Karl Gaff

Lucan, Dublin, Ireland

This chemical crystalline film (consisting of potassium hexacyanoferrate and ammonium iron sulphate ii) is composed of a multitude of crystal grains. Each grain consists of a highly complex and intricate crystal structure. This photograph shows the centre of such grains, called the nucleation point. When viewed through crossed polarizers, an astonishingly beautiful pattern is revealed, resembling a dense floral-like structure. The vibrant colours emerge due to the inclusion of a wave plate in the optical path. The image was magnified 100x.

Purpose
Curiosity led to the creation of this image as a fusion of science, photography and art.

Equiment
Compensated polarised light microscopy