Ten Stunning Winter Photographs you’ll Wish you’d Taken

The French, Italian and Swiss Alps have no shortage of stunning scenery, and this snap captures it perfectly. The winter haze and distant snow look magical in black and white.

Frozen tree limbs rising skyward like bones – what’s not to love? Evocative and beautiful, this picture is sure to make you wish that you were the one stood atop a mountain with a camera.

During winter, Japanese Macaques descend on the hot springs of Joshinetsu Kogen National Park. Bathing to escape the harsh cold, family groups arrive like clockwork every year, but not everyone gets a space. Luckily for this bright-eyed youngster, his mother sits higher up the ranks.

Ski lodges and chalets have some of the best views in the world, but snapping a picture that truly captures their magic is a challenge. This one, however, breaks the mould: just look at that sweeping landscape.

Meltwater is the run-off from melting snow and glacial ice – a force to be reckoned with in regions which endure particularly intense winters. The image above is a spectacular example of the power of meltwater, transforming vast, snowy banks into colossal waterfalls.

Japan is a wildlife haven and, by extension, a photographer’s paradise. A symbol of longevity and fidelity, Red Crowned Cranes dance ceremonially with partners to strengthen their lifelong bond – a real spectacle.

Sport photography is a tricky business, especially when you add snow into the mix. With flakes flying and sun glancing off the bright white landscape, getting that perfect shot takes practice. This adrenaline-filled snap of a snowkiter in the Alps is a prime example of getting it right: clear, multi-layered and, most of all, exciting!

It’s hard to resist a hazy winter photograph. This stunning shot really brings the landscape to life, taking advantage of the moody lighting and passing deer to convey the harshness of the season.

You’d be hard-pressed to find an image as evocative as that of a lone lighthouse being battered by the elements. Add snow and a slow shutter speed to the mix, and what you get is a dramatic image filled with crashing waves and an eerie atmosphere.

Brave a wailing snowstorm and this is the result: a dynamic image that captures just how wild this most festive of seasons can get. Shot from just the right angle, the sun lights up delicate snowflakes as they fly by in the biting wind, like nature’s glitter.