Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Technology => Topic started by: neilep on 14/02/2008 17:48:57

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: neilep on 14/02/2008 17:48:57

Dear Readers Of Snowflake Monthly,

See my snowflake,


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It's being delivered Tuesday.

Whilst I await delivery I was wondering...how on earth are snowflakes photgraphed anyway ?.

I asked the retailer but they said they don't snow !! *le sigh"

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 14/02/2008 17:56:16

Quote from: neilep on 14/02/2008 17:48:57

how on earth are snowflakes photgraphed anyway ?.

I'm not an expert in such matters so this is just a wild guess - with a camera?  [:D]

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: Karen W. on 14/02/2008 17:58:13

Perhaps caught on a Clear glass surface then photographed so that they are visible through and through! I don't know though but they must have some kind of incredible lens!!

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: Karen W. on 14/02/2008 17:59:23

I wonder if they caught it right on the lens would it take a picture that close...hmmmmmm!

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 14/02/2008 18:00:53

They catch it on glass cooled to a temperature below 0^oC.

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: Karen W. on 14/02/2008 18:06:41

That would make sense to me so it would not melt! Well I guess I was close!  [:)]

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: neilep on 14/02/2008 18:18:13

Quote from: DoctorBeaver on 14/02/2008 17:56:16

Quote from: neilep on 14/02/2008 17:48:57

how on earth are snowflakes photgraphed anyway ?.

I'm not an expert in such matters so this is just a wild guess - with a camera?  [:D]

DOH !!!..must be my old age !!......of course...one of those things that steal your soul !!

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: daveshorts on 15/02/2008 09:37:22

I think most of the pictures such as the one above will be taken with a microscope with a slide holding the flake cooled to significantly below 0°C to counteract the heat from the light below.

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 15/02/2008 15:16:54

I just used a slide from the freezer and the macro setting on my camera.

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: paul.fr on 15/02/2008 17:03:18

Here is a little experiment i found on the net
http://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=6730.new#new

It was going to be part of a series of meteorlogical experiments i was going to post anyway, but seeing as this question has been asked. I reckon it is worth posting now.

Bit pushed for time at the mo, but seeing as nobody has given a full answer to your question (all the answers are right, though) I will post a link later tonight to where i found the experiment, it also has all the answers to all of your snowflake related questions.

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/02/2008 17:39:40

Quote from: neilep on 14/02/2008 17:48:57

Dear Readers Of Snowflake Monthly,

See my snowflake,


 [ Invalid Attachment ]

It's being delivered Tuesday.

Whilst I await delivery I was wondering...how on earth are snowflakes photgraphed anyway ?.

I asked the retailer but they said they don't snow !! *le sigh"

Is that a real photo of a snow flake Neily?  I really have never seen a real snowflake picture ..... I thought that was a fake one for a Christmas tree!..Sorry.. Do they honestly look shaped like that???

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: lyner on 15/02/2008 18:01:13

So, if each ice crystal is different from other crystals, how do the arms of each hexagonal structure know how to be the same as all the other arms? Why aren't they all different too? Could it be something to do with vibrations within the growing crystal?

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 15/02/2008 18:16:21

Quote from: sophiecentaur on 15/02/2008 18:01:13

So, if each ice crystal is different from other crystals, how do the arms of each hexagonal structure know how to be the same as all the other arms? Why aren't they all different too? Could it be something to do with vibrations within the growing crystal?

The snowflake fairy makes them like that... FACT! [:D]

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: Karen W. on 15/02/2008 18:33:05

Quote from: sophiecentaur on 15/02/2008 18:01:13

So, if each ice crystal is different from other crystals, how do the arms of each hexagonal structure know how to be the same as all the other arms? Why aren't they all different too? Could it be something to do with vibrations within the growing crystal?

That was exactly what I was thinking for a new topic cause that was the question that arose in my head when I realized that may be a real snowflake picture! LOL!

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: paul.fr on 15/02/2008 19:24:17

They are not all hexagonal. The shape of the snowflake is mainly determined by the temerature.
Anyway, this link should answer all your questions.
snow crystals (http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/)

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: lyner on 17/02/2008 23:09:56

Cheers - the link makes sense and it has some pretty pictures too.

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: Karen W. on 17/02/2008 23:42:16

Quote from: paul.fr on 15/02/2008 19:24:17

They are not all hexagonal. The shape of the snowflake is mainly determined by the temerature.
Anyway, this link should answer all your questions.
snow crystals (http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/)

WOW !!!  PAUL THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL SNOW FLAKES... WOW ...WOW... WOW !!!!!

BIG THANK YOU'S THOSE ARE FANTASTIC!

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: paul.fr on 18/02/2008 10:36:41

Quote from: sophiecentaur on 17/02/2008 23:09:56

Cheers - the link makes sense and it has some pretty pictures too.

I listened to Kenneth G. Libbrecht from Caltech explaining all about snowflakes, he "happened" to plug his site during the interview. The small animations are also quite nice.

Title: How Do They Photograph Snowflakes ?
Post by: elena on 17/02/2009 13:32:08

Quote from: Paul. on 15/02/2008 19:24:17

They are not all hexagonal. The shape of the kamagra (http://www.creativedrugs.com) snowflake is mainly determined by the temerature.
Anyway, this link should answer all your questions.
snow crystals (http://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/)

very very very beautiful snowflakes Paul. Great job