Photography

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts) Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:27 PM Dec 20

Solstice Eve snowflakes

Last edited Sat Dec 21, 2024, 02:31 AM - Edit history (1)

I took the photos after sundown today and used a ring flash for lighting. The average snowflake is between 0.02 and 0.5 inches wide. These looked to be about the width of a small lentil (0.17-0.24 inch). I posted some photos of wintry mix (freezing rain, ice pellets and snow) last month, but this is my first attempt at photographing snowflakes. I have some different snowflake-gathering and photo techniques I'll use the next time it snows.

Winter begins tomorrow, December 21, at 4:21 AM EST.

Bon Hiver!

34 replies

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Highlight:

Solstice Eve snowflakes (Original Post) Mousetoescamper Dec 20 OP

I do believe these are the most beautiful photos I've ever seen! SheltieLover Dec 20 #1

Thanks and you're welcome, SheltieLover! Mousetoescamper Dec 20 #3

I've never seen such beauty in snow SheltieLover Dec 20 #7

Let it snow! Mousetoescamper Dec 20 #13

Lovely photos biophile Dec 20 #2

Thanks, biophile! Mousetoescamper Dec 20 #6

Mousetoescamper, your skills are just astounding! Diamond_Dog Dec 20 #4

Awww, Diamond_Dog. You're too kind. Mousetoescamper Dec 20 #9

I'm serious, everything you post anymore just blows me away. Diamond_Dog Dec 20 #12

The positive feedback here inspires me. Mousetoescamper Dec 20 #15

I, too, really do appreciate positive feedback from everyone here at DU. I know exactly what you mean. Diamond_Dog Dec 20 #17

I love photographs of snowflakes. beveeheart Dec 20 #5

Thanks, beveeheart! Mousetoescamper Dec 20 #10

Amazing detail, Mousetoes. Great shots. brer cat Dec 20 #8

Thanks, brer cat! Mousetoescamper Dec 20 #11

I love these! 2naSalit Dec 20 #14

Thanks, 2naSalit! Mousetoescamper Dec 20 #16

***GASP*** Incredibly delicate and enormously beautiful, my dear Mousetoescamper! CaliforniaPeggy Dec 21 #18

Thanks, Peggy! Mousetoescamper Dec 21 #23

Those. Are. Stunning. summer_in_TX Dec 21 #19

Thanks, summer_in_TX! Mousetoescamper Dec 21 #24

Truly awesome pictures judesedit Dec 21 #20

Thanks and you're welcome, judesedit! Mousetoescamper Dec 21 #25

So beautiful they bring tears to my eyes. StarryNite Dec 21 #21

Thanks, StarryNite! Mousetoescamper Dec 21 #26

I love these, beautifully fragile. Bluethroughu Dec 21 #22

Thanks, Bluethroughu! Mousetoescamper Dec 21 #28

Oh my! Thank you KitFox Dec 21 #27

Thanks and you're welcome, KitFox! Mousetoescamper Dec 21 #29

Those are jaw-dropping. Well done. kysrsoze Dec 21 #30

Thanks, kysrsoze! Mousetoescamper Dec 21 #31

Wow! Great work! Grumpy Old Guy Dec 21 #32

Thanks, Grumpy! Mousetoescamper Dec 21 #33

Lovely and rare! HAB911 Dec 28 #34

SheltieLover

(64,172 posts)

1. I do believe these are the most beautiful photos I've ever seen!

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:28 PM

Dec 20

Ty for sharing!

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

3. Thanks and you're welcome, SheltieLover!

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #1)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:38 PM

Dec 20

Your kindness is encouraging.

SheltieLover

(64,172 posts)

7. I've never seen such beauty in snow

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Reply #3)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:40 PM

Dec 20

And to think I lived in Chicago for my first 50+ years.

Ty again!

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

13. Let it snow!

Reply to SheltieLover (Reply #7)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:54 PM

Dec 20

You are most welcome!

biophile

(650 posts)

2. Lovely photos

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:31 PM

Dec 20

You have a nice talent! And you are close to me - we are getting big flakes too. Snowy days are so peaceful

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

6. Thanks, biophile!

Reply to biophile (Reply #2)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:40 PM

Dec 20

The snowfall here ended at about 8 PM. Hoping for more. Let it snow!

Diamond_Dog

(36,217 posts)

4. Mousetoescamper, your skills are just astounding!

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:38 PM

Dec 20

These are breathtaking! So fragile, yet so beautiful.

