Spirogyra - Filamentous Green Algae

This particular algal species, commonly found in polluted water, is often referred to as "pond scum". As the movie switches to a 20x lens and then the 40x, watch closely, toward the center of each cell in the strand, for the cell nucleus. It's right near the middle and shows as a round object that is near transparent, but once you see it, you will see others.

Here's the video.

1. 100x.

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Awesome Mitch!

More cool stuff, Mitch!!

I just finished a project, my first attempt at focus stacking, keep your eyes out and give me some input!

Thanks for looking Freddy and Tony.

Focus stacking is something I have tried many times and failed at miserably. All I have used though is Combine ZP and earlier versions. It sometimes works, sort of, but not good enough to post anything. I just don't seem to get it right.

Beautiful! Im always fascinated by these symmetrical natural structures
Wt are the interwinding strands btw? Dna?

Thanks for looking Hot Shek. The green stands are chlorophyll, which produce starches, that the other internal organelles turn into sugar for use by the plant. Each cell is a separate entity from all the others, although they do grow in long chains. Each cell lives and dies on it's own strengths and weaknesses, unlike animal cells which are all inter-related yet specialized to do different jobs and are all dependent on the strength or weakness of the whole.

Cut a strand of algae in half, and it can live on, but that's all it can do. Cut an animal in half, and all the cells die. Neither one is better than the other, but both are part of the whole wheel.

The algae and other one celled plants and animals, are not all as simple as you would think at first glance. As it turns out, each cell has all the essential organelles to do the same job that a more complex animals different organs do for it, say like a human, or an giraffe. While we have livers, to clean the blood of wastes, this algae has corresponding organelles that clean and remove wastes from it's system, it has a system for physically removing the waste after it's collected, it has a separate organelle that does nothing but tend to the cell wall, just as we have organs that keep our skin intact. It has a way to move fluids around inside it, as we have a circulatory system.

While we are all so completely different, we are also very much alike, and connected, and we all need each other. There is no doubt about that.

Excellent shots......great video......There is a whole world out there that we can't see....thanks for showing part of it!

canonloader wrote in post #13143819
Thanks for looking Freddy and Tony.

Focus stacking is something I have tried many times and failed at miserably. All I have used though is Combine ZP and earlier versions. It sometimes works, sort of, but not good enough to post anything. I just don't seem to get it right.

Mitch, I'm getting a little bit more into the Photoshop part in this thread:

https://photography-on-the.net …/showthread.php​?t=1095769

Hope that helps!

Thanks for looking. Great avatar. LOL

Yes, I am always astounded when I look at something so simple as a drop of water. In comparison, it's like looking a complete small town. Always something interesting going on. I've never been bored.

Excellent shots and video, Mitch.

Spyro Gyra was a name that rang a bell, it was (is) a band from my younger days..

Thanks for looking Bas. When you search Google for Spirogyra, it still comes up with the band site,

canonloader wrote in post #13146452
Thanks for looking Bas. When you search Google for Spirogyra, it still comes up with the band site,

Heh! That's funny!

I ended up at youtube listening to them...

Small world eh?

Canonloader, thanks for the detailed reply!
The green color hints that it’s chlorophyll, but it seems completely different and much beautiful and structured than those found in real plants.

I could think of exceptions, Starfishes and sea cucumbers don’t die when you split them in half! Hahahaha
Wonder why other much more evolved creatures don’t hv that ability!!!

Mother Nature is truly amazing, I hope I could continue to learn from you whether it’s photographic skills, or knowledge about the micro world, thanks!

Chlorophyll is not only green. I recently found out that there is an orange variety too, usually found in diatoms. And, it is even differently shaped that these in the Spirogyra, more of a freeform shape.

As you get into larger plants, multi-celled, the chlorophyll particles are generally round or oval shaped, but they are all part of the makeup of individual cells. I think, one of the first symbiots on the planet, from billions of years ago. One can't live without the other.

Some animals have even developed a symbiotic relationship with chlorophyll. Euglena. They are really cool.