Sean Jones is a professional wildlife photographer based in Staveley, North Yorkshire. He runs both group and individual workshops at Staveley nature reserve for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and in this article he sets out some of his top tips for making the very best of the winter light for wildlife photography...
Photographing Yorkshire's Wildlife in Winter
Sean Jones
The Yorkshire winter might feel bleak at first glance. Bare trees, frosty mornings, and short days but for wildlife photographers, it offers a magical stage to capture the secret lives of the fantastic wildlife that calls Yorkshire “home”.
Sean Jones
Timing is everything
In winter, the short daylight hours work in your favour. Golden hour arrives later in the morning and returns early in the afternoon, meaning you don’t need to drag yourself out of bed at 4am to catch perfect light. Soft, low-angled sunlight cuts across frosty fields and woodlands, highlighting textures and adding warmth to otherwise cool scenes.
Morning tips: Head out just after sunrise to catch birds foraging, deer moving across open spaces, and the sparkle of frost or ice.
Afternoon tips: Around 3 to 4pm, light becomes golden again, illuminating hedgerows where robins, blackbirds, and blue tits often perch. The low sun can also silhouette larger animals like foxes, geese or herons against glowing skies.
Overcast days shouldn’t be dismissed either. The diffused light acts as a natural softbox, perfect for detailed shots of feathers, fur, and icy textures. Why not experiment with something out of the ordinary?
What about the rain you say? Personally, I’d say it’s one of my favourite conditions to photograph in. Try slowing down your shutter speed for some wonderful effects with streaks of rain as opposed to drops or, on the flip side of the same coin, if the light permits, why not increase the shutter speed to capture individual droplets of rain on or near your subject?
Choosing your subject
There is still plenty of interesting wildlife to spot in winter if you know where to look. Birds are the most accessible subjects, with many species flocking to gardens and parks for food. Robins, with their bright red breasts, provide a pop of colour against grey or snowy backdrops. Woodpeckers, finches, and nuthatches can often be spotted on feeders, while migratory visitors like waxwings occasionally arrive in towns and our country roads to feed on berries. Look out in particular for rowan trees in fruit.
A particular favourite of mine is the male bullfinch, which I always strive to photograph in the frost or snow. Its red colouring against the white of the surroundings makes for a wonderful photograph. In terms of our mammals, various deer are most visible in open landscapes, especially at dawn. Foxes and hares leave clear tracks in frost or snow, leading you to possible encounters. Along rivers and lakes, keep an eye out for otters, swans, and ducks – as reflections on icy water can create stunning compositions. Challenge yourself to capturing a specific species every time you go out. As an example, a male goldeneye on a patch of ice on a lake or river will provide you with a stunning image.
Even the smallest subjects have a winter charm. Frozen spiderwebs, frost-coated leaves, and lichens thriving on bare branches all make for beautiful macro studies as well.
Sean Jones
Distance vs Macro techniques
Sean Jones
Distance photography: For larger animals, patience is key. Stay downwind, move slowly, and use natural cover. Position yourself where animals are likely to pass such as a deer track or near a frozen pond - never, ever resort to chasing them. If using an iPhone, consider pairing it with a clip-on telephoto lens for extra reach.
Sean Jones
Macro photography: Cold weather slows down insects and small creatures, making them easier to photograph. Look for frozen seed heads, frosty moss, or fungi. When working close up, focus on textures and patterns. Tap the screen to set focus manually and lock exposure for consistent results.
Whatever your device of choice, learn its features inside and out. After all, you don’t want to miss that all important shot on the day because you didn’t know how to activate one of the many features of your phone!
Sean Jones
Shooting with a smartphone
You don’t need a professional camera to capture compelling winter wildlife. Modern iPhones and their equivalents are equipped with powerful sensors and features that can be argued can rival entry-level DSLRs, provided you use them wisely.
Stabilise your shots: Wildlife photography often means long zooms or low light. Hold your smartphone with both hands, brace against a tree or fence, or use a small tripod to avoid inevitable blur from the device moving.
Use burst mode: Animals rarely stay still. Holding down the shutter captures multiple frames, letting you select the sharpest moment.
Leverage telephoto and digital zoom carefully: On models with telephoto lenses, use the optical zoom first for clarity. If you must use the digital zoom, compose with extra space around your subject—cropping later often gives a cleaner result.
Macro mode: Many recent smartphones switch automatically into macro when you get close to a subject. Try shooting frost crystals, feathers, or insects clinging to winter plants. Look for backlighting to make ice sparkle.
RAW capture: With apps like Halide or Apple’s ProRAW setting, you can shoot in RAW format for better detail and editing flexibility, especially useful in tricky low light conditions.
Photographing our wonderful wildlife in winter is about embracing the season’s own beautiful features. The stripped-back landscapes, the ethereal light, and the resilience of animals create many stories worth capturing. Whether you’re crouched in a frosty meadow with a Mirrorless or DSLR camera or leaning on a garden fence with a smartphone, the magic lies in using the natural environment in terms of light and surroundings, being patient, and open and alert to surprise encounters!
So wrap up warm, step outside, and let the Yorkshire winter show you its hidden gems!
Find Sean's next photography workshop on our events page here