Photography can be a challenge in the winter. Finding the motivation to bundle up and head out into the freezing cold can take a lot of motivation. But, we weren’t surprised to find out that our readers aren’t afraid of low temperatures. This photo challenge demanded beautiful photos of ice and you guys totally delivered.
The results range from abstract pieces to more traditional frozen landscapes and they represent a whole variety of genres in between. The results are spectacular.
If you want to check out our current photo challenges, head on over to Our Contests Page for chances to show off your own work.
Horse
Random pictures that I almost forget, seeking in its archives something good, I ran into this picture that I really liked. It was taken on in August last year when I went with relatives in a small village near the town. Natural beauty is always a good motive and inspiration for a good photo. CAMERA: Canon EOS 650D FOCAL LENGTH: 50 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/400 sec. LENS: 18-50 mm ISO: ISO-800 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/5.6
Frozen River
Drifting ice blocks on one side and frozen blocks on the other, on a cold winter day (-30C) on the Southern Saskatchewan River. CAMERA: Nikon D40 FOCAL LENGTH: 18 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 3 s LENS: Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55 mm ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/18
Flowers and Ice
Water was frozen on a 77mm clear glass filter in a freezer. Two 160 watt mono lights were used and the filter was propped up on a table top with a C clamp. Background was a section of a color print. CAMERA: Nikon D200 FOCAL LENGTH: 150mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/60 LENS: Sigma ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 1/13
ICE AND LEAF FROST
THE FROZEN STREAM CREATED THIS LINE PATTERNS PLUS A DRIED LEAF FORMED FROST ALL OVER IT. CAMERA: CANON 50D FOCAL LENGTH: 108 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/200 LENS: 70-300 ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): E/5.6
Frozen
At -30 degree Celsius, nothing is spared from the frost, not even these frozen transmission poles that extend into the horizon.
Ice Reflections
I was at the park when I spotted this cool reflection in the stream of a tree with lights on it. CAMERA: Pentax K-3 SHUTTER SPEED: 2.5 sec LENS: 100mm ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 11
Ice
I shot this ice by a macro approach, to emphasize the ice itself.
Captured Air
I was trying to find a composition in a bunch of icicles on a bush, but it didn’t seem to work. I just couldn’t get it together. And then I noticed that some icicles had many and unusually large air bubbles in them. After experimenting for a few minutes I took this picture. CAMERA: Canon EOS 70d FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/1250 LENS: Canon macro lens ef 100/ f2.8 ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/2.8
Ice Castles
Every winter the city of Midway, UT creates Ice Castle gardens by spraying water into the air and letting it freeze into a myriad of whimsical shapes often reminiscent of stalactites. I made several trips to the Ice Castles until the light yielded the blue internal reflections I wanted. MT. Timpanogos in the background is approx. 11,700 ft in elevation and it forms the perfect backdrop for the scene CAMERA: Olympus OMD EM5 FOCAL LENGTH: 78 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/640 LENS: M-Zuiko 40-150mm ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f9
Ice Maker
As temperatures fall, the spray from a northern waterfall freezes on the shorelines and exposed rocks. Over the cold winter, the icy mantle slowly expands, covering the cascade. CAMERA: Canon EOS 50D FOCAL LENGTH: 48 mm. SHUTTER SPEED: 0.6 sec. LENS: Sigma 17-70 mm. f/2.8-4.5 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/16
Belle Isle in Winter.
Winter ice forms surround Belle Isle, Michigan. Detroit can be seen in the distance with Windsor, Canada to the left. CAMERA: Nikon D800 FOCAL LENGTH: 14 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 LENS: Nikon 14-24 ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 22
Ice Forms On Seawall
Every few years, and under certain conditions, large ice forms on the Detroit side of Lake St. Clair. The Ice is pushed onto the shore, sometimes reaching the walkways. CAMERA: Nikon D80 FOCAL LENGTH: 10 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/200 LENS: Nikon 14-24 ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 10
Frosted sides
On a very cold day, water condensation formed ice crystal along the sides of the openings in the sewer grate. CAMERA: Canon Powershot SX150 IS
Frozen in time
Cold and sunny winter day in Niagara Falls
Ice Topography
A rare frozen day on a western Washington river. CAMERA: d700
Kiss of Frost
Hoar Frost Kisses all of the Dried Vegetation making for a spectacular winter scene. CAMERA: Sony ILCE 7-R FOCAL LENGTH: 280mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/500 LENS: Tamron 18-270 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 6.3
Sunrise Frost
Frost pattern on the storm door as the sun rises behind the trees
Beached iceberg.
