Snowflake draft #3

Here is two snowflakes, quickly processed for Snowflake draft series. Both photos was taken March 19, 2013 - quite late for serious snowflake photography, but that day was cold, and i have nice catch of interesting snow crystals without visible melting:

Snowflake photo: Draft_3-1 (2400 x 1800)

Prints of this spiky cluster available at: Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

I like this cluster of three stellar dendrites with thin and sharp arms, resembling blades. However, it was hard to process: that cluster was captured from non-ideal angle, so it slightly out of focus at top and bottom edges. Also, it lays high over background, touching single wool fibers in one or two points - this visually separates snow crystal from surrounding background and looks nice, but this unstable construction shifts and rotates from every light blow of the wind. I've spent lots of time, until achieved good alignment of all 8 source shots for averaging process.

Here you'll find similar flat cluster with three snowflakes, captured on glass with LED back lighting:

This single stellar dendrite crystal have big central hexagon with beautiful inner structure, though it's six arms is not perfectly symmetrical, if we look closely at their side branches:

Snowflake photo: Draft_3-2 (2048 x 1536)

Prints available at: Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

Here is very first pack of draft snowflakes - catch of December 18, 2015:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Snowflake vectors 2

I've already created two vector snowflake images, trying to make them very similar to original photos. This time i tried different approach: my goal is creating simplified image in just two colors, which represent only most significant details of real snow crystal, traced to smooth curves.

As source images i've picked again large and complex crystal Gardener's dream and small Forget-me-not.

Vector files: EPS and SVG formats, pre-rendered PNG: 8000 x 8000

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com.

This version shows only highlights of snow crystal's glossy surface on black background:

Vector files: EPS and SVG formats, pre-rendered PNG: 8000 x 8000

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com.

Imho, these vectors looks quite nice on beautiful girls from RedBubble:

Processing workflow for these pictures is simple: i enlarged each snowflake about 4x times and applied Photoshop filter Image -> Adjustments -> Threshold - it allow to choose level of brightness, which divide picture to black and white pixels: any pixel that darker-than-selected level become black, and any that brighter-than-selected level become white. Resulting picture may look quite nice, but contain very jagged and unpleasant lines and edges, if we look closely. This is not problem, however, because vector tracer will convert every pixelated line to nice smooth curve. Also, i applied second filter: Artistic -> Cutout, which does exactly what i need: it simplifies picture and get rid of all small and insignificant image details. After adjusting filter sliders, picture are ready to vectorize.

This time i used nice, fast and free online service Autotracer.org. I applied these settings: number of colors = 2 and in advanced settings, smoothing="smoother". Resulting curves looks good in high resolutions.

Similar vector version for this small and simple crystal:

Vector files: EPS and SVG formats, pre-rendered PNG: 8000 x 8000

Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com.

Vector files: EPS and SVG formats, pre-rendered PNG: 8000 x 8000

Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com.

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Capped column (reworked)

I've already processed this unusual snowflake three years ago, but recently pull it out of archive and decided to fully re-process. I'm happy to see that my processing workflow improved over time: new version have slightly better details, colors and contrast. Also, i keep lots of empty space around crystal in all directions, and created special variant with isolated snowflake on transparent background: all this is needed for quality prints on various products. I glad that such tiny snow crystal (slightly bigger than 1 millimeter on longer axis) now available in full range of print variations.

Snowflake photo: Capped column, new variant (1200 x 900)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

8 RAW photos was taken as quick series, aligned and averaged to improve signal / noise ratio of this picture.

Here you can see differences between old and new processing:

Old vs new capped column pictures

And here you'll find another, even more strange variant of capped column - with thin column, and caps of different shape and size:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Stars in my pocket like grains of sand

Snowflake photo: Stars in my pocket like grains of sand (2560 x 1920)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

I borrow this title from sci-fi book, written by amazing author Samuel R. Delany.

This is tiny cluster of two stellar dendrite snowflakes: large and medium size. It was flat, and perfectly fits in focus without focus stacking technique. I like star shapes and elegant structure of this pair, and their sharp edges, without any traces of melting.

7 identical RAW photos was taken as fast series, aligned and averaged to improve SNR (signal/noise ratio) of this picture. I've used only diffused light of cloudy sky, dark grey wool fabric as background; and macro setup, containing Canon Powershot A650is and lens Helios 44, reversely mounted in front of camera as additional magnifier.

Here is slightly different version: without my usual blue color toning. As you can see, completely grey wool fabric shows color variances at high magnification:

Snowflake photo: Stars in my pocket like grains of sand, grey variant (2560 x 1920)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

And this is version with blur background. I've done it easily, because already had precise isolation mask, created at early processing stage:

Snowflake photo: Stars in my pocket like grains of sand, blur variant (2000 x 2000)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

Here is another stellar dendrite snowflake, also taken at dark textured backdrop, and processed in same technique:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Sunflower

Snowflake photo: Sunflower (1600 x 1200)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

This is very interesting snowflake: with big and flat central hexagon (almost without any features), relief outer rim and arms with many ridges - quite unusual combination. This is medium size snow crystal, just 3 millimeters from tip to tip; but that large and empty center was easily noticeable even with naked eye, and it instantly attract my attention. This snowflake remind me sunflower: with short, broad icy "petals" and inner "lines of seeds".

