Freeze frame: Photographer captures breathtaking images after accidentally discovering stunning world of ice under frozen river




Showing delicate transparent columns and alien crystalline shapes, these stunning photographs could be a taken by a deep space probe on another planet, or from inside a state-of-the-art submarine under the Arctic ice.

But they are in fact taken by a 55-year-old Russian amateur photographer, who does little more than stick his head through a hole in a frozen river and snap the results.

Indeed, the simple nature of their composition makes the photos even more remarkable.

Cold snap: A breathtaking photo of the hidden world underneath the frozen surface of the Tianuksa River in eastern Leningradskaya Oblast, Russia. Air pockets of up to two feet deep lead to transparent columns and crystalline shapes seen here, with natural lighting creating different colours

Fairytale image: Russian photographer Yuri Ovchinnikov, 55, began documenting these incredible natural ice sculptures after his son accidentally put his foot through the surface of the ice and discovered the subterranean world

The photographs reveal what's lurking under a frozen river in eastern Leningradskaya Oblast, Russia - an incredible colourful world of sparkling icicles and shimmering snow.



Every year the winter cold causes the Tianuksa River to freeze over. But keen Russian photographer Yuri Ovchinnikov, 55, discovered a multi-layered ice world was formed after gaps of air up to almost two feet deep form between the frozen surface and the layer of water still flowing underneath.

And Mr Ovchinnikov is not too proud to admit that he found the enchanting subterranean world entirely by accident - his son actually brought it to his father's attention after putting his foot through the frozen river surface.



Magical quality: The wave-like formation of the river surface makes it look like it was frozen mid-flow. Mr Ovchinnikov says water still flows underneath these air pockets

Another planet: The delicate crystals on the roof, and the intermittent natural lighting from holes in the ice 'roof', make the photos look like the set of a science-fiction film

Natural light: Mr Ovchinnikov, pictured right, says that light filtering through the ice can create stunning colours and optical effects



Since then Mr Ovchinnikov has been squeezing his head and his camera into more purpose-built holes all over the river.

He said: 'Because the gap is so small it's pretty hard to get inside - you can just about get your head in together with the camera.



'And of course the water is also flowing under the bottom layer. But the river is not too deep so that's why I was not afraid.



'The feeling is very unusual, I have never seen anything like this before.'