This is a slow-shutter capture of a wave wrapping around a beached iceberg stranded on a black sand beach of Iceland.
GOLDEN RUSH
As the weather started out bleak and unattractive, I and my tour guide kept shooting using the elements of design and dynamism to our advantage in the absence of light. But as the sun rose above the horizon, the clouds broke and gave this bright sunny light. The ice turns like a diamond shining with golden hues against the black sand. CAMERA: Canon 5D MarkIII FOCAL LENGTH: 16mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1.30 sec LENS: Canon EF 16-35 MII ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 22
Sunset Icicle prisms
Just out for my evening hike in the foothills above my home and started noticing some beautiful ice formations on the trees. I usually take my camera along so took a few photos! CAMERA: Nikon D80 FOCAL LENGTH: 270mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/3200 LENS: 70-300mm ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): 7.1
Ice – Crabapple Tango
The water appeared to be almost dancing when it froze to ice – sometimes wrapped around the crabapples and sometimes a step away. CAMERA: Fujifilm FinePix XP 200 FOCAL LENGTH: 11.8m SHUTTER SPEED: 1/480 LENS: built in ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f4.7
I Should Have Headed South
This tiny, but tough, chickadee waited patiently while I filled our bird feeder. Quite frankly I do not know how they could tolerate perching on the ice…. CAMERA: Canon 60D FOCAL LENGTH: 160mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/160 LENS: 70 – 300mm 1:4-5.6 L IS USM ISO: 125 APERTURE (F-STOP): f5.0
Turner
detritus of the wind found in a barrel CAMERA: iphone 6 FOCAL LENGTH: 4.15 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/320 LENS: Vincent ISO: 32 APERTURE (F-STOP): 2.2
Pine-cicles
Found a pine tree dripping with ice and icicles in a neighbors yard after a night ice storm. CAMERA: Canon Elan7
Lake Tanaya Ice Chunk
The road through Yosemite was open on January 7, 2012. Lake Tanaya was frozen over and there were a lot of people walking around this beautiful scene. There were a lot of ice chunks all over the lake and I got down close and put the chunk prominently in the foreground. Changed it to black and white with Nik Silver Efex. CAMERA: Olympus E-5 FOCAL LENGTH: 14 SHUTTER SPEED: 2.0 sec LENS: 12-60 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f10
Green and Blue Flowers in Ice
I froze these flowers in a pan of ice and used a $5 shop light to back light the block of ice. In Photoshop I inverted the whole image. CAMERA: Nikon D7000 FOCAL LENGTH: 70mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 LENS: Tokina ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f9
Symetry of Snow
This is a macro photograph of a single snow crystal taken on a cold and snowy morning on 01/20/2015. Taken with a Nikon D300s coupled to a 1942 AO Spencer Microscope fitted with a LOMO 4x objective. Dark field illumination was used by using an obstruction on the microscope condenser. Used Live view, zoomed in for critical focusing, but one has to work very quickly before it melts. The RAW image was, cropped, and spots cleaned up, sharpened, and converted to JPG using Nikon Capture NX2. CAMERA: Nikon D300s SHUTTER SPEED: 1/2 sec. LENS: LOMO 4x objective ISO: 200
Cold Blue Ice
This is a macro photograph of a single snow crystal taken on a cold and snowy morning on 01/20/2015. Taken with a Nikon D300s coupled to a 1942 AO Spencer Microscope fitted with a LOMO 4x objective. Light field illumination was used along with a Gel filter partially covering the cold light source. The RAW image was, cropped, and spots cleaned up, sharpened, and converted to JPG using Nikon Capture NX2. CAMERA: Nikon D300s LENS: LOMO 4x objective
Icy Sunset
On my drive home from work I was keeping an eye on the sky for the potential of a colorful sunset. I checked the tides and knew that water would be near high tide on the beach. I decided to go for it but did not expect to see the ice build up early so in the season. I decide to go with the 5 second exposure to smooth out the slight ripples in the water. CAMERA: 6d FOCAL LENGTH: 30mm SHUTTER SPEED: 5 seconds LENS: canon 17-40mm ISO: 50 APERTURE (F-STOP): f16
Ice Photo 3
photo of ice that I sculpt using salt and natural melting, and color with food coloring. Lit from behind. The area of ice photographed is approximately 2″ x 3″.
