Heinz Buls's Image

Heinz Buls (Germany) uses fine cracks in the frozen lake surface to create the illusion of a decaying tree.

On a bleak winter’s day in southern Germany, the obvious subject for Heinz was the only dash of colour in the otherwise barren landscape. A modest group of ducks and coots had gathered in a small hole in the ice in the centre of the lake.

But it was actually the details in the lake’s frozen surface - fine, random cracks forming a tree-like pattern - that ended up capturing Heinz’s imagination. He carefully set up his tripod on the surface, and light snow brought the perfect finishing touch.

Ice patterns can form for many reasons, including when a hole in thin ice allows warmer water to well up from beneath and spread over a snow-covered surface. As the water seeps through, it leaves behind ‘arms’ that spread outwards, where the ice has melted.