Reading this title, you must be thinking I am about to talk about a magician.Someone who will create an illusion right before your eyes. There is an illusion involved but not with the human eye. Instead, it happens in your photographs.
Intrigued? Curious? Eager to know?
Okay
A recent vacation took us to the waterfront of Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. I came across a brochure advertising magical ice sculptures. It was called Magic Ice and I was curious. In August, St. Thomas is very, very hot. Having been to the island several times before, we were looking for something we hadn’t seen or done.
We decided … Hot = need a cooler place to be …. so off we went to find this Magic Ice place.
The front entrance doesn’t give you any indication of cold.
Owners description: We welcome you to the biggest permanent ice gallery in the world! Magic Ice`s entire exhibition is constructed of crystal clear ice consisting of beautiful sculptures, a kids slide, wedding chapel and a pirate ship bar, all made of ICE!Large parts of the exhibition will emphasize the rich history of the Caribbean. You will get a glimpse into the 18th century lifestyle. Here you will find sculptures from the “Golden Age of Piracy” and at the pirate ship ice bar you will receive your drink. Photos and videos are welcomed and our staff look forward to taking you on a tour!
We entered and paid our fee of which included a shot of any flavored or plain
Cruzan rum in addition to the shot glass with the Magic Ice logo. Non-drinkers can enjoy a cold shot of soda.
Dressed in our cold weather ponchos with furry hoods and gloves we were ready to view this ice sculptures. The cold blast as you enter is a shock in comparison to the brutal heat left behind. My glasses fogged up as soon as I entered. Laughing at our oversized ponchos and my inability to see through foggy glasses, I had a sense this was going to be fun.Upon entering, a guide told us the ice sculptures could not be touched with the exception of the throne chair where we could sit and take a photograph. He explained that it was a self-guided walk and we were welcome to take as many photos as we’d like.
I found the ice throne chair a bit cold when I sat on it.
The ice sculptures appear white when you view them. The colors appear in your photos. It’s achieved by leaving your flash off.
Magic Ice Colors
This is the bar where your Cruzan rum is served in a chilled shot glass. There was a large crowd that day. You could purchase additional shots if that is your thing. It was a lively group with the bartender taking photos of you and your drink.
After a bit of festivity, our friendly bartender asked for my camera as he was going to take the photo of us in the midst of this chilly fun party. He tried several times to capture the photo. Finally, he said the camera button was stuck. I took the camera and tried to take a photo.
After I captured 3 photos that looked like this ….
I panicked. Abruptly, I turned and started looking for the exit. I thought my camera was ruined. I had one thought and one thought only … I’ve got to get this camera outside. I couldn’t remove the big poncho and gloves quickly enough. I sat on a bench and hugged my camera. I was beside myself. After my very patient husband calmed me down, he viewed the lens and found it did have fog on it. I had no idea what to do. I put it in my carrying case and decided I would look at it after I had calmed down a bit more. Eventually, I took it out and I was able to capture a few photos of some flowers and trees as test shots. It has been okay ever since.
The photo above still shows a hazy cloud … The one below is a little better but not quite there. However, I was much more hopeful once I saw these 2 photos.
I don’t know if there’s a special camera lens for photos in colder climates. If anyone knows what happened and would like to share, please do, or if you have a post on this type of photographing leave the url and I will add it to my story. Overall, it was a fun place to visit. I captured the ice sculptures I could considering the amount of people visiting that day.
2015©Isadora
January 31, 2015 at 8:40 pm
This is such an interesting post with lovely photos. You had an amazing experience, great to know that….It must have been truly magical…:)
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January 31, 2015 at 9:11 pm
It was fun for us especially since I live in a hot climate ( Florida ) and hadn’t been in the cold weather since I had left New York in 1989.
We always like what we don’t have. : )
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January 31, 2015 at 9:15 pm
Thats so true dear. Florida weather is so different from Minneapolis, where we are located currently. Hahaha 😉 😉
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January 31, 2015 at 1:56 am
What a fun change from the August heat Izzy, even if it did send your poor camera into shock. So pleased to hear it recovered!
