Winter Blues

Blue Hour - Atmospheric Optics - And Cold

Jan 15, 2026

A winter boreal forest with tall spruce trees heavily coated in thick snow. The trees are tall and narrow, with rounded, pillow-like layers of snow clinging to their branches and trunks. The ground is covered in deep, smooth drifts, and the sky above is pale blue, indicating early blue-hour light. — Snow-covered boreal forest in the blue hour | Prints and Wall Art

Winter has been unrelenting in Fairbanks this year. We’ve had long stretches of cold, with temperatures below -20°F and even down to -50°F. We’ve had a few brief warm-ups (relatively speaking) where we get some snow, and then the temperatures plunge right back down. Our highest temperature recorded in Fairbanks so far this January was -3°F.

A screenshot of a temperature table showing daily maximum, minimum, average, and departure from normal for Fairbanks, Alaska from January 1 through January 14, 2026. Several days list minimum temperatures below −40°F and average temperatures far below normal. — January temperatures (in F) so far. *Source: National Weather Service Alaska Region (NWS Fairbanks Climate Data), via weather.gov*

Today it’s a bit warmer than it’s been; it was -14°F this morning. Interestingly, we actually have near-freezing weather in the forecast over the next few days, with freezing rain and snow, which should make for a lovely mix on our very frozen roads.

A low winter sun sits just above a dark tree line across a frozen, snow-covered lake. A bright vertical sun pillar extends upward from the sun, and faint rainbow-colored sundogs appear on both sides of the sun against a pale, hazy sky. — Fantastic sun pillar and parhelia (sundogs) on my birthday a few days ago | Prints and Wall Art

Between the weather and the amount of time I’ve been spending at work, it’s been difficult to shake the seasonal depression. This year, it’s mostly shown up as constant tiredness and a lack of motivation to get outside or exercise. It’s a dangerous mix because those are two of the things that help the most. Since the start of the month, though, I’ve forced myself to the gym regularly to use the treadmill or lift weights, and I’ve been climbing at least three days a week. It seems like it’s starting to help.

Long story short, the blues are really popping this winter, both internally and externally. It feels like I always have to relearn how much it helps to get out and take photos. It really does make all the difference. It’s a shame that the worst states of mind work so hard to protect themselves.

Snow-coated tree branches arch inward from both sides of the frame, forming a loose canopy around a bright, deep blue winter sky. The branches are thin and tangled, with thick clumps of white snow resting on them. — Amazing contrast with the snow, golden light from a low sun, and blue sky | Prints and Wall Art

While out running errands on my birthday, another day that dropped to -43°F, I saw some absolutely fantastic parhelia. I took some time to drive down to the Tanana Lakes State Recreation Area, since it isn’t far from where I work at the climbing gym, and went for a short walk to take some photos.

A bright winter sun glows low above a distant forest beyond a wide, frozen lake. A strong vertical sun pillar rises above the sun, and a colorful sundog appears to the right, while the snow-covered lake in the foreground reflects faint warm light. — The Sun, sun pillar, and parhelion over Cushman Lake | Prints and Wall Art

Tall deciduous birch trees coated in heavy snow are lit by warm, low sunlight. The upper branches glow pale gold while the lower branches remain in soft shadow, set against a clear, pale blue sky. — Golden light on cold trees | Prints and Wall Art

A stand of spruce trees heavily draped in fresh snow rises from rolling snowbanks. The scene is lit by soft blue-hour light, giving the snow and sky a cool blue tone. — Blue hour after fresh snowfall in early January | Prints and Wall Art

Tall spruce trees stand close together, each covered in thick layers of snow that bend and round their branches into smooth, sculptural shapes. Large snow drifts fill the foreground, creating a rolling, uneven surface. — Different forest, different day, different time | Prints and Wall Art

Several tall spruce trees are weighed down by heavy snow, causing their upper branches to droop and curve. Large, rounded piles of snow sit on the branches and on the ground below, under a pale blue winter sky. — More blue hour | Prints and Wall Art

Days like these are a reminder of why I keep going back outside, even when it’s hard. The cold is real, the darkness is real, but so is the light that keeps finding its way through it. I hope these images let you slow down for a moment and feel some of that winter stillness, wherever you’re reading this from. Stay warm.

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