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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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How to take beautiful agar and jar photos 1
#28630738 - 01/22/24 07:52 AM (11 months, 19 days ago) |
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Hi photographers.
Please give away your secrets. When I try to take photos of things with reflective surfaces such as agar plates, glass jars, or plastic bags, I have tried all sorts of different lighting schemes - in the sun outside, in the shade, with bed lamps, LED lamps, you name it - but always I go nuts fighting with those *&@#!*&^$ reflections! How do you guys get such beautiful pics?
Thanks in advance for giving away your mojo
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MrJong
Autismotronic 3000


Registered: 09/30/23
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA] 4
#28630855 - 01/22/24 10:01 AM (11 months, 19 days ago) |
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Light to the side (not too intense) shining through the glass is how I do it, usually in a dark room so there's only one source.

Got some major bubblage in there
You get the idea.
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: MrJong]
#28630912 - 01/22/24 11:00 AM (11 months, 19 days ago) |
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Thank you.
Off topic - what are those bubbles?
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MrJong
Autismotronic 3000


Registered: 09/30/23
Posts: 771
Last seen: 11 hours, 25 minutes
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28630915 - 01/22/24 11:02 AM (11 months, 19 days ago) |
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Quote:
SWBZA said: Thank you.
Off topic - what are those bubbles?
I waited too long to pour the agar and half the bottle solidified at the bottom before I poured, I'm trying to not pour too hot so I don't get condensation but it looks like I might as well just do that and find another way of removing it afterwards.
Air bubbles
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Baba Yaga
Psychedelic Minion

Registered: 09/13/20
Posts: 4,496
Loc: Try 'n' Error Boot Camp
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: MrJong] 5
#28630936 - 01/22/24 11:19 AM (11 months, 19 days ago) |
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Same as Mr Jong, placing dishes on a dark surface and placing a LED torch on one side so the surface is illuminated by rake light. This brings out the surface structure and helps to focus on the plate surface.


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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: Baba Yaga] 2
#28631610 - 01/23/24 12:21 AM (11 months, 18 days ago) |
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Thanks, folks, light from the side, then. Happy snappy, all.
Kind regards
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LogicaL Chaos
Ascension Energy & Alien UFOs




Registered: 05/12/07
Posts: 71,181
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28631618 - 01/23/24 12:57 AM (11 months, 18 days ago) |
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Its all about light direction and intensity.
Side lighting is best. Dim forward-facing light is fine. If you really wanna get fancy, do underside lighting. It diffuses the light inside the LC/LI. Works really well for LCs/LIs but Ok for Agar plates. For agar, i think side lighting looks best.
Id also recommend getting a light with light diffusion. Diffused light is great for adding front light. Shades down on a window on a sunny day is a great source of diffused lighting.
-------------------- "The beginnings of unlimited energy will likely emerge around 2024 and will become a worldwide manifestation by 2040. Once unlimited energy is established, the possibilities will be endless - your progressive movement will accelerate to astronomical heights." - Pleiadian Prophecy 2020 The New Golden Age by James Carwin
PROJECT BLUE BOOK ANALYSIS (PDF Download) - 312 pages! | Psychedelics & UFOs | Ready to Contact UFOs? | The Source on Mushrooms Canned Computer Duster SAB Tek 👨🔬 | Trippy Gematrix | Dj TeknoLogical | Fentanyl Test Kits | R.I.P. Big Worm || The Start of the Ascension Process was 2020. 🌎🌍🌏
  Oregon Eclipse Festival 2017 :: Aug 19th - 21st :: Pure Paradise   Very Effective LSA Extraction Tek | 💧 Advanced Cold Water LSA Extraction Method 💧 |  Mescajuana - Mescaline with Marijuana | DMT Dab Bongs | UFO Technology! Shpongle
     
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elasticaltiger
Like Tigers in Coitus




Registered: 06/24/13
Posts: 8,438
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LogicaL Chaos] 1
#28631645 - 01/23/24 01:52 AM (11 months, 18 days ago) |
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-------------------- First time growing cakes? DON'T make a Shotgun Fruiting Chamber
The Shmuvbox. - The Old TC's Like it
Afraid to Start Growing From Your Own Prints? Drop it Like a Tiger! No Pouring. No Syringes. No Cutting. No flaming. No Contamination. No Bullshit.
"The best thing to do while your waiting is to start more stuff. I usually got so much happening that I have tossed projects simply because I didn't have time for them. -Pastywhite QFT
Pastywhite's Easy Agar Tek (PastyPlates)
Tiger Drop Video Demos By munchauzen
Van Gogh would’ve sold more than one painting if he’d put tigers in them.―Bill Watterson
EZEKIEL 23:20
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: elasticaltiger] 1
#28634190 - 01/25/24 09:13 AM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Thanks for all the advice. I think my photos are better now. Kind regards and happy snapping.

