Photographer Travels to Hidden Ice Caves in the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Photography is much more than “getting the shot” for Stanley Aryanto of The Wicked Hunt. It’s all about the thrill. Aryanto has been on quite an adventure since we last saw him after he took an incredible photo of Neowise Comet; his most recent journey took him to the Canadian Rockies in search of ice caves. While he normally does not photograph cold environments, a chance meeting with a group of Australians changed everything.

The group had been granted Canadian work visas and was on its way to the Canadian Rockies. Aryanto was intrigued by the idea and soon had his own visa in hand. He came across photographs of spectacular ice caves while researching the trip, but he assumed that seeing these destinations required a high level of athleticism. Fortunately, once in Canada, he met photographer Ludovic Labbé-Doucet, who is trained in glacier navigation. .

The adventure began there. The two set out to explore the remote terrain, but not before Aryanto had completed a number of safety courses. This was an important part of the preparation, and Aryanto recommends that everyone do it before venturing out to these remote locations.

They traversed the wintery landscape as they explored four different ice caves. Labbé-knowledge Doucet’s was invaluable, as he was able to advise on the best ways to photograph these environments.

“Finding an ice cave is a difficult task. Because of global warming, these ice caves would be lucky to survive summer, so each season is unique,” Aryanto tells My Modern Met. “You often have to trek for a long time, and even when you reach the glacier, there’s a chance you won’t find it.” When I first approached the ice cave, the glacier’s mouth stood tall in front of us, as tall as a three- to five-story building.”

“I was speechless in awe. I took out my camera and began shooting. What a wonderful time to be alive! On a sunny day, you can see the light glinting through the ice, creating this electrifying blue color. If you’re lucky, you might even be able to skate inside the ice caves.”

Each cave is unique in its own right, with its own shapes and forms. The images are not only beautiful in terms of aesthetics, but they are also incredible as symbols of the human spirit.

“We’re capable of so much if we devote our time, mind, and effort to pursuing our dreams,” Aryanto says. “I grew up in Bandung, Indonesia, in a metropolitan city where the only time we walked was from the door to our vehicle and vice versa. I used to be an engineer, and I never imagined I’d be able to travel the world as a nomadic photographer. But I took a chance and moved to the Canadian Rockies to pursue the experiences I’d always wanted to have.”

“That’s when I realized I’m more capable than I realize, and that anyone can pursue and achieve their dreams.”

The Wicked Hunt’s Stanley Aryanto spent time exploring ice caves in the Canadian Rockies.