He first became interested in snow crystals as a teenager on his family farm. Homeschooled by his mother, wilson bentley grew up oddly curious and curiously odd. Jan 26, 2015 photographer and scientist wilson bentley 1865 1931 took more than five thousand micrographs of falling winter snow crystals outdoors at his home in jericho, vermont. Wilson snowflake bentley contracted pneumonia while walking six miles through a severe snowstorm and died on december 23, 1931. His passion began in his teenage years, and after much trial and error, he photographed his first snowflake on january 15, 1885, the first known photograph of its kind.
But his passion, from 1885 until his death in the waning days of 1931 was observing and photographing snow crystals. 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 story of snowflake bentley, the vermont farmer who. The first ever photographs of snowflakes wilson a bentley. See more ideas about snowflake bentley, snowflake photos and snowflakes. Its an excellent book for all ages, and i want you to have our book club guide so you can read along with us. Bentley found that just like fingerprints, no two snowflakes are alike. His photographs and publications provide valuable scientific records of snow crystals and their many types. Bentley had photographed more than 5,000 snow crystals, released a book of his. The first snow of the season fell on the day i visited wilson bentleys photography collection. Dec 23, 2017 having continued his painstaking research, by the 1920s he had amassed a gallery of more than 5000 snowflake images, some 2400 of which were selected for publication in a book, snow crystals, in 1931. This book is book in a coffeetable format and the many photos are top quality and breathtaking. 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. Photographer and scientist wilson bentley 1865 1931 took more than five thousand micrographs of falling winter snow crystals outdoors at his home in jericho, vermont.
Wilson alwyn bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931 was the first known photographer of snowflakes. In early december with winter closing in, he wrote, cold north wind afternoon. A short documentary about snowflake bentley wilson a. It was just a dusting, the flakes so tiny and sparse i. Details about his life, techniques of photomicrography, and a virtual tour. 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. Bentleys original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work. Wilson willie bentley 18651931 was born on a farm in jericho, vermont. He lived to see snow crystals a book of his snow crystals images, published in 1931, but died of pneumonia that same year, after walking home through a blizzard. The man who uncovered the secret lives of snowflakes the. It was just a dusting, the flakes so tiny and sparse i could barely distinguish them against the. Reviewed in the united states on december 20, 2010. Bentley considered the endlessly varied crystals miracles of beauty.
He lived to see snow crystals a book of his snow crystals images, published in 1931. A solid, mosaic centerpiece portion will form within a cold upper air stratum and, falling earthward, acquire branching additions at some lower, warmer level. Wilson alwyn bentley was born on february 9, 1865 on the family dairy farm outside of jericho. Images of snow crystals taken by wilson alwyn bentley. Dec 06, 2019 images of snow crystals taken by wilson alwyn bentley. Those words were written by wilson bentley in 1901 as part of an article for harpers magazine entitled the story of the snow crystals. Rather than catching snowflakes on his tongue as children do, he caught them on film. The man who uncovered the secret lives of snowflakes. Black and white, but these were made in the late 19th and early 20th. The catch is then taken under shelter, to keep it from being blown off the board or otherwise. This amazing book was written by wilson bentley snowflake bentley.
During his lifetime, he photographed more than 5,000 images and, in 1931, published his famous book, snow crystals. The book snowflake bentley tells the story of a determined boy, william bentley, and his curiosity for ice crystals. It contained 2500 selected snow crystal photos plus 100 of frost and dew formation. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for others the wonder of the tiny crystal. 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. The frail branching snow crystals, falling during snow flurries, are oftentimes of this character. Wilson bentley was born in 1865 on a farm in vermont where approximately 120 inches of snow blanketed the landscape each winter. In 1931 his book snow crystals, containing more than 2,400 images, was. Dec 24, 2009 a short documentary about snowflake bentley wilson a.
Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley and some of his snowflakes. Wilson alwyn bentley from the earliest days of our childhood, many of us can remember hearing the phrase no two snowflakes are alike. Wilson alwyn snowflake bentley february 9, 1865 december 23, 1931 is one of the first known photographers of snowflakes. Five hundred of his snowflake photos now reside in the smithsonian. Bentley and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This is reference, not sitdownandread, but it is the classic collection of snow crystal photographs. For over forty years, wilson snowflake bentley 18651931 photographed thousands of individual snowflakes and perfected the innovative photomicrographic techniques. Having continued his painstaking research, by the 1920s he had amassed a gallery of more than 5000 snowflake images, some 2400 of which were selected for publication in a book, snow crystals, in 1931.
Sadly it was the last book he wrote before he died. Read snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin to the class. And then he died a fitting deatha death that symbolized and epitomized his life. He kept detailed meteorological records, and pondered over the meaning of the shapes and sizes of the crystals and why they often varied from one storm to the next. 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.
