April Presentation: Snow Crystal Photomicrography, by Kathy Hrechka

by Laura Dwyer, MSDC Member

Our April speaker, MSDC member Kathy Hrechka, has been studying, documenting, and photographing snowflakes for the past 11 years from her home in Alexandria, VA. She has been an avid micromineral collector for more than 40 years, using the microscope to view and photograph micromount mineral specimens. 

Kathy’s presentation will feature a variety of snow crystals, revealed and photographed through the lenses of her microscope. It will also explain how temperature and humidity impact snow crystal patterns.

Kathy Hrechka serves as webmaster for the Micromineralogists of the National Capital Area and is the long-time editor of its American Federation award-winning newsletter, The Mineral Mite. She also regularly volunteers in the Geology, Gems, and Minerals Hall at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. 

Kathy “hails” from Stevens Point, Wisconsin and enjoyed rock collecting from a young age. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Stout with a BS in Fashion Merchandising and subsequently “landed” a career in the airline industry as a flight attendant, which has enabled her to travel to geology localities around the world. She and her husband Ken recently celebrated 35 years of marriage and have two adult children, Julia and Michael.