Tis the season to rejoice in the white fluffy stuff–SNOW! Natures artistry at its finest, that is if you have a microscope. Snowflakes appear literally out of thin air, and like yesterday, can blanket the outside. They are born high above us within the dim, grey winter clouds. A simple act of freezing (>32 degrees Fahrenheit) turns formless water vapor into visually striking crystalline ice sculptures. Snowflakes mature as they drift slowly to Earth, where artists and scientists intercept their fall and use microphotography to capture the fleeting works of natures art.
Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht’s, a pioneer in the art of the snowflake states, “Photographing snowflakes is always enjoyable because there are so many different types, with no two exactly alike. Each new snowfall is another world to explore, and I still often find novel specimens. The snow may seem rather unvaried to the naked eye, but the microscope reveals an amazing menagerie of beautiful crystalline forms.” (A change in major might be upon me soon...what a cool job...art, snow, nature, skiing[?]).
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