This is the Orda Cave, the biggest underwater crystal cave in the world in Perm, Russia. On the day of this mystical photo-shoot with the two-times free diving world champion Natalia Avseenko, it was -32.8F outside. The water was a brisk 41 F. Nice face, Natalia. Very stoic… considering you’re floating in ice slushy.
It’s so cold here, there’s local modern day folklore. Specifically, one about the Mistress of the Orda, a spirit that helps “divers in difficult situations” like, say, shooting a portrait in cave ice slushy!
End result below. Behind-the-scenes photos above. Shiver.
