Ice Nebula

Gallery: LandscapePosted December 3, 2010670 views59 comments

A recent hike in White Canyon, Utah revealed about a half dozen of these unique ruptures in the frozen creek bed. This one had the nicest 'jewels' (air bubbles trapped under clear ice).

White Canyon is a deep, narrow and long canyon that originates in the foothills of the Abajo Mountains and passes through Natural Bridges Nat'l. Mon. before draining into Lake Powell. It drains a relatively large part of the Colorado Plateau along it's course and has an abundance of Anasazi cliff dwellings/rock art and slot canyons (incl. the 'Black Hole' ) that are off the beaten trail.

Canon 5DII w/24-105 lens @ 97mm
1/90 sec. @ f8 ISO 800 (handheld)

Comments

59 comments

Comment posted by Marc Adamus on December 3, 2010 at 5:56 PM

Seriously, man, that's just crazy! I really don't think I've ever seen a more perfect natural ice formation than this. I'd give my right hand (ok, maybe not the whole hand but at least a finger or two) to capture something like this. WOW! My only small nits are the top looks a bit soft and that people just might not believe it's real! Just totally sensational John. .......If this isn't the best week ever on ESS, I don't know what is.

Registered on September 17, 2005, 780 Posts, 8091 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on December 3, 2010 at 6:03 PM

I saw this on your website recently... and my goodness did I like it! This is simple spectacular! Like Marc, I would LOVE to have something like this in my portfolio! I love the addition of the leaf, which brings it back to reality. You've been on a roll with this and your previous image.. keep it up!

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Tyson Fisher on December 3, 2010 at 6:08 PM

AMAZING!

Those jewel-like formations in the middle are out of this world.

Registered on September 17, 2008, 44 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Haskell on December 3, 2010 at 6:09 PM

W.

Ian

Registered on October 30, 2008, 24 Posts, 673 Comments

Comment posted by Anne K. Rusk on December 3, 2010 at 6:12 PM

This is totally wild! I love the title; it is perfectly fitting. As Floris mentioned, the leaf is a great addition. I like that it gives this scene sense of scale. So crisp and clear, really a special image!

Registered on October 10, 2010, 65 Posts, 904 Comments

Comment posted by Ian Cameron on December 3, 2010 at 6:13 PM

That is bizarre and very beautiful. It is just a wee bit soft at the top.

Registered on August 6, 2004, 1125 Posts, 3318 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on December 3, 2010 at 6:14 PM

This is killer!!! Completely unique and extremely well composed. Great stuff!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Ben Horne on December 3, 2010 at 6:24 PM

Very nice! The tonality and the color are wonderful. I don't really care for the leaf, but that would be easy enough to clone out.

Registered on August 27, 2009, 51 Posts, 959 Comments

Comment posted by Brad Mangas on December 3, 2010 at 6:28 PM

I love images like this, the color, comp and capture, great job John!

Registered on November 9, 2007, 94 Posts, 568 Comments

Comment posted by Julian Barkway on December 3, 2010 at 6:36 PM

I've never seen anything like this before! Impressive work.

Registered on January 18, 2007, 344 Posts, 1961 Comments

Comment posted by Kah Kit Yoong on December 3, 2010 at 6:36 PM

Incredibly intriguing very alien looking intimate.

Registered on September 27, 2006, 636 Posts, 10682 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Greenwood on December 3, 2010 at 7:02 PM

… Amazing! The inclusion of the leaf was an interesting choice (assuming that it was a choice). It does draw attention away from the surreal and otherworldly impact of the ice formation, and I think the composition would be just as impressive without it. Just my humble opinion.

Registered on November 9, 2003, 229 Posts, 1523 Comments

Comment posted by Nicolaus Wegner on December 3, 2010 at 7:03 PM

What an interesting subject John. It's always the little things, like that frozen leaf, that make images like this work so well in my opinion. Very cool.

Registered on February 21, 2010, 133 Posts, 1509 Comments

Comment posted by Nick Bristol on December 3, 2010 at 7:03 PM

Wow, What a find, John. This is wonderful!

Nick Bristol
Lone Rock, WI.

Registered on February 1, 2004, 752 Posts, 14140 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on December 3, 2010 at 7:05 PM

Awesome!!! This has to be one of your best!!!!

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Anderson on December 3, 2010 at 7:13 PM

Far Out Man. That's amazing.
"Winner Winner, Chicken Dinner"!

Registered on September 6, 2007, 346 Posts, 2696 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on December 3, 2010 at 7:18 PM

Hi John
I echo Marc's comments, this is fantastic and you even choose a fantastic title for your fantastic image. My hat off!

