What does a snowflake magnify 100 times look like?
The guy is obsessed with the "microscopic snow world" under the microscope and insists on shooting snowflakes for 15 years
Recently, when the first snow in Beijing arrived, netizen Zhang Chao put the snow falling in the sky under a 100x microscope for observation, and then took a freeze-frame photo with the camera.
Rhombus, pentagonal... The crystal clear snowflakes look different in shape, attracting many netizens to admire: "Nature’s supernatural workmanship is so beautiful."
Zhang Chao is a meteorological enthusiast and has more than 15 years of experience in snowflake "collecting".
He told the reporter from Ziniu Toutiao that when he saw that the temperature in Beijing was low and there was a possibility of snow, he prepared the machine in advance and guarded it in the nearby mountainous area. Five times, like completing a task, the motivation to stick to it is the word'hobby'. If you don't shoot, it feels like you haven't had it this winter."
Ziniu News Trainee Reporter Sun Qingyun
Popular network
The snowflakes magnified by 100 times under the microscope are amazing to many netizens
What is the shape of the blooming snowflakes?
Recently, a group of photos taken by Beijing man Zhang Chao became popular on the Internet.
Under his lens, the snowflakes that are normally observed with the naked eye are indistinguishable. After being magnified 100 times by a microscope, they show various shapes, some resemble six-petal flowers, some resemble pentagonal diamonds, and a piece that seems to be caught by a kitten. Stepped on a foot secretly, leaving a footprint like a cat's claw.
Many netizens don’t hesitate to give compliments after seeing the photos: "Always believe in the aesthetics of nature, no snowflake is the same, all are unique." "Can't think of any words to describe these unique Mei"... The Ziniu News reporter of the Yangtze Evening News contacted the photographer Zhang Chao, and he told reporters: "I used to post the snowflakes I photographed on social platforms, but I have never followed so many netizens."
On the day of shooting this group of snowflakes, he first looked at the weather forecast and knew that there was a possibility of snow, and then judged the temperature. He felt that the temperature in the plain area did not meet the shooting requirements, so he rushed to a safe location in the nearby mountains with the machine. "Snowflake shooting requires a more reliable snowfall, the snow has a certain thickness, and the temperature is low enough. Generally speaking, minus seven or eight degrees Celsius is a more appropriate temperature, so that the snowflakes will not melt when they fall on the instrument. ."
Zhang Chao said that the microscope can be connected to the camera or mobile phone in advance, and when the snow falls, the snowflakes can be collected through the glass slide.
Although it’s easy to say, in his opinion, this year’s snow in Beijing is not that difficult to photograph. He has been busy for more than 3 hours and only took more than 20 photos. “First of all, there is a problem with the temperature. At minus three or four degrees Celsius, snowflakes are easy to melt. In addition, the wind is very strong, and it often happens that the snowflake samples are blown away, and even the camera and microscope are blown down.” So this group of photos has won many netizens. Praised, but he himself is not very satisfied.
Hobby
Snow "collection control" took 15 years
"If you don't take pictures, it feels like you haven't had winter."
The reporter learned that Zhang Chao is an astronomy worker, from university major to work, all related to astronomy.
Photography is one of his hobbies. In 2006, he tried to photograph snowflakes for the first time. The reason was that he saw a group of snowflakes taken by foreign photographers and wanted to try it. "After exploring for about two years, he finally succeeded in shooting the first group. Photo."
Zhang Chao said, thinking about it, he was quite excited at that time.
Since then, every winter, he would photograph snowflakes, at least once, as many as three or five times, as if completing a task, "It feels like not having been in this winter."
He still remembers that the first set of snow photos taken was in Hebei, and the snow conditions were more suitable. He spent a whole night taking seven or eight successful photos in one go. "The shooting started at 1 am, and I have been busy. At noon, I don’t feel sleepy either."
In the silver-white snow, he carried the instrument alone, walked back and forth with one foot deep and one foot shallow. After choosing a good location, he squatted on the ground and observed through a microscope. Take a break, come out and continue shooting after your body warms up. It will take about 20 minutes before you go back to your house and rest for a while."
In this way, Zhang Chao has been shooting for 15 years, and shooting snowflakes has become more and more smooth.
What is the motivation for persisting?
Hearing this question, he said: "It's actually a hobby." At that time, there was no self-media, and the Internet is not as developed now. The photos taken cannot be shared. "Because there are so many kinds of snowflakes, the more I understand, the more curious I want to know. There are other types that have not been unearthed, and it is interesting to collect these photos."
Natural beauty
"Cat footprints" snowflakes attract attention
He said: "Every snowflake is unique"
In this group of Beijing Chuxue snowflake photos that have aroused Internet debate, the one that attracts the most attention from netizens is the snowflake that looks like a cat's footprint. Many people curiously asked: "Is it stepped on by a small animal? How did it form?"
Zhang Chao laughed at this and explained: "It's actually a piece of snow that has been stacked on top of it. It has just grown and is just glued to the large piece of snow."
No one thought that this "small coincidence" created by nature inadvertently left a deep impression on everyone.
Zhang Chao said that in his opinion, very large and complex snowflakes can be seen at about minus 15 degrees Celsius. "They grow in different environments to form these complex and beautiful patterns."
He told reporters that each snowflake is unique, not all six angles, "more exaggerated is the 12 petal snowflake, like a small sun."
Up to now, in order to collect the shapes of snowflakes, Zhang Chao has traveled to Shaanxi, Hebei, Qinghai and other places. “Basically all places north of Hebei have been photographed.” Zhang Chao said that the Northeast snowflakes are the most beautiful ones he has ever seen. I have seen the largest snowflake in the northeast, "It is more than 2 cm in diameter, but unfortunately it is not complete, it is just a branch of a snowflake."
"This kind of shortcoming will be a pity." Zhang Chao said that when he was shooting snowflakes, his mood was always ups and downs. "Surprised for a while, annoyed for a while. For example, if a snowflake falls under the microscope, the shape is very good, and I am happy. , A gust of wind came and blew it away, and I would regret not taking a snapshot earlier."
Everything can be photographed
Chai, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea can be the subject of shooting
He also photographed sand and beer
Zhang Chao revealed to reporters that he not only photographed snowflakes with a microscope, but also photographed sand, beer, battery leakage and his son's urine.
Everything that can be seen everywhere in life, as long as he thinks about it, he will put it under the microscope and observe it.
In his eyes, firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce and vinegar tea can be used as props for photography.
On the road of "chasing" ice and snow, Zhang Chao also attracted his son in.
Three years ago, there was a heavy snowfall in Beijing in the winter. He took his third-grade son and squatted downstairs in his community to guard the coming heavy snow. Very happy."
He also pulled his wife Wang Yanping into this "micro world" of ice and snow research. In 2017, the two co-published the book "The Noble Snowflake", which shows the microscopic images of thousands of snowflakes taken by the couple together for more than 10 years. Photo.
One of the photos captured them lying on the ground and photographing snowflakes. Although they were holding their microscopes and facing in different directions, their actions were very similar and they had a great sense of understanding.
After learning their stories, some netizens left a message and exclaimed: "A cool couple of popular science, a little bit romantic!"
Zhang Chao said that after the photos of "Beijing Chuxue" went viral on the Internet, we could feel everyone's love for nature from the comment section, and some people asked him about the shooting method of snowflakes.
He told reporters: "In fact, it is not difficult to observe life like me, and the threshold is not high. You only need an ordinary microscope, and after a reliable snowfall, you can take your children to collect snowflakes at home. "