Antarctica is the only region on Earth not governed by a traditional state. It's also probably the only place we haven't completely ruined—yet. Despite its natural hostility, it holds countless surprises for those who visit. Photographer Christopher Michel had the chance to travel there, and through his lens he captured images that seem pulled from a science fiction novel.
A Landscape from Science Fiction
What do "At the Mountains of Madness", "El Prisionero del Hielo", and "The Thing" have in common besides belonging to the horror genre? The answer is obvious: all three set their main characters in Antarctica. The remote and mysterious continent is the perfect place for primordial gods and aliens to stretch their legs, sowing chaos and despair among the poor humans who cross their path. In real life, Antarctica is just as deadly as any strange creature (or even more), but it also has room for an exotic, almost unbelievable beauty.
A Rare Sky Over the South Pole
Michel recently traveled to the continent and took this shot less than a kilometer from the South Pole, accompanied by the people at Antarctic Logistics and Expeditions (if you want to visit Antarctica, you'll likely need to get in touch with them). What's happening in the sky is known as a parhelion, an optical effect caused by a high concentration of ice particles in the air. Depending on how those particles float, we can see two "mini suns" on either side of the Sun, plus a halo around it. Technically, it's not necessary to travel to Antarctica to see a parhelion; there's even a nighttime variant called paraselene, caused by moonlight.
Michel decided to adopt a retro style for his images, and it was definitely the right call. If you want to see more of his work, you can visit his official website and perhaps buy some of his photos at very reasonable prices.
