-35°C - The Baikal Transformation

Located in Siberia, Russia, Lake Baikal is the deepest (1,642m) and oldest freshwater lake on Earth, holding nearly 20% of the planet’s unfrozen surface freshwater. Every winter starting from December, as temperatures drop below −35°C, Baikal begins its dramatic transformation. The open water slowly freezes, forming endless fields of crystal-clear ice, deep cracks, frozen waves, and massive pressure ridges.

I first visited Lake Baikal last year in February for only a week, yet I had never felt so deeply connected to a place in such a short time. I had dreamed of this place for years, and in that moment, I finally understood why. After returning home from that first trip, I knew I had to come back, but this time for a different mission. I returned for 44 days and lived on Olkhon Island to witness and document Baikal’s full winter transformation. Isolated from the outside world, surrounded by snow, wind, and silence, I dedicated myself to capturing Baikal’s winter story from the air from late December until early February.

The first two weeks of January, right after New Year’s, were the hardest for me. I fell into depression and uncertainty. I didn’t know if staying there under extreme cold conditions was worth it. I didn’t know if everything would work out. I questioned whether this film would ever come together the way I imagined with the music I have in mind. Surrounded by cold and solitude, I faced moments of depression and loneliness. Yet, I met incredible people during the journey who made the experience more meaningful to me.

But I decided not to give up and stayed. Day by day, the lake began to change, cracks appeared، Ice thickened and patterns began to form. Slowly, by late January, the vision I had been carrying in my mind started to become real.

Flying in temperatures as low as −35°C was a huge challenge, for both the equipment and the human body. Batteries drain quickly, fingers freeze, and every flight requires careful planning. Thick gloves made smooth shots difficult, but without them, I had only 15–20 seconds before my fingers began to freeze again. Not mentioning the big luggage of the DJI Inspire 3 and the difficulty to transport it and operate it every single time. Still, every flight felt worth it.

This whole experience changed me as a person, the way I see the world, the way I perceive challenges, and the way I appreciate the smallest moments in life. Through this film, I wanted to show not only the beauty of frozen Baikal, but also its strength, scale, spirit, and the emotional journey behind capturing it.

Shot on DJI Inspire 3