at top right and https://www.pinterest.com/brocco3331

I choose six points to mimic what I see in nature.  (I am actively choosing each day; people are always trying to convince me that eight points are easier, see https://youtu.be/cHKZzwFPzoU )

This makes a great science lesson as you delve into the structure of snowflakes and how and why they form.  An amazing resource for the science behind snowflakes is Kenneth G. Libbrecht, Physics Professor at the California Institute of Technology, see http://snowcrystals.com/

You might even try your hand at macrophotography!  Learn about Snowflake Bentley who is the first known person to photograph snowflakes at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptLmA263hlk and https://siarchives.si.edu/history/featured-topics/stories/wilson-bentley-pioneering-photographer-snowflakes  There are many helpful groups on Facebook for photographing snowflakes and frozen bubbles.

The snowflake pictures below were taken with my cell phone (up to 8x zoom) with a Kodak clip-on macro lens (15x) . . . and A LOT of patience!  It helps to wear a mask, so you don't breathe on the snowflakes -- they melt!  You can catch the snowflakes on a scarf or hat, but my favorite way is to catch them on a piece of picture frame "glass."  I then prop up the "glass" about three inches above the background (silver giftwrap and the non shiny side of tinfoil are my favorite backgrounds, but it is fun to experiment!)  It also helps to have something to rest your arm against to help stay steady as you zoom in.  Lots of breaks to warm up with some hot chocolate help too!  Snowflakes change during a storm, so if at first they are just bits and pieces (it is windy in Iowa!), check again later.  For tips see https://youtu.be/K0vS0NmWbhk & https://youtu.be/oLfKO9NEfpM or my blog post at https://www.jamiebrocco.com/blog#h.txrtr3cloz3b

Caution:  This is a very challenging and addicting hobby:  also known as watching beautiful ice crystals melt while trying to get the camera to cooperate -- Good Luck!

There are many amazing snowflake photographers out there!  If you are interested in seeing more real snowflakes here are some links I hope you will enjoy!

Alexey Kljatov,  https://alexey-kljatov.pixels.com/

Don Komarechka,  https://skycrystals.ca/

Pam Eveleigh,  https://www.flickr.com/photos/pameveleigh

Lotze Art & Design,  https://lotzeart.com/snowflakes-october-november-2020/

Tip:  Don't feel bad if the snowflakes don't pose for you like the professional shots show!  If you end up with the snowflake oddities, like "pizza frogs" ( https://www.instagram.com/p/CLjtmd1stS2/ ), just remember that they are even more challenging to capture on film.  Enjoy the view!

Below Left: Conglomerate Snowflakes:  I love watching fluffy snowflakes falling slowly from the sky.  Under magnification, we see that they are many snowflakes stuck together.  (I use the term Conglomerate Snowflake.  I am not sure how mainstream it is.  I am a rockhound, so it makes sense to me.)

Below Right:  The "large" snowflake has at least two tiny buddies.  Can you see them?

Far Below, Left:   Sometimes working at night by flashlight pays off!  The colorful backgrounds below are a silver gift wrap that created very cool rainbow bokeh effects when I was trying to photograph snowflakes by flashlight after dark.  The flashlight was placed between the "glass" and the background.