The book was made possible with financial support from henry shaw, chairman of the. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. At the age of sixtysix, a book of his work was published. Snow, the beautiful snow, as the raptured poet sang, winters spotless downy blanket for forest. Published in 1998, the book is about wilson bentley, the first known photographer of snowflakes. Nor is the aesthetic urge of its very tiniest flake or smallest crystal that gently floats from heaven to earth any less compelling. Snowflake bentley is a childrens picture book written by jacqueline briggs martin and illustrated by mary azarian. Bentley s studies among the snow crystals during the winter of 19012 with additional data collected during previous winters and twentytwo halftone plates. Factfilled sidebars highlight specifics of bentley s life and his discoveries. Snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin scholastic. Wilson willie bentley 18651931 was born on a farm in jericho, vermont. In an article he wrote for popular science monthly, he noted.
Bentley, a simple farmer, figured out a way to use microphotography to show the world the beauty and secrets of the snowflake its sixsided, hexagon shape and. This discovery was made by a man named wilson bentley, a farmer from vermont, who became affectionately known as snowflake bentley. Libbrecht notes that the techniques used by bentley to photograph snowflakes are essentially the same as those used today. With this thought in mind and snowflake bentley as our model, perhaps we can reclaim some of the pure joy of childhood snow days. Those words were written by wilson bentley in 1901 as part of an article for harpers magazine entitled the story of the snow crystals.
From the time he was a small boy, wilson bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. Wilson photographed over 5,000 crystals in his lifetime. The first ever photographs of snowflakes wilson a bentley. There are many pages of them and they are just so amazing. For over forty years, wilson snowflake bentley 18651931 photographed thousands of individual snowflakes and perfected the innovative photomicrographic techniques. Wilson alwyn bentley 18651931, famous for his photomicrographs of snowflakes, prepared sets of glass lantern slides of dew, frost and ice crystals. This winter activity combines science, art and math and would be a great follow up to reading snowflake bentley or after a snow day. Snow crystals by w a bentley, w j humphreys alibris. See more ideas about snowflakes, snowflake photos and snowflake bentley. Wilson alwyn bentley from the earliest days of our childhood, many of us can remember hearing the phrase no two snowflakes are alike.
The book focuses on his techniques and specific interests in snow. Jan 08, 2018 in november of 1931, a book entitled snow crystals was published in which were displayed more than 2400 of bentleys snow crystal images. It is done in only black and white as this book was published in the 1900s. Wilson alwyn bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931 was the first known photographer of snowflakes. Bentley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Making snowflakes science activity goes along with the book snowflake bentley. Snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin librarything. This book follows the life of wilson bentley, a young buy who loved snow so much that he spends his whole life trying to capture its beauty.
He perfected a process of catching flakes on black velvet in such a way that their images could be captured before they either melted or sublimated. Wilson bentley is still known as an expert on snowflakes, and made history with his love for snow. The joy of paper snowflakes snowflake bentley activities. This is a great story about the man who was obsessed with the incredible beauty of snowflakes, developing a way to photograph them, and eventually having his photos featured in national geographic. Five hundred of his snowflake photos now reside in the smithsonian. Read snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin to the class. The lincoln museum quilt book reproduction for abes family. In 1931 his book snow crystals, containing more than 2,400 images, was. Wilson bentley refined his photography, capturing the images of thousands of snowflakes, no two alike. Since adapting her kaleidoscope quilting method to the creation of a series of. I added the little square of deep fuchsia in the corner blocks which i really love.
The strange tale of the snowflake man art and design. Offers valuable material not only to students of crystallography but. This is a great book to introduce a unit on diversity. Three centuries later the most extensive catalog of its time was made by the vermont farmer wilson bentley, who published the book snow crystals with william humphreys in 1931. In 1920, bentley was elected as one of the first members of the american meteorological society, which later awarded him its first research grant in 1924. This book tells the story of wilson bentley, a vermont man who devoted his life to studying and photographing snow. In 1931, the united states weather bureau now known as the national weather service published bentley s research and 2,600 of his photographs in a book titled snow crystals, which he cowrote. It shows his incredible work and the most amazing snowflake images that one has ever seen. William bentley found many things in nature to be beautifulfrom grasshoppers to butterflies and snow. Objectives children will learn about the life and work of wilson bentley. Bentley s proudest moment came in 1931 upon publication of his book snow crystals, which contained 2,453 of his photographs.
