This is a photomicrograph of the tip of the foot of a species of Pond
Skater found in England. This small insect skims along the surface of the
water, thanks to surface tension. The original microslide was prepared by
an unknown mounter in the latter part of the 19th century, and its fine
state of preservation speaks well of the fine job of mounting. This slide,
along with 11 others, was recently circulated by the long established
Postal Microscopical Society of England to its circuit members in the USA.
The photomicrograph was made with a Nikon 950 digital camera, in macro
mode, mounted on a small copy stand directly above one of the inclined
eyepieces (Nikon CFWN 10x/20) of a Leitz biological binocular microscope,
c. 1950, using a 10x Leitz objective. Critical illumination was from a 60w
tungsten bulb, reflected by a plane mirror into the stopped-down 1.25 NA
substage condenser, giving bright field illumination. Having focused the
microscope with the eye (through the other eyepiece), the 950's autofocus
did the rest. Exposure measurement was center-weighted. Since the subject
had no coloration, this image is B&W.
Please note: Since the magnified image perceived by the eye, looking into
the eyepiece of the microscope, appears to be 250mm (10") from the eye, the
camera must be in the macro mode in order to be able to focus to this short
distance.
