Finding winter’s beauty: A guide to photographing the season
Winter arrived in a sudden, fierce front - whipping winds biting at bare skin, sending me huddling into my scarf. Heavy cloud cloaked the mountains around us and snow felt like it could begin tumbling down at any moment. I naively thought winter was already here but plummeting temperatures and tiny icicles forming on my eyelashes let me know that it is only just beginning.
The few remaining quince still hold on as the winds tear down the last of the dogged autumn leaves. Hanging heavy in the tree, the golden orbs are one of the few things that still hold an intensity of colour, the rest of the landscape washed out of all it’s palette.
It is easy to think that there is nothing to photograph, to set the camera down until spring returns and colour and life flood back into your world. But here are a few ideas that can help you (and me!) to continue to create as winter sets in…
Winter garden photography ideas:
Frost & snow details: Getting up close to frosted or snow covered plants can create some really gorgeous shots that I feel really capture the essence of the season; frozen spider webs, icicles, frost particles on seed heads & tiny drips frozen overnight under twigs. Use a wider aperture which will give you lovely bokeh that will soften the background and really highlight the subject.
Winter fruit & veg: While we don't have the more showy crops that make spring and summer so exciting (tulips, dahlias, curvaceous heirloom tomatoes...) we do have wonderfully shapely and textural produce like pumpkins, quince and garlic. Have a look out at markets or a local organic shop for interesting varieties if you don't have any homegrown available but still want to create with.
Winter gems: While most of the garden is sleeping if we go searching we might be lucky enough to find some special treasures that are brave enough to be blooming. Viburnum bodnatense, hellebores, crocus, daphne and witch hazel are some of the ones that I find. Many of these winter gifts are also highly scented to attract the few pollinators that are around which is an added bonus.
Extending the season: If you have the means available it is amazing and so rewarding to grow something undercover. The ultimate luxury is to have a greenhouse - however a low tunnel, cold frame, conservatory or even a sunny windowsill can all provide that little bit of extra protection that will allow some hardy plants to continue on growing once the weather turns. It feels like such a treat to be able to go out to my greenhouse in the depths of winter and pick a stem or 2 of Iceland poppies to use in a photo or to take the photo of them growing. Harvests probably won’t be huge but every little pick brings in much more happiness than you would imagine possible. Forcing bulbs indoors is also another wonderful low cost, low effort alternative.
Remnants from the past growing season: Dried seed heads still standing - foraged yarrow, hydrangeas, poppy seed heads and rosehips. All are lovely photographed either in the garden or picked to use in creations. My favourite are the tiny rose buds that never open and have been frozen in time (I love using these to decorate winter birthday cakes).
Evocative winter photos: This is all about bringing in the cosy, nurturing feeling of winter – fire and candles – warm light, cooking, warm drinks and blankets and incorporating them into your shots. Or go the complete opposite to really emphasise the stark, cold nature of winter. Black & white images and/or minimalist with lots of negative space can all help accentuate this feeling.
Structure: Often at this time of the year the only thing left in the garden once all the herbaceous perennials have gone is the things that provide structure in the garden – hedges, walls, paths, evergreen shrubs. You can use all of the these elements in your photos to create geometric lines and symmetry. They often provide quite a striking contrast that you can use to your advantage.
Finding frames within the frame: Some of the elements above as well as tree branches can work really well to create a “frame” around your subject. This is a wonderful way of creating a bit of interest in the barren landscapes of winter and can create a real sense of depth to the image.
Searching for signs of spring: Tiny buds beginning to swell on fruit trees, tips of bulbs pushing through the soil. Macro shots of these can look wonderful and look especially great when poking through snow or frost. I quite like this effect of showing the teetering between the two seasons – a lone autumn leaf left on bare branches or bulbs in the snow.
Bringing nature indoors: Have a look around for wintery elements that you can bring indoors to create styled images with – lichen covered branches, fallen abandoned birds nests, stones or moss all work well.
Same place – different season: Taking photos of the same place or plant at different times of the year becomes a fascinating journey with your subject through the seasons.You could try doing this with a structure and its surrounding gardens or a favourite tree. I have taken a photo of my greenhouse through each of the seasons and as I live in area with very distinct seasons so it really is quite amazing to look back at the photo series and see just how different each season is here.
Finding a tiny element: Whereas in summer we are drawn to abundant overflowing harvest baskets, in winter all we need is to find a tiny element that we can add to our styled images. In the photo below I have created a flat lay with vintage books and paper plus a cup of tea and then used a single stem of Iceland poppy to add to the image. All it takes is one tiny fresh element to bring the image to life.
Looking for shape and texture: In winter when all of the colour is washed out of the garden as opposed to summer where it is easy to rely on colour for our point of interest, it is important to look for shape and texture to create a focal point in our photos. When photographing flat colour, it helps to seek out contrast - the play of light against dark. This is especially good in the snow; think blackened branches or a river snaking through a white snowy landscape.
If you are getting completely bored with your space even after reading these tips you could begin to look further afield so see what photo opportunities are available in your surrounding area – gardens you walk past, local botanical gardens, nature walks, rivers, paddocks and hills can all bring inspiration.
