What the heck are sporophytes?

Wicked_Dark

Another sort of, semi-project I've had in the works is to photograph sporophytes. They are the spore pods of moss (part of the plant's reproductive cycle) and until I started noticing them, I had no idea that they differed so much from moss species to species. I know...I'm really weird, but photographing them is way more challenging than I first imagined. A lot of you guys shoot stuff that moves and strangely so do I, but it's the light that moves, not the subject. Anyway...make way for the sporophytes!

1 - with (I think) a bonus stone fly


2 - Mahna Mahna, do do do do do


3 - Panic at the Disco


4 - Hats Off!


5 - Spatulate sporophytes


and last but not least,
6 - Snakey sporophytes


All shot with my old Olympus 90mm macro and natural light (duh). Not sure if anyone else finds these little guys weirdly intriguing...like visiting aliens, but I thought I'd throw them out there even though they're not bugs or dewdrops. :dunno

IPClark

Really nice set of images. They make a very cool micro landscape. I photographed some moss sporophytes last year I think with a tiny little spider on them. Think the spider was about 2mm in size.

Wicked_Dark

hey thanks. Funny about the spider. I mostly don't notice the tiny ones until post. Then it's like a surprise.

Art Scott

Very cool.....I tried to look at your exif and it was not there...would you mind post the exif for us.
This interesting and I am trying to decide on which Macro lens I want...I have a manual focus 105 but
want to get an AF one.........

Lord Vetinari

Lovely shots- interesting subjects.
Brian v.

Wicked_Dark

Thanks Art and Brian.

Mine is an oldie, Art, and not autofocus. It's an 80s vintage (I assume) Olympus 90mm f2 macro. I coveted one back in the 80s when I worked in camera retail, but couldn't afford one. Almost 20 years later I could and it gets way more use on the digital body than it ever did on the film bodies. It probably doesn't perform all that differently from your 105 (is that the old AI lens? I coveted that, too.). It is one amazing piece of glass though and sharper than I probably do it justice.

DeVil

Lovely images

Wicked_Dark

Thanks much. I got quite obsessed with them for a time.

Art Scott

Yes mine is the old 105 F4 AIS lens with the PN-11 1:1 adapter.....Cannot believe I keep seeing this lens selling for $250 and upwards.....I watched one auction where the lens and adapter sold for nearly 500......Great Images.