Ice Show with Red Truck
Walking through the ice sculptures in a local park, this small segment of a sculpture, with a red truck parked in back, gave new life to the intended subject. Having shot in RAW, in post, with On One Software, I added some Tone Enhancer for contrast, Color Enhancer boosted the red, vignette and sharpening. CAMERA: Canon EOS 6D FOCAL LENGTH: 92mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/320 LENS: EF24-105 L ISUSM ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f4
covered in ice
east winds covered the rocks and driftwood in a layer of ice, it seemed to make what are normally dull objects come alive with light.
Colours of the night
shapes captured on my frozen window CAMERA: Nikon FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 LENS: 50mm f1.8 ISO: 2000 APERTURE (F-STOP): 1.8
Ice at twilight
I’ve been catching twilight on Blue Mesa reservoir for a few nights now and cleared snow off some broken ice (see other picture). I saw this piece and was able to pick it up and set it on edge. I love the wholes and shapes of this piece and how the light bends through it. CAMERA: nikon d810 FOCAL LENGTH: 14mm SHUTTER SPEED: 30 sec LENS: 14-24mm f2.8 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 7.1
Beach Ice
January morning which was very stormy and windy, but the weather broke for about 45 minutes this particular morning when the sun peaked out. CAMERA: Nikon D90 FOCAL LENGTH: 33mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/5 sec LENS: Nikon 28-55mm ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f11
Playing with Fire
Ice and reflections of morning sun on red canyon walls on South Boulder Creek. CAMERA: Nikon D 800 FOCAL LENGTH: 300MM LENS: Sigma 70-300 Macro Zoom APERTURE (F-STOP): f/32
reflection of an iceberg.
This picture was taken when i was on holiday in Iceland. And we came across these deserted icebergs that look like they have been sculpted to perfection. in this shot i included the reflection in the water to create attention to the dramatic angles, the reflection also shows how crystal clear the water is. CAMERA: Nikon d3200 FOCAL LENGTH: 300mm LENS: AF NIKKOR 70-3000mm ISO: 3.6 APERTURE (F-STOP): 5.6
Tunnel of Light in a Dark Ice Cave
I was walking ahead of my wife in a fairly dim ice cave. When I looked back waiting for her, the light from a small opening above lit her up (I was SO excited). We want back and posed looking up at the light and I took this picture using a tripod and remote trigger. It looks super on my metal print from Adoramapix! CAMERA: D4 FOCAL LENGTH: 24mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/2 second LENS: Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): F6.3
EARTH, ICE & FIRE
It was the wee hour of the morning at this fascinating place in ice beach Jokulsarlon during my first visit in Iceland recently. I waited for the colors developing and the surge of the wave crushing the iceberg to get the right shot. It took me several shots to get this, but it was worth it. CAMERA: Canon 5D MarkIII FOCAL LENGTH: 16mm SHUTTER SPEED: .80 sec LENS: Canon EF 16-35 MII ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/16
Ice Snow and Sky
This was sunset over a frozen lake. I liked the way the windswept lines in the snow lead into the sunset. CAMERA: Nikon FOCAL LENGTH: 23mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/125 LENS: 16-35 f/4 ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/9
Fortes of Solitude
Every year Ice Castles, Inc constructs a massive Ice Castle in Midway, Utah. It is an incredible sight. It has become a popular place for portrait photographers due to the unique and beautiful backdrop. I shot this shot just after sunset. 3 bracketed shots, merged in Photomatix with color correction in CS6 CAMERA: D800 FOCAL LENGTH: 14 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/30 LENS: 14-24 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 16
Drifts & Spires
Big Falls in Winter at Big Falls County Park, Eau Claire County, WI CAMERA: Wisner Expedition 4×5 FOCAL LENGTH: 210 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/4 sec LENS: Schneider ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): 32 2/3
Blue frost
I bring my camera everywhere I go and I was glad I did that time. I could not resist capturing this beautiful frost pattern while waiting at my doctor’s office. I probably looked pretty weird to other patients in the waiting room but but that was okay with me. It was not the first time and will not be the last either. CAMERA: Nikon D7000 FOCAL LENGTH: 105 mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/500 sec. LENS: Nikon 105 mm ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/9
Ice Crystals
Winter ice crystals on Connecticut window. CAMERA: Nikon F3 FOCAL LENGTH: 50 mm macro SHUTTER SPEED: 1/30th LENS: 50 mm macro ISO: Fugi Velvia APERTURE (F-STOP): f11
Ice Eagle
Ice sculpture at Sleepy Hollow Country Club, NY. CAMERA: Nikon F4 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 LENS: 105mm ISO: Fugi 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f8
