Don Schaeffer Loc: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QPg_hSyGQE
The old mud puddle is still bringing me some joy. When I looked down into it today, i could see what looked like white clouds blown in the wind as the earth might look like from the space station. The "clouds" were delicate islands of thin algae along with cyanobacteria floating in the rich life soup. These algae clouds sheltered an active family of small protists.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Don, I've followed your posts of the wonders of nature under the microscope for quite some time now. I am an enthusiast in macro and microphotography and I'm quite curious about the setup that you use for your posts such as this "old mud puddle". I do not have a compound microscope however I do have a 3.5X to 45X stereo trinocular microscope and I understand its limitations compared to that of a compound microscope. That said, I believe that there could still be some interesting discoveries albeit in different ways.

Thanks in advance for any guidance you can offer. - Sippy

Don Schaeffer Loc: Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada

Thanks Sippy. The stereo microscope is the last outpost of this world. Slightly higher magnification takes you to the outer reaches of another earth. Documenting the edge of this world, before entering the next, can be very valuable. Have fun.

sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri

Thanks, Don. I use the stereo microscope to inspect my insect specimens and to aid in cleaning and staging them for which it works quite well. I realize that a compound microscope is intended to be used with small, thin, and translucent specimens where light can be used to illuminate through them and I've got my eye out on eBay should a bargain come around. The game is afoot..!