8 identical RAW photos, taken as quick series, was averaged to boost signal-to-noise ratio of this picture. Snowflake was captured on glass background with LED back light, with additional lens Helios 44M-5, in Moscow, Russia.

And this is version in alternate colors:

Snowflake photo: Sunflower golden (1600 x 1200)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

And here is computer generated pencil drawing of this snowflake, done in wonderful free program FotoSketcher:

Snowflake pencil drawing: Sunflower (1280 x 960)

Also, this crystal available as Ultra HD wallpaper:

I already processed two more snowflakes from same amazing snowfall of January 3, 2016: Winter fortress and Serenity:

And here is another snowflake from previous winter: Dusty mirror - it slightly remind me new one: this crystal also have big and flat central hexagon, where only visible feature is pattern of tiny dots, relief outer rim and short arms with nice details:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Harlequin snowflakes

For these two pictures, i've used blending mode difference again, for subtracting original background (smooth blue / gray gradient) and revealing snowflake with all details on pure black. This time, i've divided picture by two halfs, and replaced one with part of original photo; and picked two small hexagonal plate crystals as sources:

Snowflake picture: Harlequin (1024 x 768)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.

Snowflake picture: Harlequin II (1200 x 900)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.

Previously, i've applied same technique on two medium size snowflakes and two large and complex fernlike dendrites.

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Neon snowflakes

This is my next effort to completely change look and feel of snowflake photos, captured on glass surface. I already applied this technique to two large fernlike dendrites, and now it's time for two smaller snow crystals with relatively simple structure: High voltage and Ice relief:

Snowflake picture: High voltage III (1600 x 1200)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

Snowflake picture: Ice relief III (1600 x 1200)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

This processing is really simple, though it also requires some time. I use difference blending mode to separate snowflake details from background (it looks like subtracting clean background from snowflake). Here is original photos:

I like difference blending very much: often it can be used to create very interesting effects and colors. You can see another example of it's abilities: Mirror's edge, picture of snowflake in vivid colors, caused by blending two variants of same crystal, processed in different colors:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Artist website is ready

Artist website alexey-kljatov.pixels.com is ready and fully functional:

Every purchase includes a money-back guarantee. Products delivered to any destination in the world.

Some HDR photos is not uploaded yet, but my best snowflake, macro and still life pictures are here.

Website powered by FineArtAmerica, one of the largest, most-respected giclee printing companies in the world with over 40 years of experience producing museum-quality prints. All prints are produced on state-of-the-art, professional-grade Epson printers. Site have exactly same content, and almost the same functionality as it's mirrors at Pixels.com and FineArtAmerica.com, but have some important advantages.

It's fast. In my tests, main page loads twice as fast as same page on Pixels.com profile. Also, website have nice customization abilities, and it's look and feel can be changed dramatically. For this moment, however, i've selected default color scheme, but spent many time on photo and text content.

Website, also as FineArtAmerica.com and Pixels.com, offers money-back guarantee for every purchase.

This website will be my main print-on-demand place, though some additional products also available at RedBubble.com.

If anyone interested, i glad to offer one-month 100% discount. That not means free prints, however: my commission will be zero, but discount does not apply to manufacturer's materials, print process and delivery. Here is it, 6-symbol code: LSVXZY. On final stage of ordering any product, there is special field for discount codes:

Snowflake draft #2

This is quick update of Snowflake draft series, before i'll continue digging archives from recent winter. This photo was taken January 18, 2013: very first winter when i start to use lens Helios 44 as additional magnifier, and assembled my current snowflake macro setup. I needed this picture of snowflake for side project, and spent three hours to process it from averaged stack of 7 serial JPEG sources.

Snowflake photo: Draft_2-1 (3200 x 2400)

This is pair of big stellar dendrite snow crystals, fallen together at my black woolen backdrop. Interesting thing with that couple is that far crystal have almost the same size, shape and structure as near one, and it even sit in wool fibers at same angle! It seems that both snowflakes fall and grow in close proximity to each other, and similar air conditions and changes in temperature and humidity around them caused crystals to grow with similar shape. If you look closely at far crystal, you'll notice some differences in details of arms.

