Birefringent Ice

This macro image of a thin sheet of ice is formed by created by using a polarizing filter on the lens and using a polarizing gel/filter on the light source. The ice is on a sheet of Plexiglas or glass, and the light source is positioned under the sheet of glass. This produces a spectral effect called birefringence. The bubble like inclusions in the image are bubbles of water, or in some cases air, that appear in the ice as it begins to melt.