I received a text from a photographer friend of mine who had recently done a photo shoot up in Meaford. He told me that a rare phenomenon was happening in the harbour – Blue Ice. So you know I had to get my butt up there stat.
I found this shipwreck in the parking lot of the lunch place. Okay, it’s not really a shipwreck – just a boat someone put there cause it looked cool. Anyhoo, after some grub, I headed to the waterfront.
So here is what happens according to science: Blue ice is formed when there is a lack of bubbles inside the ice and the ice is dense and thick. It also absorbs blue wavelengths which means when the light is reflected from the ice it appears to be blue. Regular white ice has bubbles inside and absorbs all the colour wavelengths which give it an appearance of white or clear.
Okay here’s an interesting side note: When scuba diving the last colour wavelength to disappear before total darkness descends upon you is blue. Red is the first to go.
Moving on
The light was a little harsh for photos and every time the sun hid behind some clouds all the blue went away and things looked dreary. I did meet some nice people out on the beach photographing the ice but eventually the cold and lack of ideas on how to shoot this called me back to the car. I mean really? All this great ice and nothing was inspiring for me? I really wanted this to work but I got nada.
So instead I give you Ye Ole Door instead. Talk about inspiration dying a slow death. Argh – some days just suck.
