Micro-photograpy images of vitamin C crystals taken using a cross polarization technique.  All of the images were taken with either a Dinoscope USB microscope or a Fein-Optics digital scope borrowed from work at magnifications ranging from 20X to 400X.

The colors in these images are NOT computer generated, they are the result of the way in which polarized light interacts with the atomic structure of crystalized Ascorbic acid (i.e. Vitamin C).  Changing the orientation of the polarization of the light passing through the crystals results in different colors reaching the camera.  For the images in this post the polarizers were oriented to produce predominantly red images.  The patterns that you see are the result of variations in the arrangement of atoms in different parts of the crystals.