Caught In The Act

An unprecedented experiment in time-lapse photography reveals how quickly glaciers are melting around the world

By Kim Castleberry, Photography By James Balog

Labels: Locations

This Article Features Photo Zoom

Above: An EIS team member gives a sense of scale on the massive Svínafellsjökull Glacier in Iceland. Through his own unique lens and that of 26 other time-lapse Nikon D200 cameras, James Balog is using his innovative Extreme Ice Survey (EIS) to document the short-term, rapid changes in glaciers caused by global warming.This is the most wide-ranging study of glaciers ever conducted using ground-based, real-time photography. Chosen for their scientific value, representation of regional conditions, ease of access and photogenic quality, glaciers in Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, the Rockies and the Alps, among other locations, are the focus of the project.

On glaciers across the northern hemisphere, a couple dozen solar-powered cameras are shooting once an hour for every daylight hour, capturing the ice as it melts in real time. This is a phenomenon often discussed but rarely seen, and perhaps never before in this way. When culled together, these hour-to-hour frames compose dramatic time-lapse image sequences showing that glaciers everywhere are disappearing fast.

In 2006, celebrated nature photojournalist James Balog launched the Extreme Ice Survey (EIS). Twenty-six cameras stationed at glaciers in Greenland, Iceland, Alaska, the Rockies and the Alps, among other locations, will produce more than 300,000 images to be analyzed, stitched and edited together. The resulting time-lapse videos will show landscapes that are radically changing, sometimes over the course of just a few months. While the notion that glaciers are melting as a result of global warming is nothing new, seeing the speed at which it’s happening is remarkable.

“What is simply mind-boggling is the wholesale destruction of these creatures in such a short period of time,” says Balog of the melting glaciers. “It’s just staggering, and this project is an attempt to radically alter how the public perceives global warming.”

Back in 2006, Balog had just spent much of the previous two years working on assignments for The New Yorker and National Geographic that examined the effect of climate change on glaciers around the world. What he saw were surprising amounts of ice vanishing at an astounding speed, like 245 feet over seven months in Iceland. Balog, who has studied glaciers and alpine environments on and off for most of his life, had never thought change of that magnitude was possible in such a short time frame. Right then, he began devising EIS.

“I had always approached glaciers as scenic places. With The New Yorker assignment, I was looking at them within the context of climate change and I had to photographically think about glaciers in a way that I hadn’t before,” he explains. “But I’m still trying to evoke the personality, beauty and grandeur of these places in a way that pushes boundaries and breaks traditions. The photographs are still hung on all of the usual elements of beauty, light, color and composition.”

A scientist-turned-photographer, Balog has a degree in geomorphology, the study of landforms and the processes that shape them. His photographic ambition grew out of the climbing trips he took as a student on the East Coast, his camera skills developing as he went on to scale the Alps, the Himalayas and the Rockies. The combination of his analytical scientific background and artistic eye is why he’s known for breaking new ground with his images.

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Michael makes this comment

Thursday, 05 March 2009

One more thing....the earth isn't 4.54 billion years old. I find it weird that people even think that. Most scientist cant even account for 10% of the time frame they follow. Humans evolved from a fish, 30 million years later we left the tree?? What about all the time in between?? Serious you cant account for 30 millions years!! And please dont pull carbon dating out of your hat. No reasonable person would trust such a system. The guy that invented even said it's flawed!! Thats a fact!!
Michael makes this comment

Thursday, 05 March 2009

Global warming is alot like evolution....it's a theory. It cant be proven that humans are the direct cause of the earths warming. It cant and if you think that we are than your nuts. So how did all that ice melt from the last ice age. Did the earth warm up? We could assume that it did. But you cant explain that to a earth muffin. Maybe the ice age ended because caveman were driving Hummers insured by geico? I would call this article "Caught Up In The Crap"
David makes this comment

Sunday, 01 March 2009

I am not saying that the people of this planet have not done damage to the environment, because I know we have. I do however, beleive that the earth is in a natural cycle and it will heal itself through its natural evolution. I certainly hope that the "Science Teacher" does not teach my child with all that anger. We should be better than that and learn to treat each other with a little more respect. If you cant set an example in yourself and be a little more respectful to other peoples beliefs then how do you exspect to save the world from what you believe is happening?
Old Lady makes this comment

Thursday, 26 February 2009

No matter what your beliefs you have to think about how we are treating our planet. You certainly would not let you house run down to the point it was toxic. If we all just give up one bad habit a year our children will see that we care. We have to be good examples in their lives. Besides even IF we are not causing this and it is natural we will be bettering ourselves. And the name calling and verbal abuse I have just read here is appauling! "If you can't say anything nice please don't say anything at all" (the earth is about 4.54 billion years old)
Science Teacher makes this comment

