In Search of Winter (2023-2024)
photographing the winter that wasn't
Hey everyone! How's it going?
I had high hopes for my winter landscape photography this year.
After a successful Autumn that brought a riot of colour and contrasting conditions, my search for Winter landscape photography hit the ground running with a couple of days that saw an inch or two of soft powder dropped across Northumberland. Nothing too dramatic, but enough for a few successful days of shooting.
A Disappointing Winter for Photography
However, winter soon turned into one of the most disappointing seasons I can remember. The mostly mild and wet conditions that have characterized much of 2023's weather continued into 2024, severely limiting winter photography opportunities. This, coupled with a punishing workload, made it challenging to get out and shoot. It was especially frustrating knowing that there had been significant snowfall in the Grampians and Highlands of Scotland, yet I couldn’t find the time to travel there.
A Brief Recap of the Season
Reflecting on this, I invite you to join me for a brief recap of the winter landscape photography that wasn’t. I’ve covered much of my early winter photography in my 2023 round-up and in my "Castles in the Cold" article, which you can read for more details.
Capturing the Essence of Winter at Bolam Lake
The initial wintry spell was enough to bring me back to one of my favorite spots at Bolam Lake, where the lake had completely frozen over once again. On that visit, the evening sun cast a soft light that felt as delicate as the frost it illuminated. This, to me, epitomizes the look and feel of winter landscape photography. The two photos I captured here were taken just moments apart, as the evening transitioned from golden hour into blue hour, with a faint mist descending. The next day, rain returned, the ice thawed, and winter wouldn’t return for me until late January.
The Challenge of Photographing Cawfield Crags
When winter finally made a brief return, I headed west to Cawfield Crags on a bitterly cold morning, hoping to capture a sunrise over an inversion. Unfortunately, the UKV model failed to accurately predict the wind's strength and timing. Instead of the calm conditions I expected, a stiff offshore breeze arrived earlier than forecast, bringing with it a bank of cloud. While temperatures had risen slightly, a hard frost still covered the crags, resembling a bleak blanket of snow. Surprisingly, the excess cloud worked in my favor, enhancing the sunrise.
The Rewards of Localized Winter Landscape Photography
This is where prior reconnaissance paid off. Having scouted these hills several times before, I knew their rugged crags and outcrops would perfectly capture the glancing highlights of the rising sun at this time of year. It was just a matter of waiting for the right conditions to align and hoping for the best. Although a proper dusting of snow might have provided better color and feel, the frost created a more intimate, intense relationship with the landscape, conveying a sense of hardy, bleak wilderness that a snow covering would have softened.
About a quarter mile west of the crags is Cawfield Quarry where the lake there was partially frozen. The pre-dawn light looked fantastic reflected on its frozen surface and it was difficult to tear myself away to make sure I caught the photos of the hills above.
The theme that had come to dominate much of my photography throughout 2023 - i.e. photography of a more localised, intimate scope - presses on into 2024 as circumstance keeps me reigned in somewhat.
Continuing the Winter Photography Adventure
Mindful of making the most of the current cold weather, I continued my winter landscape photography adventure with a visit to one of my favorite waterfalls, hoping to see a shallow Birkey Burn flowing through a landscape of frost and icicles. Unfortunately, as the burn sits in a hollow surrounded by trees that trap what little warmth remained, no frost was present, and only a few small pockets of icicles clung to the falls.
Looking Ahead After a Forgettable Winter
As I write this, another Sudden Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event has been forecast, but a repeat of last year’s remarkable snowfall across the north Pennines—or anywhere else—seems increasingly unlikely. And so, a forgettable season with little opportunity comes and goes. With overcast and gloomy weather persisting into the early days of spring, I’ve decided not to be discouraged by the weather. Instead, I’ll plan and prepare for upcoming shoots so that when those small, brief opportunities do arise, I’ll be ready to make the most of them.
And, of course, there’s a certain trip Stateside to prepare for...
Comments are closed.
