Capture in January! 11 Recommended Subjects to Feel the Beauty of Winter and the New Year | Release #410

The first sunrise of the year symbolizes the beginning of a new year and offers a precious opportunity to capture a special moment in a photograph. To capture the sunrise in a grand manner, it is effective to use a wide-angle lens to dynamically capture the entire landscape.

If you want to make the sun the main subject, use a telephoto lens to zoom in and highlight the sun's light and the sky's gradient. Using an ND filter to adjust the light can prevent overexposure and result in an impressive shot.

Snowy landscapes, with their expansive white world, are subjects that convey the pure beauty unique to winter. To beautifully express the pure white snow, it is advisable to slightly lower the camera's exposure compensation to prevent overexposure and focus on sharp contrast.

Using a wide-angle lens allows you to magnificently depict vast snowy fields and snow-covered mountain landscapes. On sunny days, the contrast between the blue sky and the snow is vividly highlighted, and even on cloudy days, the soft light accentuates the texture of the snow. A photo contest themed on snowy landscapes and the color white is also being held.

In January, there are winter flowers that bloom gracefully even in the cold. The translucent yellow of wintersweet, the pure white of daffodils, and the vivid red of camellias add elegant colors to the winter landscape. When photographing these flowers, it is effective to use a macro lens to delicately capture the texture of the petals and the details of the flower's core.

Also, by shooting from a low angle with the blue sky as a background, you can express the cold air of winter while highlighting the colors of the flowers.

The Quadrantids meteor shower, which peaks from January 3rd to 4th, is an astronomical event that fantastically decorates the winter night sky. A tripod is essential for starry sky photography, and it is recommended to set the camera's sensitivity high and use long exposure of about 15 to 30 seconds.

Choosing a mountainous area or seaside with little light pollution allows you to capture the meteor shower's trails more clearly.

The clear winter nights are perfect for night view photography. The cityscapes adorned with high-rise buildings and illuminations offer enchanting light performances. When shooting, use a tripod to prevent camera shake and set the ISO sensitivity low for a sharp finish.

Additionally, using a cross filter can emphasize light streaks, giving a more dramatic impression.

As a natural phenomenon unique to the severe cold of January, there are frozen waterfalls. The waterfalls, frozen like a curtain of ice, become a fantastic and powerful photograph. When shooting, use an ND filter to adjust the light and aim for an expression that makes the water flow appear frozen through long exposure.

Also, using a telephoto lens to capture the details of the ice can further highlight the texture of the ice.

January is the time when winter birds like swans and ducks fly to lakes and rivers. When photographing these birds, it is key to use a telephoto lens to capture the subjects largely.

Shooting on the water surface reflecting the morning or evening sun can also achieve dramatic light effects. To capture scenes with movement, it is effective to set a faster shutter speed.

Rime ice and frost, created by the severe cold of winter, are subjects with the beauty of natural artworks. To capture the delicate crystals of rime ice and the impressive frost covering the trees, it is effective to shoot the grand landscape with a wide-angle lens.

Even on cloudy days, the texture of the snow stands out, allowing you to enjoy shooting even in low-light conditions.

The Coming of Age Ceremony in January is an attractive subject with the splendor of formal attire. By shooting close-ups of the beautiful patterns of the kimono and the details of accessories, you can bring out the individuality of the subject.

For portrait photography, using a lens with a low aperture value to blur the background can result in a more impressive finish.

The winter hot spring towns, enveloped in steam, offer a picturesque landscape unique to January. When shooting, aiming for the cold morning hours can make the steam stand out even more.

It's also good to capture the entire landscape of the hot spring town with a standard zoom lens, or to photograph the details of the buildings and portraits in yukata.


Despite the severe cold of January, if you go out with a camera, beautiful winter scenes and special moments await. Please refer to this list and express the charm of winter through photography.