Inspired by the talented Canadian photographer, Don Komarechka and his recent work documenting these stunning natural crystals, I set out to see what I could capture with our modest backpacking camera gear here in Berlin.
Not carrying a dedicated macro lens on these travels, I've had to improvise by capturing macro shots using the reverse lens method. Never before had I had to photograph subjects that are this tiny and fragile where even the slightest warm breath would see your intricate snowflake disappear before your eyes. But through persistence, and trial and error, these are what I was able to capture. There's still much to learn, but snowy days are never going to be the same ;)
reverse lens macro
ISO: 6400
F stop: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/80sec
reverse lens macro
ISO: 3200
F stop: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/80sec
reverse lens macro
ISO: 6400
F stop: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/50sec
reverse lens macro
ISO: 6400
F stop: f/2.8
Exposure: 1/50sec
You guys should know how much I enjoy taking black and white photos. These are my favourite ones. Great snapshot!
I share in your enthusiasm for black and white photography. There’s just something so raw about an image once the colour is taken out of the equation. In saying that, these snowflake images weren’t acutally processed into B&W. My beanie/knitted capcap which I used to capture the flakes just happened to be black and the flakes themselves are transparent-ish. Glad you like them.
These are so beautiful I want to run outside during the next snowfall and try it myself! Thanks for including the settings you used!
Thanks Heather and when you do, be sure to share the results with us. The settings will vary depending on your setup but does act as a rough guide. Let me know if you have any questions. I’m more than happy to help where I can :)
Hai, as usual you have created something amazing! These are awesome and the fact that you take the time to show us all how to do it as well is so much appreciated ;-) Thanks for sharing these beautiful works of art! We look forward to every one of your “lessons” to become better photographers.
Much appreciated Lisa and Cheryl, I am truly humbled. Although I can’t take any credit for nature’s beauty, I’m glad to hear that my images and occasional murmerings can inspire others to see the world around us a little differently.