2011_1816 How the Ice Forms
Starting a new set today: River Ice. Each winter on the prairie - ten of them so far - I've spent time along the Frenchman River, photographing the freeze up. November and December are the best months for this; by January the entire river surface is usually frozen over, often topped by a layer of snow. The transition is far more interesting than the outcome.
This is how it begins in shallow rivers such as the Frenchman. A partially exposed rock begins to develop a ring or skirt of ice due to splashing in cold air. Eventually its edges will connect with other such rocks.
This winter in particular I sought out ice in shade that reflected sunlit background areas; that is, I looked for cool-warm colour contrasts. This was the first year I did this consciously, making a focused effort to find spots along the riverbank that met these criteria. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks?
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2020 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2011_1816 How the Ice Forms
Starting a new set today: River Ice. Each winter on the prairie - ten of them so far - I've spent time along the Frenchman River, photographing the freeze up. November and December are the best months for this; by January the entire river surface is usually frozen over, often topped by a layer of snow. The transition is far more interesting than the outcome.
This is how it begins in shallow rivers such as the Frenchman. A partially exposed rock begins to develop a ring or skirt of ice due to splashing in cold air. Eventually its edges will connect with other such rocks.
This winter in particular I sought out ice in shade that reflected sunlit background areas; that is, I looked for cool-warm colour contrasts. This was the first year I did this consciously, making a focused effort to find spots along the riverbank that met these criteria. Who says an old dog can't learn new tricks?
Photographed in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2020 James R. Page - all rights reserved.