I am related to snowflake wilson bentley thru my fathers side of the family. During his lifetime, bentley photographed more than 5,000 snow crystals and his innovative images of thempublished in magazines including national geographic, popular science, and scientific americanbecame so iconic that he was nicknamed snowflake bentley. Every crystal was a masterpiece of design and no one design was ever repeated. Bentleys proudest moment came in 1931 upon publication of his book snow crystals, which contained 2,453 of his photographs. Studying snow crystals under a microscope, he discovered that each one was unique, with its own shape and design. Photograph of a snow crystal by wilson bentley, ca. Bbc news historic bentley snowflake photos for sale in us. The university of wisconsins department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences donated their collection to the schwerdtfeger library in 2000.
The jericho historical society, jericho vermont, home of wilson snowflake bentley. Bentley s proudest moment came in 1931 upon publication of his book snow crystals, which contained 2,453 of his photographs. Over 2,000 beautiful crystals on these pages reveal the wonder of natures diversity in uniformity. These bentley photomicrographs are shared courtesy of the smithsonian institute. Nov 24, 2014 with this thought in mind and snowflake bentley as our model, perhaps we can reclaim some of the pure joy of childhood snow days. Welcome to the official snowflake bentley web site. Throughout the following winters, until his death in 1931, bentley would go on to capture over 5000 snowflakes, or more correctly, snow crystals, on film. The life and work of snowflake bentley the leipzig glocal.
The snowflake man a short film about snowflake bentley. He also wanted to promote his work for its beauty, and thus submitted articles and delivered lectures that focused on his snow photography over the years. As a young boy he loved snow and began to keep a record of the weather. Visit your local library or order from an online company a copy of wilson bentley s book, snow crystals. There are many pages of them and they are just so amazing. Blanchards the snowflake man, bentleys own snow crystals, or a charming picture book like.
Wilson bentley refined his photography, capturing the images of thousands of snowflakes, no two alike. Snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin 1998. Making snowflakes science activity goes along with the book snowflake bentley. Sources for the factual material are credited, and a final page features photographs of bentley at work and three of his actual snowflake slides. Making snowflakes science activity goes along with the book snowflake bentley making crystals science activity. Blanchards the snowflake man, bentley s own snow crystals, or a charming picture book like. In 1931 his book snow crystals, containing more than 2400 snow crystal images, was published by. Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley february 7, 1865 december 23, 1931 is one of the first known photographers of snowflakes. Bentley was a bachelor farmer whose hobby was photographing snow flakes wilson bentley first to postulate no two snowflakes are like through his study of snow crystals, capturing over 5000 unique images during his life. Jan 05, 2019 having grown up on a farm where the annual snowfall was 120 inches, bentleys obsession with precipitation began early, and sustained him throughout his life. Wilson bentley is still known as an expert on snowflakes, and made history with his love for snow. Bentley 18651931, the first man to ever photograph a snowflake. 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. Snow crystals photography wilson alwyn bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931 was the first known photographer of snowflakes.
Bentley described snowflakes as tiny miracles of beauty and snow crystals as ice flowers. Wilson alwyn bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931 was the first known. Offers valuable material not only to students of crystallography but. Of all the forms of water the tiny sixpointed crystals of ice called snow are incomparably the most beautiful and varied. Published on dec 24, 2009 a short documentary about snowflake bentley wilson a. He taught himself how to photograph snow crystals through a microscope while still in his. As a youngster, he was so taken with these little sixsided ice crystals that his parents scraped together their savings to buy him a camera with a microscope. At the age of sixtysix, a book of his work was published. Wilson alwyn bentley 18651931, americas first cloud physicist, grew up on a small farm in vermont and spent most of his life there. In january 1925 bentley gave several lectures in montreal. Objectives children will learn about the life and work of wilson bentley. The snowflake man of vermont web hosting, web design.
