Pioneer Scientific Photographer. Born in Jericho, Vermont, he was the first known photographer of snowflakes. A self-educated farmer, he attracted world attention with his pioneering work with snowflakes. The snowflakes were too complex to record before they melted, so he attached a bellows camera to a compound microscope and, after much experimentation, photographed his first snowflake on January 15, 1885. His snow crystal photomicrographs were acquired by colleges and universities throughout the world and he published many articles for magazines and journals. In 1931 his book "Snow Crystals," containing more than 2400 snow crystal images. Because of his wonderful work with snow crystals, he became affectionately known as "Snowflake" Bentley. Bentley died at the family farmhouse in Jericho of pneumonia on December 23, 1931.
Pioneer Scientific Photographer. Born in Jericho, Vermont, he was the first known photographer of snowflakes. A self-educated farmer, he attracted world attention with his pioneering work with snowflakes. The snowflakes were too complex to record before they melted, so he attached a bellows camera to a compound microscope and, after much experimentation, photographed his first snowflake on January 15, 1885. His snow crystal photomicrographs were acquired by colleges and universities throughout the world and he published many articles for magazines and journals. In 1931 his book "Snow Crystals," containing more than 2400 snow crystal images. Because of his wonderful work with snow crystals, he became affectionately known as "Snowflake" Bentley. Bentley died at the family farmhouse in Jericho of pneumonia on December 23, 1931.
Bio by: Barb Destromp
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