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Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Magical

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.”
Wilson A. Bentley "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

28 comments:

  1. Betsy, this is so beautiful and what a wonderful thought that we should be so thankful that if God takes the time to make all those individual snowflakes He is beyond magnificent. I love Him and all His creation is such a wonder.

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  2. Those are just beautiful! God is so incredibly creative that I can't even imagine how cool Heaven is going to be!

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  3. I am intrigued looking at all of his photographs. They are amazing. I would like to know more about the man who dedicated so much of his time to recording each one of these tiny miracles.

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  4. Gorgeous! We are going to cut out some paper ones this weekend. They wont resemble these, of that I am certain!

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  5. I guess snow crystal shapes might be changed by the global warming.

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  6. That is just fascinating. Thanks for sharing.

    CJ xx

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  7. this is amazing and fascinating. I am in awe of God's creation every single day.

    hey i need to get your mailing address so that I can mail you your little gift. i think if you reply to this comment it will go to my email.

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  8. Lovely post... just another tiny glimpse at the glory of God. Breathtaking images!

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  9. So THAT's what a snowflake looks like! Just kidding, but it's been a long, long time. It hasn't snowed here in South West Florida since Jan. 1977! (Seriously, it did then, but only swirling in the air briefly. Pretty cool, tho). My oldest son is 27 and he just saw snow for the first time this Thanksgiving! These photos are beautiful, thanks for sharing.

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  10. I own at least one book of his.....I was thinking I had two....but I forget now. I LOVE the photographs..it is amazing what he was able to capture for us to see!

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  11. Wesley had a book about him when he was in 2nd grade that he read often. He loved it even though we lived in FL. I love to look at those beautiful flakes.

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  12. Thank you, Betsy. What a wonderful glimpse at a creative genius.

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  13. Wonderful post. Thanks for sharing the magic.

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  14. Amazing! Thanks for sharing the 'magic' with us. Truly beautiful!!!

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  15. Are you still wandering and frolicking? It snowed all day here

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  16. I remember the first time I discovered the pattern in snowflakes as a child! I was so excited and had to catch more and more to see their shapes!

    I loved the quote too! I saved that in my journal --thanks!

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  17. Pat ~ me, too! I loved that quote and saved it for later use! :)

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  18. Steviewren ~ I'm intrigued, too. I'm going to look for the book. It would be great as a coffeetable book!

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  19. DJK ~ As a child, I loved cutting them out of folded paper ~ I bet yours look wonderful!

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  20. Edi ~ I'm knee deep in boxes of decorations! The five men home and a busy weekend slowed me down! LOL

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  21. just wanted to let you know i mailed your little gift last week. hope it arrives safely.

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  22. Spread your wings ~ you are so sweet! I'm waiting in suspense!

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  23. Gorgeous! You blog is so jolly! I'm humming a White Christmas as I read!

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  24. Amazing...only possible by the Creator.

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  25. you need to go and make some interactive flakes at popular front's snow site. find it on my bar, if you don't know it. Exquisite, n'est pas?

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