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Wilson Bentley (1865-1931) was an American farmer
and snow crystal photomicrographer, who during his lifetime
captured some 5000 snow crystal images. More than 2000
were published in 1931 in his famous book,
Snow Crystals, which remains in print to this day.
“Quick, the first flakes are coming; the couriers of the coming snow storm! Open the skylight, and directly under it place the carefully prepared blackboard, on whose ebony surface the most minute form of frozen beauty may be welcome from cloud-land. The mysteries of the upper air are about to reveal themselves, if our hands are deft and our eyes quick enough.”
“Quick, the first flakes are coming; the couriers of the coming snow storm! Open the skylight, and directly under it place the carefully prepared blackboard, on whose ebony surface the most minute form of frozen beauty may be welcome from cloud-land. The mysteries of the upper air are about to reveal themselves, if our hands are deft and our eyes quick enough.”
~~Wilson A. Bentley
"They say that every snowflake is different.
"They say that every snowflake is different. If that were true, how could the world go on?
How could we ever get up off our knees?
How could we ever recover from the wonder of it?"
~~Jeanette Winterson
- Sparkly,
- Nippy
- Occurrences of
- Winter.
- Frozen,
- Light, and
- Airy
- Kisses...on my
- Eyelashes
Betsy...these are amazing photos of snowflakes. They are so delicate and fragile. How did they ever get photos of them? I was not aware of Bentley's work.
ReplyDeleteI love the line "How could we ever get up off our knees?" by Winterson. (And BTW...she has a very appropriate last name for this poem.) This is so true of all nature. When you really think about it; it's so amazingly breathtaking!
On a more elementary note...I loved making snowflakes by folding and cutting paper when I was young. I'm not sure that I can remember how to do it.
Happy Theme Thursday!
How beautiful! They are so intricate. I love the poem too.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to get my hands on a copy of that book, "Snow Crystals". How amazing!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your poem, especially the imagery: Light and Airy
Happy TT
HO HO HO! I have seen many a snowflake in my time, my dear Betsy!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas!
It seems everyone in blog land has snow kissed eyelashes but me.
ReplyDeletePout.
I've only seen a few flakes here and they melted on contact.
I need to move back to Utah.
Otin?? What are you doing in that red suit? :P
ReplyDeleteRebecca ~ me, too! I want the book!
ReplyDeleteI have always been amazed with snowflakes but these pictures are unreal.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the history lesson with a poetry reading on top of it.
These pictures are beautiful. Just breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteSuch beauty! I enjoyed every one!
ReplyDeleteI would much rather have snow than this miserable cold rain and WIND! UGH!
Those snow crystals are so intricate and beautiful...Lovely post. Happy TT a bit early.
ReplyDeletePretty snowflakes!
ReplyDeleteWe're finally getting some snow. I think Mari is getting pelted again though. Unfortunately I don't think I have any daytime pictures since most of the heavier snowfall has come after nightfall, otherwise I'd post that up. I think I'll end up skipping again this week, unless I do it tomorrow a.m. But the way the wind has been and is blowing (upwards of 40-50mph gusts much of the day) a lot of the snow is just blowing.
I for one hope to never recover from the wonder of it.
ReplyDelete"How could we ever get up off our knees?" --Yes, i think i must try that someday for not showing up for work or some other commitment. Let's see how that goes shall we? Hee.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of this chap either but think I've seen his work before.
So, I suppose you think your quite clever with that Acrostic do you? couldn't just settle for S.N.O.W. but had to blow the rest of us out of the water! ha!:)
Bently was a very smart man indeed, or maybe just practical. Love the images!!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Jane
Betsy, I so loved this post. I remember this gentleman. His photos are amazing. It's been quite some time since I have looked at his stunning snowflake "captures". Thanks for the reminder and for showing us that there is beauty found in everything...big...or small.
ReplyDeleteHave a super Thursday! :)
I bought the picture book Snowflake Bentley for my son Bentley one year for Christmas. I was fascinated. I don't know if he was but I loved the story and the beautiful photos of Mother Natures handiwork.
ReplyDeleteLovely! As you know from my post this week, I love snowflakes.;) I never get tired of snowflake pictures, he did really amazing work, with very little technology.;)
ReplyDeletexo
how cool betsy...i would love to get a look at that book. so fun to think of the uniquenes in each flake, kina like all of us, huh? happy tt!
ReplyDeleteMmm ~ so you're impressed with my acrostic? Well, someone was ribbing me yesterday and kind of put up a challange...didn't they?? ;)
ReplyDeleteBrian ~ me, too...I may have to look for it on amazon. It would be a great Christmas gift!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful...the snowflakes and the poem! And I see Santa Claus stopped by! HO HO HO! Fun post! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteLoved this week's acrostic. You've outdone yourself.
