A Haven for Vee

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Snowflakes




Snowflakes...lovely things...do you believe that no two are alike? I do, though I now know that they can be very similar.

Jill sparked my curiosity a few weeks ago with her discussion of snowflake photography. I had to wait for days to have daytime snow; at first, I used a velveteen pillow to capture snowflakes. I soon learned that the nap of the fabric was very unattractive when enlarging snowflakes. It looked like this.


The snowflakes were intriguing enough that I wanted to try again, which I did. More waiting for daytime snow and then snow came yesterday (today, too, for that matter). I was out on the deck in my pajamas capturing snowflakes using first green paper then red paper.














I was appalled to realize that a snowstorm is like a battlefield. All those flakes hit the ground and most blow up on impact. Terribly sad.




Every now and then one would land intact...


Sometimes, various objects landed.

I even saw a skier...















and a skater!

You know what? I'm beginning to think that I don't have enough to do. =)

Have you been wasting time on anything lately?

Happy February!

46 comments:

  1. I am quite impressed that you were able to capture any long enough to take the photos. It certainly illustrates that no two are alike! No time wasted there; you were celebrating creation!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Vee,
    How neat! The nearest I want to come to any is making them on my embroidery machine! LOL.

    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow I'm so amazed that you got such close clear shots! I don't think I've every seen a real snowflake photographed like that!

    ReplyDelete
  4. That is really neat...they are beautiful. We see so few of them here, so I wouldn't have a chance to catch them like that...in fact today is going to be in mid-70's...last year snow, so we are headed to the park for a picnic.

    Thanks for sharing...truly amazing

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love to look at snowflakes.....We only see them once every 3 or 4 years. Your snowflakes are beautiful and interesting.

    I love the new look on your blog..... I'm going to try and do something different with mine too, but ...for me, it will take some time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. You have the most wonderful ability to think of these things and follow through. I love the way you take the time to create and imagine. (I'm far too serious.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Wow! Those are really amazing. Great job Vee!

    Today I am cleaning my really dirty hardwood floors! I hate that job. :(

    ((Hugs))
    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  8. These are amazing pictures, Vee! So beautiful! I'm impressed with your photography abilities!

    Smiles,
    Carol

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love it!!!! A real snowflake captured in its very short life!!! I love the wing too...I'm glad you took the time to do this Vee ~ Here, well, it's been unseasonably warm, our daffodils think it's March! Hope all is well with you sweet friend, hugs and love, Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh no not wasted at all...this California gal is fascinated. We are going to be in the upper 70's today, and over 80 tomorrow supposedly. How I'd love to see a little snow. ENJOY Debbie

    ReplyDelete
  11. You did a great job! You're probably already aware of this, but here's a great snowflake site: http://snowflakebentley.com/ I have the children's biography of him, and I also have a copy of Snowflakes and Crystals. Beautiful work (him and you)!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That is no waste of time missy. You are capturing tiny little pieces of God's many miracles. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  13. 'Tis never wasting time, when one is engaged in that, which makes their heart sing. :-)

    And you were.

    And your photos are lovely proof of this.

    It's been so long since I've thought of trying to capture snow flakes, on a dark background or whatever. How about black velvet? Would that be an interesting try?

    See? You aren't done yet! Gotta' try more and different *catching* bases. :-))))))))))))

    Mmmmmmmmm, guess I am *wasting time* on reading. It's a BIG book, and I'm having fun, being immersed in it and so................ :-)

    "Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading,
    to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him."

    - Maya Angelou

    ReplyDelete
  14. Awesome photos! Wish I had the talent for that. I would have never even thought about trying to take a picture of a snowflake.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Great pictures of the snowflake close-ups. Definitely not a waste of time to appreciate and share the beauty. Our temps are going to approach 70 today, but I'd much rather be seeing a few snowflakes in January.

    ReplyDelete
  16. I was all set to recommend Snowflake Bentley to you...but I see that Angela has already done so!
    There is so much to learn by reading (good quality...not twaddly) children's picture books! I will be one of those older ladies who will be found in the children's section of my library after all my children have grown. (I'll just use my grandchildren for an excuse.)

    Your snowflake photos are wonderful. What detail there is in a snowflake. (Love the skier, too!)

    The big and the small of nature, the vastness and the intricacies, all point to our Creator!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Vee, those shots are beautiful. I haven't looked closely at snow flakes for a long time and I enjoyed this with, dare I say, a 'little wonder'.

    ReplyDelete
  18. How simply BEAUTIFUL!! Thanks for sharing this great post with us. We will not be getting any snow here in Texas this winter it seems. So I enjoyed YOURS!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Well, your day is infinitely more exciting than mine today! I love the snowflakes. If and when it snows, I will be out there trying to catch some too. Skiers, skaters...who knew.......

    ReplyDelete
  20. Well, that sounded like fun. I won't be seeing any snowflakes here in Phoenix, but if I did I would grab the paper and hit the deck.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I wonder if I'll get another chance here. The last snowfall came in form of a blizzard and there is not much chance of capturing anything then.

    You will never regret taking time to photograph such miracles!

    ReplyDelete
  22. What an intriguing fun post!! Never thought of putting paper down to see them. It would've been great to do with my kids when they were young. Fun post indeed. Hugs.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Vee! These are beautiful. You are taking time to wonder at God's marvelous creation. I think he probably likes that.

