FAQ

 . What kind of equipment do you use?
 . Do you use special illumination?
 . Which films do you prefer?
 . I want to buy a microscope, how do I proceed?
 . Can I do what you do?
 .  What substances do you use and where do I get those?
 . Are the pictures on the site colored with dye or digitally?
 . Do you sell your pictures?
 .  I want to start a sandcollection, what should I do?



What kind of equipment do you use?
I use three types of microscopes:
For the crystals I use a normal light-microscope, equipped with home-cut polarization filters. Nothing fancy and expensive is needed.
For the bubble and fluid pictures I use the same microscope. Instead of polarization filters I use home-made filters of colored plastic, so called Rheinberg filters, but also some of my own design.
For sand I use a stereo microscope, but since it is always a little difficult to make good pictures through this kind of device, I mainly use a straight tube microscope with a zoom-lens for photography.
The pictures of plastics are done with the same microscope, under polarized light.

My camera is the body of an Olympus OM2, long out of production but still obtainable second hand (at least in Holland.)
Whichever reflex camera you choose, you have to be able to change the frosted glass inside, because any camera focusses in the middle, and the microscope needs you to focus on the total picture.
So before you buy one: ask if this can be done.
I never use a digital camera, for no special reason. I like what I have, I guess.



Do you use special illumination?
Yes, I do.
My light-microscope has a so called Köhler lamp, which illuminates from underneath.
For the stereo I use cold-light illumination : two tubes that can be directed to the subject.
Those tubes are equipped with blue filters, which is obligatory for my photography.
For even illumination I sometimes use a ring light.



Which films do you prefer?
I prefer normal daylight 35 mm films , 100 or 200 ASA, from Fuji, Kodak or Agfa.
Because I use daylight films, I need a bluefilter for any kind of illumination, otherwise the pictures would turn out yellowish.



I want to buy a microscope, how do I proceed?
Think first about what you want to do with it.
No microscope is made to do it all.
For looking at small things, like plankton, algae or crystals you'll need a light-microscope with several good objectives.
For looking at bigger things , like sand, rocks, insects, you'll need a stereo-microscope , because bigger magnifications are not necessary, but you'll need a big 'working distance' to handle larger objects.
There is no reason why you shouldn't buy a second hand microscope.
The only real important thing is that you buy one with good optics. Therefore:
take something with you of your own choice when you look through 'your' potential microscope, and judge the image quality: no distortions in the corners?
Look closely, and take your time. Take a piece of millimeter paper with you to see if the image is really flat, and not distorted in any way.
Maybe you can have the microscope on sight for a few days, to try it out.
WARNING:
Never buy a microscope from a toy store, not even for your children, no matter what it says on the box about the splendid magnification, and all the gadgets that make it look attractive.
These microscopes are completely worthless, and the magnification is humbug. They will cure you from your enthousiasm in no time, believe me!
And:
high magnifications are not always a bonus. Only if you want to see microbes you'll need them. For most interesting things magnifications from 10x to 200x are more than enough, which means that in your light- microscope you'll need at first, say, 3 objectives: 5x, 10x and 20x. and eyepieces ( oculairs) of 10x or less.
Stereo microscopes have either a zoom-system, or fixed magnifications.
So that's easy enough.



Can I do what you do?
Yes, in principle you can.
It depends largely on your equipment, but, especially where the crystals are concerned, also on your artistic abilities, your instinct for colors and your willingness to experiment a lot.
It doesn't always come easy, and it doesn't always work. I spent whole evenings trying crystallizations without any worthwhile result.
But remember: it's not necessary to make pictures right from the start.
Trying and looking is the first step, and can be very satisfactory, and a lot more relaxed!



