Dynamic Equilibrium, a photo from Bern, West

Photographer's Note

The Aletsch glacier at over 23 km or so in length is the longest in Europe. Last weekend I had the incredible experience of seeing it close at hand and walking on it.

Although we think of ice as a solid, the glacier behaves like a river in slow motion. The water is in a dynamic equilibrium; some of the ice is continuously melting to water while some of the water is freezing to ice. Although it felt firm and solid under our feet, the glacier is moving continuously, and here close to Korkordiaplatz its velocity reaches about 200m per year.

This part of the glacier was relatively easy to traverse, with few crevasses. What I found most remarkable was the constant sound of rushing water, and the whole feeling of life and movement in what from a distance appeared static and frozen.

For another more distant view of the glacier which I took two years ago and looking down on it, click here

cbrman, crhieatt, TravelerNL, mirosu has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

PixelTerror (0) 2009-08-19 12:20

Salut Susanna
Ben dis donc, 200m par an... heureusement que tu cours vite ! Une image amplifiee par le grand angle et qui contribue bien a la serie rafraichissement !
Bizzz JY

cherryripe (21033) 2009-08-19 12:36

Hi Susanna
Great close-up. Looks quite scary with the rushing water - guess I don't remember too much of walking on Franz Josef Glacier in New Zealand when I was only eight. Love the depth. Did your crappy guide actually explain why the glacier is so black ?
Regards
Nikki

giorgimer (35017) 2009-08-19 13:52

Hi Susanna,

beautiful view of the glacier, good exposure management of the white

TFS

Gio

pauloog (11751) 2009-08-19 14:41

Hello Susanna,
A well choosen point of view to present the glacier with its lines streaming to terh hoirizon to encounter a beautifulo mountain panorama.
All in natural colours, a pleasure to look at.
Regards,
Paul

cbrman (21685) 2009-08-19 22:23

Hello Susanna,

Les lignes du glacier nous attire vers les montagnes de l'arrière plan, mais la rivière glacière est un peu trop pâle pour qu'elle se détache bien de l'image.
Sinon, je ne sais pas si je m'aventurerais sur ces monstres de glace. Bravo !
A+

Dominique

crhieatt (5347) 2009-08-20 9:08

Susanna,

.......and nice to see you posting!

Ok, I'm not there, but it all looks a bit scary to me - and your note does nothing to encourage the idea of walking on firm ground. Great shot though - to make me think in this way - just don't go too close to that edge. Anyway, you lived to tell the tale.

Cheers
Colin

jemaflor (147248) 2009-08-21 9:22

Salut Susanna,
c'est bien cadré avec cet avant plan et toutes ces lignes fuyantes qui donnent de la profondeur à ton image. Superbe paysage.

TravelerNL (3011) 2009-08-24 14:17

Hi Susanna,
Quite a difference from the view of 2 years ago. This is "up close and personal".
It is a very nice view you are presenting here with the ice water river in front and the mountanious background.
Well done!
Harko

mirosu (16313) 2012-01-06 5:50

Very good perspective. Well balaced within the picture frame.

Photo Information

Copyright: Susanna Leon (sleon) (9402)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-08-15
Categories: Nature
Camera: Canon EOS 500D, Canon EF-S 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS USM, Hama circular polariser
More Photo Info: view
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-08-19 12:11