This is a clone of the large Golden Teacher in my signature - the one held by the blue glove. I am particularly fascinated by the vertical growth in the centre of the plate. This is myc growing on the actual fruit that I cloned to the plate. Initially this was the only growth and it looked like a little porcupine full of fierce needles! I'm actually a little disappointed I didn't take a "before" photo then. It would have been cute to see the difference. Anyway, the myc took off and now they look nice and fluffy.
BTW, I've since learned that the greedy "clone the biggest one" is not necessarily the best approach. Next time I'm going to clone fruit that grow in a tight cluster. I've read that this is your best bet if you're going for a full canopy and max weight per harvest. One never stops learning in this hobby. What a pleasure!
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elasticaltiger
Like Tigers in Coitus




Registered: 06/24/13
Posts: 8,438
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28634224 - 01/25/24 09:33 AM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Quote:
SWBZA said: Thanks for all the advice. I think my photos are better now. Kind regards and happy snapping.

This is a clone of the large Golden Teacher in my signature - the one held by the blue glove. I am particularly fascinated by the vertical growth in the centre of the plate. This is myc growing on the actual fruit that I cloned to the plate. Initially this was the only growth and it looked like a little porcupine full of fierce needles! I'm actually a little disappointed I didn't take a "before" photo then. It would have been cute to see the difference. Anyway, the myc took off and now they look nice and fluffy.
BTW, I've since learned that the greedy "clone the biggest one" is not necessarily the best approach. Next time I'm going to clone fruit that grow in a tight cluster. I've read that this is your best bet if you're going for a full canopy and max weight per harvest. One never stops learning in this hobby. What a pleasure!
That is a GREAT photo. I wish everyone would post such clear pictures of their plates.
-------------------- First time growing cakes? DON'T make a Shotgun Fruiting Chamber
The Shmuvbox. - The Old TC's Like it
Afraid to Start Growing From Your Own Prints? Drop it Like a Tiger! No Pouring. No Syringes. No Cutting. No flaming. No Contamination. No Bullshit.
"The best thing to do while your waiting is to start more stuff. I usually got so much happening that I have tossed projects simply because I didn't have time for them. -Pastywhite QFT
Pastywhite's Easy Agar Tek (PastyPlates)
Tiger Drop Video Demos By munchauzen
Van Gogh would’ve sold more than one painting if he’d put tigers in them.―Bill Watterson
EZEKIEL 23:20
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LadysKnight
Hello Ladies


Registered: 10/09/15
Posts: 2,331
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28634229 - 01/25/24 09:36 AM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Nice pic. Ime, that is enmeshed with mold. I would take some tweezers and grab the end of that long arm that is coming towards the camera to a new plate and hope for the best.
-------------------- Don't follow leaders
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight]
#28634249 - 01/25/24 09:52 AM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Quote:
LadysKnight said: Nice pic. Ime, that is enmeshed with mold. I would take some tweezers and grab the end of that long arm that is coming towards the camera to a new plate and hope for the best.
Mmm... Teach me please - how do you identify that enmeshed mold? "Enmeshed mold" is a new term for me.
With a first clone I'm not disappointed or surprised if there is contam. Thanks, time for T2.
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LadysKnight
Hello Ladies


Registered: 10/09/15
Posts: 2,331
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28634304 - 01/25/24 10:25 AM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Between the two sectors towards the camera. Little white bits that seem not attached to anything else, coming from nowhere, going nowhere. Overall cottony appearance elsewhere.
-------------------- Don't follow leaders
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight] 2
#28634391 - 01/25/24 11:29 AM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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I think I see it. I tried to photograph it more clearly - see below. If I look at the plate from the side, those wispy bits seem to grow upwards, not on the agar surface. Sadly, I notice these over most of the plate, including where there is good myc growth.

