infocus #32 December 2013 Photographing Snowflakes

Michael Peres' stunning photographs of snowflakes, captured during a New York winter, are beautifully displayed along with the author's explanation of how best to capture and photograph them using a microscope. On detailing the methods by which he captures his images the author remarks: "I have not found two flakes to be identical."

DOI: 10.22443/rms.inf.1.102

Photographing snowflakes has become an important winter activity that began at the suggestion of one of my former students more than a decade ago. Rochester, New
York can expect to receive an annual snowfall of more than 100 inches. Each season I look forward to the challenges and adventures of this outdoor activity. Experience is a good teacher and over the years I have developed some basic methods for photographing snowflakes that relies on common equipment and some practical methods when working outside in the cold.

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Author

Michael Peres

Professor of Biomedical Photographic Communications, Rochester Institute of Technology, School of Photographic Arts & Sciences

Professor Peres joined the Rochester Institute of Technology in 1986. Peres teaches photomicrography, biomedical photography and other related applications of photography used to support research and discovery in science. He served as the chair of the biomedical photographic communications department from 1989 until June 2010 when he was appointed as associate administrative chair the School. Peres has enjoyed a varied photographic career working and living in a number of cities since1973. He has been actively publishing most of his career and recently served as the editor in chief of the Focal Encyclopedia of Photography – 4th Edition published in 2007. Some of his current professional activities include being one of the coordinators for the R•I•T Images from Science and RIT Big Shot projects. Peres has received numerous awards including the 2003 RIT Eisenhart outstanding faculty teaching award and the Gitner prize presented by the RIT College of Imaging Arts & Sciences for outstanding achievement in the graphic arts. In 2007 Peres was awarded the Schmidt medal by the BioCommunications Association for lifetime achievement in the field of bio-communications. Michael holds a master's degree in instructional technology and bachelor's degrees in biology and biomedical photographic communications. He is also a board certified biomedical photographer