Photographing ice is like photographing glass

[Mike Buckley]

We had an ice storm on Monday in our area and my home was without electricity. So, I used the kind that is stored in batteries to power my camera and speed light.

I grabbed some attractive clippings from my yard that were drenched in ice and took them into my makeshift studio. I used the same setup that I use to photograph clear glass with a dark background. That's because clear glass and ice have the same photographic properties. The only difference in my setup when photographing the clippings is that I used a speed light instead of continuous light. Fortunately, continuous light is unnecessary when photographing ice on clippings because it is also impossible without electricity.


Crepe Myrtle

[Polar01]

And who said that Ice Storms are a bad thing. Very nice work, up here north of Lake Ontario we got nothing.

Cheers: Allan

[deetheturk]

Another nice image Mike,i like this!

David

[ShaneS]

Nice image Mike and way to make the best of a power outage - I can just picture you in your parka as your set up and took this shot

[Stagecoach]

A novel idea Mike and well executed. Something I will certainly never get a chance of attempting here.

Grahame

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you everyone!

[Mike Buckley]

I can just picture you in your parka as you set up and took this shot

I was going to let that go but I just can't. It's a little bit eery to realize that Shane knew from about 7000 miles away that I was wearing a parka.

As for the setup, I spent about 30 minutes just trying to figure out how I could hold the clippings in place in my makeshift studio. After awhile, I realized that the box that stores our battery-powered radio that we keep for when the electricity goes out has foam in it. That would have worked out great, especially for the divorce lawyer my wife would have hired if I had used it.

I thought of the miscellaneous, inexpensive items I had bought that would have worked that are expected to arrive Wednesday, two days too late.

Finally, I came up with the idea of using a wine box that had held four bottles. (The source of solutions in my household is almost always wine. ) I cut a hole in the box at its base that allowed me to securely clamp it to a tabletop. I then cut a hole in the opposite side just barely large enough to insert the clipping.

The problem then was that the weight of the clipping dragged it downward, whereas I needed it to remain horizontal to the floor. I then found a bag of potting rocks and cut a hole in the top of the bag. I put that bag inside the box and inserted the end of the clipping through the hole. The weight of the bag on that end of the clipping ensured that the rest of the clipping was properly positioned.

When I first started equipping my makeshift studio, I asked a very helpful salesman what I should know that I wouldn't know to ask about. He said the key to every good studio, especially a makeshift studio, is to always be thinking about how to jerry rig whatever is needed when the ideal equipment is not immediately at hand, which is almost always.

[chauncey]

Hey Mike, as an FTI thing, trees with an ice/rime coating make a great image with the sum glowing thru.

[Mike Buckley]

Hey Mike, as an FTI thing, trees with an ice/rime coating make a great image with the sun glowing thru.

So true! Unfortunately, the cloud cover that existed all day long prevented making that style of photo and I knew the ice would mostly or entirely melt before I had a chance of seeing any direct sunshine.

[Wavelength]

Awesome

[mknittle]

Nandakumar pretty much summed it up. I cannot add to that!

[Digital]

Mike, very nice capture.



Bruce

[ShaneS]

No electricity and an icy branch it wasn't hard to imagine that it would be cold in your house and as a result you might need to be wearing something other than a t-shirt Mike. I'm actually surprised that your wife let you open the door long enough for you to retrieve the branch given the heat that would escape your home while doing so

Hope that the big storm we are hearing about hasn't caused you any more trouble and that you are warm and cozy inside a home with electricity as I type.

[Mike Buckley]

Thank you everyone!

My wife wasn't home, Shane. She was warm at her heated office. We were without electricity only for the one day and the temperature was not frigid. Better yet, we have radiant heat in most of our floors, so it keeps on heating even when the boiler turns off. Fortunately, there was no heat in my makeshift studio; I wouldn't have wanted the ice to melt.

[Marie Hass]

Nice, Mike.

Serves as a tutorial for me. Good to know I can inspire you.


_MG_4352msized by mariehass, on Flickr

For William.

[Mike Buckley]

You had that glorious sunlight, Marie. Perhaps I should have put a warm gel on my speed light. I didn't even think of doing that. This reminds me that I should look into purchasing some gels.

Consider removing the out-of-focus ice in the bottom right area. It's a distraction for me.

[Marie Hass]

Mike, I took this picture set almost 2 years ago - January 22, 2012. Based on your comment, and what I know now, I feel much more confident that I can make the needed edits to make these pictures shine. I did not mean to hijack your thread. . I wonder if you used some strong side/backlighting and smaller aperture if you could create the sun effect? Also add a warm filter layer in PP. Hmmmmm.....now you've got me thinking.

Marie