Tom Pickering, APSA  


Wasp Revisited by Tom Pickering, APSA

November 2020 - Wasp Revisited

November 2020 - Tom Pickering, APSA

Original

About the Image(s)

Specs: $30 USB Microscope (internal LED lighting) connected to a Moto G Power Smartphone, mounted on adjustable stand

Now that I have my new stand for the microscope, I am able to do small stacks (pun intended). This is a 3-image stack of the head of a wasp that I captured handheld with the microscope a few months back. I removed the distracting background, replaceing it with 50% grey. Suggestions?


This round’s discussion is now closed!
8 comments posted




Stuart Ord   Stuart Ord
This has worked really well I think, Tom. The bit between the eye (or head?) and the antenna looks odd - is the eye really flat there, or coming from the background replacement somehow? I didn't know this microscope can be connected to a phone - how did you set it up?   Posted: 11/09/2020 13:38:27
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
(Groups 0 & 53)
It has an adapter that converts the standard USB connector, that I use to connect with my desktop, to a USB-C type connector my smartphone uses. Then there's a free app I found to snap the images with. It will also allow me to do video, but that would be ridiculously jumpy at this point.   Posted: 11/19/2020 17:57:11



Carol Sheppard   Carol Sheppard
Here I was wondering if you were going to introduce us to another bit of body! Cool capture, and the only suggestion I have is that the crop doesn't feel comfortable to me--maybe all of his antennae, or turn vertical and capture his face and antennae? Love the eye and the translucency!   Posted: 11/10/2020 10:58:14
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
(Groups 0 & 53)
I have had little time for play lately, so am still working out my positioning system for critters like this. Feel like a wasp with its head cut off . . . no wait, that's supposed to be a chicken. d;¬{D   Posted: 11/19/2020 17:50:16



Barbara Asacker   Barbara Asacker
(Group 65)
Amazing capture with a smartphone. He looks like a prehistoric monster.   Posted: 11/12/2020 16:06:23
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
(Groups 0 & 53)
If he was as big as this looks, monster is too tame a word I think. d;¬{D   Posted: 11/19/2020 17:53:58



 
What? No forehead? No ear? No eye? Oh, wait! Amazing how close you can get with a $30 instrument. I like that you picked the eye for your subject, even though it doesn't have that honey-combed effect that so many insects seen to possess. It looks like the wasp has donned a vest with those yellow borders.   Posted: 11/18/2020 14:43:27
Tom Pickering   Tom Pickering
(Groups 0 & 53)
Hmmm. The side of the head measures about 3mm, so this is about 6mm, and I'm not as close as I can get yet, but it's rather difficult to distinguish the really close stuff. Got more experimenting to do. d;¬{D   Posted: 11/19/2020 17:53:07