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Arnab Banerjee on December 3, 2010 at 7:51 PM

Love this ...only nit is that little leaf in the LRC - why did you choose to keep it?

Registered on January 3, 2007, 313 Posts, 2270 Comments

Comment posted by John Mumaw on December 3, 2010 at 8:12 PM

Wow...thanks so much for all of the kind words, folks!

Arnab,
I went back and forth over removing that leaf. In the end, I kept it to introduce a sense of scale and a touch of reality to a surreal scene. I may change my mind down the road, though...

Thanks again all!!

Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments

Comment posted by Gabi Lach on December 3, 2010 at 8:18 PM

Perfecto! It could not get any better. In Utah, haha.

This is a special piece of art that you will be proud of perhaps forever. Congratulations, John. Hats off!

Registered on May 1, 2007, 101 Posts, 3187 Comments

Comment posted by Reno DiTullio on December 3, 2010 at 8:19 PM

Excellent, fits in with that wild Hubble stuff, outathisworld

Registered on November 14, 2003, 130 Posts, 1644 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Pullen on December 3, 2010 at 8:45 PM

Very neat,John. I like the inclusion of the small leaf in the corner. Excellent comp.. Ron

Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on December 3, 2010 at 9:09 PM

Amazing capture John! Looks like and alien life form. The leaf is a wonderful element.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Anil Rao on December 3, 2010 at 9:21 PM

The compelling subject matter and your striking composition make for a very intruiging photograph. Amidst the flood of images that primarily rely on post-processing gimmicks, this one is refreshingly beautiful. It re-enforces my belief that art in photography is mostly about "seeing".

Outstanding in all regards, John.

Registered on November 15, 2003, 234 Posts, 4923 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on December 3, 2010 at 9:24 PM

This is awesome John. Definitely one of the better ice photos I've seen. The trapped bubbles in the center of the formation are beautiful. I like how you included the leaf to give a sense of scale to the image.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Tony Kuyper on December 3, 2010 at 9:51 PM

This looks very organic, like a nerve cell or something. Not sure I'd give up any body parts for it, but i do like the image a lot.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 364 Posts, 22328 Comments

Comment posted by Koveh Tavakkol on December 3, 2010 at 10:33 PM

Great eye John! Really beautiful work.

Registered on September 1, 2009, 41 Posts, 608 Comments

Comment posted by Mark Pelton on December 3, 2010 at 10:55 PM

Outstanding, John. Amazing how much the aspen leaf adds.

Registered on November 25, 2003, 380 Posts, 4647 Comments

Comment posted by Michael J Greene, on December 3, 2010 at 10:57 PM

Another unique & spectacular find. Awesome work John!

Michael

Registered on June 18, 2009, 86 Posts, 2317 Comments

Comment posted by Youssef Ismail on December 3, 2010 at 11:46 PM

John,

Phenomenal photo. I especially love the small aspen leaf in the corner. Superb!

Registered on November 1, 2003, 474 Posts, 5555 Comments

Comment posted by Jason Kim on December 3, 2010 at 11:47 PM

What an amazing find, talk about symmetry in nature! Very nice.

Registered on July 1, 2006, 60 Posts, 1233 Comments

Comment posted by dean hebert on December 4, 2010 at 12:19 AM

So cool! I'm going to have to keep my head down from now on.

Registered on August 4, 2010, 70 Posts, 1132 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on December 4, 2010 at 1:04 AM

John,

I can't think of a word to describe this, so I'll make one up. This is FANTABULISTIC!

This would be killer with or without the leaf, but somehow that leaf just makes this even more special. Looks like an alien arterial network brain system or something... I have no idea.

Congrats on such a unique and fascinating natural phenomena.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on December 4, 2010 at 1:21 AM

Extremely unique work
Once I saw it I thought it's an air shot for a frozen lake or something like this
It is amazing

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by Art Escobado on December 4, 2010 at 1:57 AM

Amazing Shot John!!! (I don't think it needs the leaf btw)

Registered on January 7, 2007, 0 Posts, 775 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on December 4, 2010 at 2:49 AM

Oh yeah - nature strikes again. Excellent shot, John.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on December 4, 2010 at 3:25 AM

WOW, what a creative and excellently crafted image. And then there's that little leaf - fits perfectly here.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Lou on December 4, 2010 at 10:45 AM

What a neat capture. I am undecided about the leaf in the frame. In a way, it provide a dose of reality, But if the intent is pure abstraction, then I would remove it.

