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Start of the snow crystal season · **3 Likes**

We finally got our first snowfall, and the temperatures were cold enough, for me to try out the latest version of my snowcatcher.

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Over the summer I acquired the base of an old Zeiss microscope, which will (hopefully) allow me to do very fine focus adjustments. I've attached that to my old snowcatcher base, and my camera and bellows to the microscope base.

I'm using my Pentax K5 DSLR, attached to a Pentax Auto Bellows, and a El-Nikkor 50mm F2.8 enlarging lens (reversed) attached to that. As usual I will be firing a flash (not shown) upwards through the glass plate to illuminate the crystals, by means of a wireless trigger on the camera.

I'm running the HDMI output in 'liveview' mode from the K5 to an old computer monitor, which again should help me to focus better.

Nothing too exciting tonight, just a couple of test shots.

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I'm not really happy with the lighting yet, and the microscope/camera is a little wobbly making fine focusing a little more difficult than I hoped. A few adjustments will have to be made.

Fred.

scotty1 · 12-12-2017, 05:48 PM

That is a neat setup, do you have to take the whole thing outside to get your`e photos?. In the south of the UK it is usually to mild to get any snow crystals before they melt. We did get -13c yesterday though.

**fwwidall** · 12-12-2017, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by scotty1

That is a neat setup, do you have to take the whole thing outside to get your`e photos?. In the south of the UK it is usually to mild to get any snow crystals before they melt. We did get -13c yesterday though.

I work in my unheated garage. Temperature today was around -10C so it was cold enough to give me some working time, but it was also windy which makes for damaged crystals. Ideally I want a nice cold still day. We can drop down to around -25C around here, which definitely limits my working time, and tends to drain the camera battery very quickly.

Fred.

françois · 12-13-2017, 09:56 AM

this is just great! I love it! Amazing images! You have just made my day!

François

**fwwidall** · 12-13-2017, 11:34 AM

A crisp -9C here today so I got to try some more test shots. I think I now have my lighting the way I want it but the focus was off a little on this shot. Still very pretty I think.

**swip** · 12-15-2017, 02:07 PM

Originally posted by fwwidall

A crisp -9C here today so I got to try some more test shots. I think I now have my lighting the way I want it but the focus was off a little on this shot. Still very pretty I think.

Lovely photos of snow flakes. I will have to try your approach one of these days.

**fwwidall** · 12-15-2017, 06:10 PM

One last one for this thread. I'll be posting new ones in my Flickr Snowflake Album if you want to check them out. Seems we're heading into a warm period (around 0C) for the next few days so won't be able to capture any for a while.

zman · 12-16-2017, 05:03 AM

Great images as usual. I've followed and learned from your work. The "Snowcatcher" model evolves with another improvement. Bring on the snow !

**fwwidall** · 12-16-2017, 07:44 AM

Originally posted by zman

Great images as usual. I've followed and learned from your work. The "Snowcatcher" model evolves with another improvement. Bring on the snow !

Thanks zman - I look forward to seeing your work

**mwilky55** · 12-16-2017, 08:17 AM

Originally posted by fwwidall

One last one for this thread. I'll be posting new ones in my Flickr Snowflake Album if you want to check them out. Seems we're heading into a warm period (around 0C) for the next few days so won't be able to capture any for a while.

Amazing stuff....almost hard to believe they're real. Nice work!

fwwidall
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12-16-2017, 07:44 AM	#9
fwwidall Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 276 Original Poster	Originally posted by zman Great images as usual. I've followed and learned from your work. The "Snowcatcher" model evolves with another improvement. Bring on the snow ! Thanks zman - I look forward to seeing your work Last edited by fwwidall; 12-16-2017 at 10:53 AM. Reason: Typo

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12-12-2017, 05:48 PM	#2
scotty1 Forum Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 96	That is a neat setup, do you have to take the whole thing outside to get your`e photos?. In the south of the UK it is usually to mild to get any snow crystals before they melt. We did get -13c yesterday though.

12-12-2017, 07:26 PM	#3
fwwidall Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 276 Original Poster	Originally posted by scotty1 That is a neat setup, do you have to take the whole thing outside to get your`e photos?. In the south of the UK it is usually to mild to get any snow crystals before they melt. We did get -13c yesterday though. I work in my unheated garage. Temperature today was around -10C so it was cold enough to give me some working time, but it was also windy which makes for damaged crystals. Ideally I want a nice cold still day. We can drop down to around -25C around here, which definitely limits my working time, and tends to drain the camera battery very quickly. Fred.

12-13-2017, 09:56 AM	#4
françois Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: British-Columbia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 764	this is just great! I love it! Amazing images! You have just made my day! François

12-13-2017, 11:34 AM	#5
fwwidall Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 276 Original Poster	A crisp -9C here today so I got to try some more test shots. I think I now have my lighting the way I want it but the focus was off a little on this shot. Still very pretty I think.

12-15-2017, 02:07 PM	#6
swip Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,827	Originally posted by fwwidall A crisp -9C here today so I got to try some more test shots. I think I now have my lighting the way I want it but the focus was off a little on this shot. Still very pretty I think. Lovely photos of snow flakes. I will have to try your approach one of these days.

12-15-2017, 06:10 PM	#7
fwwidall Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Waterloo, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 276 Original Poster	One last one for this thread. I'll be posting new ones in my Flickr Snowflake Album if you want to check them out. Seems we're heading into a warm period (around 0C) for the next few days so won't be able to capture any for a while.

12-16-2017, 05:03 AM	#8
zman Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Western NY Photos: Albums Posts: 515	Great images as usual. I've followed and learned from your work. The "Snowcatcher" model evolves with another improvement. Bring on the snow !

12-16-2017, 08:17 AM	#10
mwilky55 Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Southeastern Connecticut Photos: Albums Posts: 816	Originally posted by fwwidall One last one for this thread. I'll be posting new ones in my Flickr Snowflake Album if you want to check them out. Seems we're heading into a warm period (around 0C) for the next few days so won't be able to capture any for a while. Amazing stuff....almost hard to believe they're real. Nice work!

Macro Start of the snow crystal season

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