phase space

These are some images I captured yesterday after a fairly cold evening (-10c) left ice crytal formations around our yard. Reading up on the process of crystallization gave some insight into these amazing forms. The “growth” of crystals is built on a complex layering of structures embedded within structures implying fractal-like behaviors that begin at the molecular level (although there still some mystery surrounding this). The knowledge of artificial crystal production is quite vast yet difficulties in producing the perfect conditions is often cited. This puts a different perspective on my tolerance of the cold weather knowing that it is also the ideal conditions for the delicate process of ice crystallization, a sublime expression of nature formed from one of the most commonly available substances.