Plymouth ICE Spectacular

Though I was quite ill (and still am, though it's getting better), I make it out to visit my friend Spencer in Michigan this weekend. We stopped by Plymouth to check out the annual Ice Carving Festival - it was packed with spectators!

Had I not felt sick I may have petitioned to return in the evening so that we could take advantage of the colored lights that would be lit. With gray overcast skies, it was very difficult to get any separation or detail in the sculptures - you're essentially photographing something that is a translucent milky gray color against a backdrop of white snow and nearly white sky... Yea - color would help big time!

Attempting to overcome the gray factor, I chose to shoot primarily with my 100mm lens and fill the frame with detail - either just the ice or of a specific activity. Then, in Lightroom I used a healthy amount of Clarity and Vibrance to make the detail ice come through. Here are a few of my favorites; you can view the full gallery here: Plymouth Ice Carving Pictures

Fingernail in ice

Shaving a Pineapple

Attaching Antennae

Snowman in ice