Humming ice discs

Gallery: LandscapePosted January 26, 2010867 views41 comments

Hi,

this photo shows the strangest natural phenomenon I ever witnessed.
The surface of a frozen lake was covered with this strange circles (about 15 meters in diameter) with a fractal-shaped hole in the middle.
Every now and then a loud "hu-uumm" was emitted from the holes by (presumably) the pressure of the water underneath. The sound was so weird and loud that the few birds on the bare branches run away scared.

Canon Eos 30d, Ef 24-105

Ciao,
Giovanni.

Comments

41 comments

Comment posted by Ricardo La Piettra on January 26, 2010 at 10:24 AM

This is absolutely gorgeous Giovanni. Must be amazing to witness this phenomena in person. Congrats for this image, sincerely.

Registered on July 22, 2009, 62 Posts, 730 Comments

Comment posted by Greg Cope on January 26, 2010 at 10:54 AM

What a unique phenomenon! Although there seems to be a slight ccw tilt, I like how those circles are presented in this image.

Registered on January 22, 2007, 212 Posts, 2737 Comments

Comment posted by Joseph Balcken on January 26, 2010 at 11:03 AM

What a great find! Thanks for the description of the sounds...would love to have been there with you to experience it. The lrc seems a bit empty...I'm wondering if a crop from the right would strengthen the fg. I'd also suggest a cw rotation.

Registered on November 29, 2009, 48 Posts, 249 Comments

Comment posted by Jeff Hackett on January 26, 2010 at 11:04 AM

Very cool and interesting image! That must have been amazing to witness. I might try cropping of the bottom quarter and see how it feels.

Registered on March 13, 2006, 65 Posts, 1119 Comments

Comment posted by Abdullaziz Bin Ali on January 26, 2010 at 12:05 PM

I like the middle part
the colors are stunning
Lovely work

Registered on May 31, 2009, 112 Posts, 1590 Comments

Comment posted by István Pénzes on January 26, 2010 at 12:43 PM

Alien-feeling. Fantastic. Thanks for sharing.

István Pénzes
Győr, Hungary

Registered on January 12, 2010, 35 Posts, 192 Comments

Comment posted by Eva McDermott on January 26, 2010 at 12:45 PM

Fantastic abstract and interesting phenomenon Giovanni.

Registered on January 4, 2009, 1015 Posts, 13229 Comments

Comment posted by Stan Rose on January 26, 2010 at 12:47 PM

Too cool! Good thing the aliens didnt abduct you!

Registered on September 15, 2005, 836 Posts, 17099 Comments

Comment posted by Jack Brauer on January 26, 2010 at 1:01 PM

Very unique image and story! Love the color too.

Registered on September 12, 2005, 40 Posts, 627 Comments

Comment posted by Balakumar Kaushik on January 26, 2010 at 1:59 PM

Strange phenomenon indeed. Beautiful image this is. Thanks for sharing.

Registered on January 4, 2008, 98 Posts, 1403 Comments

Comment posted by Julian Barkway on January 26, 2010 at 2:32 PM

I love the ethereal beauty and downright weirdness of this. However, I think I'd be tempted to trim just a sliver off the top to remove the dark 'shadows' - presumably the far bank?

Registered on January 18, 2007, 344 Posts, 1961 Comments

Comment posted by Justin Peterson on January 26, 2010 at 2:56 PM

What an awesome shot and a truly unique experience.

Registered on January 20, 2008, 33 Posts, 298 Comments

Comment posted by Rafael Rojas on January 26, 2010 at 2:59 PM

Just phenomenal Gianni...Gorgeous image, and interesting thing about that sound. I would like to have heard that!

Registered on March 1, 2009, 56 Posts, 623 Comments

Comment posted by Floris van Breugel on January 26, 2010 at 3:14 PM

Fascinating phenomenon, sounds like an incredible experience. Lovely abstract photo too. The concentric circles are wonderful. I am undecided about the circle with the dark textures at the bottom - it adds something, but is distracting to the rest of the flow.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 306 Posts, 4840 Comments

Comment posted by Jay Nielsen on January 26, 2010 at 3:58 PM

The intense blues are absolutly gorgeous! Very interesting patterns, this is a great abstract.

Registered on October 6, 2008, 137 Posts, 720 Comments

Comment posted by Richard Hartmann on January 26, 2010 at 5:47 PM

I like everything about this shot. Nice blues, white highlights and the circle patters are wonderful. I think all of the frame is strong.

This is justification to pick up a 5dmkII and make a vid to share with us, so we could hear the sound. JK…

Registered on January 15, 2009, 13 Posts, 772 Comments

Comment posted by Harley Goldman on January 26, 2010 at 6:09 PM

Very other-worldly, with great patterns and color. Beautiful!

Registered on November 19, 2003, 586 Posts, 11271 Comments

Comment posted by Will Campbell on January 26, 2010 at 6:25 PM

Interesting. Love the tones and contrasts in this. I might be tempted to rotate counter clockwise just a bit to crop out the very ulc. Beautiful image!

Registered on July 4, 2007, 38 Posts, 281 Comments

Comment posted by Rudy Ruberti on January 26, 2010 at 7:51 PM

Beautiful blues. Love it! It almost appears to be glowing from below the ice.

Registered on October 28, 2008, 179 Posts, 1875 Comments

Comment posted by Dan Baumbach on January 26, 2010 at 9:24 PM

Beautiful image. I'd love to see it larger.

- Dan.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 473 Posts, 7980 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Smorra on January 26, 2010 at 9:33 PM

Beautiful image. I've never seen anything like it.

