How to Photograph Ice Shapes

I live in the Pocono Mountains at an elevation of 1,400 feet--and boy do I hate winter. The older I get, the more I become a fairweather photographer--and look forward to the time when I can winter in more favorable climates. Staring out my back windows I would see only trees covered in white, and then I began to notice how the snow gradually changed into ice and created different shapes. I began to study my deck railing and the formation of the ice, and then eventually dared to go out onto the deck with my camera. Maybe it was cabin fever, but I started to get interested in these ice shapes and began to photograph them. Read on to learn some tips I have discovered--and then grab your camera and capture some ice photos--as winter slips into spring.

Things You'll Need

• A Camera
• Tripod
• Some Imagination

Instructions

1. 

   The first thing I began to notice were holes in the ice. I thought the hole pictured looked liked Australia; now I'm not so sure. But this single hole in the ice caused me to observe the ice on the railing and notice that each day it was different. This eventually led to some more interesting pictures.

2. 

   I came to realize that depth of field was important, and to reduce depth of field you can use either a telephoto lens or a close-up lens with the camera on a tripod. This was taken with a 200mm lens and I thought it looked like a polar bear staring down a T-Rex. Getting close in to the shapes makes them look more dramatic.

3. 

   Each day the shapes changed and I began to observe other areas of the deck. This image looks to me like an African rhino and a tree on the veld. Observe the ice each day to see how it changes and if it offers any new images.

4. 

   Use flash to bring out textures in the ice. This is the same shot as the previous one, but with one direct flash on the subject. Notice how the flash causes the texture of the ice to stand out. The flash causes the ice to sparkle, and it might look good with a cross screen filter to make the ice glitter even more. If the ice is in direct sun it will be more liquid and clear than ice melting in shadow.

5. 

   This was taken on the final day of this "experiment." It is the same African rhino now melted into a shiny glob of ice. Notice the tendrils of ice that just seem to be hanging in space. This was a fun photo project that can easily be done at home to help get you through the winter doldrums. I am actually looking forward to the next snowfall to see what kinds of shapes may be deposited on my deck railing.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch for specular highlights on shiny ice.

• Dress warmly.