Ryota Kaji

The intriguing geometric ice formations captured by Ryota “Kaji” Kajita reveal striking juxtapositions of white snow and ice against dark frozen water. These formations reveal the innate beauty of nature hidden in the Alaskan interior. They represent the embodiment of “Zen” according to Mr. Kajita because they are part of the natural cycle — subtle, ephemeral, and transient.

Ten years ago, during an excursion to the tundra, Mr. Kajita accidentally stumbled upon these icy structures and immediately fell in love with them. They are formed when methane and carbon dioxide become trapped beneath the surface of frozen lakes. Ever since discovering these marvels of nature he has been working on his astounding “Ice Formation” series. Each year, before the first snows arrive, he explores the wild looking for these ice formations, enduring incredibly low temperatures while watching out for precarious frozen waters. Opportunities to photograph these formations are limited to one or two weeks out of the year, and sometimes he cannot photograph any of them at all because of the timing of the first heavy snow.

Mr. Kajita’s “Ice Formation” series offers a perfect example of how delicate and precious nature can be. They are rare, and difficult to reach, but capture the unbelievable beauty of our world. It is thanks to Mr. Kajita that we can share these experiences of the astounding Alaskan landscape.