Macro photography of creatures in water

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David
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After reading the book extreme close up photography a few years ago I decided to try to take photos of insects etc in water.
https://www.nhbs.com/extreme-close-up-photography-and-focus-stacking-book?bkfno=212508
Although the book is very interesting I found the idea of using Photographic plates to make observation cells very tricky, cleaning them was so hard and I cut myself a few times.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photographic_plate. I did take one or two photos with them

Rat tailed maggots by davholla2002, on Flickr

Which were a good start but I didn't like the background that much (BTW always ask permission from your wife before you use her clothing as background).

After going on a course with Neil Philips https://www.flickr.com/photos/ukwildlife
He suggested using glass frames from the range
https://www.therange.co.uk/home-fur...s/all-picture-frames/glass-clip-frame/#838452

Which I managed to get to work with help from my wife. Last year I took this
Damselfly img_1245 by davholla2002, on Flickr


Unfortunately I forgot to clear the surface before taking the photograph
I tried again this summer and I think the standard has improved a lot

FishIMG_6296 by davholla2002, on Flickr

If people are interested I will post more details on how to take these and photos of the equipment.

One last photo an Ostracod, I think I can get a better photo next time - this was in a plastic box
OstracodIMG_1219 by davholla2002, on Flickr
 
Very good images.

you damselfly larva looks more like an Olive Upwing (Baetidae) larva to me - it has a definite thorax and gills on each abnominal segment.
 
Interesting thread David (y)
 
Well I didn't photograph the setup - a couple of more shots - damselfly? I have not seen a damselfly in my garden for years so finding this very small one in a bucket of water was brilliant only 3mm long
MayflylarvaIMG_1184 by davholla2002, on Flickr

Flatworm?

FlatwormIMG_1213 by davholla2002, on Flickr

I am in the process of making one bucket full of rotting vegetation- hopefully I will get some rat tailed maggots there in a few weeks
 
If people are interested I will post more details on how to take these and photos of the equipment.

How you can find the time to post details etc. Would like to try this.
 
This is how I took the photos, very much a work in progress still. The good thing about this is that it will all fit in a Sainsbury's bag for life - so is portable. You could even take this on a plane (I have with a previous version, but I was less expert so I didn't get any good photos).

1) Water photography kit. This is two glass frames, from the shop the range
https://www.therange.co.uk/
They are connected together with silicone valve tubing 8mm in diameter, from ebay
This is stuck using aquarium silicone glue. It is important to have string in the middle to keep the shape. Do not cut this ever!!!
Water1IMG_6500 by davholla2002, on Flickr

2) This is the best way to sustain these I have thought of.
Any better suggestions are welcome.
It is two small plastic boxes with slits in the side. The back ground as you can see is not that great - see photo 3,
for how to improve that

Water2IMG_6504 by davholla2002, on Flickr

3) Put some leaves in the container with rainwater. Always use rainwater as it is clearer. One day I hope to use this for salt water creatures, in which case I will take rainwater mixed with the appropriate concentration
of salt. I made a mistake today. I should have lined the bottom with leaves first - this meant lots of photos were spoiled.
Water3IMG_6511 by davholla2002, on Flickr

4) Newt tadpole. Now the leaves are in the background this is better.
Things to note this :-
1) Set up takes 30 minutes or so - you only want to do this
if you have enough time 90 minutes is the minimum.
Today I rushed it and wasted my time.
2) You need a torch or something to get enough light make sure this is fully charged
3) Ideally you would do this as a group and so take turns taking photos, as it is not good for your back sadly not always possible.
(I.e. person a spends 20 minutes on this while person b looks for terrestrial wildlife.
4) You could use knee pads so you can kneel down
Other equipment needed :-
a) net
b) containers to keep the creatures in
c) teaspoon or something to transfer them
d) cloth to wipe the glass
e) small plastic container to take other photos see photo 5
Water4IMG_1266 by davholla2002, on Flickr

5)
This is how I took the Ostracod photos. I just filled this up with water and put them in on top of the leaf. This is not an extra representation, I did this afterwards, but is more or less accurate. In the real thing I had more leaves and they were closer to the surface.I had several Ostracods in the container.

Water5IMG_6529 by davholla2002, on Flickr
 
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