A Flakey challenge.

[FocalFrenzy]

Hi everyone,
I looked everywhere for a "Sticky" on how to suggest a challenge, and not finding one, I decided to post this myself. I'm not even sure anyone besides myself would be interested.
Anyway, on the last page of Popular Photography and Imaging, (Dec. 2007), there is an article by Kenneth Libbrecht about photographing snowflakes. He has a very informative website at www.snowcrystals.com. In the article he describes his D.I.Y. photo equipment. ($20,000.00 US) My challenge is this; can we as a forum of the most talented photographers and Do-it-yourselfers, come up with a method or apparatus to allow us to take similar photos, for considerably less money?
This challenge would be open to all members, moderators included, as they represent the best of both worlds. Photographic experience and D.I.Y. skills. Even those members who reside in warmer climates can participate. What the challenge is looking for is a set-up that will allow you to shoot a subject from 1/2-3mm in diameter, and fill the whole frame with it. Any set-up doing this can be adapted for cold climate use. The set-up in the article used Microscope lenses with complicated adapters. I tried a couple of shots today using a +4 diopter macro lens inaddition to a +8 diopter magnifying lens. These images are very poor examples of what we could accomplish with the right minds working on it, but, since this is my idea, I should start things off.




I really hope this idea takes off while there is still some snowfall to look forward to. Thanks in advance for your time.

[jiminyClickit]

working
working
working
thawing out
working
working
(you get my drift...)

[kelly]

hehehe jiminy, I was a little slow on the uptake with that one. Love the drift pun.

[jiminyClickit]

kelly,

Punsters are rarely given credit, for good reason . . .

A low moan is usually the most to be gained. Thanks for playing along!

[FocalFrenzy]

Thanks for the feedback jiminy. Nice pun also. Does this sound like something of interest to you?

[jiminyClickit]

FocalFrenzy,

Tried some today, too warm in the Sun. Everything dark enough to be good b/g also melted the individual flakes. It is a challenge I will meet, though. So far: $0.00

[FocalFrenzy]

Thanks for the update, JC. I think I've got about 28 cents in my shots. My first attempts melted before I could get a shot. So I put the viewing table face down in the snow and left it for 10 minutes. That took care of the melting. My biggest problem was finding a sharp point of focus. It was kind of windy, but I think the blurriness was more a result of parallax (distorted reflection), from the magnifying glass. Perhaps if I mounted it in a tube to shield it from light entering on the sides.....anyways, I'm going to keep trying.Let me know if you make any progress.

[Nicole]

Well, while you're figuring out the best way to photograph something that small, what about preserving one in superglue so you can test your photography bits without worrying about it melting?

[jiminyClickit]

Nicole,

You resurrected a site I used last year to get a variety of photos for a Winter Concert program. Did not save it, could not think of it today. Once again, Wonder Woman, thanks.

[FocalFrenzy]

Nicole, I didn't have any glass slides available, or I would have tried that. I did try using one of my paintbrushes to pick out and move the best flakes. Even the 3 haired "fine" brush caused alot of breakage. I'll have to experiment some more. I really enjoy this kind of challenge.