Registered on August 3, 2010, 86 Posts, 273 Comments

Comment posted by Winnie Ho on December 4, 2010 at 3:48 PM

Incredible! at first it looks like a denddritic neuron under electron microscope, but I can make out the beautiful ice bubbles. You have captured this superbly. The addition of the leaf is important I think to give us a sense of scale and sense if place.

Registered on January 6, 2008, 93 Posts, 1788 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on December 4, 2010 at 5:06 PM

Awesome shot, John--definitely one of the coolest abstracts/ice shots ive seen!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by SimonRumford on December 4, 2010 at 10:14 PM

pretty awesome pick, thats a really cool ice formation for sure

Registered on June 25, 2010, 28 Posts, 80 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on December 4, 2010 at 11:10 PM

In-credible John!

Registered on March 13, 2006, 65 Posts, 1119 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Peterson on December 5, 2010 at 12:20 AM

Undoubtedly one of the most interesting photos I have ever seen in my life. This is perfect, John!

Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments

Comment posted by Gino Cortez on December 5, 2010 at 4:48 AM

Very striking in an unfamiliar way. I'm having trouble relating it to anything I've ever seen before!

Registered on November 23, 2010, 57 Posts, 396 Comments

Comment posted by Karsten Wrobel on December 5, 2010 at 9:17 AM

WOW, very alien... the inclusion of the leaf gives it an added twist...

Registered on November 1, 2008, 117 Posts, 851 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on December 5, 2010 at 10:21 AM

Easily the best ice formation I've ever seen, John! I guess nature will never cease to amaze us with its creations. I'm really glad you were there to witness and especially to capture this. Stunning!

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Cowan on December 5, 2010 at 12:15 PM

This is a fabulous shot! I like the addition of the leaf to help give it scale. Crazy...

Registered on September 22, 2010, 8 Posts, 165 Comments

Comment posted by Gary McGhee on December 5, 2010 at 2:18 PM

It's a great shot John, love everything about this. The outstretching veins/cracks look terrific.

Gary.

Registered on April 15, 2010, 142 Posts, 2416 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on December 5, 2010 at 3:09 PM

I think this is my favorite shot from you that I've seen. Totally agree with all that has been said so far. An amazing shot!

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Goldwasser on December 5, 2010 at 3:32 PM

Wow John, what an amazingly creative and beautiful image! Well seen and executed.

Registered on May 10, 2009, 127 Posts, 970 Comments

Comment posted by Wade Hardy on December 5, 2010 at 4:47 PM

One of the best and most original shots I've seen in a while. Fantastic work!

Registered on May 2, 2006, 121 Posts, 1824 Comments

Comment posted by Albert Darmo on December 5, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Hi John

An awesome capture of natures incredible handiwork,! The jewel like bubbles are icing on the cake. The leaf does add a sense of scale

congrats on an amazing capture

Albert Darmo. canada

Registered on November 25, 2008, 1386 Posts, 11978 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Wong on December 5, 2010 at 11:54 PM

This is insane! I can't believe you photographed ice like this. The location of the leaf is quite interesting too and adds to the scene I think.

Registered on February 2, 2006, 79 Posts, 2629 Comments

Comment posted by Arild Heitmann on December 6, 2010 at 9:23 AM

wow...i have no words.... Congrats!

Registered on October 13, 2010, 27 Posts, 378 Comments

Comment posted by Kory Lidstrom on December 6, 2010 at 5:45 PM

This is really well done. My only nit: I'd clone out that leaf in the LRC.

Registered on November 19, 2008, 49 Posts, 1035 Comments

Comment posted by James Fougère on December 7, 2010 at 8:49 PM

John, this is an incredible image!! It looks like a SAT view of an alien planet!! The cracks could be canyons miles wide! To COOL. What a gem to stumble across

Registered on October 25, 2010, 41 Posts, 831 Comments

Comment posted by John Williams on December 9, 2010 at 11:33 PM

Wow, this is one of your best John. Such an amazing formation, and the leaf is just brilliant in grounding the remaining surreal portion.

Registered on September 6, 2007, 221 Posts, 5985 Comments

Comment posted by Edward Nunez on December 25, 2010 at 10:20 PM

Fantastic!! Nothing more to add!

Registered on April 19, 2007, 65 Posts, 711 Comments

Comment posted by Ed Williams on March 19, 2018 at 2:29 PM

This is such a unique view of the ice. I love the branching nerve runners radiating away from the nucleus. Great eye to see and capture this one.

Registered on December 28, 2010, 636 Posts, 3499 Comments