Snowflake (046)

A Photographer's Perspective

Born in Noda City, Chiba Prefecture in 1979. A photographer and mountain guide based primarily in the Daisetsuzan Mountains of Hokkaido. After graduating from the professional course at Tokyo School of Photography, he also worked as a mountaineering and ski guide. Since the 2010s, he has been documenting the landscapes and wildlife of the Daisetsuzan Mountains and has published several photo books. He is a member of the Japan Mountain Guides Association and the Photographic Society of Japan.

About Snow Crystals

• Formation: Ice crystals form when water vapor freezes at temperatures below -5°C, creating hexagonal crystalline structures
• Scientific Structure: All snow crystals develop under hexagonal system with six-fold symmetry due to water molecule structure
• Unique Characteristic: Each snow crystal is unique due to different temperature and humidity conditions during formation
• Historical Documentation: Wilson Bentley documented over 5,000 snowflake photographs, revealing incredible variety within hexagonal framework
• Types: Include dendrites (branched), needles, plates, and other forms depending on atmospheric conditions