A number of hotels and restaurants in the city are official sponsors in one way or another for Winterlude. The Chateau Laurier had this ice sculpture out at the front entrance through the festival. The front entrance has a southern exposure, so it gets more sunlight through the day. That has an effect on the transparency of the ice over time.
By contrast, the ice sculpture out front at the Lord Elgin Hotel is more transparent. This entrance is on the east side, so it gets a limited amount of direct sunlight exposure.
Close by at Confederation Park, this sculpture was erected after the first weekend, meant to allow for people to pose for photographs by stepping behind and putting their face at the gap.
This is the sculpture I showed you the other day being prepared. The large wall represents a train, taking soldiers off to the Great War.
I wanted a closeup of this couple saying their farewells.
Stepping back, you see more detail in the train and the surrounding figures.
Tomorrow I'll start showing you the ice sculptures by night.
C est magnifique,quel dommage que cela soit ephemere !
ReplyDeletebon dimanche ;o)
I hadn't really thought of the difference the sun would make on the ice - That is quite the change in the ice from the two hotels!
ReplyDeleteThat last one is monumental ! Amazing work.
ReplyDeleteWonderful cold beauties, like your new header image also!
ReplyDeleteAmazingly intricate stuff! And I had no idea that the sun affects the translucency of ice, that's interesting.
ReplyDeleteSome great pics here! Thanks for sharing these. The train is the most poignant one...they took our friends and family off to war in WWII and some never came back.
ReplyDeleteThese sculptures are so beautiful and there is so much detail. I am really impressed!
ReplyDeletePoint me toward the light even if it does make me less transparent. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLe Regard: merci!
ReplyDeleteHamilton: I thought the two contrasted well.
Stuart: it takes a lot of manpower.
Karl: I figured it was time to change it.
Tamera: it is something I have seen quite often with the sculptures.
Lowell: it is certainly a powerful sculpture.
Halcyon: the detail has always astonished me with these things.
Revrunner: it certainly results in a much different sculpture.
Whoa...bad placement for the sculptures in the first shot! What were they thinking?
ReplyDeleteThe WWI train sculpture made me feel quite emotional...even from here.
ReplyDeleteJane x
I would definitely have put my head in that hole for a photo op :) the last two ice images are amazing William, a magnificent ice sculpture.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteWilliam, These are wonderful and you have captured them beautifully. And I love your new header image. It is perfect.
ReplyDeleteIn response to your comment to me, in Queens when I asked if I could take photos, they said, "of course." I like that attitude!
Norma: well it is their main entrance after all, and they stayed in good shape despite the sun.
ReplyDeleteJane and Chris: it does have that effect.
Grace: there was another sculpture erected like that one.
Luis: thanks!
Merry: thank you!
Every good thing must come to an end but they will be there again next year wont they ? I hear on the news that the river there they have had to close some areas as it was melting . Thanks for sharing great photos . Have a good day !
ReplyDeleteInteresting fact about the sun's effect on the ice. I would never have known that! Can't wait to see the night shots.
ReplyDeleteThe train with the couple saying goodbye is quite amazing.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love the bear, the owl and the moose (or whatever else that's supposed to be).
ReplyDeleteIsn't it incredible that back in 1914 in Europe men went off to war happily? That's a stunning reminder of the Great War.
The train is fabulous! Looking forward to the night shots.
ReplyDelete@Country Gal: yes, they'll be back next year. And yes, the Canal's shut at the moment because of a bit of a warm up and rain a couple of days ago. I'm not sure if they'll reopen it or call it a season.
ReplyDelete@Lois: I'll have that going on for a few days!
@Sharon: I thought so. The carvers did great work with it.
@Ciel: from the looks of it, it appears to be a caribou.
@RedPat: lit up at night, that train sculpture was truly amazing!
More ice statues. How gorgeous! It looks like you guys are having a very cold but sunny winter.
ReplyDeleteA train taking off soldiers and the people around it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a marvelous idea!
Fantastic artwork. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think of how the sun might change the ice either. I love the one you can put your face up to. And incredible sculpture of WWI - supposedly the war to end all wars.
ReplyDeleteYes, the clear ones have more elegance. I am always surprised by the great skill of ice carvers, working freehand with power tools.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, night sculptures to come. Cool beans.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising to me how much the sun shining on the sculptures changes the look of the ice.
ReplyDeleteThis is a festival that really suits Canada in the winter!
ReplyDelete@Angelika: cold weather often means sunny days.
ReplyDelete@Cheryl: I really liked that one.
@Mari: you're welcome.
@LondonLulu: it does have an effect over the three weeks of the festival, so they've done a number of things, including the shelters for the main sculptures, to compensate.
@Bob: they do great work.
@Whisk: thank you!
@EG: it does indeed.
@Jack: yes it does.