I finally got around to using my MP-E65mm again, on the most reliable subjects at this time of year, the springtails. For a change from my usual target area (the soil around the compost heap), I studied the moss growing at the base of the apple tree.
Here's the moss itself. It seems most likely to be Brachythecium plumosum, or Rusty Feather-moss. For this I used a diffused 580EXII for general lighting, and a bare 430EXII shooting towards the camera to try to get a sparkle in the droplets in the moss. On the full-sized version that worked, but you can't tell so easily at the size shown here. This is a five-shot manual stack, taken with the 180L on 5DII.
As a matter of interest, here's a view of the set-up I described.
Here's a close-up (MP-E65mm on 7D) of the moss and its pleurocarps, the "streetlamp"-shaped growths, which I learned are the female organ of the moss.
The first thing I found among the moss was this small springtail, which I think is Isotoma viridis, exploring.
Here's a globular, Dicyrtomina saundersi, up nice and close, probably around 4X.
Hiding in a depression in the bark of the apple tree I found this, which I think is another Isotoma viridis. It was hard to get the light onto it because of the uneven terrain, tending to cast shadows. This is a three-shot manual stack.
Finally, resting among the moss fronds was this, which I think is Isotomurus palustris. It was still in the same position 15 minutes later. This is a manual stack of two shots.
Thanks for looking, and if I've made any mistakes in identifying anything I'd be grateful to anyone that points it out.
