Outdoor ice rink with snow-covered surroundings. Two people stand on the rink wrapped in a large, brown blanket, facing away from the camera. They are watching a group of hockey players in blue, white, and gold uniforms.
Martin Parr (British, 1952–2025), Untitled (Minneapolis. Winter Games.), 2012, inkjet print. The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund, 2012.46.5

Photo Study Picks: We Call This Fun: Winter Games in Minneapolis

Editor’s note: This month’s picks take on added meaning with the recent passing of Martin Parr. His 2012 visit to Minneapolis captured the humor and humanity of winter life here, turning our cold-weather rituals into scenes of curiosity and delight. We share these photographs in appreciation of his sharp eye and the generosity he brought to everyday moments.

By Joe Doherty

January 5, 2026—In 2012, British photographer Martin Parr visited Minneapolis for a winter weekend to see how Minnesotans embrace the cold rather than avoid it. He captured more than a thousand photos of frozen lakes transformed into ice fishing villages, hockey games, and makeshift living rooms on the ice.

Parr’s saturated color and sharp eye for human behavior catch something true about winter here. These three photographs focus on the infrastructure we build around subzero temperatures, the shelters and furniture we drag onto the lake, and the social rituals that turn a deep freeze into something we actually look forward to.

The Pleasure of Ice Fishing

A man sitting inside a blue ice-fishing tent wearing a brown fur hat and brown overalls and holding a fishing rod.

Martin Parr (British, 1952–2025), Untitled (Minneapolis. Winter Games. Ice Fishing. Mitch Madsen.), 2012, inkjet print. The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund, 2012.46.1

Inside a blue pop-up shelter, a fisherman sits on a cooler surrounded by buckets, slush, and a day’s worth of supplies. The walls glow an electric blue, turning the tiny space into its own little stage. Yes, he’s spent hours sitting over a hole in the ice, and yes, he’s genuinely pleased about it.

A Cozy Hockey Tournament

Outdoor ice rink with snow-covered surroundings. Two people stand on the rink wrapped in a large, brown blanket, facing away from the camera. They are watching a group of hockey players in blue, white, and gold uniforms.

Martin Parr (British, 1952–2025), Untitled (Minneapolis. Winter Games.), 2012, inkjet print. The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund, 2012.46.5

Wrapped together in a single blanket, two onlookers watch as the lake hosts a hockey tournament. Jerseys, lawn chairs, and equipment bags are scattered across the ice, turning the lake into a loosely organized stadium. The cozy huddle and the sprawling chaos remind us that nonchalantly braving the cold together is part of the fun, and also a bit of the joke.

A Living Room on the Ice

Group of seven people standing closely together in a small, winterized metal room, like an ice fishing shanty, with a patterned carpet on the floor.

Martin Parr (British, 1952–2025), Untitled (Minneapolis. Winter Games. Ice Fishing. Left to right: Tabby Allers, Neil Frandsen, Sammy Diemert, Dan Diemert, Casi Diemert, Gabrielle Diemert, and Joe Johnson.), 2012, inkjet print. The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund, 2012.46.4

Inside a fish house, a group squeezes together for what might be the most Minnesota family portrait imaginable. Striped carpet, propane tank, pop cans, and tackle crowd the frame, turning the shelter into a tiny, functional living room on the ice.

About Joe Doherty, Collection Care Specialist

A collection care specialist with a focus in photography, Joe Doherty oversees the preservation and management of Mia’s nearly 13,000 photographs. He has a graduate certificate in Museum Collections Management and Care from George Washington University and earned his master’s degree in fine art at the University of Alberta, Canada. Doherty has a passion for preventive conservation; education; and diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion work within the cultural heritage sector.

About Photo Study Picks

Photo Study Picks is a series of monthly dispatches from Mia’s Photography Study Room, where individuals, groups, and classes can explore photographs from our permanent collection by appointment.

Everyone’s welcome, whether you’re conducting research or seeking creative inspiration. You can make an appointment through our online appointment form. Please schedule your appointment at least two weeks in advance. We look forward to welcoming you!