Glacial Passage
Antarctica c. 2004
Antarctica c. 2004
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Aug, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken off the coast of Antarctica in 2004. I was thirteen years old and on an educational tour of the Antarctic peninsula, aboard an ice breaker named The Polar Star.Time
I believe this photo was taken early in the morning around Christmas time, although it's hard to say because Antarctica experiences near 24-hour daylight during its summer season. Scenes like this weren't uncommon at any time of the day. All one had to do was step on deck and look in any direction.Lighting
I love the way the water and ice reflects the natural light back onto the landscape and bathes everything in this cool ice-blue tone.Equipment
This image was actually shot on one of Canon's first digital cameras, a fixed lens Powershot. The thing was a blocky monstrosity with a tiny viewfinder and an even smaller flip out viewing screen. Going back through the photos I shot with this camera, I'm pretty amazed at the depth and color range I was able to capture with such a small sensor.Inspiration
I remember being utterly awestruck at the magnitude of this landscape. In Antarctica, you're surrounded by scenes like this and it's hard not to have your head on a swivel. As regards this particular image, I was mesmerized by the natural architecture created by the melting glaciers. The natural arches impose a certain sense of mystery and wonder at the wild heart of this place. It's a kingdom unto itself. The pristine reflections speak even further to the untouched beauty of the landscape.Editing
Aside from a little cropping, rotation, and a slight saturation boost this image is untouched.In my camera bag
I normally rock a Canon 7D MkII with a 24-70mm lens. However, I'm of the mind that the story told by an image is more important than what it's shot with, so I shoot with whatever I have on hand-be that a high-end DSLR or my smartphone camera.Feedback
Honestly, when I look at this photo I'm surprised my thirteen-year-old self was able to capture and compose this shot, but that just goes to show that the subject and story are more important than a photographer's technical proficiency. In terms of landscape photography, I try to see the natural architecture of my surroundings-the way in which lines and depth work together to create natural patterns that are pleasing to the eye. Reflections always add depth to an image and help make the entire image interesting.
