Originally posted by Yaki 
Amazing! I've never seen details of a snow crystal before
especially the second picture
You might like to check out my
"Snowflakes" album on Flickr for some much better images. These were just test shots. Once we're in the deep freeze the crystals become much more symmetrical, and even more beautiful.
Originally posted by MSL When you say 'snowcatcher rig' is that your camera setup, or the way you catch the snowflakes? If the latter, can you post an image of the setup? I've taken a few snow and ice photos but never at this magnification where you get to see all the details. As others have noted, these are superb
Sorry, "snowcatcher" is what I call my wooden copy stand I've built to facilitate photographing snowflakes. Over the past 15 years its been through several iterations and improvements. If you check out the Flickr album you'll see some of the earlier versions.
I'll attach some images of the current version to this post.
The basic setup is the wooden copy stand to which I attach my Auto Bellows and K3. I have a Yongnuo RF603 flash trigger mounted on the K3. In these shots I have a Componon-S 50mm F2.8 enlarger lens reverse mounted on the bellows, Gets me down to a FOV of approx. 6x4mm. I also use an Amscope 4X and Nikon 10X objectives for even more magnification. The HDMI output from the K3 goes to an old monitor and I use live-view for focusing.
On the copy stand platform I have the base from a Zeiss Laboval4 microscope which allows me to focus down to the micron level. I attached a large cardboard disc to the fine focus knob to make minute adjustments easily. I collect the snow on a piece of glass from an old 8x10 picture frame and put it on the microscope base. You can also see the very expensive blue filter I use (the lid from a can of Maxwell House coffee),
Underneath is an LED bulb I use to light the crystals when I'm focusing, and a Yongnuo YN560 flash I use when I take my shot.
Hope that makes the process clearer. Hardest part is trying to get everything parallel, and avoiding frostbite
Fred.
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