Triloblog

These stereographic trilobite images are a recent and compelling addition to the Flickr Trilobites Pool, contributed to the group by Michael E. Johnston, aka fossilmike. If you cross your eyes carefully, allowing the two images to overlap, you can percieve the three dimensional effect these photos were designed to capture.


These images allow an intimate glimpse of the amazing architecture of trilobite forms. The graceful curves, beautiful patterns and the incredible structural diversity of this amazing arthropod group are strikingly evident when viewed in three dimensions.

click on image for enlargement

These images were gathered from the Museum of Natural Science in Houston Texas.

The term "Steampunk" refers to a science fiction subgenre and its accompanying aesthetic. Characterized by the stories of H G Wells and Jules Verne, advanced technologies like computers or atomic energy appear in the Victorian era, itself a time of significant scientific advancement. Fields like Geology and Paleontology newly informed the public consciousness about concepts like evolution. Naturally, trilobites are a great symbol of the anachronistic and scientific spirit of steampunk, and they have begun to emerge in artworks celebrating the phenomena.

This beautiful Silver Clockwork and Trilobite Bracelet by Chaoticly Creative .com captures the often whimsical nature of steampunk. Devotees of the genre pride themselves on their creativity, and they seem compelled to create their own tecno-Victorian worlds, complete with accompanying costumes and jewelry. Sometimes, they even make their own steam powered robot trilobite!

The diversity of human creativity is as unpredictable as it is complex. People continue to find new ways to express their devotion to exploring and understanding the vanished world of the trilobite. One such example of unique artistic expression is the work on display at the Trilobite Hut; a showcase of the imaginative explorations of the invertebrate and paleontological realm by Laura Passow.

Using a Viking era technique of fabrication called naalbinding, trilobites and their contemporaries are brought to life once again. Extinct cephalopods, eurypterids, and primitive fish join the ranks of trilobites to evoke a vision of Earth's oceans from our distant past. These creations are a testament to a brilliant mind's continued fascination in our planet's inspiring prehistory.

The beautiful and meticulously created trilobite drawings by Sam Gon (featured previously at this blog) are now showcased in The Trilobite Show, an ongoing celebration of the extinct paleoinvertebrates known as trilobites. His elegant works allow us to have an uncluttered view of trilobite morphology, free from the often confusing shadows and reflections found in photographs. His website, A Guide to the Orders of Trilobites, is the definitive informational trilobite resource.

This trilobite mimic, a serolid isopod was among the specimens recovered after an eight week voyage through the Antarctic's Ross Sea, near New Zealand. Other captured species included a previously unknown cephalopod, strange fish, sea spiders and other invertebrates. Recent exploration of Antarctic waters reveals unsuspected diversity among the unusually large creatures found there. Scientists are continually baffled by their discoveries.

The Trilobite Show is a celebration of humans' appreciation of the boundless diversity and incredible beauty of a vanished empire of strange aquatic invertebrates that ruled the ancient oceans. Contributions to the show range from photographic fossil reference and sculpture to Michel's imaginative and often abstract trilobite visions. Michel's trilobites have appeared in his books, in gallery shows and in private collections. In many ways, Michel's works reflect the incredible diversity and unflagging success of one of the most prolific and ubiquitous arthropod groups ever to have existed on this planet. His visions continue to inspire and delight anyone who comes in contact with this maverick artistic genius.