A short documentary about snowflake bentley wilson a. Sources for the factual material are credited, and a final page features photographs of bentley at work and three of his actual snowflake slides. Snowflake bentley is an awardwinning picture book that tells the true story of wilson bentley from the time he was a small boy in vermont through his groundbreaking photographs of snowflakes. Provide additional classroom resources on snowflakes, snowstorms, winter weather, etc. Great short news story on snowflake bentley book, movie, experiment and microscopes w crystals wilson bentley the snowflake man very cool video for snowflake bentley in volume 4 snow flakes are amazing unit study. Also included are his field notebooks, museum acquisition documents and articles about the collection in hobbies, the museums magazine. In early december with winter closing in, he wrote, cold north wind afternoon.
Sadly it was the last book he wrote before he died. Falling for wilson bentley, the original snowflake man here. Magazine articles about wilson bentley articles published during bentley s lifetime. During the winter, wilson spends his time admirring the snow fall. Azarian won the 1999 caldecott medal for her illustrations. Bentley s enthusiasm for photographing snowflakes was often misunderstood in his time, but his patience and determination revealed two important truths.
The collection includes hundreds of glass plate negatives depicting snow crystals, clouds, and nature scenes taken by wilson a. Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley and some of his snowflakes. One day, while glancing through it, i saw the connection between the shape of a snow crystal and a twomirror, sixsided kaleidoscopic image. There are also brief discussions of the nature and cause of ice flowers, windowpane frost, dew, rime, sleet, and graupel. This is a biography of wilson alwyn bentley, the farmer from jericho, vermont, who took over five thousand photomicrographs of ice, dew, frost, and especially snow crystals. Bentley s snowflakes cdrom and book dover electronic clip art by w. Bentley took the time and had the persistence to photograph so many snow crystals they truly are intricate and gorgeous with so many designs the beautiful, magical, breathtaking artwork of god that fills the soul with wonder and awe. Website of the telegraph media group with breaking news, sport, business, latest uk and world news. He taught himself how to photograph snow crystals through a microscope while. If you have an interest or just love snow and frost and the beautiful patterns they make or the wonderful scenes that are created this is the book for you. He perfected a process of catching flakes on black velvet in such a way that their images could be captured before they either melted or sublimated kenneth g. The book is of great value both to students of ice forms and for textile and other designers who can use the natural designs of these snow crystals in their work. Gods amazing snow crystals much of america is blanketed with a snow right now.
The official poster of the snowflake bentley exhibit in. Jericho was an ideal place to study snow because it was in the heart of the snowbelt, producing an average annual snowfall of over 120 inches. Details about his life, techniques of photomicrography, and a virtual tour. Dec 04, 2012 its the true story of wilson bentley, one of the first known snowflake photographers. Bentley 18651931, the first man to ever photograph a snowflake.
Got this book for my moms birthday to go along with bentley s book of snowflake photographs we love snowflakes and their fascinating designs. Bentley was a bachelor farmer whose hobby was photographing snow flakes. Wilson bentley, photographing snow crystals, he developed the equipment and. Snow, the beautiful snow, as the raptured poet sang, winters spotless downy blanket for forest and field, has ever challenged pen to describe, and brush to paint, its marvelous mass effects.
That same year, less than a month after the books release, wilson a. He was born on february 9, 1865 in jericho, vermont and died on december 23, 1931 after being out in a blizzard, trying to photograph snowflakes. Bentley was the first person to capture the image of a single snowflake with a camera fascinated with snowflakes, bentley rigg. There is no surer road to fairyland than that which leads to the observation of snow forms.
About the bentley collection schwerdtfeger library home. I found the initial pattern for this block in quilters academy vol. Horn book wilson bentley was fascinated by snow, in childhood and adulthood, and, practically speaking, is the one who discovered snow crystals, by photographing them in all their variation. Snowflake bentley vocabulary snowflake bentley, growth. Wilson bentley 18651931 was fascinated by snow, in childhood and adulthood, and, practically speaking, is the one who discovered snow crystals, by photographing them in all their variation. This amazing book was written by wilson bentley snowflake bentley. This book solves that problem and it is truly a work of pure dedication and fascinating at the same time. Jericho man showed that no two snow crystals are alike. Jan 21, 2010 wilson a bentley photographed 5,000 snowflakes in his lifetime and never found any two alikephotograph. Allow time after the reading for students to reflect upon the story. Wilson comes from a working family who doesnt have much money. The national cyclopedia of american biography, 23, page 172173, 1933. Bentley caught and photographed thousands of snowflakes in his workshop at jericho, vermont. Snow crystals, 1931 wilson bentley fractals in nature.