Wilson alwyn bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931 was the first known photographer of snowflakes. His photographs and publications provide valuable scientific records of snow crystals and their many types. Mar 12, 2017 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. Bentley, popularly known as the snowflake man, was born on the family farm at jericho, vermont, and remained there all his life. Humphrey was published by mcgrawhill in november 1931. 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. Photographer of snow crystals history of photography monograph series. Wilson bentley introduced the world to his study of snow, but it didnt stop there. Wilson willie bentley 18651931 was born on a farm in jericho, vermont. Bentley s original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work. It is possible that a lecture by wilson bentley on snow crystals was a motivation for dr. 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. He lived to see snow crystals, a book of his snow crystals images. Wilson alwyn bentley lived all his life in jericho, vermont, and from his farm, this largely selfeducated farmer gave us the first views of the world of snowflakes.
Nearly 2,500 photomicrographs are shown, most of snow crystals but some of dew, frost, and hail. Did you know that wilson bentley was a farmer, a scientist, and a photographer. Five hundred of his snowflake photos now reside in the. It contained 2500 selected snow crystal photos plus 100 of frost and dew formation. Bentley s impressive library of snowflake images, and his research, are credited with establishing the theory that no two snowflakes are alike. 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. He says the beauty of snow was known long ago for in the book of job is hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow. Snowflake bentley read aloud youtube read aloud of. Bentley, popularly known as the snowflake man, was born on the family farm at. He took pictures of hundreds of snowflakes each year and put them into a book called snow crystals. Snowflake bentley, illustrated by mary azarian, text by jacqueline briggs martin mmcpsd biography j bio bentley a biography of a selftaught scientist who photographed thousands of individual snowflakes in order to study their unique formations. The introductory text covers the technique of photographing snow crystals, classification, the fundamentals of crystallography, and markings. Sadly it was the last book he wrote before he died. Background wilson bentley was born on febreary 9, 1865, on the ancestral farm at jericho, vermont, united states, the youngest son of thomas edwin bentley, a farmer, who died in 1886, and fannie eliza colton bentley, who lived until 1906.
Bentley and links to several of bentley s photomicrographs. Bentleys impressive library of snowflake images, and his research, are credited with establishing the theory that no two snowflakes are alike. This book tells the story of wilson bentley, a vermont man who devoted his life to studying and photographing snow. Having grown up on a farm where the annual snowfall was 120 inches, bentley s obsession with precipitation began early, and sustained him throughout his life. This book brought the beauty and wonder of the vermont snow to people all over the world.
Visit your local library or order from an online company a copy of wilson bentleys book, snow crystals. The bentley snow crystal collection of the buffalo museum of science is a digital library providing a highquality collection of stunning, unretouched images of wilson a. Listen to the online radiolab podcast, crystal bliss, to. His lectures were popular, and from them he was dubbed the snowflake man and snowflake bentley by the newspapers. The first snowflake photographer, wilson bentley old farmer. An interactive look into bentleys snowflakes and lifes work can be found on the wilson bentley digital archives cdrom. The short text is accompanied by over 100 photomicrographa of ice crystals, frost patterns, and dew.
Wilson bentleys pioneering 19thcentury photomicroscopy of snow crystals the quest to capture natures vanishing masterpieces, endowed with the delicacy of flowers and the mathematical precision of honeycombs. Jan 11, 2017 the first snow of the season fell on the day i visited wilson bentley s photography collection. Dec 22, 2008 people didnt know how unique and beautiful snow flakes could be until wilson b. The caldecott medal winner in 1999 for the bestillustrated childrens book was snowflake bentley, which remembers bentleys life. Bentleys original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work.
Wilson alwyn bentley, known to his family as willie, was born. Bentley, photographer of snow crystals created by the jericho historical society. It was just a dusting, the flakes so tiny and sparse i could barely distinguish them against the. The strange tale of the snowflake man art and design. Please send me any info on snow flake wilson bentley. 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.
This amazing book was written by wilson bentley snowflake bentley. By age sixtysix with the help of other scientists, bentley had his pictures made into a book called snow crystals. For over forty years, wilson snowflake bentley 18651931 photographed thousands of individual snowflakes and perfected the innovative photomicrographic techniques. Usa todays, the basic shapes of snow crystals a discussion about how as snow crystals form they take on a sixsided, or hexagonal shape with what seems like an infinite number of varieties. 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.