Victorian Wonderland
Fresh snowfall with ice on trees surrounding Victorian estate in Connecticut CAMERA: Nikon F4 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/250 LENS: 28mm ISO: Fugi Velvia APERTURE (F-STOP): f8
Winters Story
My daughter with Teddy in the cold but not for long, just to get a couple of shots. First cold spell of the new year with frost on the ground. CAMERA: Canon 5D mk3 FOCAL LENGTH: 135mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/640 LENS: 135mm F2 ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): F2
Icy Snow Flake
I captured this on my first DSLR Pentax KR with a man 50mm prime lens and a set of extension tubes & a reversal ring It is taken in daylight outside but lit with a flashgun camera left, the reversal, and extension tubes+ narrow (f16) aperture to get enough in focus caused daylight not to register at all in the exposure! I had to rush as the snow kept melting when I caught it on the black card, so I put the card in the freezer for 30mins CAMERA: Pentax KR FOCAL LENGTH: 50mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/180 LENS: Pentax A 50mm f2.0 ISO: 800 APERTURE (F-STOP): f16
Sunrise
Chicago on a frozen winter morning. CAMERA: Nikon D810 FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm SHUTTER SPEED: 13s LENS: 17-35mm F2.8 ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): 8
Icefalls
This is Indian Falls, Owen Sound, Ontario. The weather was crazy cold. Everything got frozen but it was so beautiful. CAMERA: nikon coolpix 510 FOCAL LENGTH: 28mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/320 LENS: hybrid ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): 3.1
Reflection Lakes Ice
During a cold spell in the Northwest, I traveled to Reflection Lakes. The road was closed, requiring a short 2 mile hike into the lake. The ice was prominent because of the cold temperatures, and lack of snow. My shot included Mt Rainier in the background. CAMERA: D800 FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/40 LENS: 17-35mm ISO: 50 APERTURE (F-STOP): 11
Perito Moreno Glacier
Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina CAMERA: Canon FOCAL LENGTH: 100mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/1250 LENS: Canon APERTURE (F-STOP): F/5.6
Multnomah Falls
This photo was taken on a very cold day at the base of Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. CAMERA: Nikon D 7100 FOCAL LENGTH: 24 mm. SHUTTER SPEED: 1/3 LENS: Nikkor Zoom (18-200mm.) ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 16
Lower Multnomah Falls
This photo was taken on a very cold day at the base of Multnomah Falls in the Columbia Gorge in Oregon. CAMERA: Nikon D 300 FOCAL LENGTH: 95 mm. SHUTTER SPEED: 1/2 LENS: Nikkor Zoom (18-200) ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 22
Hewitt Park Sunset Panorama
Ice on the shore of Brownlee Resovoire CAMERA: Canon XSi FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/4 sec LENS: 11-17 ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f16
Frozen In Time
This is an old house that was the home of a famous Korean Scholar. Young people from all over Korea would come here to study under his tutelage. It is located adjacent to an old Buddhist Temple called UamSa in Daejeon Korea. I took this shot in early afternoon light so there are very little shadows. The breaks in the thin ice on the pond are caused by ice falling from the tree branches. CAMERA: Nikon D700 FOCAL LENGTH: 18mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/160s LENS: Nikkor 18-35mm ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): f6.3
Fencing Mountains
A photo of a fence leading to the frozen mountains in the distance. CAMERA: SLT-A58 FOCAL LENGTH: f/18 SHUTTER SPEED: 1/50s LENS: 18-55mm ISO: 100 APERTURE (F-STOP): f/11
Salt vs Ice
Shooting the black sand beach off Jokulsarlon in southern Iceland, I was trying to get some photos of waves breaking on the chunks of glacial ice. In this photo I really liked how the wave almost looks like it has little faces in it’s motion, coming for the ice. CAMERA: Canon 6d FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/5 sec LENS: canon ef 17-40mm ISO: 400 APERTURE (F-STOP): 22
Lori & Ice
My wife Lori posing behind a piece of ice. I just had my G9 in my pocket as we were just out for a stroll in the woods. I did not have my DSLR because we were just out for a stroll. CAMERA: Canon Powershot G9 FOCAL LENGTH: 18mm SHUTTER SPEED: 1/100 ISO: 80 APERTURE (F-STOP): 3.5
High Falls
When hiking up to the falls the weather was so miserable I contemplated turning around but I persisted and when I finally saw the vista that opened up before me I had to try capturing it no matter what the conditions. This certainly was not an easy photo to take; long exposure in drizzling rain and mist coming off the falls and having to clean the front element and the ND filter while lying in mud proved challenging. CAMERA: Canon EOS 6D FOCAL LENGTH: 17mm SHUTTER SPEED: 44 seconds LENS: Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM ISO: 200 APERTURE (F-STOP): 13
