These photographs are the result of a quest to find beautiful shapes and patterns in crystals - photographed in polarised light, on my 1970 Leitz Orthoplan research microscope. The subjects although only millimetres in size are all entirely real and physical things. Their mesmerising shapes and colours are created by the angle of each crystal relative to cross polarised filters. A wave plate produces a rainbow of colour. Attaching my camera to my 54 year old microscope - a challenge in itself - has allowed me to explore an endless set of beautiful and captivating views of shape and colour.
I have been photographing for more than 20 years. I am drawn to making photographs of things that are challenging or difficult to capture (astrophotography, extreme macro, ferrofluid structures etc).
During the lockdowns I bought several old research microscopes. Configured with polarising filters, and cobbled-together photo tubes and adapters, with my camera I have captured a series of wonders of the shapes, patterns and wild colours of crystals of various substances in polarised light.
16 of these were selected for inclusion in a successful exhibition called Polychromo in March 2023
Awards Amateur Photographer Magazine picture of the week - 13 June 2023 edition.
