Growing up in freezing Vermont, Bentley would identify snowflakes that he liked, before brushing the others away with a turkey feather. He would then transfer the snowflake onto a microscope slide, holding his breath to prevent his specimen from melting in the warmth.
Growing up in freezing Vermont, Bentley would identify snowflakes that he liked, before brushing the others away with a turkey feather. He would then transfer the snowflake onto a microscope slide, holding his breath to prevent his specimen from melting in the warmth.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image #SIA2013-09135
In 1885, American farmer <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsnowflakebentley.com%2Fbio.htm" target="_blank" target="_blank">Wilson Bentley</a> attached a camera to his microscope and took what is believed to be the very first photo of a snowflake.
In 1885, American farmer Wilson Bentley attached a camera to his microscope and took what is believed to be the very first photo of a snowflake.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image #SIA2013-09128
Eventually, Bentley found a way to affix his camera to the microscope -- a basic setup that made his achievements all the more impressive, according to <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcias.rit.edu%2Ffaculty-staff%2F37" target="_blank" target="_blank">Michael Peres</a>, a professor of biomedical photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Eventually, Bentley found a way to affix his camera to the microscope -- a basic setup that made his achievements all the more impressive, according to Michael Peres, a professor of biomedical photography at the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image #SIA2013-09131
"Bentley worked with primitive materials, which makes his work even more appreciated. Early photographic materials were coarse in terms of their sensitivity and tonal ability to discriminate details," Peres said in a phone interview.
"Bentley worked with primitive materials, which makes his work even more appreciated. Early photographic materials were coarse in terms of their sensitivity and tonal ability to discriminate details," Peres said in a phone interview.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image #SIA2013-09167
Technological limitations posed another challenge -- Bentley would have to wait until spring before it was warm enough to develop the photos in his woodshed. But he was captivated by what emerged.
Technological limitations posed another challenge -- Bentley would have to wait until spring before it was warm enough to develop the photos in his woodshed. But he was captivated by what emerged.
Smithsonian Institution Archives, Image ##SIA2013-09171
Bentley's work has helped pave the way for generations of scientific photographers including Russian photographer Alexey Kljatov.
Bentley's work has helped pave the way for generations of scientific photographers including Russian photographer Alexey Kljatov.
Alexey Kljatov
The 42-year-old modified a point-and-shoot Canon into a digital macro camera with enhanced magnification and the ability to automatically refocus in between rapid bursts of photos.
The 42-year-old modified a point-and-shoot Canon into a digital macro camera with enhanced magnification and the ability to automatically refocus in between rapid bursts of photos.
Alexey Kljatov
"(Technology) has profound implications," Peres said. "It's fascinating how you are the only person who would ever see that (particular snowflake). It disappears in a second and you just made a record of something that doesn't exist anymore."
"(Technology) has profound implications," Peres said. "It's fascinating how you are the only person who would ever see that (particular snowflake). It disappears in a second and you just made a record of something that doesn't exist anymore."
Michael Peres
While the underlying techniques have changed little since Bentley's days, snowflake photography is now increasingly accessible to many photographers. Phone apps and attachable lenses have made it easier than ever to isolate and photograph snowflakes.
While the underlying techniques have changed little since Bentley's days, snowflake photography is now increasingly accessible to many photographers. Phone apps and attachable lenses have made it easier than ever to isolate and photograph snowflakes.
Michael Peres
Today, snowflake images have been greatly enhanced by new technology, like multi-angle cameras that can track the crystals as they fall through the air.
Today, snowflake images have been greatly enhanced by new technology, like multi-angle cameras that can track the crystals as they fall through the air.
Michael Peres