The Shape of Ice
Detail. HANUSSE BAY ANTARCTICA Leica S (007), Vario-Elmar-S 30-90 MM f/3.5-5.6 ASPH at 68mm at f/8, 1/500 SEC, ISO 800
Detail. Hanusse Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Leica S (007), Vario-Elmar-S 30-90mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH at 90mm at f/8, 1/350 SEC, ISO 800
Detail. Hanusse Bay, Antarctic Peninsula. Leica Q (116) Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH at f/5.6, 1/500 SEC, ISO 400
Detail. Paradise Harbour, Antarctic Peninsula. Leica S (007), Vario-Elmar-S 30-90mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH at 90mm at f/5.6, 1/500 SEC, ISO 800
Detail. Blue Iceberg, Argentine Islands, Antarctica. Leica Q (116) Summilux 28mm f/1.7 ASPH at f/5.6, 1/1000 SEC, ISO 3200
THE ICE IS SUBTLE & ALLURING, SEDUCTIVE & DANGEROUS.
ANTARCTICA, the frozen continent is a unique and extreme environment. Ice defines the terrestrial and marine limits of an area extending beyond 14 million km3 (5.4 million square miles). Ice that is 2,000 m. thick (6,560 ft.) covers this enormous landmass. 90% of the planet’s ice is here, the largest collection of fresh water on Earth. Ice that is vast and permanent, more than 30 million years old, is also fluid and plastic, flowing continuously from the frozen center to the watery edges where continental ice and sea ice merge.
Antarctic ice has formed from successive deposits of snow, which over time have compacted; crystals adhering to one another, transformed into transparent glassy solid sheets. But the ice changes shape and color as is it migrates and moves. Initially snow is white reflecting back all light, but as it melts and refreezes, the lattice patterns mutate with the properties of water. Red and yellow is absorbed superficially, blue light reflects back from the depths of the melted and refrozen lattice, changing constantly and forever the shape and color of ice.
When ice meets the sea it becomes lighter and thinner, floating on the surface, rimming the edges of the continent with massive buoyant shelves that then calf explosively, sending huge chunks thundering into the water, forming icebergs. Large flat tabular icebergs are born directly from the shelves and we see them from great distances on the far horizon. Fantastically shaped icebergs are fractured from the continental ice tongues and glaciers. These smaller, irregularly shaped fragments set adrift are continuously sculpted by the winds and the currents, resulting in visions of ice undreamt.
To see this ice one must travel by small ship. It is often a long and arduous journey to the Antarctic Circle and points south. But once there, the experience of ice is quite marvelous. We are out on the sea in small zodiacs, bouncing across choppy waves and skidding over brash ice to get as close as we can to gigantesque icebergs and to the continental ice shelf. White cliff faces broken here and there by cracks and crevasses of blue that is at once luminous and profound. Ice snow flowing in channels roaring out to the seas, fresh and then salty. White light reflected shimmering and glistening against deep dark waters, or aqua splashes tinted by sea algae. The icebergs emerge and recede, great pyramids, towering spires and flying buttresses, gargoyles and chessmen, immense entwined dragons, prehistoric beasts in combat, celestial constellations. The ice is flat and curved in spiral twists, blue striated by white, deep holes that open one layer into the next as series of arches and arabesques. The ice is jagged and sharp, cubist planes cut into the frozen canvas. The ice is subtle and alluring, seductive and dangerous. Too close and it can capsize your vessel, freeze your fingers, blind you.
There are many ways to approach photographing the ice: capturing the great expanse of land and sky, massive gesture of icebergs at sea, the dynamism of the continental shelves or focusing in on the most minute details. On this polar expedition we were drawn to the intimacy of the ice, the shape and color of ice up close. In sometimes treacherous waters we approached the ice.
Detail, Paradise Harbous, Antarctic Peninsula. Leica S (007), Vario-Elmar-S 30-90mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH at 58mm at f/4.9, 1/1000 SEC, ISO 800
Detail, Paradice Harbour, Antarctic Peninsula. Leica S (007), Vario-Elmar-S 30-90mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH at 61mm at f/6.8, 1/750 SEC, ISO 800
Detail, Fish Islands, Antarctica. Leica S (007), Vario-Elmar-S 30-90mm f/3.5-5.6 ASPH at 90mm at f/8, 1/750 SEC, ISO 800
NONETHELESS THE BEAUTY OF THE ICE, ITS SHAPE AND COLOR CAPTURED OUR HEARTS, OPENED OUR IMAGINATIONS AND WE HOPE WILL ENTICE YOU TO VISIT THE ANTARCTIC.
Albert photographed with two Leica S (Typ 007) cameras in combination with the Leica Vario-Elmar-S 30-90mm f/3.5- 5.6 ASPH and Super-Elmar-S 24mm f/3.5 ASPH while Ruth carried the compact and trusty Leica Q (Typ 116), which fortunately for her could be tucked inside her parka, warm and dry, when the going got really rough. Working in a Zodiac we managed to withstand the most brutal onslaught of elements, freezing rain, seawater crashing over us, drenching our equipment and souls, salt and sea foam, extremes of temperature, and vibration as we bumped and thumped along. On the first day, a giant wave flooded one of Albert’s 007s and the camera ceased to function! He washed away the water and salt later that afternoon and let it dry on board the mother ship. Miraculously, the 007 rose from the dead the next day but certain automatic functions were lost. Albert simply used that 007 in manual mode with excellent results. The other 007 was unaffected. Having a zodiac as a platform is challenging: Jostling for position was tricky and it was nearly impossible to steady our cameras as we were struggling to maintain balance and not topple into the freezing waves. A high ISO and shutter speed are musts! As serene as the images may appear, was as difficult as the conditions in which we were shooting. Nonetheless the beauty of the ice, its shape and color captured our hearts, opened our imaginations and we hope will entice you to visit the Antarctic.