Microscopic Trichome of Oxalis Triangularis

• Prize
  Silver in Special Categories/Science / Technology
• Photographer
  Rebekah Helton
• Photo Date
  28 August 2024

An Oxalis triangularis (Purple Shamrock) plant reveals its secret world. Taking one of the plant’s leaves and observing it under epifluorescence microscopy shows the different structures seen only via microscopy. Using a mercury bulb as source light and a filter with UV excitation/emission, the leaf's trichomes along its edges were visible without processing using any staining or manipulations. The trichomes glow brightly off the edges. Taking a series of images and compiling them into a stacked image to obtain a completely in-focus trichome shows the detail and simplicity of the plant.

Rebekah is a self-taught photographer/digital artist based in San Antonio, TX. After earning a doctorate in viral ecology, she embraced her passions for photography and art. Her love of photography has grown over a lifetime of travel thru 30 countries. Her art often captures street and daily life, architecture, and unique views. Drawing inspiration from influential women photographers like Vivian Maier and Sally Mann, she is dedicated to achieving perfection, often seen lying on the ground, crouching or contorting herself to find the ideal angle conveying her inner vision and emotional depth.