Perito Moreno Glacier
The largest glacier in the southern glacier snakes down from the Patagonian Ice Field. Perhaps the most amazing sight I have ever seen...
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The largest glacier in the southern glacier snakes down from the Patagonian Ice Field. Perhaps the most amazing sight I have ever seen
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Feb, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina. This is one of a set I have posted on Flickr of glaciers both in Argentina and Chile best accessed by my web site glancingshots.london via the "Flickr" linkTime
In the afternoonLighting
Shot on an overcast day which I soon discovered was the best light by far in which to photograph ice. Glacier ice contains very little air bubbles. It's the trapped air bubbles which make ice appear white. Very old ice is clear i.e pure water with possibly trapped crystals which reflect light. Old ice positively glows a deep azure or cobalt blue. Bright sun light causes too many highlights; a dull, grey sky however is ideal.Equipment
No tripod. EOS 40D with EF -S 17-55mm F2.8 IS USM. Exposure ISO 400 F13 at 1/640Inspiration
The ethereal glow from within the ice coupled with the amazing sight of this huge glacier flowing down from the great Patagonian Ice Field visible on the horizon was inspiration enough. The glacier is forced into two streams or arms as it flows past a rocky island which is the vantage point for the picture. At the front of the glacier, where it meets the water, great blocks were falling off at regular intervals.Editing
I stitched together about 4 pictures in Photoshop Elements in order to get a 180 degree picture across the entire leading edge. The colours are not enhanced however I was using a polaroid filter which intensifies colours. I also lightened the foliage in the bottom leftIn my camera bag
EOS 40D, EF -S 17-55mm F2.8 IS USM and an EFS 70-300mm zoomFeedback
A mere tourist has to strike it lucky with the light; a Pro has the luxury of waiting for the right time of day/ light. With vast landscapes stitching photos together can be effective. Its important to try and keep the panning level as otherwise the picture will be too narrow. I always use a filter and given how good stabilisation is I do not bother with a tripod although I know I should use one.I far prefer to be under rather than over exposed to ensure I avoid blown out bits of sky; clouds are so interesting.
