the Antarctic Archive? I was looking forward to the remarks surrounding this incredible ice berg. The remarks on the video kind of all ran together in an excited jumble of sound, got any stories to share, Michael?

Bill in WV

Yes indeed. Inquiring minds want to know. At the moment, the link "Read about the making of this photograph ..." sends you to the Lion's Mane Medusa (which is a nice image, but doesn't tell me about Ice Columns).

Pretty please?

It was a very interesting iceberg:

(photos with little post-processing, and underexposed below):





We took the zodiacs in 360 degree loops all around the icebergs -- many of expected to see plywood and 2x4's on the back side as they looked so perfect as to be props in a movie or something, but we found there was no facade and they had somehow ended up formed like that.

Wacky, eh?

My description is now online. I forgot to upload it.

Michael

Obviously computer-generated f/x. ;-)

Did you guys have any idea you were going to see something like this, or did it simply present itself to your wondering eyes?

EDIT: Well now having read Michael's write-up I see that they did literally loom before you as a happy surprise. I was equally surprised to read of their scale, which is not readily apparent from the photos. I would like to see some with a zodiac proceeding humbly thru the arch...

Nill
~~
www.toulme.net

Michael or Bill, (That would be the CatOne Bill),

Do you have any estimate of the length of that face or even the distance around it? As the Zodiac approached it, in the video, one gets an idea of the height and size of the columns, but I have to assume there was some massive amount of ice to keep it upright like that. 50 or 60 feet out of the water means what? 450 to 500 feet of ice beneath the surface? Unless it was aground.

I can't begin to imagine what a trip like that must be like. I keep putting $5 to $10 a week into my travel fund, but they haven't drawn my number yet. But I think I can manage another trip to Toronto for your opening, Michael, so I hope you'll be ready for a bunch of what may seem like silly questions, but we really enjoyed your last show and the prints on the wall are such an experience to see, we've made the time to return. Betty and I will see you in May.

Bill in WV
Bill Evans

The 12 peson Zodiac fit into the arch with room on either side...so I would guess the width at maybe 8-10 feet...that would put the overall length at 75-100 feet (guess). Also note that this colum was first seen by us on the backside..the colum was connected underwater to another large iceberg which was at least as large as the column side. So, the entire iceberg was very large...

The only reason we could even approach this berg as close as we could was that it was grounded...meaning we didn't have to worry about it capsizing-a real worry since you never know when they will flip in open water.

Thanks for all the updates Michael, CatOne and Jeff. Now my lust for details is satisfied (but oh how I wish I could have been there with youse guys. )

So did anyone get a snap of Charlton Heston riding through the grand arch in his Roman chariot?

Eric

I'd say it was longer than that -- it was pretty big so I'm saying at least 50 meters long (so 150 feet). Each of those columns was probably 2-3 feet wide?

This iceberg was grounded -- it didn't extend hundreds of feet below the surface. The water in this area was quite shallow -- the water is so clear it's tough to know for sure but I would say between 15 and 30 feet deep.

This whole area was quite amazing... there were thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of icebergs all localized in the same area. In fact, they took us to this exact location because of this fact -- it being a shallow area icebergs tend to drift in and get wedged and stay until they melt away... hence its name the "iceberg graveyard."

Truly a fantastic place.

Update... I knew I took some shots of that 'berg with a Zodiac in them for scale... here's one:



So each of those structures is substantially larger than a person.

Bill, as I look at your shot, I'm inclined to agree that I underestimated the overall length (and height)...but that led me to go back to my shots and look...I've uploaded a Flash gallery of the entire iceberg including the side with the seal on it. These are all shot in order of our circling the iceberg...is that you guys in the "other" Zodiac in my last shot? You'll notice the base that connects the iceberg is huge. When we came around and shot in the arch before seeing the columns we thought it was way cool. When we saw the columns, we were blown away.

Here's my gallery: The Columns (warning, you need the latest Flash player and the previews are large so it sucks bandwidth).

P.S. Bill, is that us in YOUR shot? :~)

P.P.S. Usually, I wouldn't show pretty much an entire take of a location (I only edited out duplicate shots) but this place was really magical and though interested people would get a kick out of it.

P.P.P.S. This isn't intended in any way to take away from Micheal's shot which stands on its own...just a series to show the whole thing.

P.P.P.P.S. You can also catch a glimpse of tis iceberg in our video located at: Lightroom in Antarctica (the top video)

Not sure if it's you in the shot... it's tough to tell from looking. I have another shot which is a bit larger and I can see that it's Christian driving the zodiac... he's the only one I can make out so I guess you have to recall who was your zodiac driver that day.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S. I don't have that many P.S. but I had to "one up you" in suffixes if I couldn't in photos :-)

"Magical" is the right word for it. Thank you so much, Jeff, for sharing the whole series with us!

Jeff,

Thank you for the flash gallery, it really helped with the perspective problem we poor unfortunates who had to remain behind were having. What an incredible experience you all must have had. Now, I'm waiting for your Rebel snapshots of the trip and whatever other antics must have taken place. I've been through everything on your website and the photoshop news site so far, and watched that video at least a dozen times. It's worth it just to watch Seth go swimming, and watch that poor penquin committing "Penguicide."

I'll also be watching for more motorcycle stories, I spend about as much time looking at and watching for more of your adventures with that little Rebel xt as just about anything else on the web. Thanks so much for so much crazyness.

And to all the other photographers who were with you and Michael and who have posted and shared their wonderful photographs of the trip, thank you also.

Bill Evans aka Bill in WV

Kind of reminds me of the moon landing... papier maché? (Sorry, can't do all the accents on my machine.)

Rob C

No accents missing here.

It would be interesting to reproduce such patterns by simulation.

I have no problem understanding how the vertical erosion took place, but I am not sure what phenomenon would cause the appearance of holes so regularly spaced in the ice.

Just a guess, but the interaction between wind/water and an initially flat surface can cause regular patterns to appear, look at the patterns in sand on a beach, or at dunes for instance. My guess would be that the persistence of regular wind patterns for years has resulted in the thinning of the wall in regularly spaced locations. At a certain point of time, the thining of the wall reach such a depth that holes started to appear.

Another option would be some sort of UFO landing thousands of years ago.

Cheers,
Bernard

UFO landings.

Now that's a thread worthy of the post-digital age!

Ciao - accentless Rob C