Bentley 18651931, the first man to ever photograph a snowflake. By the 1880s, most boys in jericho were content to farm through the short summer, then huddle around the wood stove. Top childrens books about snow a cookie before dinner. Jan 06, 2014 unsubscribe from its okay to be smart. Provide additional classroom resources on snowflakes, snowstorms, winter weather, etc. Humphreys on a book, snow crystals, illustrated with 2,500 of snowflake s snowflakes. Media in category wilson bentley snow crystals the following 3 files are in this category, out of 3 total. In some cases, the crystals will form composite fashion, after but two specific plans. It is done in only black and white as this book was published in the 1900s. Always, right from the beginning it was the snowflakes that fascinated me most, he remembered.
Bentley had photographed more than 5,000 snow crystals, released a book. 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. He amassed a collection of 5,381 photographs that was published in his magnum opus, titled 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. This discovery was made by a man named wilson bentley, a farmer from vermont, who became affectionately known as snowflake. Blanchards the snowflake man, bentleys own snow crystals, or a charming picture book like. Bentley s studies among the snow crystals during the winter of 19012 with additional data collected during previous winters and twentytwo halftone plates. Libbrecht notes that the techniques used by bentley to photograph snowflakes are essentially the same as those used today. Bentley web site, which also describes the bentley museum in jericho, vermont. Heidorn takes a look at the life and work of wilson bentley, a selfeducated farmer from a small american town who, by combining a bellows camera with a microscope, managed to photograph the dizzyingly intricate and diverse structures of the snow crystal.
Bentley considered the endlessly varied crystals miracles of. Homeschooling today magazine snowflake bentley unit study. Finally, in 1931, he collaborated with meteorologist william j. It shows his incredible work and the most amazing snowflake. Libbrecht has also published a small photo catalog of over 140 beautiful snow crystals the little book of snowflakes in stunning detail and this makes a great companion book. 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. Wilson a bentley photographed 5,000 snowflakes in his lifetime and never found any two alikephotograph. This discovery was made by a man named wilson bentley, a farmer from vermont, who became affectionately known as snowflake bentley. The man who revealed the hidden structure of falling snowflakes beginning in the 1880s, amateur photographer wilson a. Dec 30, 2019 he amassed a collection of 5,381 photographs that was published in his magnum opus, titled snow crystals. Ask students to comment on and ask questions about what they view in the illustrations. Wilson bentley never grew rich from his research and photographs.
The lifelong work of wilson alwyn bentley was farming his familys acreage in jericho, vermont. The book has since been republished by dover books. Jan 11, 2017 the first snow of the season fell on the day i visited wilson bentley s photography collection. It shows his incredible work and the most amazing snowflake images that one has ever seen.
By adapting a microscope to a bellows camera, and years of trial and error, he became the first person to photograph a single snow crystal in 1885. Nov 30, 2011 wilson willie bentley 18651931 was born on a farm in jericho, vermont. Top ten nonfiction books about snow for kids snowflake bentley by jacqueline briggs martin from the time he was a small boy in vermont, wilson bentley saw snowflakes as small miracles. Falling for wilson bentley, the original snowflake man here. He published 49 popular and 11 technical articles about snow crystals, frost, dew, and raindrops, including the entry on snow in the 14th edition of the encyclopedia britannica. The snowflake man a short film about snowflake bentley. To experience bentleys childlike wonder for yourself, visit massanutten regional library to check out duncan c. Humphrey was published by mcgrawhill in november 1931. For years bentley worked quietly and obtained over 400 photomicrographs of ice crystals.
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. Bentley s snowflakes cdrom and book dover electronic clip art by w. The snowflake man begins with a little bentley family history, then follows wilsons life and work from his birth in 1865 to his death in 1931 at age 66, shortly after the publication of his wonderful snow crystals, which brought the best of his vast collection of snow crystal photos to book form. Allow time after the reading for students to reflect upon the story. 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. He spent hours studying snow crystals with a microscope. And he determined that one day his camera would capture for. Jan 21, 2010 wilson a bentley photographed 5,000 snowflakes in his lifetime and never found any two alikephotograph. In november of 1931, a book entitled snow crystals was published in which were displayed more than 2400 of bentleys snow crystal images. Willie had to slide the snowflake onto the black tray and take its picture. The man who revealed the hidden structure of falling. Falling for wilson bentley, the original snowflake man. Humphreys wrote the technical introduction and appeared as coauthor. Bentleys studies among the snow crystals during the winter of 19012 with additional data collected during previous winters and twentytwo halftone plates.
Wilson alwyn bentley was born on february 9th, 1865, in jericho, vermont. The snowflake man begins with a little bentley family history, then follows wilsons life and work from his birth in 1865 to his death in 1931 at age 66, shortly after the publication of his wonderful snow crystals, which brought the best of his vast collection of snow crystal photos to book. Bentley s original glass slide photographs of snow crystals, and includes dynamic resources to further an appreciation and understanding of bentley and his work. I felt almost like falling on my knees beside that. His mother was a former teacher, and home schooled his brother and him. Many years ago, there was a man who maintained a childlike wonder of snow from boyhood throughout his twilight years. Bentley was born on february 9, 1865, in jericho, vermont. The publication of this book, entitled snow crystals, introduced the world to the beauty, complexity, and diversity of snow crystals. His quest to photograph snowflakes gave the world brilliant new pictures, wonders never seen before.
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