Notes from the Woods

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Ice Globules on the Clinton River

river ice globs

Ice Globules IV IC10261

Written by Mark

Born and raised in Detroit, c. 323 ppm CO2, Mark Graf is a Michigan photographer, naturalist, and diver whose muse is summoned by exploring the endless connections in nature; land, sea, and sky.

Sunday, March 10, 2019

I find that when I am out photographing, there are certain things that tend to catch my eye. Ice globules or ice globs are one of them. I haven’t had much success in photographing them though. They may catch my eye, but they always seem just out of reach.

river icicles
Ice Globules IV over the Clinton River, Sterling Heights, MI

They are different in shape than icicles for the reason, I am guessing, that they are hanging over flowing water. In this case, I got lucky finding some within lens reach (albiet needing 500mm+) on the Clinton River near my home. Just like typical icicles, their shapes are quite varied, but I like that they get this little glob on the ends where the river occasionally reaches up to “kiss” the ice, depositing some new fresh to freeze water.

river ice formations
Ice Globules over the Clinton River, Sterling Heights, MI

The flowing river around them tends to make the shapes quite varied. Sometimes there are individuals, sometimes big groups, and everything in between. With warmer temperatures arriving this week, at least temporarily, this may have been the one and only chance to photograph them this season. Nature’s visual gifts always seem to be so fleeting.

river ice forms
Ice Globules III over the Clinton River, Sterling Heights, MI
Ice Globules II over the Clinton River, Sterling Heights, MI
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11 Comments

  1. Amy Bauer

    Mark,

    Thank you for answering something that has had me flummoxed for YEARS! I have 2 excellent photos and would love to share them with you. The globules are tear-drop shaped and as long or longer than my hand. I was able to get close enough for good pictures.

    • Mark

      Hi Amy, I’m glad this helped with the mystery!! I’d like to see the photos, sounds like you found some big ones.

  2. Monte Stevens

    Beautiful series and so unusual. I like your final statement, “Nature’s visual gifts always seem to be so fleeting.” Gonna write that one down.

    • Mark

      Well they seem to be fleeting around here. No big mountains to gaze at. 🙂

  3. Earl

    These reminded me of scenes I use to observed when living in Salisbury, NC with winter visits at a nearby dam and rocky area along the Yadkin River…except these Ice Globules appear more substantial and have been more expertly photographed. 🙂 I do like that with the dark background of the water you clearly captured and kept a feeling of movement and reflections. Nice!

    • Mark

      I did want to make sure the water was visible as moving. Thanks for noting that.

  4. lynn

    Very cool! Literally too, I guess. 🙂

  5. Stephen G Gingold

    Well, you know these are to my liking, Mark. They are such enticing bits of ice.

    • Mark

      Finally I found some like the ones you seem to find so often!

  6. Howard Grill

    So neat that you noticed them. I’m sure I would have walked right by. I love the ‘double globule’ ones.

    • Mark

      Thanks Howard