Water samples were subjected to multiple shock wave compressions, generating peak pressures of 1-5 GPa on nanosecond time scales. This loading process approximates isentropic compression and leads to temperatures where the ice VII phase is more stable than the liquid phase above 2 GPa. Time resolved optical transmission and imaging measurements were performed to determine the solidification rate under such conditions. Freezing occurred faster at higher pressures as water was compressed further into the ice VII phase, in agreement with classical micleation theory. Water consistently froze when in contact with a silica window, whereas no solidification occurred in the presence of sapphire windows. The transition was determined to be a surface initiated process-freezing began via heterogeneous nucleation at the water/window interface and propagated over thicknesses greater than 0.01 mm. The first optical images of freezing on nanosecond time scales were obtained. These images demonstrate heterogeneous nucleation and irregular solid growth over 0.01-0.10 mm lateral length scales and are consistent with latent heat emission during the transformation. The combination of optical transmission and imaging measurements presented here provide the first consistent evidence for freezing on short time scales. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.