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Interesting patterns and colors Anthony. Fantastic abstract. My guess is leaves and sticks under ice with some moving water taken using a flash.

Interesting formations and colors Tony, it looks like last rays of sun on some frozen ice on rocks to me :)
-Daman

Wow Anthony, that is quite incredible! Very abstract, looks like fire and ice. My guess is either you use a light at a low angle during the exposure, or some very cool reflected light from a nearby rock or something.

Wow, those mushrooms rock !
Reminds me of the time bozo the clown jumped outta the wall and tried to kill me !
Very interesting shapes and colors. Web file looks slightly over sharpened.
Reflected campfire ?

Fantastic Anthony. Really a fantastic abstract. The play of cool and warm tones is stunning, together with the beautiful patterns. The design is clearly ice. The orange light is likely either reflected from above or some catch light on rocks and/or leaves under the ice. Regardless, this is one phenomenal image.

Beautiful abstract Anthony - love the mixture of colors and shapes. No idea what the heck it is though!

Fire and Ice! It looks like a reflected campfire in some beautiful ice patterns. Whatever it is, it totally rocks!

Nice combination of colours. We think it could be the reflection of a fire on thin ice.

Regards

D&L

My kinda colors. great work Anthony. Wouldn't change a thing.

Okay,

First Thanks Matt, I actually posted the over sharpened version-ooops. This one is a lot better and icludes the title.

Method:

It's not too mysterious but I thought I would have some fun with it anyway. I always strive for natural approaches to composing and processing so this is still in line with that philosophy.
I must give Dietrich credit for getting my wheels turning on using a flashlight to highlight his leaves. This of course isn't a flashlight nor a flash. I made a small makeshift torch out of wood materials nearby. The aid of a small piece of cloth and a lighter, I lit the torch for my brief composition. The sun had set a few minutes rendering the forest floor quite dark (13 sec. exposure @ iso 320). I gently waved the torch nearby the lens but not over it. The thin ice simply soaked up the light from the torch. I wasn't quite sure of the result until the image rendered on the LCD. I loved it! I was never a fan of light painting until some very talented folks created some natural looking results. Im not sure if I will light paint as I can never seem to get that natural effect. I thought of this at work while torching some pipe and thought fire was a very natural light.

What I enjoyed about processing was it's simplicity. I liked the graphic nature of the ice seemingly being melted by fire from within, thus leaving gaps and breaks in the ice.

Thanks for you thoughts and comments and please let me know if this experiment works for you.

Wow, the re-post is so much better. It looks much smoother like the ice is melting.

Gorgeous abstract, Anthony, especially the 2nd version, well done

Very cool techniqe and a beautiful image. I was sure it was ice but the lighting had me scratching my head.

Anthony, this is a very ingenious capture! Wonderful use of light!. I'm loving the interplay between the hot and cold light. I wouldn't consider this technique " light painting" per say, but each has his own definition of that. Great abstract!

Friggin cool that's all I have to say!

Another super image Vincent! my only nit is the top center of the image is a bit empty, i would crop it. Even so its very good, and the technique is very interesting.

Now that I read the explaination Anthony, very ingenious work! ..... and oh BTW, the repost is a killer image too but more so!

Awesome (especially the repost!)

Holy cow! I'm over the moon on this one! What a fantastic idea and a stunning result. This has gotta be an all time winner for creativity. Way to go!

Is it a fire place?

Nice! The repost of this interesting experiment looks great. Kudos to you for the creativity!

Very original, totally awesome! fantastic image.

Hi Anthony Very creative and spectacular The lines and color are marvelous.
Albert Darmo Canada

Gorgeous image, the repost is much better! Your lighting technique was a great idea! Nicely done!

Congratulations, Anthony. This is fine art.

Very creative and beautiful image. Thanks fot the method.

Freakin fantastic!

Totally off the chart amazing!!! I don't even need to know what it is. I figure it's ice with some sort of artificial light source. But it is abstract so no need to know really. Only that it is freakin beautiful, and artistic. Your last four or so post have been of exceptionally high quality. I believe you are distinguishing yourself as one of the top tier photographers on this site. Congratulations, and well done!!!!!

Chris

Very creative indeed. Excellent work!

Wow, this is just simply stunning Anthony! First is super nice and the repost I would say perfect. This will stick my head for a while I am sure. Fine fine art.

