Author Topic: SnowFlakes through the microscope (Read 2381 times)

rdrboone · « **on:** January 19, 2009, 06:29:45 PM »

Since it is too darn cold for waterlilies, I decided to post some snowflake photos that I took today.
Hope you enjoy them.

Ruth

Julles · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2009, 06:34:40 PM »

Man, I've been reading Esther's updates, and I just didn't feel like clicking on any other threads here. But I'm glad I did. There's terrible sadness crossing the lives of people connected here, but somehow these pictures of nature and beauty seem to be appropriate.

The snowflakes are fleeting, but you can't help but marvel at their beauty and perfection, and feel blessed for having shared some time with them.

marla · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2009, 08:07:42 PM »

Stunning, what size lens did you use.......I'll have to get mine out and see what I can see.

purplepshn2004 · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2009, 08:56:47 PM »

Wow! How intricate(?) almost look like gel. Very cool indeed!

rdrboone · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2009, 09:15:20 PM »

Thanks for the kind comments.
Actually, I did not us a camera lens. I mount my camera onto my compound microscope. I do not use the top lens of the microscope, only the lower lens of the microscope. It is really fun photography.

Ruth

EagleEye · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2009, 05:12:56 AM »

Wow, Ruth, that's really cool

Thansk,
Steve

Ky Kim · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2009, 12:31:55 PM »

Now, that is just beautiful. The tiny detail is amazing. Thanks for sharing them, and hope to see more.

Kim

Jerry · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2009, 12:54:42 PM »

How could something that intricate and beautiful be an accident?

rdrboone · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2009, 02:06:10 PM »

Thanks everyone. I took about 150 more photos today. I will resize a few and send them later.

Ruth

Indiana Karen · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2009, 04:05:12 PM »

Those are amazing. I would suspect you have to work pretty fast?
Yes, I would like to see more.

Karen

ponderer · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2009, 04:29:07 PM »

Amazing! Yes, would really like to see MORE!!!

rdrboone · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2009, 06:47:33 PM »

Thanks again for the nice comments. Here are a few more photos.

Karen, I do have to work quickly, but I put my microscope and the glass slides in the unheated part of the basement and let them get cold (below freezing) before I start to take the photos. If I don't chill the equipment the flakes melt as soon as I place the slide on the microscope platform. Then I just lay the glass slides outside on a rack to catch the flakes. Bring them in one at a time. It is a lot of fun and you never know what you have caught until you see it through the scope.

Ruth

JimMcD in SVAZ · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2009, 07:31:19 PM »

Ruth,

Thanks for sharing the raw beauthy of nature with us.

Jim

Oceanbum · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2009, 03:58:30 AM »

Wow, Ruth!! Those are amazing pics!! I can't wait to show my kids!!!

Esther · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2009, 07:24:42 AM »

I have seen snowflake pictures before but always thought it was some complicated process by some scientist. Now I know better. Or maybe it is complicated and maybe you are a scientist. Anyway, they are amazing.

Desertponder · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2009, 10:17:41 AM »

Wow, those are so cool!

Indiana Karen · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2009, 10:40:15 AM »

Ruth

Have you ever preserved one with superglue? I saw how to do it on television last winter. It looked really simple. I have wanted to try, but just haven't gotten around to it.

Here's a website about it:
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/preserve/preserve.htm

Love your pictures,
Karen

rdrboone · « **Reply #17 on:** January 21, 2009, 10:57:26 AM »

Karen, No, I have not tried to preserve the snowflakes. I went to the website that you suggested. THAT IS REALLY COOL

.
I think we are due for more snow in a few days, so I will try it. Thank you so much for letting me know about this.

Esther, Thanks for your kind comments. No, the procedure is not particularly complicated, just tedious and you do have to have the proper equipment. And, no, I am not a professional scientist, just masquerade as an amateur one.

Ruth

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #18 on:** January 21, 2009, 12:03:23 PM »

WOW! Ruth, you make it sound so easy! Thank you for sharing all the great snowflake photos.

Amazingly beautiful!

My problem is find a darn snowflake here!

marla · « **Reply #19 on:** January 21, 2009, 02:35:38 PM »

I think maybe this weekend I will try to get to look at some, my microscope is not the best, I don't think I could get a picture but just looking at them would be fun. I'm glad you mentioned geting the plates cold first...I in my haste would not have thought of that to start with and would have been very dissappointed.

bunny56lbc · « **Reply #20 on:** January 21, 2009, 07:05:34 PM »

Beautiful !

bonnie

rdrboone · « **Reply #21 on:** January 21, 2009, 10:52:53 PM »

Thanks everyone.

Marla, good luck. Hope you have success. Oh by the way, you don't have to use a cover slip just to look at the flakes under the microscope.
Let me know how you do.

Ruth