Blades of Glory
O's intrepid team flew to the upper reaches of Mendenhall Glacier in glorious Alaska to prep for a photo shoot that had been months in the making. And then things got epic.
As the choppers took off, skies were blue, smiles were wide and long johns and boots were on.
O creative director Adam Glassman peers out the helicopter window.
The Prep
Adam, photographer Ruven Afanador and their crew lost no time scouting angles, setting up lighting and preparing the set for Oprah to take her place behind the sled.
Photo assistant Sebastian Beckmann, Ruven (on ladder) and Adam work on getting the perfect shot.
Set designer Stephen Brown handles some of the 50 handmade packages he brought all the way from Tennessee (each one used up to ten yards of ribbon!).
Tailor Wendi Williams-Stern wrangles the wardrobe.
No Porta-Potties here—the makeshift outhouse was a simple tent.
The team poses with Alaskan Huskies from the dog camp operated by
Alaska Icefield Expeditions.
Photo: Sebastian Beckmann
200-Dog Night
Things were going great—until once-in-a-blue-moon weather conditions intervened. Oprah wasn't able to get to the set, and the crew couldn't get out, so they turned to their friendly neighborhood mushers. The dogs leading Oprah's sled lived in a camp about a mile from the set, and their handlers were kind enough to take in our castaways for the next two days.
The Alaskan team generously shared their tents, space heaters, pasta and puppies for warmth!
Adam enjoys a quick nap in a hammock.
Coincidentally, this hilarious Oprah meme was discovered inside one of the tents.
The crew plays kickball to pass the time as they wait for rescue.
Dog camp manager Matthew Failor gets a hug.
Adam and fashion editor Jenny Capitain pose between takes.
The helicopter finally arrives to bring the O team home.
They make their great escape, leaving the snow-covered glacier behind.
Photo: Harpo, Inc./George Burns
Shooting at Sea
Thanks to the weather, for the first time in
O magazine's 17-year history, Oprah' s image had to be added to the cover digitally. "I so wanted to be with those dogs!" she says. Luckily, Holland America Line's MS
Eurodam, host of the
O, The Oprah Magazine Share the Adventure cruise, was available as a stand-in set. And Oprah looked ravishing as Mrs. Claus.
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