Two years ago, I tried my hand at snowflake macro photography, eventually scoring the photo Mittsu No Yuki for my efforts.
That was two years ago. After purchasing some focus stack bellows, I planned on improving my photo sharpness in the 2019-20 wintertime.
But in January 2020, I shattered my ankle. By the time I was able to recover and stand and walk, winter was over. So I waited for another storm.
That happened yesterday. Down came the snow.
I was prepared for the snowfall. For the past few days, I had stored a flat piece of black-painted aluminum outside, so that if snow landed on it, it wouldn’t quickly melt.
I quickly set up my tripod and the focus stacking module, then attached one of my macro lenses – the Chinese-made Mitakon Zonghi 20mm 4.5X super-macro – onto my Nikon Df.
I dangled the aluminum block outside, catching snowflakes on it. I then brought some snowflakes under the lens, and took several stacked photos.
Brought the camera into my warm home, and pulled this out of the focus stack.
Now I know this isn’t that classic six-pointed snowflake image that I want, but it is – for the first time in two years for me – a suitable snowflake image. And it’s also going to be a benchmark to improve for any future snowflake shots later this year.
I have to say, this snowflake image is actually a personal push for me. I’ve only shot a few things in 2020, and I really need to get my hands back on my gear and get some images.
And if I can pull an image like this after two years of no snowflakes…
It just makes me itch for another snowstorm, with better snowflakes to fall.
And that feels good.
Chuck The Writer 
You’ve captured a layer that “clearly” jumps right off the page. So I have no doubt that before the grass turns green, we’ll be seeing a snowflake image that resembles a piece of Waterford crystal.
(More snow tomorrow.)
Good luck!
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