PATTERNS IN BLACK OPAL
Photographs and Photographic Animations
by ROBERT A. SMITH
Gem opal is an almost unknown storehouse of some of the most complex and intriguing patterns of the natural world. These patterns are extremely varied, they can be cloudy like nebulae or linear and sometimes razor sharp.
Some of the magnifications used here are relatively high. The details of opal pattern which fill the frame are between 6.0 and 1.7 mm wide.
Like diving down into a coral reef, the patterns change as you go deeper.
Please enjoy these images and videos. The videos are set to music.