In the Shadow of the Season - on Photography in Winter

I live in a cold dark place.

No, not really. But the summer season (spring, summer, autumn) is markedly different to the winter. Once the temperature drops below 8-10°C being outdoors is a pain. The time of the year between mid-october and late april means getting outdoors is a project - dressing for it if you're going to spend some time outside is a hassle. And you will suffer if you mess up.

Being a photographer who makes photographs in the winter time takes some dedication. You can see what kind of photographer I am by leafing through my negatives: One or two rolls exposed between October and March. Add another twenty for the summer months.

A few years ago we went the farthest north I've ever been in the world: Jokkmokk. In the middle of Sami territory. It was late January and the temperature dropped to -20°C at times. I figured that the cold would suck out the power from my digital camera in notime. What to use, then? The most analog and cogs-and-levers-camera I had was the Zenit 3M SLR. I figured nothing could freeze up inside that piece of machinery. And nothing did. It was the film that gave. Close to the end of the roll the sprockets gave in. Most probably the film got brittle from the cold.

I love the photos I got from the Zenit during that week.

I have to say that these photographs are the exception to the rule. In wintertime I rarely photograph. Well, I less frequently venture outside of heated environments for longer times.

I recently started a new day-job. If I get to stay on in the new year I will bring a camera to work to photograph landscapes. The job entails spending long hours in the car, so if I bring a suitable kit I can take my (photo-)breaks in the snow-covered landscape.

Thanks for reading my blog! Don't hesitate to comment or check out my Instagram at #ourbooksmalmo. Visit my Etsy shop getOurBooks where there are cameras and photography equipment aplenty to choose from.

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