Friday, 20 February 2009

re: Brian's comment pt 2 You are alive because a scientist somewhere working in a lab all night to find a cure for a disease to save your pathetic, useless, fundamentalist life. Instead of being reverent, or at least appreciative, you criticize a body of knowledge that is probably responsible for you and millions of others being alive. Consider this the next time you or a family member becomes ill. So, just say thank you.
Science Teacher makes this comment

Friday, 20 February 2009

Re: Brian makes this comment Like Sarah Palin, GW Bush and Michelle Bachmann, only a creationist moron believes that the Earth is only 10 thousand years old Brian. Apparently you can't think beyond your own pathetic uneducated life and possibly consider what the future may be like for our children. You, and others, hate science because you, like many contemporary secondary students, are either lazy or can't think for yourself because you squander your time and energy in front of a TV or video game .... OR listen to other uneducated idiots on reactionary talk radio where you will find other dumb clones of the same ilk.. Consider sterilization because American schools already have enough consumptive idiots with no future without you contributing to the problem.
CoGenT makes this comment

Friday, 20 February 2009

The globe has been warming for 10,000 years... and if you want to do "something about it" I'd suggest plugging volcanoes and fixing the sun spots. Oh, and Algore is NOT a climatologist. He's a politician in a bad suit.
dean makes this comment

Friday, 20 February 2009

and what exactly are your credentials HAROLD? Like Rush Limbaugh, you probably dropped out of college after one semester. And, I don't know of a single climatologist who would agree with Rush Limbaugh......get an education.
Harold makes this comment

Friday, 20 February 2009

ALL glaciers melt sooner or later. If it wasn't for climate change we would still be locked in the ice age. Climate change is natural. Wake up, you global warming nuts!
Jim Markle makes this comment

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Thank you James Balog and everyone concerned about environmental issues; let's continue to educate the world and to encourage others to do their part to preserve it. Regarding Joe's comment, I'm sorry he feels like an innocent bystander. Yes, our planet is going through climate change, just as is has for hundreds of millions of years. We live in a dynamic environment, one that is constantly changing. In fact, we've seen evidence of environmental recovery throughout history. Unfortunately, the situation has changed. Given the tremendous increase in population and the growing demand for resources worldwide, our environment is being damaged at a much faster rate. Perhaps people like Joe, should pay the price for their complacency and their self-centered nature. May I suggest some globally warm Koolaid from Jonestown!
Ernesto makes this comment

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Wow I suppose Joe and Rita don't understand that people need to see that there are major climate changes happening and that we should invest in doing something about it. I suppose they are OK with sitting around and waiting to see what happens. Do we really want to take that Risk? Balog is trying to educate people and show them the beauty of these shrinking portions of our planet's balance. I suppose also that they are willing to put aside scientific evidence and call people doomsayers instead of accepting that they might have a point. Sorry the world is not black or white and yes Balog is expanding his carbon footprint but hopefully he'll be doing some carbon trading by convincing more of the world to decrease it's footprint. Who really wants to gamble on our planets future. We should take an active not passive role on guaranteeing its health.
Brian makes this comment

Thursday, 19 February 2009

I'm with the angry people. I personally find earth abhorrent and enemy to be not just conquered, but crushed. All those "scientists" who study "science" with their "scientific method" of creating "hypotheses" based on "empirical data" need to realize that every thousand years for the last 10,000 years (since earth has been in existence) the earth raises its temperature and carbon dioxide to near lethal levels. So next time your in a forest or some other stupid place, do what us skeptics do and light a match.
rita makes this comment

Thursday, 19 February 2009

Joe, I fully agree with you. The doomsayers are all squaking loudly. The key to 'global warming' may be closing some mouths to stop the hot air.
Joe makes this comment

Sunday, 15 February 2009

Oh my! The sky certainly is falling, isnt it? It's amazing that they can't predict the weather five days from now, but they somehow know conclusively that this is not a cycle the earth hasn't been through before. I can't wait for the day when these photographers and "scientists" are barred from purchasing new equipment, due to the fact that they are over thier carbon alotment for the month. Try back in three years or just pay an exorbitant "carbon tax" which will go into some politicians' pocket and do nothing to "help the planet" (not that it needs OUR help). Problem is, I and others like me will be innocent bystanders caught up in their madness. For all of you "Global Warming" believers, enjoy your Koolaid...while it's still affordable! :)

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Caught In The Act

An unprecedented experiment in time-lapse photography reveals how quickly glaciers are melting around the world

14 Comments

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