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January 31, 2015 at 12:40 pm
Yes, Patti, it was a welcome change from the heat. Unforrtunately, once we exited this cold place the walk back to our cruise ship was brutally hot. But, we had a good time. 😀 I had my fingers and toes crossed that my camera would recover. It did. Glad you enjoyed my little adventure. 😀
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January 26, 2015 at 5:56 am
how to cool is this, literally, lol. love the seahorse. a friend of mine says, ‘one size fits all what?’ 🙂
i once had a foggy lens on my cell phone but that was caused by dampness. i wasn’t expecting that, but it did clear up on its own in a few days. but i think it’s a normal reaction to have condensation when you are moving from extremely hot to extremely cold temperatures, or the other way around. i guess ideally, if it is possible, it might be an idea to introduce your camera to the change in temperatures gradually, that could be a way to avoid the condensation. but when that is not a practical or possible option, i think the key could be to capture the images you want quick and then put your camera away while you enjoy the rest of the views without it 🙂 having said that, i am going to check out that other link above, too, as shared by becca givens. it would be good to know for future reference.
anyhow am glad that everything turned out well. i have been to St Thomas, too, and i could not imagine it being cold enough to require a parka.
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January 30, 2015 at 3:40 pm
The ponchos were one-size-fits all. However, they were too big to maintain the hood on my face without it falling and blinding me. It was the most hilarious part of the tour. And … the gloves were huge too. I have small hands. 😄
It would have been difficult to take the photos quickly as there were many people. One had to wait for an opportunity to capture something without a stranger being in it. I think it was condensation along with the cold temps locking or freezing the photo button. I didn’t know that cameras were affected by the cold. I had a camera burnout in the Florida heat I live in when I left it in the car. With professional photographers taking photos in cold climates I thought there might be a trick to keeping the camera in a good functioning condition. 😳
Anyway, it did go back to working properly after a few hours. I’m glad we went to this little place. It brought back memories of when I was in winter weather when I lived on Long Island, N. Y. 😊
Thanks for vsiting and leaving you conversational comment. I greatly appreciate it. 😍
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January 23, 2015 at 7:56 pm
The ice sculptures are wonderful, Issy. I especially love the seahorse. Glad you got most of your photos before the problem with your camera. Love the ponchos! You could start a trend, but maybe not in Florida. 🙂
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January 25, 2015 at 10:48 pm
The seahorse photo was the 2nd photo I took. Perhaps, my camera was being affected soon after that because the images don’t have as much color. I was pleased with the ones I did get. It was an interesting place to see. 😊 I know they need one-size-fits all when providing warmth but those were really, really BIG. We had a few good laughs when the hoods fell on our faces. 😃
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January 26, 2015 at 12:43 am
One size fits all is an impossibility. 😀
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January 22, 2015 at 8:24 pm
What an experience, Issy — icy sounds like a wonderful reprieve in August heat — however, my reaction to the camera would have been similar to yours! I bet I know someone who could help you with the lens … Hannah of Stonehouse Photography ( https://www.facebook.com/PhotographyofHannahStonehouseHudson ). She also advocates a borrowing lens service to test out lenses you might be interested in before buying … like “test driving”!
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January 25, 2015 at 10:55 pm
It was lots of fun especially when the hoods kept falling over our faces. It was a shock to the body after we exited and were hit with the HOT HOT temps. 😳
Thank you for the information on someone who could help me figure it out. I’m on my way to check on her site. 😊
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January 22, 2015 at 7:13 am
Wow lots of fun Izzy, World of ice … 🙂
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January 25, 2015 at 10:49 pm
It was lots of fun, Jake. The hoods falling on our faces gave us a few belly laughs. 😃
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January 21, 2015 at 5:46 pm
You always have such interesting posts, Izzy
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January 25, 2015 at 10:50 pm
We had lots of laughs when those hoods kept falling on our faces and we couldn’t see. Fun !!!😃
I’m happy you like my posts. Thank You !!!!😄
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January 21, 2015 at 3:48 pm
I really enjoyed watching the slide show, didn’t have to get in there… 🙂 What a cool bar!
