Back on a VerÂmont farm in 1885, WilÂson A. BentÂley attached a microÂscope to a belÂlows camÂera and became the first perÂson to phoÂtoÂgraph an indiÂvidÂual snowflake. Two decades latÂer, he sent 500 prints of his snowflakes to the SmithÂsonÂian, where they still remain. (View some here.) And then, yet anothÂer two decades latÂer, he pubÂlished a book packed with 2,400 snowflake images. NPR’s web site has more of BentÂley’s work on disÂplay. And, of course, you can find an entire tribÂute site dedÂiÂcatÂed to his winÂtery work…
