Issue 293: behind the cover

It’s only when you view these tiny formations through a macro lens or magnifying glass that you really get to see the unique differences.

This particular straw stood out from the others; the crystal formations that made up the tip of the straw looked like they were sculpted from miniature flakes of ice reminiscent of the larger dogtooth calcite crystals often found in caves. It was hard to see at the time of photographing because of the translucent nature of the straw, but with some adjustments to the image contrast and texture to enhance the details you can really see the incredibly intricate construction of this ice-like formation.

Dave Watts