Prints of this double flake available at: Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

Crop of snowflake center in full size

And this is version in real colors, without my usual blue color toning. Almost all of my source photos with dark grey woolen background have similar, almost monochromatic grey colors, because in most cases the only light source is diffused light from cloudy winter sky:

Snowflake photo: Draft_2-2 (3200 x 2400)

Snowflakes is the crystals of clear transparent ice, and they can take any color, depending of light source and surrounding environment (this gives us a fantastic opportunity to experiment with lighting and backgrounds). Although, when looking from particular angles, snow crystals become white and semi-transparent, or almost opaque (i think, this is because of light scattering: light rays can bounce inside of snow crystal, reflecting from numerous facets). Also, in some cases snowflakes can show us rainbow colors, which produced by prismatic features inside crystals, and even more interesting phenomenon: rainbow colors, created by thin film interference effect (it explained in Wikipedia; this effect also creates rainbow colors in soap bubbles). In relation to the snowflakes, this effect can be seen rarely: it needs interleaved and very thin layers of ice and air inside snow crystal. Here you can see several examples of rainbow snowflakes, that i've encounter during recent winters.

Prints of grey version also available at: Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

Here is next pack of draft snowflakes - catch of March 19, 2013:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Heart-powered star

Snowflake photo: Heart-powered star (1400 x 1050)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

The most interesting detail in this small snowflake is the ring pattern of six heart-shaped elements, connected to outer corners of central hexagon. These "hearts" are unusual and rare details in snow crystals patterns (i have seen them only twice, from 8 winters of snowflake photography). This crystal was processed for birthday of my girl Lucy:

8 identical RAW photos was taken as fast series, and averaged to boost signal-to-noise ratio of snowflake image. Crystal was captured on large sheet of glass with LED back light, using Canon Powershot A650is, and additional lens Helios 44M-5 (as external magnifier), in January 2016, Moscow, Russia.

Also, i processed this photo in alternate colors:

Snowflake photo: Heart-powered star, alternate (1400 x 1050)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
License for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

Here is first snowflake with hearts, which i've photographed and processed for Lucy one year ago: Frozen hearts:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Three-in-one

Snowflake photo: Three-in-one (2048 x 1536)

Prints available at Artist website (mirrors at Pixels and FineArtAmerica), RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

This is cluster of three snowflakes, captured in january 2016. Big crystal is medium size stellar dendrite, around 4 millimeters from tip to tip. Snowflake clusters sometimes looks really nice, but often they form 3-dimensional structure, and we can't get acceptable image without using focus stacking technique. In this case, however, whole group was flat and perfectly fits in focus.

9 identical shots averaged to boost signal-to-noise ratio. Glass background with LED back light, additional lens Helios 44M-5, Moscow.

Here you'll find similar cluster with three snowflakes, captured on dark woolen background:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Serenity

Snowflake photo: Serenity (1600 x 1200)

Prints available at Artist website, RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com, 500px.com.

This is another snowflake from January 2016. It seems that this crystal have biggest central hexagon among all snowflakes that i processed so far: around 2 millimeters, or even slightly bigger! We can't classify it as hexagonal plate snowflake, though, because this crystal starts to grow tiny arms. I've watched TV series Firefly yesterday (love it so much!), and named this crystal after spaceship from the series.

The main problem with this photo was cleaning of background. When i photographed that crystal, my glass plate was almost completely covered with tiny condensed droplets: they was everywhere around crystal. On some angles of transit light from behind of glass, these droplets become visible and very detailed. I don't want to see them in processed picture, so i have no other choice than manually clean them out, one by one, from whole 12 megapixel picture. This was long and boring task, i'm assure you! :)

15 identical RAW shots, taken as fast series, was averaged to boost signal-to-noise ratio of this image. Snowflake captured on glass background with LED back light, with additional lens Helios 44M-5, in Moscow, Russia.

Check out this wonderful crocheted snowflake, based on this crystal, made by Snowcatcher! You will see an excellent final result and all working stages:

I have really good catch of interesting and unusual snowflakes from January 3, 2016 (more than 7 gigabytes of RAW + Jpeg source photos in archive from just one day!). I've processed interesting snowflake of sectored plate type: Winter fortress; unusual crystal with big and empty central hexagon: Sunflower, and have many other wonderful crystals to work with.

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.

Valentine's day snowflake

I already posted this amazing hexagonal plate crystal: Frozen hearts almost a year ago, and this is post-processed version, with slightly better contrast and colors:

Snowflake photo: Frozen hearts (1200 x 900)

Prints available at Artist website, RedBubble.com.
Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com.

This variant have bigger cropping, and maybe it will be better for design:

Snowflake photo: Frozen hearts, big cropping (3200 x 2400)

Licenses for commercial use - at Shutterstock.com.

This heart-like pattern inside of snowflake really rare thing: i have seen it only twice in all of my photos, taken during 8 winters. In January 2016, i was lucky to take photo of another snowflake with six tiny hearts, connected to corners of hexagonal center:

If you want to see more snowflakes, you can browse through all snowflake pictures.
Here you'll find snowflake photo wallpapers in numerous resolutions and screen proportions, up to Ultra HD 4K.
And here is article about snowflake macro photography.