Customer Reviews

The Art of the Snowflake: A Photographic Album

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(0)
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2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This contemporary assemblage is an artwork of Love by Libbrecht, author of three prior books on snowflakes. He is Physics Professor at Caltech and provides eye-catching color photo-illustrations of over 400 snowflakes, many as full page images, all sharply detailed and on blue or crimson colored backgrounds, often illuminated by diverse light sources and spectra to best define architectural details of these tiny wondrous crystals forming from water vapor at freezing temperatures. It comes not as a surprize to learn he was from North Dakota.

In addition to snowflakes, the author describes associated particles called rime which may agglomerate into graupel or soft hail. The typical snowflake is a stellar snow crystal composed of a thin plate of ice with six (hexagonal) primary arms that regularly have sidebranches called stellar dendrites, hence appearing fern- or tree-like with no two identical (like fingerprints in Man). Infrequently, the flakes appear as six sectored plates sans dendrites whilst warmer temperatures may produce ice columns and/or needles, generally hexagonal, or appearing as peculiar capped columns with hexagonal wheels resembling tiny spools.

As a photographer, I would have liked the author to have included a brief synopsis of the equipment and technique he used to garner these photographs - i,e, the type of microscopic lens, magnifications needed, light sources, type of camera and film used (digital vs silver halide). However, this book is on the Art of the Snowflake, and not a how-to book. The author indicates some digital editing was done to remove minor blemishes, etc., and based on the huge number of photos taken I'd conclude digital camera and sensor was used. This book is an informative read, is great stock for the coffee table, and is perhaps an inviting holiday seasonal gift this Winter.

Since several other reviewers have described this book, and the topic is self-evident, I want to emphasize what a high QUALITY book this is. As a coffee-table size hardback, many of which today are so cheaply made, this one is MADE really well, a pleasure for that alone. Good quality binding and excellent color reproductions. And who would have thought such a simple subject could remain fascinating for over 150 pages! Really worth the price, esp. with the Amazon discount.

Beautiful, full page color pictures of so many kinds of snowflakes. There is also interesting written material about formations and weather related issues. Did you know you can grow snowflakes? With the right information. I will never be able to think snow and mud belong in the same category again.

This is a beautiful book with superb microphotographs. Most of us know theoretically that each bit of nature is unique but here in full page photos are shown the intricate beautiful forms of snowflakes - every one different - all with six points but some blocky, some ethereal. A fascinating lesson in nature and physics is in the discussion of how they form.

I leave it on my coffee table and people always open it. My small grandchild is fascinated by it. And my brother who gave it to me is a scientist who enjoys it. This is the first review I've ever written but I wanted to take the time because this book is so beautiful.

This book is fascinating for adults and children alike. My 4-year-old daughter was amazed to see the close-up beauty of the snowflake. We have a home at a ski resort and this will make a perfect book for a guest room.

The photos are amazing! It is so amazing how God can create such beautiful snowflakes and we don't even realize it! This would make a great conversation book for a coffee table in winter time. This book would also be great for children, so they can see and be amazed at God's handywork!

This is a beautiful coffee table book. Mostly very highly detailed images. No real detail about the theory of snowflake development or how to preserve them. An art book not a scientific book but the images could not be better or more detailed. Bentley would be proud.

I ordered this book and it was delivered promptly. It is a wonderful book with fabulous photographs. The book really enlightened me as to the way snow varies and how spectacular the artistic ability of God truly is.

photographs of snowflakes...wow... I had to have this book. It is a feast for the eyes and heart. I love this book. It is one I will look at over and over. Even though I love to read I was glad it was not too wordy, just little snipits here and there about how some of the pictures were taken. Excellent!

Fabulous book, will take you back in time - like a little kid. Just the idea that there will Never be a duplicate Snowfalke is incredible.