A Winter Chill

Article & Images by C. A. Linder

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I gazed out over a sea of white. The wind tore across the ice, whirling the loose snow into miniature tornadoes. The sun, barely above the horizon, etched long peach and magenta lines into the icescape. With each gust that threatened to take my breath away, the beauty of the scene restored it. I could have been standing on Point Barrow, Alaska, gazing out on the Arctic Ocean. I was on Cape Cod Massachusetts, and the ocean was frozen.

The winter of 2004 was one New Englanders will not soon forget. A week of subfreezing temperatures caused sea ice to form in coastal waters from Maine to New York. January 2004 was the coldest January ever recorded, according to Boston area weather data spanning the past 111 years. On Cape Cod, icebreakers plied the waters of Buzzard’s Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket Sound, struggling to keep supplies flowing to the islands. Ferry service to Nantucket Island was frequently interrupted due to ice choking the harbor. Conditions were truly arctic and unbelievably beautiful.

The simplicity of sea ice is stunning. It looks as if a giant white blanket has been draped over the ocean. The rhythmic crashing of the waves is stilled; the only sound you hear is the tinkling of ice being swept along with the wind. The rise and fall of the tide continues unseen, causing the ice to pile up in huge hummocks along the shoreline. Currents grind the floes into one another with great force, making long cracks and furrows. Looking even closer at the individual floes, you can find incredible patterns and shapes. The photographic possibilities are limitless, since the ice changes character with each new winter day. If we are fortunate enough to see sea ice again this winter, these recommendations will help you make the most of this incredible photographic opportunity.

First, you need to find sea ice that is well lit by a rising or setting sun. These images were made on the Cape Cod shore of Buzzard’s Bay looking west—a rare opportunity in New England since most of our coastline faces the rising sun. I advise arriving at your location an hour or two before sunset (or just before sunrise). Begin by walking around without your camera (be careful not to walk too far out if you are unsure of how thick the ice is). Remember where you encountered photogenic cracks, hummocks, and other features. Roughly a half-hour before sunset, if the skyline is clear the light will start to turn “magic.” Reflecting the warm hues of the low–angle light, ice can take on orange, pink, or even purple tints. Look for side lighting, which makes long shadows over the ridges and cracks and gives icescape photographs needed depth and scale. Filters are seldom needed. Visibility is typically excellent on really cold winter days, since northerly winds from Canada bring dry continental polar air masses. I generally recommend not using a polarizing filter on blue-sky winter days—it can render those perfect blue skies a garish purple–black.

Now that you have scouted the perfect location and the light is cooperating, you can start shooting. At first glance, you might only consider an establishing photo of the expanse of ice lit by the setting sun. Look closer, though, and a whole new world unfolds. Sea ice presents a perfect environment for “intimate landscape” shots. Strong lines formed by cracks and subtle colors that reflect the sky above can be worked into exciting geometric compositions. Abstract images abound in the ice. Well placed leading lines will carry your viewer’s eye through the frame. You can give your photos depth by using a wide angle lens and angling it downward, this technique will place emphasis on the foreground and invite the viewer to walk right into the frame. Try a variety of focal lengths, especially long lenses. My favorite landscape lens is an 80–200 mm zoom since it can “extract” the details that first caught your eye. One final tip: after the sun falls below the horizon, wait at least another half-hour before packing up your tripod. Some of the most amazing light appears just after sunset.

The biggest practical factor affecting icescape image–making is personal comfort. The wind, sweeping unabated across the flat sea surface, can suck all warmth from you body in moments. Keeping the creative juices flowing is definitely hard when they’re frozen solid! The key to maintaining your core temperature is to overdress for the conditions (at least 5 or 6 layers) and to keep your extremities warm and nimble. The ambient temperature was frequently in the single digits (with the wind gusting up to 30mph) when I made these images. My typical layering solution was: fleece hat, balaclava, windproof gloves, two polypro shirts, fleece pullover, down coat, shell jacket, polypro long underwear bottoms, nylon hiking pants, shell pants, and insulated winter boots. The polypro layers provide a first line of protection and wick away any sweat that you may work up. The fleece pullover and down coat provide the loft necessary to trap your body’s heat. The final layer, a waterproof jacket/pants combination, keeps the wind from stealing that hard earned warmth. Winter cloths keep you warm by trapping body heat. If your core is warm, then the blood keeps flowing to your extremities. When you are ready to start shooting, minimize the time actually touching the camera and tripod – every time you do, you are robbing your fingers of warmth. Wearing “windproof” liner gloves generally meant that I could shoot from about 15 minutes while maintaining feeling in my fingers. Keep your hands safely tucked away until you are ready to make an image. It helps to have a roll of film (or flash card) preloaded before you go outside as well—loading film with gloves on is no easy feat. If you’re comfortable, you can really focus on making exciting images of the sea ice.

The allure of a frozen ocean is difficult to explain. Seeing the familiar turned into the otherworldly is an experience that must be seen to be believed. When those cold northern winds rattle your windows this winter, pack up your camera bag. A taste of the Arctic may be waiting outside.

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