Single water droplets falling into a glass. The first one splashes back up just in time to collide with the second one, falling from above. High-speed photography of these collisions requires precise timing, calculations, and luck:

Awesome, isn’t it? I have a special device for triggering my camera at the precise time, as well as coordinating the water droplets. The Camera Axe 5 with the valve sensor is very much a necessary tool to make these collisions happen, but even still I took over 700 images to get the 7 that I am showing here. Lots of fun experimenting, especially with background refraction:

Check out the gallery below, and let me know what you think! (and I know – it has been forever since my last update. Don’t worry, there are interesting things to post soon!)

I woke up yesterday and was greeted with large clumps of snow falling from the sky. The snow was wet and difficult to photograph, but I made the best of it and came up with this image:

These pillars of ice are snow crystals that form at warmer temperatures. Because the snow was clumping together, occasionally I noticed these pillars of ice in odd structures worthy of photographing. So there you have it, the first “snow flake” of the season – with many more of them to come!

It has begun! Temperatures are dropping below zero at night, allowing me to photograph frost in the morning. This winter I intend to spend a lot of time photographing frost, ice crystals and snowflakes in preparation for a book on snowflakes I’m publishing next year. I can’t wait!

These two photos are taken from the black trim around my car’s windows. This one shows what appears to be rectangular crystal formations. Interesting, as water usually freezes into 6-sided crystals. One study published in 1954 shows ice forming rectangles at very cold temperatures, but I think the more likely explanation is that this is the rectangular edges of hexagonal crystals. Science!

The below photo shows growth of a much more smooth design, almost looking like leaves.

Much more to come at the temperature continues to drop. Stay tuned!

During the weekend that I had the gigantic 800mm lens for the moon photos I posted recently, Desi, Mom, Walter and I all spent a day at the Toronto Zoo. Thanks to the folks at the zoo for free passes! I got some great portraits of the big cats:

It was a great day, even though it was a little chilly and rainy. I could have spent twice as much time there, if my arms could handle the weight of carrying that lens around!

Check out the gallery below, and let me know what your favourite shots are!

I’m giving one away! A 24″x12″ gallery canvas of my image “Maple Leaf Flag”:

How do you get it? I’ll draw a random name from people who do the following:

- “Like” My Facebook Fan Page – near the top center of the page!

- “Share” My Facebook Fan Page – bottom of the left column, you’ll find the “share” link… if you like my work, share it with your friends!

Deadline is November 5, 2011

That’s all. If you’re already a fan on facebook, and you’ve talked me up at all in the past, you are already entered in this contest. Good luck! This piece typically has a value of $160.