Capture the Cold #UMDJour

A man biking down by Canal Park Duluth on the cold afternoon of Jan 14. Photo by Jonah Schmieg

I captured this photo of a man biking through the cold from the highway bridge leading to Canal Park. I was surprised to see someone out biking on. Such a cold day. I took this photo on the Jan 14 when the temperature outside was around nine degrees.

I have been known to go biking even when the temperature drops well into the negatives, but I wouldn't wish such a bike ride on anyone. I even found myself stepping into nearby shops just to warm my hands before continuing to take photos.

When the wind blows across the frigid Lake Superior, it makes Canal Park a particularly cold area of the city. This, combined with cold Arctic air masses from the north and the lake effect, only serves to intensify the cold.

I think this photo is most interesting because of how it's shot from above. I used the rule of thirds, centering the man between quadrants. The road is icy and saltstained which helps “Capture the Cold”. The yellow lines and shadow from the lamppost also help to divide the frame and add visual interest.

I took this photo on my iPhone on Jan 14, 2026