2020 Photomicrography Competition

Chain of daughter individuals from the asexually reproducing annelid species Chaetogaster diaphanus

Dr. Eduardo Zattara Dr. Alexa Bely

Affiliation
CONICET
Instituto Nac. de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medio Ambiente
Bariloche, Rio Negro, Argentina
Technique
Brightfield
Magnification
5X (Objective Lens Magnification)

This creature is a chain of daughter individuals, which are a product of asexual reproduction of the Chaetogaster diaphanus, a type of freshwater worm. Dr. Eduardo Zattara studied and wrote his doctoral dissertation on the unique reproductive process as well as its ability to regenerate lost heads or tails after amputation, which has given us all a glimpse in to a relatively new field of study, regenerative medicine.

Leaf roller weevil (Byctiscus betulae) lateral view

Özgür Kerem Bulur

Location
Istanbul, Turkey
Technique
Image Stacking, Reflected Light
Magnification
3.7X (Objective Lens Magnification)

This image of a leaf roller weevil was taken by Mr. Ozgur Kerem Bulur using reflected light illumination with image stacking. This particular species of insect was chosen for its chitin structure and unique coloring. Because the chitin (the reflective material that makes up the insect’s protective shell) was so reflective, it was important to pay attention to the characteristics of the light when creating the image.

Nylon stockings

Alexander Klepnev

Affiliation
JSC Radiophysics
Moscow, Russia
Technique
Polarized Light
Magnification
9X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Mr. Alexander Klepnev, a working patent engineer by career and photo microscopist by hobby, captured this image of Nylon Stockings using an old Soviet Microscope, a Sony A5000 camera and polarized lighting technique. This photo allows one to see the structure and intricate detail of this every day (for some) item.