind: One day, when still a student, long, long ago ( ;o) ) we decided to start baking our own bread (yeast based). Our bread came out in a really "heavy" quality (like suitable to attack burglars with it) but we did like the taste of it, escpecially when fresh from the oven. Over time we fine tuned our process and after a year or so of baking every week we finally achieved the fluffy, air-filled, sponge-like structures that supermarkets were selling under the name of "bread" at the time (nowadays much better bread is available). Not at all what we wanted and longing back to the days we had mediocre "technique" :o)
Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you for the encouragement, Arp :) Posted 5 years ago

Patomarazul

Lion

So niiiiiice! Posted 5 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks! Posted 5 years ago

Flown Kimmerling

Lion

A beautiful water phantom! Posted 5 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks :) Posted 5 years ago

Paul Dirksen

Lion

Still a nice try Ferdy, well done.
Posted 5 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Thanks :) Posted 5 years ago

Christine Young

Lion

I just found and photographed one too! A first for me as well :) Posted 5 years ago
1. Ferdy Christant
  
  Lion
  
  Cross linking it here:
  
  Congrats on the find, and clever to put it under the microscope! Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
2. 1. Christine Young
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks! I couldn't get a shot of it otherwise. I tried putting it in the aquarium, but it constantly moved and there was way too much water space to focus. It was very frustrating, as I'm sure you can relate to! So, I ended up putting it in a thin smear of water and scoping it. I had to turn off the microscope light and use external lighting to reduce the glare. Posted 5 years ago, modified 5 years ago
  2. 1. Ferdy Christant
      
      Lion
      
      Understandable, in my little drinking glass I spent several hours positioning the glass, but they're just to movable to capture/focus this way. Posted 5 years ago
    2. 1. Christine Young
        
        Lion
        
        Several hours, wow - you are dedicated. I gave up trying to get an aquarium photo after about 5 minutes. I wanted to try again, but of course, the water flea got eaten before I had a chance to get back to it. Posted 5 years ago

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By Ferdy Christant

Uploaded Jun 15, 2020. Captured May 18, 2020 19:53.

Explore Netherlands 8,314 2,306 0

NIKON D850
f/1.2
1/100s
ISO1000
50mm