ReplyDeleteAs far as no two being alike, that's not true. I found two just this morning, and placed them in my pocket so I could show everyone. Here, let me dig them out for you...
Oh, crap.
Really really nice Betsy!Thank you for sharing!Have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteThose photos are amazing! I'm going to look for that book. I'd love to see more.
ReplyDeleteMr. Fox ~ why thank you very much...you are too kind.
ReplyDelete...and TOO funny about the flakes.
Betsy what a truly informative and interesting post today. And, as always, your photo selections are beautiful. Thanks so much for that. Sometimes I think we just don't stop -- and be quiet -- enough to really see, hear, and enjoy nature. I loved this post.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful - the pics & the poem!
ReplyDeleteI have my own Snowflake, my daughter! :)
Awesome. Unabashed symmetry in nature is amazing, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThose flakes sure are beautiful! Amazing details!
ReplyDeleteStunning. Simply stunning. I have never heard about this book. When I see such beauty, I wonder how people can doubt a higher power.
ReplyDeleteRonda ~ I thought the exact same thing when I wrote up this post. These creations didn't just happen.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, I loved the snowflake pix and your acrostic. This is my first visit to your blog, and I very much enjoyed the "My Favorite Things" theme, complete with beautiful photos. Great blog.
ReplyDeleteJanice ~ thanks so much for the visit...and welcome to theme thursday!
ReplyDeleteBetsy, a book I've yet to add! Well done m'lady :)
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful!
ReplyDeletei really liked your poem, it captured the snowflake perfectly.
ReplyDeleteWow, I'm going to look up that book. I have a son who is fascinated with the weather. Thanks for the shopping tip! How lovely, my piano students may look at it after i'm finished, I mean my SON is finished with it, yeah, my boy.
ReplyDeletei have missed your special space...as always you make me smile and i always learn something...these images are amazing
ReplyDeleteNow wouldn't you love for Harry Winston to design a brooch from those snowflakes...oh wait he did!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know of Bentley, at all, but this reminds me of those paper snowflakes we used to cut out in school. Remember those? It was snip, snip, snip, snip...and so on and weren't you just dying to unfold it and see the amazing snowflake you created?
ReplyDeleteExcellent acronymical poem (not sure if that's the word I'm looking for).
For me, the geometry of snowflakes invokes a mystery. Amazingly fragile, lasting only long enough to travel down from the sky! -Jayne
ReplyDeleteGod is amazing isn't He! Such an amazing creation... snowflakes. I didn't know any of this information either so it was such a treat to read! Thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeletePoetikat ~ wow...thank you! If you liked my little acrostic poem, then that is a real compliment...coming from a REAL poet like yourself. :)
ReplyDeletePoetikat ~ and..yes, I used to love cutting those things out! In fact, my boys just brought home some this week that they did at school...brought back such memories!
ReplyDeleteGladys ~ did he really? I must look that up. You know, I have two tiny vintage pins (don't know if you would call them brooches) that remind me of snowflakes. I should post about them, while we're all talking about snowflakes!
ReplyDeleteAmazing aren't they? Each one a little jewel!
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great TT post--I've long been fascinated with Bentley.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, I absolutely love these images. I was vaguely aware of snowflake images but to see them catalogued and recorded like this is wonderful. Thanks for introducing me to the work of Wilson Bentley. Happy TT my friend.
ReplyDeleteWhy, thank you Alan...friend. :)
ReplyDeleteHi! Betsy,
ReplyDeleteHow are you and your five men doing?
Thanks, for sharing...
The information about Wilson Bentley (1865-1931)
The photographs of the different snowflakes and the quote...by Jeanette Winterson.
"They say that every snowflake is different. If that were true, how could the world go on? How could we ever get up off our knees? How could we ever recover from the wonder of it
Take care!
DeeDee ;-D
How cool! That I know of, I've never seen photos of actual snowflakes that were that detailed. Just beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletehow extraordinarily wonderful
ReplyDeleteBetsy, what a fabulous early morning treat for me to find your "favorite things" and beautiful, smiling face in the sidebar...love the Header image...and oh my the snow
ReplyDeleteflakes...Don't give up on me...I really do have some sepia's I plan to share--I have enjoyed yours immensely...let me just survive giving & grading finals this coming week.... and one of my best Christmas activities & presents to myself will be more time catching up on the many wonderful blogs I have discovered through yours & Willow's!
May I post your snow poem in my classrooom this week?
Firelight ~ of course..I'd be honored! :)
ReplyDelete