Anthony,

Very creative approach. I like it very much.

highly original, your repost is fantastic, Anthony...

repost is awesome.
verena

I never seen something like this before.
Spectacular and very original image, Anthony. Cheers

Hi Anthony, I have not scrolled down for an explanation yet. Looks fascinating. My guess is flames or glowing embers reflected on ice. Or maybe what looks like ice is smoke?

Going to scroll now...

Ah - wow, and you credit me for this? Thanks a lot! But of course this is entirely your idea here! Never thought of using fire instead of a flashlight...;-)
Really creative work Anthony!

Haven't scrolled down, but I'm guessing ice formations at night illuminated with a flashlight? However it was done, this is extremely creative. Great image!

Beautiful shot. I love the idea and hope to give it a try.

Kudos to you both for an amazing image (especially the fabulous repost) and for explaining how you did it.

This is simply incredible. The patterns are mesmerizing and keep me staring in wonder. One of the best abstracts I've seen in a while.

Guy

I'm very late to the party commenting on this, but this image struck me so hard that I have to add my thoughts. This is simply amazing to look at. I keep moving through the image and I can't leave it. A great photograph should do exactly that. Big congrats on a fine photograph, executed very well and created with amazing creativity.

Another fine abstract from you! The repost is absolutely fantastic.

By far the best and most creative light-painting I've ever seen. Just amazing.

Fantastic abstract. I love the colors and exposure. I will have to try this technique out one of these days.

Anthony,
I admire your creativity and really like the result. I would have guessed reflections from a nearby campfire, but couldn't imagine how that could happen. Very impressive.

Completely brutal this image. Excellent work Vincent!

Much prefer the softer repost but one of the best images I think I've ever seen. Looked like fire to begin with...but to clarify you didnt have the torch under the ice? Just next to it? Impressive good sir

aF

Wow, this is a cool image! Very creative and well composed. My wife just saw this one and asked me why I can't make photos like this... thanks a lot! Great image, congrats on a job VERY well done here!

Wayne

wow brilliant! great idea, its such a neat abstract. Very nice Anthony

Outstanding abstract Anthony, what a great idea of using fire to paint with light in the ice, very creative.

Absolutely stunning! I have a feeling that this won't be the last time we will see an image like this. I bet a dozen others are going to try and replicate this. Very creative and effective!

If I could see the music of jazz, this is what it would look like. Wonderful colors on ice Anthony.

David M. Cobb

Great idea. That's beautiful. Fantastic!

I would love to play around with something like this. Finding ice easy, finding fire easy, making a composition that works not so easy.

Someone that light paints would have the advantage of knowing when the time is right.

wow!!! this is crazy...! fabulous work vincent. ímpressive techs too. remarkable.

Amazing image, Anthony. The lines and color contrasts are great!

Gosh this is so nice. Great vision to see this.

Truly impressive work! One of the best shots I've seen lately!

Anthony, this is truly fantastic! Rarely, my eyes have seen such beauty.

Amazing work, Anthony. Congrats on EP. Well deserved. It's one of your best shots for sure, if not the best!

wonderful creativity & execution! congrats on the EP!!

Hi Anthony Congrats on winning the E.P. Really well deserved
Albert Darmo Canada

Congrats on the EP. This is one killer shot. Absolutely stunning.

Beautiful!
Congrats on the EP!

Sandy r

Well much thanks everyone, wow. Im happy you all enjoyed this one as much as me. Thanks for the great support.

Simply OUTSTANDING and incredibly original!!

Great effect! Excellent job taking your photo to the next level. Congrats!

Don't know but very cool!

Congratulations, Anthony. A very fine image. You've had so many this year it must have been hard to choose.

Congrats Anthony!! Well deserved; this is not only beautiful, but wonderfully creative as well.

Congratulation Anthony on the EPA pick for 2009! Stunning image indeed.

When I read how you did this I was amazed. Very creative and deserving of recognition. Congratulations on your EPA.

Hello Anthony.

Congrats on the award.

A well seen image with lovely colour, pattens, and detail.

Anthony, congratulations on the EPA. This is an awesome abstract and wonderful idea. Congratulations.

Anthony, congratulations! You truly deserve this one.

Congrats on the 2009 EPA Anthony! Well deserved!

A really strong photograph. Congratulations on the EPA, Anthony.

Most definitely one of the best images of the year. Congratulations, Anthony!

Congrats on the EPA. One of the most creative images we are likely to see in ESS!

Congratulations on this awesome abstract winner!

Well deserved

Very creative and beautiful. Congrats on the awards for this one. They are very well-deserved

Congrats on the 2009 EPA! Wonderful image..
Sandy r