The Flickr Cornuaspersum Image Generatr

Where did you think snails get their slime? Only the best high octane mucus for Brian and his friends!

For Smile on Saturday theme 'Free Theme'.

My friend who runs the local charity shop (and knows about my love for snails) swears by this stuff and loves its moisturising effect on her skin. So I got a bottle, figuring that at the very least it would be useful for a photograph. But it really does make your skin feel soft and smooth, not in the least bit slimy. And I am convinced I now look 20 years younger - this is due to the presence of hyaluronic acid in the mucus, and at my age I need all the help I can get!

No snails were harmed in the making of this mucin.

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Markus Koschinsky

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Ludger Buller

Low morning sunshine provides backlight that shows off the translucence of the snail's tiny body.

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Karin Braun

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Gudrun Treiber

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Gudrun Treiber

In his career as a roady for the slime metal band Black Mucus, Brian worked extremely hard and was always very happy to turn the volume up to eleven.

Anyone who is familiar with the 1984 film 'This is Spinal Tap' will understand this reference. Although initially used by Nigel Tufnel, the lead guitarist of the heavy metal band Spinal Tap, arguing the importance of making an amplifier louder, this phrase has now entered general usage. Of course, if you are not aware of this film, this image will make absolutely no sense...

For Macro Mondays theme 'Knob'. This is my husband's old amplifier left over from the days of his youth, now consigned to the back of a closet with the electric guitar.

No snails were harmed in the making of this photograph.

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Michael Kunde

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Michael Kunde

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Michael Kunde

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Klaus Großberger

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Klaus Großberger

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Elisabeth Berg

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Elisabeth Berg

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Michael Kunde

Brian is clearly enjoying some morning yoga in the sunshine out in the garden, exploring the tiny new leaves that are emerging from my hydrangea bush - a new source of food perhaps?

For Macro Mondays theme 'B&W'. I really enjoyed this theme, with the challenge of setting up the shot knowing it would be in monochrome rather than converting it as an afterthought. The calm air and low morning sun gave an excellent opportunity for back light to show off the translucence of Brian's body which glows nicely in the monochrome conversion. Although I tend to prefer my macros in colour, perhaps I should try and think in monochrome more often. The size of the new leaves was just 4.5 cm across so the image spans about 6.8 cm.

No snails were harmed in the making of this photograph.

Gefleckte Weinbergschnecke (Cornu aspersum)
(c) Sandra Scholz

The phrase 'and so to bed' is attributed to Samuel Pepys, an English writer and politician most well-known for the private diary he kept from 1660 until 1699. This diary included detailed accounts of some famous events such as the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague. He often used this phrase at the end of his daily writing.

For Macro Mondays theme 'Teddy Bear'. Baby Brian is all ready to be tucked in, welcomed with open paws by his precious teddy bear.

When the theme was announced, I knew I could not take part as I own nothing teddy bear-ish. Then, on my weekly visit to the local charity shop, I just happened to ask if they had any tiny teddy bears that I could use for photography. The woman running the shop said they had nothing in at the moment, but she had something at home that I could use - and the next day she brought in a tiny doll's house bunk bed with a little ladder, and a teddy bear!

No snails were harmed in the making of this photograph. The doll's house furnishings were all well-washed before returning.