Methane Wonderland

I’ve always wanted to photograph methane bubbles trapped in ice. Much to my surprise, as I was walking along the Boise River bank, I discovered this phenomenon in a short section approximately 20 yards long extending out about 4 feet. The bubbles are formed when plant material on the bottom starts to decay. This process releases methane gas, creating bubbles in the water, which is then trapped as the ice forms. Conditions over the previous week had been just right to create plumes of these methane bubbles. The key to photographing these frozen bubbles is sunshine, and completely clear ice, devoid of any snow or surface obstructions. To capture the plumes of bubbles, the camera must be held at as steep an angle to the ice as possible.