snow

Snowflakes, originally uploaded by Gavatron.

I enjoy macro photography because it often allows me to see things that I often don’t see regularly — so, to use a cliché, it can take me places I’ve never been before. Normally, I use this power to photograph insects, but they’re lacking this time of year.

I have never tried to photograph snowflakes, but today presented an opportunity to do so. First, as noticed while walking the dog, there were “perfect” snowflakes falling. Second, Heather has covered the balcony planters in black garbage bags, it provided me an interesting substrate upon which to photograph said frozen ice crystals. Third, I should have been transcribing an interview, so why wouldn’t I take a break and fart around with the camera?

And for you naturalist, category-loving types out there, here’s a taxonomy of snowflakes. Looks like these are “stellar dendrites.”

More photos after the jump.