What substances do you use and where do I get those?
I use all kinds of chemicals, but mostly the very common ones. It is unnecessary to order from chemical companies, at least in the beginning of your career as a 'crystal maker'.
Open your kitchen cupboard, and start trying with salts, sugars, fertilizers, artificial sweeteners, stain removers, sodium bi carbonate, decalcifiers, dishwashing soap, cleaners, and everything your imagination leads you to.
It works, one way or another.

Trying baking powder or pepper is no use, because they don't have a chemical nature, and therefore they don't crystallize.
Medicins are fine too, but not the pills, because they don't contain much crystallizing matter. Try to lay hands on small quantities of ascorbinic acid (vitamine C), paracetamol or acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin): the pure powder will do great.

In time you might want to try other stuff. Avoid apothecaries if you can, for they are expensive. Try specialist drugstores first.
And remember: household chemicals from different brands make different crystals!!



Are the pictures on the site colored with dye or otherwise?
No, they are not.
What you see on your screen, I saw through the microscope.
The color is due to polarization, a natural phenomena that occurs everywhere in the natural world.
To enhance the colors I use transparent plastic, or a piece of tape, which in itself is polarizing material.
These plastics are put on top of the polarization filter(s), that are obtainable from microscope stores..
The soap, fluid and bubble pictures are made without polarization, but (partly) with colored plastic filters.
Those are of my own making, and I have many different ones, with one, two or with many colors. Dyes are never used.
All colors come from optical coloring.



Do you sell your pictures?
No, I don't, in general. There are exceptions though.



I want to start a sandcollection, what should I do?
First think of why you wish to collect sand:
because of the colors ?
because you like to have sands from special places ?
or just from the spots you visited yourself ?
or because you are interested in geology ?
or because you need some for a project ?

Sand is wonderful stuff, that reveils it's secrets only under a microscope. Or rather: under magnification, for a 10x magnifier will suffice for most sands.
Microscopes can be rather expensive, but there are small stereo microscopes, marvellous for looking at sand, that are certainly not expensive.
If you are really interested in your sands, buy one.

Another thing: think hard how you want to store your sands.
It's very difficult to change your system after a while. Don't start with big quantities: you will soon run out of space! If you want to exchange your sands with other collectors, it is sensible to keep to 30ml quantities, that's the amount of a full filmcan.
Some collectors need less sand, and collect in 12 ml. quantities.

Tell everybody you know that you have started to collect sand. Tell them exactly what you have in mind, and don't forget to inform them (and maybe yourself too!) on what sand ís, exactly.
You will be surprised at the imagination of your friends, bringing you all kinds of materials except sand!

In order to (hopefully) get a reasonable quantity, buy ziploc baggies, potentially containing at least 3 or 4 times the amount you need for yourself. Stick a label on it with the information you need to know about where your sand is found. Don't let people think that up for themselves!
Sand labeled with something like: "Florida: coast", is not very satisfying !
When you go on a trip yourself, think of taking bags with you. The more different kinds of sand you have to offer, the more you will obtain by trading with others. Take care to label them correctly.

Be careful though not to remove sand from places where it is forbidden to take some, like reef locations and certain protected area's. This hobby should help to make others aware of natural beauty, not to bring more damage to the environment.

Look on internet for information, and try to find other collectors in your country.
There's the International Sand Collectors Society, the ISCS, publishing a quarterly and a yearly list of members.
Besides this there's a forum for collectors where you can add your name, if you are able and willing to exchange, and come in contact with people who collect sand like yourself, and have interesting things to tell. They can help you start a collection and inform you how to handle it.

An advice: be patient!! It happens that people want rare sands without doing much to offer something in return.No collection can be accumulated overnight. Be creative; there are many ways to find sand. Sand may be for free, but the postal service is not. Don't expect others to send you sand because they have a lot. Try to set up your own collection first, and when you have knowledge, a system and sands to spare, you'll be welcome to exchange with others. Remember: sand is NEVER sold. Buying or selling sand is not an option, and you will be out of the community before you even got there. If you have questions, you can ask me, or go to the forum.

Happy collecting!