Russian Snowflakes
To see KOMO4news' photo gallery of these many wonderful snowflake shots go here:
http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Photographer-gets-incredible-close-up-shots-of-snowflakes-234273781.html?tab=gallery&c=y
http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Photographer-gets-incredible-close-up-shots-of-snowflakes-234273781.html
There's nothing like a blanket of fresh snow to make for picturesque scenes around the Pacific Northwest, but among the snowmen and sleigh rides are hidden secrets of the breath-taking beauty of Mother Nature.
But photographer Alexey Kljatov has unlocked some of those secrets, using a unique camera set up to get intricate photos of individual snowflakes, which show off an amazing level of detail that each snowflake carries. They say no two snowflakes are alike, and these photographs show why.
Kljatov lives in Russia -- no stranger to snow in the winter -- and has set up a camera on his balcony to capture each individual snowflake's glory.
"I capture snowflakes at open balcony of my house, mostly on glass surface, lighted by LED flashlight from opposite side of glass, and sometimes in natural light, using dark woolen fabrics as background," Kljatov wrote on his Flickr page that showcases his work.
He says he built a simple macro add on for his camera that allows him to get the super-close ups. If you're interested in the entire camera set up, Kljatov has posted all the details here:
http://chaoticmind75.blogspot.ru/2013/08/my-technique-for-snowflakes-shooting.html
Alexey Kljatov's main Flickr page is here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chaoticmind75/
= new reply since forum marked as read
eg
from your links..
"But photographer Alexey Kljatov has unlocked some of those secrets, using a unique camera set up to get intricate photos of individual snowflakes, which show off an amazing level of detail that each snowflake carries. They say no two snowflakes are alike, and these photographs show why."
Snowflakes are such amazing works of Mother Nature's Art~ Which Alexey Kljatov has taken to a whole new level..
I have seen snowflake crystal shots before, but these just seemed especially magical, to me. I couldn't get done looking at them.
I did consider posting this thread in the Photography Group or even Science, but decided that they were so incredibly beautiful, maybe everyone should get a chance to view them. I'm hoping that putting "Russian" in the title makes them appropriate for General Discussion, ha!
Here's to Mother Nature and Alexey Kljatov!
Thanks, didn't see that OP.
Here's to Mother Nature and Alexey Kljatov!I'm so glad you shared it with GD 
I'm glad that so many enjoyed seeing them, as much as I did.
And awe inspiring. I think I'll have to give that a try, I love to play with macro but usually with flowers and pollen.
Thanks for posting that.
Yeah, I know... we now have two ft more today than we did Saturday! I do as little of that shoveling thing as I can get away with. Boots, snowpants and gaiters I say! Snowshoes are a nice touch too. It all turns to concrete and dust when it gets to the subzero temps, like right now. It's somewhere around -20F out there, not even interested in looking but I'll bet there are some amazing looking little crystals out there! 'scuze me while I toss another hunk of wood in the stove.
Funny how this popped up in a google image search....
Awe is a good word for it...I got goosebumps looking at some of the really tiny ones that he captured, barely millimeters big, yet so very detailed. I know zilch about photography, but I sure know natural beauty when I see it.
They are so tiny yet the structures are so intricate, looking at them sets me off on a cosmic journey where I contemplate the vastness of space and the vastness of the microscopic world... Just an amateur photographer myself but I come up with some pretty amazing images.
earlier this Fall in October, I was back home when Ohio got it's first snowfall. Standing out in it, I was astonished that I could actually see the crystal formations...they were large feathery flakes (Dendrite snow crystals, I now know thanks to the link that DeSwiss provided downthread) and they were gleaming and sparkling, perched on the bushes, grass, and leaves, everywhere I looked. Went in to get my glasses on and found a magnifying glass then spent a goodly amount of time outdoors, oohing and aahing at the wonder of those delicate tiny things. It was enchanting and brought me out of a funk I'd been struggling with for weeks.
Being practically blind as a bat, I still cannot get over seeing the structure of those snowflakes that night! I only wish I'd had a camera, the glimmering alone would have probably shown up, itsy diamond points of shimmering snowfall.
- 
[/center]And I thank you for the mini-education (and also that cool link)!
A toast to snowflake photographers, everywhere!
- It's called ''Sacred Geometry.'' It's based upon ancient precepts having to do with the use of the Platonic Solids being used to describe and understand the Blueprint for Creation.
Sacred Geometry is the blueprint of Creation and the genesis of all form. It is an ancient science that explores and explains the energy patterns that create and unify all things and reveals the precise way that the energy of Creation organizes itself. On every scale, every natural pattern of growth or movement conforms inevitably to one or more geometric shapes.
As you enter the world of Sacred Geometry you begin to see as never before the wonderfully patterned beauty of Creation. The molecules of our DNA, the cornea of our eye, snow flakes, pine cones, flower petals, diamond crystals, the branching of trees, a nautilus shell, the star we spin around, the galaxy we spiral within, the air we breathe, and all life forms as we know them emerge out of timeless geometric codes. Viewing and contemplating these codes allow us to gaze directly at the lines on the face of deep wisdom and offers up a glimpse into the inner workings of the Universal Mind and the Universe itself.
The ancients believed that the experience of Sacred Geometry was essential to the education of the soul. They knew that these patterns and codes were symbolic of our own inner realm and the subtle structure of awareness. To them the “sacred” had particular significance involving consciousness and the profound mystery of awareness ….. the ultimate sacred wonder. Sacred Geometry takes on another whole level of significance when grounded in the experience of self-awareness.
More here.
What I wouldn't give to play around with one of those, if only for a little bit!
Amazing views! Thanks for adding those!
From your link, I went to see what SEM stood for and ended up here:
National Snow and Ice Data Center
http://nsidc.org/cryosphere/snow/science/formation.html
Once snow crystals form in the atmosphere, they grow by absorbing surrounding water droplets. The snowflakes we end up seeing on the ground are an accumulation of these ice crystals.
This magnified image of snow crystals was captured by a low-temperature scanning electron microscope (SEM).
The pseudo colors commonly found in SEM images are computer generated, and in this case highlight the different flake formations.
—Credit: Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture
Makes my brain hurt---in a GOOD way!
I'm on my Android right now & can't wait to visit your links on my PC.
Many thanks to the DUers who posted some of the gorgeous flakes.
How awesome would it be to have a wall filled with framed snowflakes?
and there are scads more at Alexey Kljatov's Flickr page, plus many other non-snowflake pictures. There, he says that anyone is welcome to download them for personal use, as long as he's given proper credit for creating them.
I agree that would be really neat, plus a framed snowflake pic would make a great holiday gift, too.
