Boiling Water Challenge

Temperatures here in Wisconsin have been extremely low lately, and last month we were hit with what is known as a polar vortex. Record low temperatures swept the state, and UWW even closed down for several days! Since I had extra time off from school, I drove back to my hometown to visit family and friends. On the first day I was home, my brother and I decided to try what some may call the “Boiling Water Challenge.”

The Boiling Water Challenge has been a popular activity for years, but can only be done when outdoor temperatures are extremely low. There isn’t much to it; all you need to do is heat up some water on the stove until it is boiling. Next, go outside (wearing several layers, of course) and figure out which way the wind is blowing. This is very important, as boiling water can cause serious burns. Once you know which way the wind is blowing, position yourself so that when you toss the water out of the container, the water will travel in the same direction. Hold on tight to the container and toss the water out. Once the boiling water reaches the freezing air, it will turn into a large cloud of vapor.

I couldn’t witness something as cool and rare as this without photographing it, of course, so next I will show the photos I took of my brother tossing the boiling water into the freezing air. In the first two photos, the water is in a small pot we used to boil it. In the last photo, the water is in a steel tumbler, as we transferred the water in there to see if it would then be easier to toss the water into the air. I will also list the camera settings used for these photos.

Shutter Speed: 1/1600
F-stop: 4.0
ISO: 100

Shutter Speed: 1/1600
F-stop: 4.0
ISO: 100

Shutter Speed: 1/1600
F-stop: 4.0
ISO: 100

Quick tip for taking photos like these: take a burst of photos and later choose the ones that you like the best. Also, be sure to use a fast shutter speed to capture the water in midair.