Comparing something to a grain of sand
is usually supposed to mean that it’s small or insignificant, but Dr.
Gary Greenberg’s microscopic photography aims to turn this stereotype on
its head. His photographs of miniscule grains of sands magnified up to
300 times reveal that each grain of sand can be beautiful and unique.
Greenberg’s
story is a fascinating one. First of all, he invented the
high-definition 3D microscopes that he takes his pictures on, resulting
in 18 U.S. patents under his name. He was a photographer and filmmaker
until age 33, when he moved from LA to London and earned a Ph. D. in
biomedical research. This seems to have given him a unique appreciation
for biological and scientific curiosities and for the optical
technologies he would need to document them.
Sand
composition can vary drastically depending on where it’s located. The
coastal sands in Hawaii, where Dr. Greenberg is located, are very likely
the subjects of his amazing micro-photography. The sand in his images
is full of remnants from various tropical sea organisms large and small.
The sand on other coasts, depending on the temperature, surf conditions
and marine environment, may include a totally different set of rocks,
minerals and organic matter.
Source: sandgrains.com