VN #081: Aerial Perspectives 4 ~ Glaciers
Published: July 20, 2025

 

Glaciers

Recently, I curated my entire collection of aerial images, most of which I made while photographing my book Flyover: British Columbia’s Cariboo Chilcotin Coast. As a result, I have created a selection of Visual Narratives to share my favourite images which describe the various aspects of the central British Columbia landscape from the air. They show the regions unimaginable diversity and spectacular beauty.

 

Glaciers:

Silverthrone Glacier

In this image, the Silverthrone glacier (right) is merging with the Klinaklini glacier (left). Together they are part of the Heitskuk Icefield, the largest icefield in the Coast Mountains south of the Alaska Panhandle. The dark lines are medial moraines comprised of rocks and debris which have been carved out of mountains as the glacier moves down-slope.

Crevasses

When the rock bed under the glacier drops in elevation, like a waterfall, the glacial ice fractures as it, too, drops over the cliff. These fractures are called crevasses.  From an artistic perspective, the contrasting crevasse lines create rhythmic abstract patterns resulting in powerful compositions.

 

Glacial Ogives

Interesting: I had never seen a glacier like this and I had no idea how they were formed. Recently, I asked my good friend Ian Mitchell, a lifelong geologist, for his thoughts. To paraphrase, Ian said that this is a “textbook example of glacial Ogives; not only aesthetically extraordinary, but scientifically intriguing as well. These ‘waves’ form at the foot of icefalls where the ice is moving fastest. Each pair of light and dark ice bands represent a year of growth”.  Amazing!

A flow of pink.

I remember this visual well. On top of the rhythmic black and white patterns of the glacier, lay a colourful remnant which spoke about a very different narrative to that of the glacier. Earlier that year a snow avalanche slid down the mountainside and spilled out over the glacier. As the summer temperatures melted the avalanche, the characteristic algae in the snow blossomed into this beautiful colour of pink.

Shadow and light

I couldn’t have been more excited as I flew over this mountain ridge. With artistic intent, I studied the dramatic tension created by directional light and purposefully made photographs.

Revealing crevasses

When flying over mountain glaciers and photographing their powerful narrative, I am always filled with emotion.  Flashing back to the late 1970’s and early 1980’s when I was a mountaineer and guide, I remembered the emotional content of each step; always wondering if a crevasse would suddenly reveal itself.

All of us at Chris Harris Photography thank you for your subscriber support!

Check out my Portfolio’s
Visit Exhibitions
Subscribe to my Newsletters
Subscribe to Visual Narratives