The present study describes ice characterization technique by utilizing light microscopy. Two different optical setups were used and compared. For ice structure characterization, ice was formed by adding water to an ice base layer: pouring hot water (+20 °C), pouring cold water (+3 °C) and spraying of hot water (+20 °C) water. Ice substrate specimens were made (20 x 30 x 20 mm prepared in a polypropylene mould) at -20 °C for 48 h. The heat flow direction governed the orientation of the air bubbles, and set the inner structure of ice. Pouring hot water onto ice slowly solidified the top layer and created channel-like pores perpendicular to the top surface, but cold water quickly solidified the top layer and created chaotically oriented air bubbles.