1. the things that never arrived by kevissimo.
2. home by fivefortyfive.
The other day I received a little gift in the mail from someone rather wonderful (who I will be featuring here in the (blog)house very soon) and attached to the gift was not just a card, but a polaroid notecard. I have to say, the cards are beautiful. The print quality, the image, the size – just perfect. Of course I knew about Jen’s polaroid notes ages ago but I hadn’t actually seen them in person. Now that I have, I must get a set.
This particular polaroid note above is by mat denney. It’s called ‘fading now’. So so lovely, I just had to tell you.
Last week in New York, ten of Wilson A Bentley (a.k.a the snowflake man)’s incredible snow crystal photographs – which date back to the end of the 19th century – went on sale at the American Antiques Show. The vintage images are breathtaking…
“Every crystal was a masterpiece of design, and no one design was ever repeated. When a snowflake melted, that design was forever lost” said Bentley back in 1925…
According to an article in The Guardian, Bentley’s interest with snow crystals began when he received a microscope for his 15th birthday: “He became spellbound by their beauty, complexity and endless variety” (it’s nice to know I’m not the only one obsessed with snow!).
“Bentley started trying to draw the flakes but the snow melted before he could finish. His parents eventually bought him a camera and he spent two years trying to capture images of the tiny, fleeting crystals. He caught falling snowflakes by standing in the doorway with a wooden tray as snowstorms passed over. The tray was painted black so he could see the crystals and transfer them delicately onto a glass slide. To study the snow crystals, Bentley rigged his bellows camera up to the microscope but found he could not reach the controls to bring them into focus. He overcame the problem through the imaginative use of wheels and cord.” (as quoted by Ian Sample, science correspondent for The Guardian, Thursday January 21, 2010)
The method of singling out a snowflake to photograph apparently hasn’t changed in all that time. “You basically let the crystal fall on something, black or dark-coloured, and then you have to pick it up with a toothpick or brush and put it on a glass slide,” says Kenneth Libbrecht, professor of physics and snowflake enthusiast.
Bentley’s snowflake photographs have inspired people all over the world for over a hundred years – quilters, photographers, jewelers, and artists of all kinds have been captivated by Bentley’s work. I, am now one of them.
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Extra tidbits:
+There is a museum dedicated to Bentley’s work at an old mill in his hometown in Vermont. It houses about 2,000 of his vintage images. I must go.
+I first found Bentley’s images and story at the ever lovely Pacha Design – please read sammy and glenn’s beautiful post(thank you again guys for such inspiration!)
+View and read the full telegraph article – there are 21 images which tell the beautiful story of snowflake bentley’s work.
While I’ve been sunning it up down under, I have been missing out on what has most likely been the prettiest winter in Amsterdam for years. In the last couple of months it has unusually snowed in my new hometown countless times, leaving a nice thick blanket over the cobblestoned streets, parked bicycles, canals and houseboats, creating incredible picture-perfect scenes…
To say I’m envious of all who have witnessed these snowfalls is an understatement. I adore snow – always have and always will (I’ve survived a number of Quebec winters in my younger years and loved each and every freezing moment) – and to know that I have missed something so unique and spectacular is fairly heartbreaking. Of course I know that so much snow and slippery ice brings chaos to such a city but still, it’s one of those natural phenomenons that continually manage to surprise and delight me. Unfortunately the snow has stopped falling and the Amsterdam that I will go back to in a week’s time will most likely be the rainy, dark, and very cold one I’ve come to know so well.
But the good news is that my dear friends have been taking the most beautiful photos of their outings when the snow appears and emailing them to me. Their photos make me smile every time so I thought I’d share some with you…
All these gorgeous images are courtesy of photographers Cath Conroy and Alan Jenson. Thank you so much Cath and Al! You are both super lucky to have had this experience, and your first ever winter in Amsterdam to boot.
Stunning. Hope you’ve all enjoyed these images as much as I have. Cath and Al, I promise to pack a bit of sunshine in my suitcase for you.
xx
Jasmine from show + tell recently honeymooned in this incredible abode known as treehouse point, in Issaquah, Washington and took the most amazing shots. Aren’t these photos magical?
Look at that treehouse, tucked high up in the branches. How utterly dreamy. Click here to see more of Jasmine’s gorgeous photos, she has a fabulous photostream. Now, I am off to dream (again!!) of treehouses, and I think I may just have to book myself a trip to treehouse point next year. What a treat it would be!!