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

9. Awww, Diamond_Dog. You're too kind.

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Reply #4)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:49 PM

Dec 20

I really appreciate the encouragement.

Thank you!

Diamond_Dog

(36,217 posts)

12. I'm serious, everything you post anymore just blows me away.

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Reply #9)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:52 PM

Dec 20

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

15. The positive feedback here inspires me.

Reply to Diamond_Dog (Reply #12)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 11:04 PM

Dec 20

Thanks again!

Diamond_Dog

(36,217 posts)

17. I, too, really do appreciate positive feedback from everyone here at DU. I know exactly what you mean.

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Reply #15)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 11:20 PM

Dec 20

beveeheart

(1,461 posts)

5. I love photographs of snowflakes.

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:39 PM

Dec 20

Such detail in yours! Beautiful!

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

10. Thanks, beveeheart!

Reply to beveeheart (Reply #5)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:50 PM

Dec 20

brer cat

(26,838 posts)

8. Amazing detail, Mousetoes. Great shots.

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:46 PM

Dec 20

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

11. Thanks, brer cat!

Reply to brer cat (Reply #8)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 10:52 PM

Dec 20

You always come through with a kind comment.

2naSalit

(95,916 posts)

14. I love these!

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 11:00 PM

Dec 20

Individual flakes are amazing, when they pile up it's a challenge.

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

16. Thanks, 2naSalit!

Reply to 2naSalit (Reply #14)

Fri Dec 20, 2024, 11:13 PM

Dec 20

I'd been shooting throughout the day and getting pretty discouraged trying to work with sticky wet snow. This evening the temperature finally dipped to freezing and there were more individual flakes to shoot.

CaliforniaPeggy

(153,134 posts)

18. ***GASP*** Incredibly delicate and enormously beautiful, my dear Mousetoescamper!

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 12:32 AM

Dec 21

Words fail me.

Your skill (which has always been so very high) is growing!

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

23. Thanks, Peggy!

Reply to CaliforniaPeggy (Reply #18)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:48 AM

Dec 21

I can't wait to give it another shot. Unfortunately, there's no snow in the forecast for the next week.

too!

summer_in_TX

(3,496 posts)

19. Those. Are. Stunning.

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:05 AM

Dec 21

I'm no photographer, but I am awed at the skill that must have taken, Mousetoescamper!

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

24. Thanks, summer_in_TX!

Reply to summer_in_TX (Reply #19)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:58 AM

Dec 21

Mostly it took my repeatedly going out in the cold and snow to try, try gain. Keeping my gear dry was a challenge as well.

judesedit

(4,534 posts)

20. Truly awesome pictures

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:08 AM

Dec 21

Thanx a bunch

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

25. Thanks and you're welcome, judesedit!

Reply to judesedit (Reply #20)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:59 AM

Dec 21

StarryNite

(11,380 posts)

21. So beautiful they bring tears to my eyes.

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:22 AM

Dec 21

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

26. Thanks, StarryNite!

Reply to StarryNite (Reply #21)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 02:04 AM

Dec 21

Snowflakes do have a strong emotional appeal.

Bluethroughu

(7,003 posts)

22. I love these, beautifully fragile.

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 01:27 AM

Dec 21

Happy winter.

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

28. Thanks, Bluethroughu!

Reply to Bluethroughu (Reply #22)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 02:07 AM

Dec 21

Happy winter!

KitFox

(232 posts)

27. Oh my! Thank you

Reply to Mousetoescamper (Original post)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 02:07 AM

Dec 21

for sharing your exquisite work with us! What a lovely way to usher in winter. Looking at your photos took my breath away!! I can’t wait for the next installment! I like to think how pleased Wilson “Snowflake” Bentley would be knowing that you are following in his footsteps capturing the ultimate beauty of snow’s microscopic wonder. There is a short film on you tube called “The Snowflake Man” about how he first managed to photograph them with the camera and a microscope. Thanks again, Mousetoescamper, for including us in your art!

Mousetoescamper

(5,835 posts)

29. Thanks and you're welcome, KitFox!

Reply to KitFox (Reply #27)

Sat Dec 21, 2024, 02:26 AM

Dec 21

Fortunately, I'm well familiar with Mr. Bentley's work and looked at some of his photomicrographs today for comparison. I'm using a mirrorless camera with a 100mm macro lens but can't begin to approach the splendid images he made more than 100 years ago. He was a remarkable man.