Chilling Beauty: A Photographer’s Journey through Minus 30-Degree Prairie Landscapes

For numerous photographers, frigid outdoor conditions prompt an inclination to remain indoors, hoping for improved weather.

Angela Boehm from Saskatchewan, Canada, shared this sentiment. “I found myself complaining about yet another day that I couldn’t capture due to the severe cold — it was minus 30 degrees Celsius outside,” she recounts to PetaPixel.

However, while Boehm was seated in her vehicle, waiting for traffic to clear on the highway, a realization emerged: there was a “subdued beauty” in the surroundings that had always been present. “That moment ignited something within me, and I commenced photographing it,” she remarks.

Boehm hails from the prairies of southern Saskatchewan and is well-acquainted with the challenges posed by harsh Canadian winters. She began to perceive that minus 30 degrees Celsius winter landscapes symbolize life, leading her to embark on a project that has evolved into a book.

“The frozen prairie vistas, while a subject unto themselves, embody profound metaphors for the underlying themes explored in the book: loss, memory, and resilience,” she explains. “What better setting to illustrate these concepts than a winter prairie blizzard?”

“The loss is manifested in the stark emptiness and piercing cold,” she elaborates. “The memory, or its slow dissolution, is symbolized by the snow that conceals the horizon, softening and obscuring the vistas. And the resilience is represented by the lone tree — a resolute survivor of numerous storms in this harsh terrain.”

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What Is It Like to Capture Images in Minus 30?

Photographing in minus 30 degrees Celsius (minus 22 degrees Fahrenheit) introduces a distinct array of hurdles: for instance, it is quite simple to overexpose the highlights while simultaneously confronting the shadows that may cover the scenery amidst a storm.

“I lacked a meter capable of effectively interpreting these situations, so I had to depend entirely on the histogram to assess correct exposures,” Boehm clarifies.

“Once I had that calibrated, it became relatively simple. The histogram for these photos is effectively flat, featuring a single noticeable peak in the highlights. This posed special challenges in making sure the subtle tonal nuances translated accurately onto the page. It was a fine equilibrium, both in capturing and printing, to express the delicacy of these extreme environments.”

Boehm utilized a Fujifilm GFX 100 for her endeavor, a medium format digital camera, which she claims performed admirably in the severe conditions. Yet, there
“`were still challenges.

“The primary challenge was maintaining the camera’s cool temperature,” she clarifies. “Once the camera adjusted to the subzero conditions, bringing it into a warmer area, such as my car, would cause it to mist up. Consequently, I had to keep my car cold, often rolling the windows down to ensure it stayed at the same temperature as the external atmosphere.”

Another challenge was the lifespan of the batteries. In chilly conditions, batteries simply don’t operate as they would in ideal temperatures. Thus, Boehm constantly stored spare batteries in her jacket to keep them warm; otherwise, they too would deplete quickly.

While taking pictures, Boehm couldn’t wear a glove on her right hand, which meant she frequently had to tuck her hand back into her pocket that was filled with hand warmers.

“I would wear a mitt while walking and exploring, but not when I was composing a shot and capturing photos,” she mentions. “Gloves just don’t work for pressing the shutter.”

Boehm’s resulting publication, titled Minus Thirty, includes essays from various writers, among them Brad Zellar. “The feedback has been phenomenal,” Boehm states regarding her book. It is available here but is selling rapidly.

Additional works by Boehm can be viewed on her Instagram and website.

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Image credits: Photographs by Angela Boehm.