Family
The story behind the photograph—building a snow volcano
In January 2022, Radio-Canada took a keen interest in my family photography style, particularly the documentary genre.
They put together a video profile, capturing me in action. After doing a model call, I chose to work with a family I knew well, ensuring comfort during the interview for both them and me.
The shoot was set to be outdoors. Chelsea and her children had the brilliant idea to do lunch over a fire and throw in some snow volcano action.
Snow volcanoes, you say? It was a first for me, and I was totally hooked. I later asked Sebastian, the oldest kid, for the lowdown on making one. He gave me some insider info and I whipped up a recipe just for you!
How to build a snow volcano
For this chilly adventure, you’ll need a fire pit, a metal shovel, wood, matches or a lighter, a bunch of dried tree leaves, snow, and an adult helper/supervisor to keep things in check.
Let’s get started!
- Get that firepit roaring with a big fire, aiming for some sizzling coals.
- Dig a trench as big as you want your volcano’s base to be.
- Fill it with snow and sculpt it into a volcano shape using your hands.
- Cut off the top, leaving room for your hand, and stick your hand down the middle to create the chimney.
- Once your snow volcano is deep enough, throw in a bunch of dried leaves.
- Using a metal shovel, place hot coals on the leaves.
- Add more leaves, then blow gently to ignite the fire.
- Turn off the fire, and watch your volcano smoke and keep on burning!
I haven’t pulled this off with my own kids yet, but it’s on my to-do list. If you give it a shot, I’d love to hear how it goes. Share your photos and stories with me on Instagram or Facebook!
More winter fun
Explore a collection of fun and photo-worthy winter activities to enjoy with your family around Edmonton. Find inspiration in my recent blog post!
I'm Marie-Pierre, an easygoing mother of two and a documentary family photographer. I believe we can all learn and grow from other people's experiences. Real life stories help us relate to each other, open our minds and feel better about ourselves.
this blog is a collection of featured client stories, tips, and articles on various family related topics. I hope you will find some inspiration!