Wilson bentley project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Wilson also released his book snow crystals in 1931, with 2000 of his photographs. He first became interested in snow crystals as a teenager on his family farm. Many of these sets found their way to colleges and universities around the united states.
Barnes, who was interested in the physics of ice, was in the audience. Bentleys original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes. He made thousands of the jewellike prints, no two alike. People didnt know how unique and beautiful snow flakes could be until wilson b. I just recently came into knowledge of our family tree and found out wilson bentley is my great uncle.
William barnes to discover the shape of the water molecule. Ten of the pioneering photos of snowflake crystals us farmer wilson a bentley began taking more than a century ago are to be sold in new york. Bentley first published 1931 sort by title original date published date published avg rating num ratings format format paperback hardcover mass market paperback kindle edition nook ebook library binding audiobook audio cd audio cassette audible audio cdrom mp3 cd board book leather bound unbound spiralbound unknown binding. The man who uncovered the secret lives of snowflakes the. Bentley s original glass slide photographs of snow crystals. The bentley snow crystal collection of the buffalo museum of science is a digital. He tried to draw what he saw through an old microscope given to him by his mother when he was fifteen. Bentley was born on february 7, 1865, in jericho, vermont. Its an excellent book for all ages, and i want you to have our book club guide so you can read along with us. With this thought in mind and snowflake bentley as our model, perhaps we can reclaim some of the pure joy of childhood snow days. 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. Bentley snow crystal collection a digital library providing a highquality collection of stunning, unretouched images of wilson a. To experience bentley s childlike wonder for yourself, visit massanutten regional library to check out duncan c.
Bentley, popularly known as the snowflake man, was born on the family farm. This is a great book to introduce a unit on diversity. Bentley 18651931 is credited with capturing the first images of single snowflakes on camera. In 1931, the book snow crystalsfeaturing 2,500 of his photographs and.
As a young boy, bentley would handdraw pictures of snow crystals, and in his lifetime, wilson made over 5,000 photographic negatives of dew frost, snowflakes, raindrops, clouds and fog. Born on 9 february 1865, bentley s lifetime work was farming his familys acreage in. 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. What was the biggest problem bentley faced when he was trying to sketch a snow crystal.
The book focuses on his techniques and specific interests in snow. The first snowflake photographer, wilson bentley old. Published in 1998, the book the snowflake man, by duncan blanchard, is the quintessential biography of bentley. 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. If you want to know how this book was something special to look into at our house, check out the childrens book snowflake bentley, the story of this remarkable. Guide to snowflake bentley pdf file from weston wood productions. On february 9, 1865, close to the end of the civil war, wilson bentley was born in jericho, vermont. Snowflake bentley does a great job of making a somewhat mundane topic seem. He donated his collection of photomicrographs of snow crystals to the buffalo museum of science. It is done in only black and white as this book was published in the 1900s. This discovery was made in the small rural town of jericho, vermont by wilson a.
Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley was the first known american photographer of snowflakes. It shows his incredible work and the most amazing snowflake images that one has ever seen. A self educated farmer, bentley attracted world attention with his pioneering work in the area of photomicrography, most notably his extensive work with snow crystals commonly known as snowflakes. Dec 24, 2009 a short documentary about snowflake bentley wilson a.
He had discussions with bentley about the shape of snow crystals. In 1885, at the age of twenty, wilson alwyn bentley, a farmer who would live all his life in the small town of jericho in vermont, gave the world its first ever photograph of a snowflake. Nov 30, 2011 wilson willie bentley 18651931 was born on a farm in jericho, vermont. Wilson bentley 18651931 from the time he was a small boy in vermont, wilson bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. Wilson alwyn bentley 18651931, famous for his photomicrographs of snowflakes, prepared sets of glass lantern slides of dew, frost and ice crystals. 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. Snowflake bentley resources from carol hursts childrens. Snow crystals information on the history of the snowflakes discovery and snowflake physics.