Here is another photo taken from the side of the plate showing the height of the growth - almost as high as the cloned fruit in the centre. It is from between 9 o'clock and 11 o'clock on the original photo of the plate:

Ratz! Better clean up quickly Helps if you know what to look for on plates. I learned something very useful today. Thank you.
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LogicaL Chaos
Ascension Energy & Alien UFOs




Registered: 05/12/07
Posts: 71,181
Loc: The Inexpressible...
Last seen: 2 minutes, 20 seconds
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28634434 - 01/25/24 12:19 PM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Great photos! What an improvement! 
I dunno LadysKnight, that looks like tomentose mycelium to me
-------------------- "The beginnings of unlimited energy will likely emerge around 2024 and will become a worldwide manifestation by 2040. Once unlimited energy is established, the possibilities will be endless - your progressive movement will accelerate to astronomical heights." - Pleiadian Prophecy 2020 The New Golden Age by James Carwin
PROJECT BLUE BOOK ANALYSIS (PDF Download) - 312 pages! | Psychedelics & UFOs | Ready to Contact UFOs? | The Source on Mushrooms Canned Computer Duster SAB Tek 👨🔬 | Trippy Gematrix | Dj TeknoLogical | Fentanyl Test Kits | R.I.P. Big Worm || The Start of the Ascension Process was 2020. 🌎🌍🌏
  Oregon Eclipse Festival 2017 :: Aug 19th - 21st :: Pure Paradise   Very Effective LSA Extraction Tek | 💧 Advanced Cold Water LSA Extraction Method 💧 |  Mescajuana - Mescaline with Marijuana | DMT Dab Bongs | UFO Technology! Shpongle
     
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LadysKnight
Hello Ladies


Registered: 10/09/15
Posts: 2,331
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LogicaL Chaos] 1
#28634466 - 01/25/24 12:44 PM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Quote:
LogicaL Chaos said: Great photos! What an improvement! 
I dunno LadysKnight, that looks like tomentose mycelium to me 
I get it. And I've been wrong before. I have mold PTSD and am extremely sensitive to it. Definitely hold that plate and see what it does. Maybe send it to one jar of grain and then bulk if it makes it that far. We may all learn something.
Also, try transferring just the fuzz and see what it does on a new plate
-------------------- Don't follow leaders
Edited by LadysKnight (01/25/24 12:50 PM)
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight] 2
#28634490 - 01/25/24 01:04 PM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Thanks, both. Will most certainly transfer that rope. I've never used tweezers for cleaning up, so that is also going to be a nice new adventure. I'm doing it in my mind already and seeing the flame sterilised tweezers cooling down in the new agar plate, I'm visualising pulling off that rope, and then, when I try to gently put it down on the new, clean plate, I see that strand of myc sticking to the tweezers, refusing to let go! Funny how our minds can sometimes create problems when we have zero data to go on... 
I'll take the plate to grain and see what happens. 
Oh, and good suggestion to also test the fuzz alone on a new plate. Looking forward to the experiment.
Edited by SWBZA (01/25/24 01:06 PM)
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LadysKnight
Hello Ladies


Registered: 10/09/15
Posts: 2,331
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28634499 - 01/25/24 01:11 PM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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-------------------- Don't follow leaders
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LogicaL Chaos
Ascension Energy & Alien UFOs




Registered: 05/12/07
Posts: 71,181
Loc: The Inexpressible...
Last seen: 2 minutes, 20 seconds
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight] 1
#28634518 - 01/25/24 01:28 PM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Oh i totally get that. I have had my fair share of mold infections that have caused me much distress Cant go wrong with rhizomorphic mycelium, its so different than mold mycelium that its always a safe bet.
Good idea on the separated agar plates. Its a great learning experience as well to see different types of mushroom mycelium growth as well as possible incognito molds  
Plus more beautiful agar pics!
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LogicaL Chaos] 1
#28635050 - 01/25/24 09:41 PM (11 months, 16 days ago) |
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Quote:
LogicaL Chaos said:
Plus more beautiful agar pics! 
No pressure Looking forward to the journey.
Quick one: this has become a very interesting discussion, but it is no longer just about photography. Do I take it to a different thread? A grow log? Is this something that I take to my Journal? Learning about this forum as much as about shrooms.
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Takeatrip
Stranger
Registered: 09/10/23
Posts: 195
Last seen: 3 months, 14 days
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA] 1
#28637553 - 01/28/24 01:16 AM (11 months, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
SWBZA said: Hi photographers.
Please give away your secrets. When I try to take photos of things with reflective surfaces such as agar plates, glass jars, or plastic bags, I have tried all sorts of different lighting schemes - in the sun outside, in the shade, with bed lamps, LED lamps, you name it - but always I go nuts fighting with those *&@#!*&^$ reflections! How do you guys get such beautiful pics?
Thanks in advance for giving away your mojo 