Registered on November 2, 2009, 161 Posts, 2143 Comments

Comment posted by Chris Chamberlain on January 26, 2010 at 11:10 PM

Unique, strange, and beautiful! I really like the blue tones, and the light .

Chris

Registered on March 13, 2007, 500 Posts, 8365 Comments

Comment posted by Dietrich Gloger on January 27, 2010 at 12:39 AM

Wow, this is outstanding. The pattern and phenomenon as such would be sufficient to keep me interested, but the way you composed and presented this shows your skills and makes it much more enjoyable.

Registered on January 26, 2007, 360 Posts, 9876 Comments

Comment posted by Stuart Williams on January 27, 2010 at 1:22 AM

i love those deep blues. wonderful - and what a phenomenon! warrants further exploration. there's a small distraction in the top left corner.

Registered on December 7, 2007, 247 Posts, 4792 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Overacker on January 27, 2010 at 2:46 AM

Giovanni,

Wow, what an incredible capture of nature at it's finest! The patterns are amazing, but I'm really curious about the spotlight effect. Is that just some snow on top of the ice, or is there some unique lighting on the scene or some sort of glow from beneath?

The description of the sounds is quite amazing, but I'm wondering if you can explain the glow?

An amazing image.

Lon

Registered on November 24, 2006, 521 Posts, 19147 Comments

Comment posted by Giovanni Allievi on January 27, 2010 at 2:55 AM

Thanks everyone for the comments.

Richard: by the time I'll get a mkII the ice will be gone forever...

Lon: I too was surprised by the glow after PP. Basically it's due to the strong contrast and a bit of soft focus applied. (no dodging & burning this time).
And...oh, yes...there was a lovely diffused light.

Thanks again!

Giovanni.

EDIT: I linked a new version based on your inputs.

Registered on March 26, 2008, 87 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Andreas Resch on January 27, 2010 at 4:31 AM

These must be the biggest sub-woofers ever. Great shot, Giovanni.

Registered on November 14, 2007, 322 Posts, 6101 Comments

Comment posted by Aaron Feinberg on January 27, 2010 at 5:35 AM

Bizarre indeed!! What caused this?? And where is that light coming from? Wicked shot

aF

Registered on October 26, 2009, 399 Posts, 2789 Comments

Comment posted by Peter Wintergren on January 27, 2010 at 9:47 AM

Interesting phenomenon and a very nice image. Love the blue colours.

Registered on January 24, 2010, 15 Posts, 174 Comments

Comment posted by Luis Argerich on January 27, 2010 at 10:21 AM

This is very unique, I haven't seen something like that before. I love the blues, the shapes and everything in this shot. Fantastic work!

Registered on December 22, 2009, 91 Posts, 1349 Comments

Comment posted by Jimmy Gekas on January 27, 2010 at 1:24 PM

As many have already said, this is quite unique and those blues are super sweet. I am really liking this and wishing I was there to witness.

Registered on July 26, 2007, 244 Posts, 2807 Comments

Comment posted by Eric Good on January 27, 2010 at 2:27 PM

Wonderful shapes and colors captured here... as well as the accompanied story. Beautiful work!

Registered on March 17, 2007, 116 Posts, 4764 Comments

Comment posted by Rajeev Thomas on January 27, 2010 at 9:22 PM

Giovanni....what an amazing image and story... love the rich blues and the unique circles... have you shot any more shots of this place? It will be so nice to see... great job!!!

Registered on February 20, 2008, 0 Posts, 291 Comments

Comment posted by Dorin Bofan on January 28, 2010 at 2:26 AM

Wonderful in every aspect, Giovanni! So abstract and surreal. Must have been an awesome experience!

Registered on April 30, 2007, 122 Posts, 3086 Comments

Comment posted by Matthew Jellings on January 28, 2010 at 5:27 PM

A very intriguing image Ciao. It has an eerie, sci-fi feel to it. The dark exposure with a few white highlights seems to bring out the landscapes geometric, sculptured beauty.

Registered on November 1, 2009, 8 Posts, 97 Comments

Comment posted by Anthony Vincent on January 28, 2010 at 6:36 PM

Wonderfully unique and captivating, Giovanni. What a phenomena to engage upon.
Beautiful

Registered on February 5, 2009, 199 Posts, 2775 Comments

Comment posted by Edwin kats on February 1, 2010 at 2:13 PM

WOW!!!!!!!

Big congrats to you. Just suprb.

Edwin Kats

Registered on April 24, 2006, 177 Posts, 399 Comments

Comment posted by SandyRichardsBrown on February 2, 2010 at 1:55 AM

Weird and beautiful!
Do you have any more info on what is going on here?
Congrats on the EP!
Sandy r

Registered on November 24, 2003, 3937 Posts, 12909 Comments

Comment posted by Giovanni Allievi on February 2, 2010 at 2:14 AM

Hi Sandy.

I made a bit of researches but didn't find any further infos: My guess is that the various holes here acted as flutes in which the trapped air was blowed through.

Thanks!

Giovanni

Registered on March 26, 2008, 87 Posts, 379 Comments

Comment posted by Angela Classen on February 8, 2010 at 5:00 PM

Simply stunning! Congrats on the EP

Registered on June 13, 2007, 434 Posts, 2742 Comments

Comment posted by Kari Post on February 14, 2010 at 8:17 PM

Very beautiful and interesting Giovanni.

Registered on January 27, 2007, 13 Posts, 195 Comments