Studies among the snow crystals during the winter of with additional data collected during previous winters and twentytwo halftone plates unknown binding w. Ask students to comment on and ask questions about what they view in the illustrations. Snowflake bentley celebrates one mans lifelong passion. To experience bentley s childlike wonder for yourself, visit massanutten regional library to check out duncan c. See more ideas about snowflake bentley, snowflakes and teaching reading. Three new books were published in 1998 about jericho, vermonts world famous weather and snow crystal photomicrography expert, wilson a. Once he started studying snow, he began learning many things about snow and snowflakes. Media in category wilson bentley snow crystals the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. Blanchards the snowflake man, bentley s own snow crystals, or a charming picture book like. Plainspoken as a vermonters speech, jacqueline martins text is also lyrical. Pictures of snow flakes taken by wilson a bentley go on sale.
Any child who has cut a foldedpaper snowflake will appreciate wilson bentley s infatuation with the beautiful and intricate designs of snow crystals. Wab life story eduact smithsonian institution archives. Historic photos courtesy wilson bentley digital archives of the jericho historical. Snowflake quilt square w snowflake bluepurple square wcrayon border black square background. The first snowflake photographer, wilson bentley old. Snowflakes may be an everyday, common subject, but youve never seen them like this. Many of these sets found their way to colleges and universities around the united states. Wilson bentleys pioneering photomicroscopy of snow crystals brain pickings.
Wilson bentley the snowflake man you can also watch an amazing youtube video about bentley. Two decades later, he sent 500 prints of his snowflakes to the smithsonian, where they still remain. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. A collection of amazing photography of snow crystals using a unique system designed to take superdetailed micro images of these miniature ice masterpieces, the snowflake is an extraordinary look at a seemingly ordinary object.
William bentley is fascinated by snow and spent his life studying snow. Buy snow crystals by w a bentley, w j humphreys online at alibris. His book, snow crystals, illustrated with 2,500 photographs was still the definitive volume on the subject matter, and he sold many of his slides to colleges and universities. Wilson bentley s pioneering photomicroscopy of snow crystals.
Wilson snowflake bentley artists carl hammer gallery. Make a snowflake drawing for your art project or craft using this fun art lesson about how snow crystals are formed. Bentley had numbered most of his negatives but over 2,000 were not. Dec 16, 2017 those words were written by wilson bentley in 1901 as part of an article for harpers magazine entitled the story of the snow crystals. The lincoln museum quilt book reproduction for abes. But though the beauty of the snow is evanescent, like the beauties of the autumn, as of the evening sky, it fades but to come again. Wilson also released his book snow crystals in 1931, with 2000 of his photographs. Its the true story of wilson bentley, one of the first known snowflake photographers. Governors writers day awards at the washington state. Bewildering first photos of snowflakes by wilson alwyn bentley flashbak.
The strange tale of the snowflake man using chilled velvet, tiny wood chips and turkey feathers, wilson bentley caused a flurry with his pioneering pictures of these miniature wonders. The snowflake man a short film about snowflake bentley. This quilt belongs to lorette who owns spruce it up quilt shop in port elgin. By age sixtysix with the help of other scientists, bentley had his pictures made into a book called snow crystals. The university of wisconsins department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences donated their collection to the schwerdtfeger library in 2000. Bentley s original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work. While not administered by the state library, the awards for this year have. Feb 01, 2000 buy snow crystals dover photography collections dover pictorial archive 1st edition by bentley, w. This book brought the beauty and wonder of the vermont snow to people all over the world. Nov 30, 2017 wilson alwyn bentley, one of the earliest snowflake photographers, took the first shot of a snow crystal in 1885, catching it on black velvet before it sublimed back into the atmosphere. Its an excellent book for all ages, and i want you to have our book club guide so you can read along with us. The work must be done rapidly in extreme cold, for even body heat can melt a rare. Wilson bentley newsletter archives snowflake bentley. The introductory text covers the technique of photographing snow crystals, classification, the fundamentals of crystallography, and markings.
Was ever a life history written in more dainty or fairylike hiero. Bentley even sold 200 of his negatives to tiffanys in new york city, which used the snow crystal patterns in its jewelry designs. Although his photographs were taken between 1885 and 1931, they have. His photographs and publications provide valuable scientific records of snow crystals and their many types. Bentley attached a microscope to a bellows camera and became the first person to photograph an individual snowflake. However, he was the most interested in snow, because each snowflake was unique.