Creative winter scenes - what to shoot?

Winter scenes - landscapes

The sky - is gray winter skies a problem?

A clear blue winter sky is what most of us associate with perfect winter scenes. On days when the sky is gray and dull you may think your pictures will be flat and boring, and you refrain from going out. Think again. This gray sky can be used to create moody colors that may add more character to your image. You will have a good opportunity to show the full spectrum of the gray scale when photographing a winter sky.

Winter lake a foggy morning

Why don`t go out shooting the sky before or after a storm. The clouds and stray light coming through is perfect winter scenes and might open up for fantastic images. This is also a typical motive which can work perfectly converted to black and white.

On an totally overcast day the sky can be much brighter than the surroundings. It is difficult to get the right exposure of both the sky and the rest of the motive. If in addition the sky is totally flat it might not add much to the image. A totally white sky will be distracting and remove the viewers attention from the main subject. In this case it is better just leaving the sky out of the image by shooting from a different angel or view point.

Polarizing filter
When shooting winter scenes with a clear blue sky a polarizing filter is useful for elimination of reflections from the snow. The polarizing filter will also give a deeper blue color to the sky.

Winter night shots

Night photography can be accomplished from the light of the moon. The landscape lights up under the light of the moon and the reflection on the white snow can produce some stunning images.

View of Oslo Norway a winter night

Shoot when it is snowing

Taking the image when the snow is falling can create some interesting effects specially if you shoot at long shutter speed. The streaks of the falling snow give a nice impression of movements. Remember to protect your camera from the snow.

Foggy mornings

When the landscape is covered by fog you can shoot very interesting and moody images. It might not look as a good time to shoot, but you will be surprised when you see the result.

Such a foggy morning as well as a overcast day is the best time for close up images as the light is soft and diffused.

A blue winter sky but still fog over the lake

Winter scenes - textures and patterns

Frozen surfaces

There are so many unusual and unique designs available from the newly fallen snow and frozen water. Sprinkle of snow or frozen ground can change a location totally and turn it to the perfect subject. You should also be aware the weather conditions and temperature can change a winter scene totally. On a warm day the ice can start melting giving opportunities of shooting flowing water. On a very cold day the chances of seeing rime and ice crystals is much better.

Ice textures on a snow covered lake

Frozen lakes and waterfalls

Winter is the perfect time to explore patterns and textures. Different surfaces made from frozen water can create interesting textures. Frozen lakes and waterfalls might be good spots to visit when you are looking for interesting winter subjects. It can be a good idea to bring your macro lens as closeups of frozen ice can be very fascinating.

Frozen trees and branches

Frosty mornings open for a lot of macro opportunities as frozen leaves, grass and twigs are nice objects with ice crystals on them. Close up or macro shots of them can produce very nice images.

Even in winter you can find colors as these frozen green leafs on the ground

Ad your own effect

On a very cold day you can create your own ice particles. Spray lukewarm water on seed heads, branches, grass or similar. The water temperature is important as too warm water will not freeze and to cold will freeze in the nozzle of the spray bottle.

Shallow depth of field
You can isolate frozen textures against a blurred background by using a wide aperture (low f-stop)

Winter scenes - colors

Ad color

Most winter scenes contains a lot of white or light surfaces. Without a point of interest this can easily become a boring image This is why you in winter photography must pay special attention to the composition rule - colors. A spot of color on the white snow will lead the viewer into the image. The colors can be added by including people in colorful ski clothes or even a colorful house.

The red car in the frozen landscape is a focus point

Natural colors from sunrise and sunset

At sunrise the colors are very colorful making it a good time for photography. Late in the afternoon before the sun sets, long shadow will be cast over the white snow surface. The shadows can create interesting effects as well as beautiful colors from the sun.

Leafs with colors

Go out shooting right after the first snow is falling and if you are lucky, some threes might still have their colorful leaves on. A drizzle of snow on a three in autumn colors is very beautiful.


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