Introducing
CombineZ3 - Alan Hadley (UK) provides an overview of the free software
he has written to combine sequential microscope images to improve depth
of focus (now in version 3.0). Illustrated with some examples.
Image
gallery: Botanical drawing - Christina Brodie (UK), a botanical artist,
presents some of her excellent work in this image gallery of macro and
microscopic subjects.
Safe
microscopic techniques for amateurs. I: Mounting microscopic subjects
- Part 1: Introduction - liquid media. Amateurs face increasing
difficulty when obtaining reagents; Walter Dioni (Mexico) offers practical
advice and protocols on using reagents available to the enthusiast.
Statoliths
- Jean-Marie Cavanihac (France) describes and illustrates these intriguing
microscopic features which are used for balance and orientation in a remarkably
wide range of organisms, including man.
Roll
your own microscope - Gordon Couger (USA) describes an ingenious ongoing
project to make a video macroscope for multi-spectral imaging applications.
Circular
oblique lighting Part I - Paul James (UK) shows how to create this
interesting variation on lighting which has benefits for some subjects.
Who's
in charge here? - In Richard Howey's (USA) essay this month he explores
how very 'simple' organisms can produce complex structures and exhibit
complicated behaviour; sea urchins and some protozoa are used as examples.
Looking
back - Campylodiscus by C M Topping - Gregor Overney (USA) describes
and shares images of an attractive Victorian papered diatom slide made
by one of the most famous slide mounters.
'The
Life of the Pond': Required reading in microscopy - Guido Santacana
(Puerto Rico) shares his enthusiasm for a classic book written by William
Amos in the 1960's.
Image
gallery: The Spencer travelling microscope - Bill Ells and Bill Boorn
(UK) show an interesting microscope made by this famous American microscope
maker.
Image
gallery: A walk in the fog with a Coolpix 4500 camera - Ian Walker
(UK) presents some attractive images taken on a foggy morning in the north
of England countryside.