Ice Roses

February 14, 2014

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Photographer: Piero Armando
Summary Authors: Piero Armando; Jim Foster

Ferbuary 2014 Viewer's Choice Walking along a little road on a frigid December morning in the Aosta Valley of northwestern Italy, I couldn’t help but notice these delicate Ice roses. It had been quite cold, clear and calm here on several consecutive mornings. The morning temperatures dropped to at least 15 F (-10 C). Such conditions are nearly ideal for promoting ice crystal formation and growth. Crystal growth can occur quite rapidly if adequate water vapor is available to condense onto the incipient flower-like structures. The diameter of the biggest rose at lower center is approximately 1.5 in (4 cm). Photo taken on December 14, 2013.

Photo Details: Camera: Canon EOS 600D; Lens: EF70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM; Focal Length: 140mm; Aperture: f/8.0; Exposure Time: 0.0020 s (1/500); ISO equiv: 100. 

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