    Now, what setting on "our" camera did you use? I'm having trouble getting close up photos, especially close ones like these snowflakes. And that's what I really want to do.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Those are great! How fun! We've hardly had snow this season...if we get some again, I am going to have the kids do this for an art project!

    Deanna

    ReplyDelete
  25. Snowflake art...well captured. The snowflakes that remain over here...are packed into hard piles...and not quite the pristine white they once were. I may have to wait for next year...to photograph flakes.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh that's not wasting time, that's enjoying life!! : )
    Snowflakes are amazing and I too believe that no two are alike.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thank you Vee for your kind words.

    I too abhor surgery and would avoid it if I could but having been rushed to hospital twice in an ambulance and having a stone blocked in the bile duct on both occasions - and suffering a very severe infection on the first occasion - I am scared stiff of it happening again and would be frightened, if I did leave it, to ever eat anything fatty. My gall bladder is chock full of little stones and docs say it could easily happen again.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Sorry Vee, I forgot to comment on your post. It was really interesting, I didn't realise you could photograph snowflakes, I will tell my husband to get on the case when we next have snow.
    Your time was definitely not wasted.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Each and every one holds the beauty in it's own uniqueness.

    You captured the wonderfully sweetie!

    God bless ya and have an incredible day!!! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Adore the snowflakes!

    In grade school we would spray hair spray on a piece of black construction paper and go outside and catch the snowflakes. They would land and stick and you could see them so clearly. I loved getting that extra special recess when the teachers would let us go catch snowflakes, although I am not sure why we sprayed hair spray on the paper.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Did you say "wasting" time?! Each one of those were worth capturing!

    I had put pieces of black fabric in the freezer so that our kids could capture some snowflakes and observe them, but we've not had a lot of snow!

    It has been hard to seize those moments, so I thank you for doing it for us:)

    I really liked your picture of all the different parts:D

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm very impressed with your snowflakes and the one that is mostly intact is amazing. I went shopping for a new bathing suit today! I like to torture myself I guess...
    Bathing suits are expensive!! Ouch!

    ReplyDelete
  33. What fun you must have had capturing these.

    I think it's a great way to spend time to take a closer look at the beauty of nature around us!

    Good on you!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Well, one thing for sure, sweet Vee...you know how to have a fun day. I would LOVE to catch snow flakes, if we would only get some.:((

    come on over, we are all eating your fabulous Molasses cookies today. I'm trying to save you one but....I don't know....

    ReplyDelete
  35. Vee
    This proves to me that you are still 'young at heart'!
    And that's a blessing in my book any day of the week!
    You did a great job of capturing
    (and interpeting) your snowflakes
    for us. I agreed with all, but the last one. He looked like someone bent over to pass a football between his legs.
    You see, I have too much time on my hands too!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I really enjoyed seeing the snowflakes up close. They are so beautiful.

    Donna

    ReplyDelete
  37. Interesting that you mention taking a moment to photograph a snowflake to be a waste of time.
    That seems like a wonderful way to appreciate one of God's amazing creations. Now cleaning house is a waste of time ... unless you consider dust to be one of God's gifts to us! :)

    ReplyDelete
  38. Magnificent photography Vee! Like you I am surprised at how many snowflakes get shattered on impact....you made me enjoy even the broken pieces. Thanks for the plug too!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Please tell me these are real! I don't think we realize the beauty that falls during the winter. I know I didn't....each one a delicate shape. Vee, you are brilliant to have captured them, so that we can see the shapes of the various flakes that fall. Lovely!

    ReplyDelete
  40. So CUTE! Vee, I'm so glad you did that! Since we rarely get snow, and I don't have a microscope, I've often wondered if they really look different! I love how they look - all crystalline - I see the skier, too!

    ReplyDelete
  41. That is awesome! God is awesome! I think it's great that you took time to catch snowflakes. And I think I've wasted too much time on here tonight. Good night!

    ReplyDelete
  42. Vee, you never cease to amaze me! I am so impressed with these photos, I am now wondering how you are going to top this. And you said you weren't creative. HA!

    Read the Sally Lunn bread post and it looks yummy, and I too like Cabot butter. That new oven is working out just fine, enjoy!
    I was thinking of you while walking today, wondering if you were getting snow, and wanting to tease you about our 70' degrees today, I am so used to this warm weather that if it would turn cold i would go in shock. lol But the truth is we really need some cold weather to get rid of some of the insects I am seeing, I even saw a mosquito, late this evening.
    Enjoy your week,
    Hugs,
    Sue

    ReplyDelete
  43. Snowflakes are so pretty when viewed closely like this.You did agood job capturing them with your camera.

    I wish I could waste time! I've been so busy with both happy and sad tasks I'm all worn out. Also, one of my good friends is getting chemo treatments once a week now to combat ovarian cancer, so a few of us are trying to cheer her up and get her out of the house. We had a fun day yesterday!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I LOVED seeing these. I can't remember seeing any up close like this before. Soo cool!

    Wasting time? Yes working - I all I do is talk and push papers:(

    Enjoy the rest of your week!
    Leann

    ReplyDelete
  45. Great shots...I'm still waiting for for snow. It was 68 degrees here yesterday. We should have 4 to 5 inches of snow on the ground now with temps cold enough to ice skate. Strange...but it was the same in 1987. I remember because I was homeschooling DD and we played tennis or racquet ball nearly every day when we were finished with school. Aaaanywho...great shots of the snowflakes and I'm going to give it a go when there is opportunity! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

🕊
If comments disappear, please don't fret. A simple "hi" will do. The platform surely needs some maintenance.