Part 1: <i>Tylototriton verrucosus</i> - embryo photo series (NEW)

[john]

These were laid last night by my large female Tylototriton verrucosus, and are at slightly different points of development.

16 cell Preblastula:

64 cell Preblastula:

Early Blastula:

 

[nate]

Awesome

 

[benjamin]

What camera do you use, it must have an excellent macro function.

 

[john]

Nate: thanks.

Benjamin: Digital SLR with a 1:1 macro lens that focuses to about 25 cm.

 

[jesper]

Wow, I never thought it was possible to get a good shot of individual cells using only a macro lens...
Really nice!

 

[john]

Well, I would like a closer-focusing macro lens (that would be very expensive though) or, preferably, the new Nikon D2X (12.4 MP but retaining the same focal length rendering as my D70). Got €5000 to spare?

 

[joeri]

Awesome pictures John, details are great.
Correct me if I'm wrong; but if you want any more details - you'd be looking for a microscope that captures results on a film

 

[andrew]

John, There are some beautiful photographs on this site. Have you considered creating a gallery of species? including eggs tadpoles etc?
Andy

 

[patrick]

Really excellent pictures! I hope you will continue the series

btw, I also have a Nikon SLR Camera now...

regards,

Patrick

 

[john]

Joeri: Thanks for the compliments. Actually, simply by upping the megapixels of the camera (i.e. getting a D2X) would give a lot more detail, but yes, the microscope would be the way to go.

Andrew: Well, Caudata Culture (http://culture.caudata.org) sort of fills that role right now.

Patrick: Thank you too for the compliment . I do intend to continue the series - there already is one though from a few years ago and it's rather good. You can see it here:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/985/747.html

Good luck with your new camera - the D70 is a very popular camera at the moment, and good value for money. Of course, it's the lenses that cost the real money!

 

[andrew]

Cheers John, i didn't even know that was there!

 

[john]

Andrew: No worries, mate.

 

[paris]

how is it that the eggs stay so clear?-alot of mine seem to collect dirt or get opaque within the fist stages-its only as they near hatching that the embryo is clearly visible....

 

[john]

They were in a recently cleaned tank when laid and they were removed to a "spotless" tank within 18 hours of being laid. They'll become less distinct as they near hatching, due to the growth of algae and other micro thingies.

 

[john]

Personally, what I like about these photos is the fact that you can see all of the layers around the egg and you can actually make out the imperfections in the jelly itself.

 

[russ]

Awesome set, you should continue the series as they develop. I want to do a series this season on some eggs at weekly intervals.

RUSS

 

[jean-pierre]

Wow, realy very good do you use extension rings for this type of photo?

JP.

 

[john]

Jean-Pierre: No, no extension rings. Thanks for the compliment

.

Jesper: about the 25 cm, that's from the focal plane (i.e. the "film", or in this case, the CCD), not from the front of the lens. If you take it from the front of the lens it's only about 5 cm.

 

[patrick]

Hi John,

<blockquote><hr size=0><!-quote-!><font size=1>John Clare (John) wrote on Sunday, October 31, 2004 - 00:41 :</font>

"Good luck with your new camera - the D70 is a very popular camera at the moment, and good value for money. Of course, it's the lenses that cost the real money!"<!-/quote-!><hr size=0></blockquote>

I have the D100.. yes, you're right, the lenses can be really very expensive.. 3 lenses are in my stock now, one is for macro, tested this spring on axolotl eggs..

regards,

Patrick