See the Challenges of Outfit Photos in the Arctic

Taking style photos in the Arctic in winter is not just a light issue. In the Arctic or at high altitude, temperature and ice fog add additional challenges. Read on to learn more about both challenges, and how to minimize the impacts.

Disclosure: This post has affiliate links.

Dark Days in Alaska Make Photography an Art

Taking outfit photos in winter at 64.8569° N, 147.8028° W is quite a challenge. Therefore, we try to take them inside or in lighted places outside when possible. In these photos, I like the reflection of the outfit in the glass of the storm door. The mix of the outfit in the front behind with what you can see in the dark of the front yard makes a creative, striking photoshoot.

Note in Fairbanks, you actually don’t need storm doors to protect from the wind, but to have some extra insulation. Without them you would get ice build-up on the inside of the door at 30 below (-34.4°C) or so.

Why is it so hard to take outside photos in the Arctic?

Short Daylight Hours Reduce the Window for Photo Shots

On December 21, the shortest day of the year, the Sun rises at 10:58 am and sets at 2:39 pm. In total there are 3 hours and 41 minutes of daylight. However, the Sun is not high in the sky. The Sun rises at 155^o and sets at 205^o, i.e. approximately between SE and SSE, and SSW and SW, respectively. In other words, the light conditions are not great. On a sunny day – due to the long path that the sun beams take thru the atmosphere – light is pink in Alaska in winter. Pretty kitschy, right?

Before winter solstice, we loose 10 minutes of daylight each day! Living in the dark!

On Sunny Days the Sky Is Pink in the Arctic in Winter

The color of the sky makes the colors of the looks change. It not just cahnges the colors of the trees as shown in the photo below.

What Is The Physics behind the Color of the Sky?

When you live in mid-latitudes, you may have seen pink skies only during sunrise and sunset. However, at high latitudes, in winter, the sun barely comes above the horizon. Like in mid latitudes during sunrise/set, the sun beams have to travel a very long way thru the atmosphere at in Polar Regions in winter. This long distance increases the likelihood that visible light beams are scattered by gases.

The visible light ranges from ultra violet over blue, green, yellow, orange to red. You can see this when light is split into its components by a prism or the raindrops of a rainbow.

Rayleigh Scattering: Pink vs. Blue Sky

The atmospheric molecules scatter UV and blue light over and over again (Rayleigh Scattering). This makes the sky look blue when the Sun is high above the horizon. Then the distance that the light travels thru the atmosphere is relatively short. It is the shortest at solar noon, when the Sun is in the zenith. However, at low sun zenith angle during sunrise/set in mid- and low latitudes, the light travels a long distance thru the atmosphere. The blue frequencies are scattered away. Only the orange and red frequencies of the sun beam reach the eyes. Thus, everything seems to be in a light reddish-orange hue. In Fairbanks during daylight in winter, the Sun is very low in the sky. Like in mid- and low latitudes during sunrise/set, the light has to travel a long way thru the atmosphere.

Why Do Photos Get Blurry in Winter?

When the camera was inside in a room, the air in the camera has the same humidity as in the room. Once outside the camera cools fast. The saturation point for water vapor may be reached and the lens may get foggy. It’s sort of the opposite to when you enter a store and your glasses get foggy. In the store, the cold lenses cool air close to them which then reaches the saturation point. Once the lenses adjust to store temperature your glasses are clear again.

Fact: You have to wait until the temperature is adjusted before you can take a photo in the Arctic.

The Camera Gets the Ambient Temperature

Another challenge is the zeroth law of thermodynamics. It says that any object strives to achieve be in equilibrium temperature with its environment. Of course, a camera also adjusts to its ambient temperature. This fact has two major impacts. At temperatures below -4F (-20°C) the photographers fingers get pretty cold. The model has to pretend not to feel cold.

Batteries Suffer from the Cold

The time between being able to use the flash takes forever as the battery gets cold and starts freezing. When you enter a room with a camera cooled down to those outside conditions, condensation occurs inside the camera. Sometimes even little ice particles form. The consequence? Guess what? Blurry photos! I can’t believe that some people want that on purpose and even use filters to get the effect! In the sub-Arctic you get it for free when you don’t pay attention.

Tip: Never let the camera be outside for a long time in Alaska.

Flashes Produce Odd Shadows in the Dark

The photo series below was taken when the sky still was dark black (see photo below). Not even an aurora threw a little light. The shadows produced by the flash light created interesting shading. I bet it would take me hours to create an effect like that in Photoshop.

Ice Fog Becomes Visible when You Use the Flash Light

That white cloud in the background of the photos below looks impressive. What happened here is that its droplets and ice crystals reflected the light of the flash when we took my outfit photo below. In the second photo, my photographer just hit the button when I was standing in the ice fog.  See the High Latitude Style glossary for how ice fog forms.

Perception of the Arctic Being a Place without Fashion

Many people disbelieve that being an Alaskan style blogger is possible temperature and shopping wise. Did they never hear about online stores? Well, you can even buy high-end fashion just here at the Last Frontier when you are lucky. I scored the Gucci scarf in a consignment store for just $20! Pretty lucky! Well, one woman’s trash, is another’s treasure.

Conclusions on Taking Outfit Photos in the Arctic

In summary, some of the great iPhone photo and posing tips that Scott Kelby explained in his book won’t work, because you freeze your boom off when posing takes too long. You have to ensure that the camera is warm enough to function without fog buildup, and plan the poses prior to getting out. In other words, creating an outfit
photo book requires discipline, commitment, and acting.

Alternatively, you can use three light sources. Two from the side, one from above. Best if you have a reflective wall in the background like a white garage door, and your bulbs produce daylight.

Want style solutions for all kind of dressing situations? Buy my style recipe book How to Dress for Success in Midlife. Give yourself the gift of style.

Are you registered for my Newsletter to let you know about new posts and special style subjects? I’d highly appreciate it if you take the time to sign up and ask your friends to sign up too!!

Check my Art Store for original paintings.

Photos of me: G. Kramm

© 2013-2026 Nicole Mölders | All rights reserved