Here are two views of my pond ice, where I adjusted the polarizer to control the blue sky reflection off the ice. View 1 has most (but not all) of the blue suppressed, while view 2 lets more (but again not all) of the sky reflection show. (R5, 100-500 @ 451, 1/6 s, f/14, iso 400, tripod and polarizer, 20 - 22 shot stacks)
Less blue, less contrast
More blue, more contrast
Mark, your ice shots are so much fun to look at. You must be having a great time photographing these. I would be. When I first looked at these two images, I preferred view 1. The deeper colors drew me in. After enlarging them both, I realized view 2 has incredible detail. Now I love both for different reasons. Thanks for explaining your process. Light is oh so beautiful, but oh so complex!
What a great image (or pair of images) Mark! I love the colours and colour patterns behind the ice - they add so much to the image and while both versions are interesting, my vote goes to View 1 because I feel that the other, while still great , is a bit too chaotic for me.
Mark, Both images are superb intimate landscapes. I can’t favor one over the other, but like @Donna_Callais I appreciate the differences with your explanation. Geometry is king in both versions. Wonderful use of lines as the primary compositional element. I favor the luminosity in the first image; yet, the textural detail and more muted color in the second is also great. Both are keepers. Thanks for the lesson on polarizers and contrast.
Mark, I am really enjoying your ice photos. Thank you for sharing both and explaining what makes them different. If I should get the opportunity I hope I remember to experiment with the polarizing filter to see what different kinds of photos I can get without even moving the camera. What a teaching moment in these two shots with your explanation. Thank you.
Both of these photos are uniquely wonderful, Mark. I agree witih @Donna_Callais, after looking at both for a while, I do like them both.
Nice! I like the first for the colours that come through. I will echo others with thanks for the polarizer demonstration.
These are both great images Mark. It’s so interesting how a CPL changes the scene. I do slightly favor Image 1 because of the lines and shapes. Awesome detail in both images though.
I also prefer the first image Mark, as it puts the visual emphasis on the main ice patterns and separates those from the background ice to produce depth, in the image and also my reponse to it. It’s a lovely ice pattern, especially while I am sitting at my computer on a 30+ degrees C day! Cheers.
Mark,
Love your ice abstracts! So much that it almost makes me want to live in the frozen north… but then I quickly return to my comfy CA… 
Wonderful ice abstract! For me, I prefer the original, not necessarily for the colors, but I think the definition/detail in the ice come across better. And as another pointed out, the colors and separation with the stuff below the ice are combined and balanced nicely with the ice patterns up top.
Regarding the blue, I would mind more blue in the original - without any change in contrast. I think the overall impact in the image is reduced in your second image. The first is killer!
Lon
