In 2025, the United Nations will observe the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation to raise awareness about the alarming retreat of one of the world’s most vital freshwater reserves.
In this context emerges Icebreaker, the latest series by British photographer Liam Man, Sony Imaging Ambassador and Open Photographer of the Year at the 2024 World Photography Awards.
His project travels through the glaciers of Chilean Patagonia and the rusting remnants of Europe’s abandoned ski resorts, captured entirely at night and illuminated with artificial light.
Man works with drones equipped with LED lights and long exposures. By painting the landscape in complete darkness, he reveals folds, cracks, and textures that remain hidden in daylight. The result is a collection of dreamlike scenes where the whiteness of the ice becomes deep blue and rusted structures glow with a ghostly presence. Each image invites us to pause and imagine the Earth not as it is, but as it could be if we act in time.
These photographs are also a form of documentation. Scientists estimate that even if current climate goals are met, nearly 40 percent of the world’s glaciers are already on track to disappear. If global warming exceeds 1.5 degrees Celsius, more than 75 percent could be lost, affecting water supplies, agriculture, and sea levels.
Icebreaker is not just an aesthetic tribute to ice. It is a call to action. By illuminating the night, Man reveals what is quietly melting away. His project aligns with global efforts to push for climate policy, support monitoring programs, and encourage greater protection of the cryosphere.
Liam Man explains that photographing at night allows him to listen to the landscape. “When everything goes dark, the ice speaks through its cracks, the wind becomes visible, and rust tells stories of a future that already happened.” The final works, printed in large format and limited editions, will be exhibited in London and Santiago. A portion of sales will support glacial research initiatives. This project was published in our print edition number 31. [Official Website]
