I spent yesterday afternoon at the ice caves under a warm blue sky. They are being heavily promoted and were shared with about 2000 other visitors. I usually don't include people in my images but in this image you can get of the size of the sandstone cliffs.
A year ago we we were braving a subzero windchill and tramping out to the sea caves. I noted -40 degree windchill in southern MN on January 27th. Today it was 47 degrees above zero. Maybe the ice caves were a once in a lifetime event. Life is short, don't wait for the next time around when you see something to photograph.
Lake Superior's sea caves have been closed, at least for now, due to high winds and potential ice instability. While out there I didn't think about being on ice over 30-40 feet of water. I was always looking up in awe.
Ice comes in many forms: icicles, black ice, pancake ice, icebergs, and the list goes on. However, an ice burst does not exist in nature, only through a wide angle lens. The diagonal lines form the illusion of depth creating a "bursting" impression.
I have seen a few cathedrals with their intricate designs and architecture that are a testament of man's creativity. However nothing I have seen compares to the fascinating patterns of ice and sandstone seeping through the roof of an ice cave.
Technical: wide angle lens, image rotated of produce symmetry, shade WB (7500k)
Sometimes sunset is the beginning. In this case I used my headlamp to brighten the interior of the cave. Light painting can be garish, and frequently is, but I like a more subtle approach without overpowering the natural light, using it as a fill light. Another example of making choices to reflect what you "see".
After wandering along the shoreline for an hour it was time to settle down and find a location to follow the light into the night. This portal had earlier been filled with people sitting on the ice bench getting their photos taken. As the afternoon passed it became quiet with only a couple photographers, Gary Leeper and myself, enjoying the changing light. Quiet and beauty missed by those using a clock to control their lives.
Technical: HDR image merged with Photomatix. Three images at 2 stop intervals.
Where do you start? How do you turn awe and amazement into images? The sea caves along the south shore of Lake Superior are the current rage for photographers. After a five year absence of enough ice to get to them, they were opened to the public last week. A moderate walk along the shore to reach them is rewarded with otherworldly sights. If you are going dress for the wind. I'm starting with this iconic location shot, more images to follow.