 I took these shots with my iphone 7 plus. I did not technically need these plates as they were an added bonus to what I was doing at the time. So, to get them so clear I removed the lid of the petri dish and got up close underneath my uplighter lamp which I believe was the only light source. I had to tap the screen of my phone a few times to get the focus spot on but thats all I did. I cant say they come out this good all the time, but you do have to experiment a little. Sometimes if I take pictures in the evening this forum says my file sizes are too large and that gets quite annoying when I want you guys to look at some contamination or whatever it is. Sometimes I take photos on my kitchen worktop by the window with natural light coming in with no lamps or light from my kitchen and it works well but that is usually around the middle of the day so the sun is in a good position for me. What camera are you using?
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SWBZA



Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: Takeatrip]
#28637568 - 01/28/24 01:41 AM (11 months, 13 days ago) |
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Quote:
Takeatrip said:
So, to get them so clear I removed the lid of the petri dish and got up close underneath my uplighter lamp which I believe was the only light source. I had to tap the screen of my phone a few times to get the focus spot on but thats all I did.
<snip>
What camera are you using?
Takeatrip is a cheat!!! When I saw those pics, my first thought was "how on earth is that agar so clean??". Then I read and understood: no lids on the petris. Sneaky! 
I use a OnePlus 9. I concur with that "tap the screen a few times". I've tried searching on the web how to manually change the focus point, but no luck in getting it right so far. Especially if there is condensation on the lid, I battle to convince the phone to focus on the actual myc on the agar surface. Beautiful photo of clear drops on the lid, out of focus myc
Also, the focal point keeps changing if I zoom in or out manually, and the camera has a mind of its own trying to auto-guess whether to go macro or not. I've ended up setting my camera to maximum resolution, taking photos from further away, and then cropping the photo when editing. As you say, else the upload file is too large, anyway.
Thanks for responding. I'm a little less envious knowing those plates had no lids. Had me feeling wholly inadequate there for a while, bud
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LogicaL Chaos
Ascension Energy & Alien UFOs




Registered: 05/12/07
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Loc: The Inexpressible...
Last seen: 2 minutes, 20 seconds
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28638260 - 01/28/24 02:40 PM (11 months, 13 days ago) |
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Great photos in this thread, especially the last photo. You can see how the bright sunlight illuminates the top-edge side of the petri dishes as well as the top-down portion of the lid: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28638035#28638035
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SWBZA



Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LogicaL Chaos] 1
#28638822 - 01/28/24 10:17 PM (11 months, 12 days ago) |
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Quote:
LogicaL Chaos said: Great photos in this thread, especially the last photo. You can see how the bright sunlight illuminates the top-edge side of the petri dishes as well as the top-down portion of the lid: https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/28638035#28638035
Thanks for the pointer. Much appreciated.
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SWBZA



Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA] 2
#28644705 - 02/03/24 01:19 AM (11 months, 7 days ago) |
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Update 3 February
First-off:
Quote:
LadysKnight said: Nice pic. Ime, that is enmeshed with mold. I would take some tweezers and grab the end of that long arm that is coming towards the camera to a new plate and hope for the best.
I declare LadysKnight a sadist. Grabbing a rope with tweezers sounds easy. LadysKnight, I think you increased my vocubulary with this exercise 
Here is the evidence of me "grabbing a rope" with tweezers. You will notice multiple attempts. Each time it's flame the tweezers, cool them, try again... Eventually I just gave up. I tweezed something and dipped the tweezers in the clean agar plate. I actually could not see anything being transferred, but wrapped the plate nonetheless to see what will happen, if anything.

This is what happened. Looks fluffy. Fluffy good, or fluffy bad? Not sure, but at least it is fluffy 

For the "fuzzy" transfer, I went back to my trusty sabre.

Bacterial, I think. Hard to see on the photo, but a shiny "wet" layer all over what is growing.

There you go, the outcome of the experiment. I'll let the transfer plates grow just to see what happens.
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LadysKnight
Hello Ladies


Registered: 10/09/15
Posts: 2,331
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA] 1
#28644867 - 02/03/24 06:45 AM (11 months, 7 days ago) |
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Well done SWBZA! Yep, let it ride and see what we get. Hold the old plate too. Hopefully you have some other projects going on to keep you busy.
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight] 2
#28653594 - 02/10/24 12:24 AM (11 months, 21 hours ago) |
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Some feedback. The "tiny tweezer transfer" and the T2 from that:

Closeup of the T2 plate:

I have such severe PTSD from "fluffy tomentose-looking stuff" (see my LAGM posts) that I'm not even thinking of trying to get excited about that plate. Think I may take it to T3 water agar and see whether I get some rhizo. Don't have the confidence to call that cube myc.
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LadysKnight
Hello Ladies


Registered: 10/09/15
Posts: 2,331
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28653795 - 02/10/24 07:47 AM (11 months, 14 hours ago) |
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T2 looks pretty good. What happened to the fuzzy bit? And how is the original plate looking?
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight] 1
#28653870 - 02/10/24 08:58 AM (11 months, 12 hours ago) |
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Quote:
LadysKnight said: T2 looks pretty good. What happened to the fuzzy bit? And how is the original plate looking?
Original plate:

A bit hard to see on the photos, but the fuzzy transfer is all covered in what looks like a wet layer - looks almost like "melted agar" all over whatever grew.


I would have guessed "bacterial" based on recent plates I got feedback on, but we started thinking enmeshed mold. That should not go slimy, right? Could be a contaminated transfer on my part, though.
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LadysKnight
Hello Ladies


Registered: 10/09/15
Posts: 2,331
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28653897 - 02/10/24 09:11 AM (11 months, 12 hours ago) |
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Yep, didn't expect bacteria, expected mold. Are you still planning to take the original plate to grain?
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight]
#28653936 - 02/10/24 09:39 AM (11 months, 12 hours ago) |
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Quote:
LadysKnight said: Yep, didn't expect bacteria, expected mold. Are you still planning to take the original plate to grain?
Mmmm... I guess that would be a good test. I've got several grain bags and two grain jars I need to spawn to bulk, but I'm sure I can slip in sterilising some grains one evening this week and give it a shot. Will keep you updated.
Thanks for the continued interest and feedback
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LadysKnight
Hello Ladies


Registered: 10/09/15
Posts: 2,331
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28653961 - 02/10/24 09:53 AM (11 months, 12 hours ago) |
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight]
#28653967 - 02/10/24 09:58 AM (11 months, 11 hours ago) |
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: LadysKnight] 1
#28657876 - 02/13/24 03:08 AM (10 months, 28 days ago) |
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Quote:
LadysKnight said: Yep, didn't expect bacteria, expected mold. Are you still planning to take the original plate to grain?
Sent!
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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA] 1
#28658230 - 02/13/24 10:24 AM (10 months, 28 days ago) |
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Imatryin
Stranger



Registered: 07/06/21
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: SWBZA]
#28682856 - 03/01/24 04:59 PM (10 months, 11 days ago) |
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Throwing in my app preference. iPhone: pro camera-omnipotent camera. Pictures taken with IPhone 12 Pro. I took the lid off for a transfer, in front of an FFU. It wasn’t just a photo op. King trumpet, if you are wondering.

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SWBZA


Registered: 05/09/23
Posts: 304
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Re: How to take beautiful agar and jar photos [Re: Imatryin]
#28683287 - 03/01/24 11:46 PM (10 months, 10 days ago) |
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Quote:
Imatryin said: Throwing in my app preference. iPhone: pro camera-omnipotent camera. Pictures taken with IPhone 12 Pro. I took the lid off for a transfer, in front of an FFU. It wasn’t just a photo op. King trumpet, if you are wondering.


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