Araneus diadematus chelicera

[enricosavazzi]

Right chelicera of Araneus diadematus male, dorsal view. Mitutoyo M Plan Apo 10x on motorized Mitutoyo FS-60 microscope, Stackshot controller under Zerene Stacker control, slabbed and stacked with PMax, edited in Zerene Stacker and "glowing auras" of the hairs slightly reduced in Photoshop. This is one of the first stacks I have been shooting with the Stackshot controller and the OM System OM-1. LED illumination by a single Ikea LED, conical diffuser enveloping the objective barrel and subject. The idea is a sufficiently diffused but still visibly directional illumination to emphasize the surface pattern. Slightly underexposing might be a good idea next time, to avoid the setae "blowing out".

[Adalbert]

Hello Enrico,
What about the strong side light from 3 directions?
Best, ADi

[enricosavazzi]

Hello Enrico,
What about the strong side light from 3 directions?
Best, ADi

That may also work, depending on the subject. In principle, the bigger the directional light source, the bigger the highlights. Three separate light sources, however, may produce too many reflections/highlights. With just one light source at the top left, it is easier to understand the three-dimensional shape and surface texture of the subject. But it all depends on the subject, the best thing is just to try, and use whatever works.

[rjlittlefield]

Is this really a chelicera? It looks more like a pedipalp.

--Rik

[enricosavazzi]

Is this really a chelicera? It looks more like a pedipalp.

--Rik

You might be right, I will turn it over and see how it looks like on the ventral side.

One of the things that I find interesting is that there seem to be two or three different types of setae.