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January 25, 2015 at 10:51 pm
I think the slide shows can showcase more photos with less space and express the story. Thanks, Amy. 😄
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January 21, 2015 at 10:48 am
Oh, how wonderful! Like a little house of wonders! Beautiful shots, my dear Isadora! 🙂
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January 21, 2015 at 2:05 pm
I enjoyed the experience of cold again. It had been 25 years since I experienced cold weather. I guess one has to go back in order to remember why you left it behind. NY in winter could be very, very cold. 😳
It was fun and, of course, different. I wish I could have taken more photos. Glad you enjoyed reading and viewing my photos, Marina. 😎
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January 21, 2015 at 9:20 am
What a magical place that is,, beautiful carvings etc.. I had a problem with my camera once while in Florida it stopped taking photos or just half a shot… I bought a new one when I got home,,, then my old has worked properly ever since,, so I think it was heat related…strange things cameras…..
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January 25, 2015 at 11:00 pm
I’ve seen ice carvings at hotel luncheons but never in a place that showcases them. This was different, for sure.
If you have your camera on your car dashboard or in the car in HOT HOT temps it can fry it. I live in Florida so I can atest to that, Gerry. I hope soemthing like that doesn’t happen again. I’ll be very careful about temptature from now one.
Glad you enjoyed the story and photos. Thank you for coming by and leaving your nice comment. 😄
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January 21, 2015 at 7:49 am
What a bizarre experience it must have been there especially with such heat outside. So glad your camera is okay, I would have had a major panic too!
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January 24, 2015 at 8:32 am
It was fun to experience the cold temps but I was worried about the camera.
I know that’s silly but it’s a hobby I’ve grown to love. So much to learn … !!! : )
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January 21, 2015 at 5:19 am
Just goes to show that we continue to long for what we don’t have. I can’t imagine volantarily subjecting myself to ice, but glad to hear you had fun. And most important, that your camera resumed it’s work once you got back into normal temperatures. Ah, warmth… such a pleasure!
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January 21, 2015 at 1:56 pm
Ahhh … yes, I agree with you … warmth is such a pleasure. I hadn’t experienced cold weather since I moved to Florida 25 years ago. Icy NY weather wasn’t fun but this Magic Ice house was. I like trying new adventures and this certainly was different. I’m happy my camera is back to working properly again too. 😎
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January 21, 2015 at 2:43 am
They must use an inordinate amount of energy keeping that place so cold! The folks I left behind in NY are living in an icy land and using an inordinate amount of energy to keep themselves warm!
I know my camera always worked in the cold, so maybe it was your fingers, or condensation from hot to cold. Who knows, this was a special place and I’m glad you went and shared your pictures with us. You looked so great in your silly poncho! 🙂
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January 21, 2015 at 1:50 pm
I haven’t felt icy cold weather since I moved to Florida 25 years ago. I remember those NY (I lived on Long Island) icy winters when I would walk my dog and come home without my nose. Once in a while you have to go back and experience what you no longer have. I hope the Magic Ice house is using energy efficient coolants. If not, they won’t be there long. 😳
I’m with you on the condensation on the lens. The problem was that the shutter would start to move and then stop midway through taking the photo then continue until the photo was snapped. It hasn’t happened since. Scary though !!!
I liked the place. It was worth the experience. I always enjoy doing something I haven’t done before even if I never do it again. 😄 BTW … that poncho was super big and a little heavy. The hood kept falling over my face. It was hilarious. 😃 😎
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January 21, 2015 at 12:36 am
Very interesting … and who would have ever imaged such a place in any warm weather location! … Looking around their website, I couldn’t find the admission cost. Do you remember?
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January 21, 2015 at 1:36 pm
I wish I could say I’m absolutely sure of the price but I’m not. I remembered it costing $25.00 U.S. dollars – my husband remembers it costing $15.00 U.S. dollars. Since, he’s the one who pays for everything when we travel I would go with his price. 😃
It was weird to go from very hot to very cold but vacations are about experiencing new and unusual things. I always try something once. Hope you have the opportunity to experience this place. 😎
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January 21, 2015 at 2:12 pm
Thanks … we’ll settle on $20 (give or take) … 🙂
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January 21, 2015 at 2:47 pm
haha … perfect. : )
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