Becuase the planetarium is inside the botanical gardens, I too was looking at leaf venation. The backlighting works well and you have captured the stomata crisply. If you tried a gum leaf then you should be able to get the oil vesicles. The trick is in finding a non-diseased leaf specimen.
Were the Kiwi fruit shots front lit or back lit? I wonder how a really thin slice of that fruit (or any fruit) would look when backlit?
OK ... how did you get the person's pupil to remain dilated while the flash went off? Was there any red-eye?
The last shot appears to be something that I recall from the dim, musty recess of my mind ... is it running water? Brisbane is now on level 3 water restrictions . But that water shot has given me an idea, I wonder if I can pull it off though? If not, I'll post it with my growing pile of rejects.
Here are some that didn't make it. The colours are natural; they have just been pumped in Corel PhotoPaint by increasing the saturation between 10 and 15%.
Simon, depth of field, distance from the black mat on the floor and no other lights except the flash (or torch in one case), and then boosting contrast in post-process helped give the black background.
Kearn, whatever do you mean? I can sit around and do nothing.. sometimes!
You too Mike, great images and a very interesting topic for the month. A long time ago, I used a slide projector (in a dark room) to back illuminate a leaf so I am very impressed that you got such a superb result using a flash gun, with somewhat less controllable light.
My wife loved it when I woke up one morning and asked her if she wanted to go for a walk in the local forest - she adores walking whereas I need to be dragged out, often screaming and kicking! A case of IIS providing relationship enhancement therapy eh
weres my manners? very nice collection btw Mike - much patience and expertise at work there soooo thats your secret! you sleep witht the camera locked and loaded and one eye open eh
I agree RB's moggy doesnt appear too happy a subject hehe
nice pics everyone!
Natural Pattern rejects
. But that water shot has given me an idea, I wonder if I can pull it off though? If not, I'll post it with my growing pile of rejects.
do you ever sleep/rest/take it easy Mike? just wondering 
I can sit around and do nothing.. sometimes! 
Mr Ving....I think you are barking up the wrong tree......
