Ice Sculptures : Michael Frye Photography

Icy glow, Antarctica. We have been fortunate to search out this lovely backlight catching the tops of those ice fingers.

Claudia and I simply returned from Antarctica. This was our second journey to the underside of the world, and it was simply as superb and great as the primary. On each journeys I attempted to make images that seize one thing of what it’s prefer to be there, however even my finest pictures can’t convey the precise expertise. It’s really like touring to a distinct planet.

Once once more I used to be instructing for Visionary Wild aboard our small, chartered ship, the Hans Hansson. This time my co-instructor was Visionary Wild founder and proprietor Justin Black, and we shared the expertise with a beautiful, enjoyable group of contributors, together with the ship’s small, stellar crew. Most of the crew members have been the identical as final 12 months, so it was nice to see acquainted faces, and so they couldn’t have been nicer.

Although I’d in all probability take any alternative to return to Antarctica on any ship, I do know the experiences aboard the Hans Hansson have spoiled me. We get to spend virtually two full weeks in Antarctica, eliminating at the very least 4 days (spherical journey) of tough seas throughout the Drake Passage by flying to King George Island. Better but, since we’re the one social gathering aboard the ship, we have now nice flexibility to switch our itinerary to reap the benefits of situations, and make spontaneous detours to fascinating icebergs or different issues we discover. And after we go ashore to a penguin colony it’s simply us – not more than 15 individuals together with contributors, pictures instructors, and a pair members of the ship’s crew as guides. Larger ships can ship as much as 100 passengers ashore at a time (plus guides). I can’t consider a greater option to expertise and {photograph} this place.

On final 12 months’s journey I captured over 35,000 frames. This 12 months, since I’d been to Antarctica earlier than, I figured I might be extra selective. Yet one way or the other I exceeded final 12 months’s quantity, and got here dwelling with over 41,000 new uncooked recordsdata! Again, that’s largely because of the sort of pictures required. We had a number of nice alternatives for wildlife pictures this journey, and photographing animals normally requires taking a number of frames to get one good one. But in Antarctica you’re additionally normally photographing landscapes from a transferring ship or zodiac, so the scenes and juxtapositions are continually altering in not-entirely-predictable methods, and, once more, you need to take a number of frames to make sure getting the very best angle, or the precise foreground-to-background juxtaposition.

In any case, I’ve a number of pictures to type and course of. One factor I actually loved on this journey was photographing the great number of ice formations. I’ve now photographed icebergs on two journeys to Antarctica and one journey to Greenland, and have been amazed at how pure processes can sculpt ice into an limitless number of shapes and patterns.

Every iceberg is step by step melting. As it melts, a chunk may break off, which upsets the stability, and might trigger the iceberg to flip the other way up, or tilt at a special approach. When the previously-underwater facet of the iceberg will get uncovered you typically discover beautifully-sculpted designs the place the water has eroded the ice into flutes, fingers, or scallops. Or you may see an ice arch, in all probability began by a meltwater tunnel within the glacier the iceberg originated from, then additional eroded by wind, rain, and seawater because the iceberg floats throughout the ocean. Every time we cruised by means of icebergs we appeared to search out some new design I’d by no means seen earlier than.

Antarctica is a part of earth, but it surely actually feels such as you’re visiting a distinct planet – an ice planet. Here’s a portfolio of pictures from our current journey that exhibits among the number of ice formations we discovered there.

— Michael Frye

P.S. If you’re all in favour of becoming a member of Justin Black for a personal constitution aboard the Hans Hansson, he has another trip scheduled for January 2028. And be happy to e mail me you probably have questions on this journey.

Iceberg, arch, and clouds, Antarctica. We discovered this iceberg proper at the start of our journey, simply as we cruised away from King George Island. Knowing that we in all probability wouldn’t discover many ice arches this lovely, we requested the ship’s captain (the great Julian McGale) to circle the berg a number of instances to get all of the angles.

Ice tower, Antarctica. We made a zodiac cruise into this iceberg-filled channel after recognizing it the earlier night – although not one of the ship’s crew had ever been to this channel earlier than. It turned out to be a fantastic spot, with some great icebergs, together with this tower.

Ice spire, Antarctica. This is similar tower proven within the earlier picture, from a distinct angle. It’s really an uncovered finger of ice linked underwater to the bigger berg behind it.

Ice curves, Antarctica. The sample of curves towards the underside caught my eye, however then I observed the juxtaposition with the curved white line of snow above.

Ice textures, Antarctica. Just some superbly textured ice, highlighted by daylight raking throughout the floor.

Ice columns and reflections, Antarctica. On a zodiac cruise in an icy bay we photographed humpback whales for awhile at shut vary. Then we turned our consideration to the icebergs, and located some lovely patterns. This iceberg was subsequent to the one on the high of this put up.

Ice mushroom, Antarctica. This formation had an almost-perfect mushroom form. You by no means know what you’ll discover.

Sculptured ice, Antarctica. Although sure spots are well-known for accumulating icebergs (iceberg “graveyards”), winds could cause icebergs to gather in sudden locations, like this space close to Palmer Station.

Ice boulder, clouds, and brash ice, Antarctica. We discovered calm, glassy water whereas cruising by means of an icy bay, passing this ice boulder perched on a tabular berg. How did it get there? Probably from an avalanche falling from a steep slope whereas the ice was nonetheless a part of a glacier.

Ice boulders and kelp gull, Antarctica. The similar ice boulder as within the earlier picture, considered from a distinct angle on our approach out of the bay, with a kelp gull perched on high.

Ice fingers, Antarctica. Another stunning formation – they’re limitless.

Ice arch, Antarctica. We considered this arch on zodiacs from each side, however I preferred this angle, with the arch framing a zigzag formation.

Iceberg with penguins, Antarctica. One of the final icebergs we encountered whereas crusing again to King George Island. The penguins have been on the again facet of the berg, so we solely noticed them after we had handed it. The captain circled and circled the berg twice to permit us to seize totally different angles.

Related Posts: Back in Antarctica; One Day in Antarctica

Michael Frye is an expert photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He lives close to Yosemite National Park in California, however travels extensively to {photograph} pure landscapes within the American West and all through the world.

Michael makes use of gentle, climate, and design to make images that seize the temper of the panorama, and convey the sweetness, energy, and thriller of nature. His work has obtained quite a few awards, together with the North American Nature Photography Association’s 2023 award for Fine Art in Nature Photography. Michael’s images have appeared in publications all over the world, and he’s the writer and/or principal photographer of a number of books, together with Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters, and The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite.