Plankton pics

[SantaMonica]

Anyone up for getting focused pics of plankton, especially using a black background? And especially at night?

 

[pr12]

I've got pictures of preserved zooplankton that I collect for research

 

[SantaMonica]

Well that's good. Would really like to have pics in the water though. All pics of reefs are focused on the corals, not on the water in front of the camera, so you never get to see all the food particles floating around.

 

[billsreef]

The field of focus for a macro lens is so small that getting an in situ plantkton photo that is also in focus somewhere between very difficult and impossible. Such macro shots on land require stable mounted cameras, never mind hand held in the ocean.

 

[SantaMonica]

How about a camera set on a rock, with a black sheet/background attached to it about a foot away?

 

[billsreef]

That could probably be done, but a lot of work for something that could be done easier in the lab with a sample from a plankton tow.

 

[SantaMonica]

Yes but that doesn't someone how much plankton is floating in the water.

 

[billsreef]

Yes but that doesn't someone how much plankton is floating in the water.

Sure it does, just need to know size of plankton net, time net is in the water, and speed relative to water (flowmeter rigged to mouth of net). Then it's simple matter of calculating how much water was filtered, and having some grad student count and ID plankton from tow

Your in situ camera set up would need similar calibrations of water flow, calibrated (known) photographic coverage area, and a dive team to deploy it. Then a grad student to ID and count the plankton in the photos

For either option, I'll be happy to drive the boat...any excuse to spend the day on the water

 

[YamahaF934]

I have only seen Plankton from on shore. In Alaska its like a red floating blob. Didnt get pictures, gut it was cool to see.

 

[SantaMonica]

That's why I'd really like the average tank owner to see pics that are focused on the floating particles: because they have never seen them before. Because most or all real reef pics are of the corals or fish, all the plankton particles are out of focus and not seen; so the average tank person thinks there are no particles.

 

[SantaMonica]

A bump, to hopefully remind someone to get in-situ plankton pics or vids, hopefully at night

 

[ebacon]

I have to agree with Bill on this one. While very possible it would require some pretty high end equip, like NatGeo high end... A serious macro lens would be needed, but the focal point on the macro is such that you would really need two views, one wide shot looking out at a "cloud" of plankton, or one close up showing a plankton scurrying about. The problem is that in open water the focus, lighting, water movement, camera movement, would all have to be timed perfectly. A more plausible scenario would be a video shot underwater with said macro lens that then focuses down and follows a plankton. That said you can do that in a Petri dish in a lab.

While a cool idea, and very possible, what your suggestions IMO, sounds like a huge amount of work for very little return.

 

[mayjong]

you can do a "black water" dive on kona hi, see tons of planktonic critters. they drop you on a rope about 60' down in 400' (or more) of water and turn off the lights.
see some Amazing shnizzle floating by...