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Algae

DateDecember 1993

Object numberANMS1467[917]

NamePhotographic slide

MediumColour transparency film

DimensionsOverall (inc carrier): 50 × 50 mm

ClassificationsPhotographs

Credit LineAustralian National Maritime Museum Collection Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Valerie Taylor in memory of Ron Taylor

Terms

DescriptionAlgae is a broad term for any photosynthetic organism and all algae images within this Valerie Taylor Collection are aquatic species. Algae are the food base for nearly all aquatic life and produce more than half of our world’s oxygen. They can range from microscopic organisms to giant seaweeds reaching 60 metres in length. Algae are the unsung heroes of upholding our natural world and their diversity is a marvel to behold. SignificanceThe simplest definition of macro photography is taking a picture of something so that it appears larger than it is in real life. This technique reveals the tiny hidden wonders of our world. In the early 1970s, Ron made Valerie the first known macrophotography set up for an underwater camera, with extension tubes and framers. Her stunning close-up shots of Great Barrier Reef corals were the cover story for the June 1973 issue of National Geographic. With this setup, Valerie was able to take some of the first high quality macro photographs of very small creatures, like the algae seen in this archive.