It can be quite an unreal experience getting
close up to ice bergs in small boats but a really awesome if
potentially dangerous thing to do. The effect of light on and
through the ice produces a world of blues and white, the berg can
usually be seen for several metres below the water surface and there
may be icicles hanging down as here where the ice has melted in the
sun and water run across the face of the berg before freezing again.
If you ever end up in this situation, make sure you have some really
good sunglasses and a high factor sun screen for exposed flesh
(including that little bit underneath your nose!) as the reflections
and brightness especially when the sun comes out can be painfully
dazzling with no-where to look that isn't brilliantly lit.
Large irregularly shaped bergs tend to be the most
interesting to visit, but also the most dangerous and most unstable.
They will break up at some point and they will tilt and move around
a lot before settling to a new stable position. If you're in the
vicinity when this happens, you may get some big pieces of ice
dropped on you or at the very least there will be some major waves
and disturbances of the sea. Having said that I've never heard
of anyone actually being hurt in such an event - a combination of
the rarity of it happening, alertness and speed of the boatman/boat
and people just not going near big bergs very often in small boats.
Paul Ward - Pentax equipment, 50mm
lens, 35mm film, K64.
This picture may not be copied or used in any manner without
prior written permission.
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