A few days ago, Pangnirtung, NU photographer Michael Davies and his friend Markus Siivola jumped onto a skidoo and, armed with thermoses of hot tea, proceeded to make a little photographic magic.

Inspired by a popular cold-weather science experiment involving tossing hot water into freezing cold air to make “snow,” Davies had Siivola throw the tea around while he snapped away.

Pangnirtung only sees around 2.5 hours of daylight this time of year, so Davies had to plan ahead to get the perfect shot.

“Nothing about this shot was left to chance,” he said in an email. “I followed the temperature, I watched for calm winds … Even the sun in the middle of the spray was something I was hoping for.”

The resulting image has captured the collective imagination of Canadians, racking up thousands of shares on social media and netting stories on CBC and the Huffington Post. Davies said he’s pleased to be able to share Nunavut’s beauty with a wider audience.

“I’ve been given the unique opportunity to draw inspiration from a culture and climate that most people will never experience,” he said. “I draw inspiration from these experiences and attempt to capture my surroundings, giving viewers a glimpse into life in the high Canadian Arctic.”

View more of Davies’ work at his website.