Picturing Ohio in Winter

Sometimes winter in Ohio seems to last longer than just a season. The weeks of January and February drag on and on and spring seems like a distant hope. For those of us that count photography among our many hobbies, winter can be especially brutal. So I wanted to write a short piece on picturing Ohio in winter.

A tree, in the foreground, frames a wintery scene. — Winter landscapes can be a little desolate, but you can appreciate it if you look closely. This field looks like it’s full of diamonds.

Coming Down from Autumn

Autumn, for photographers, is a magical time. With fairs and festivals, trips to the pumpkin patch, and falling leaving there are a multitude of things to catch the attention of our lens. And the light, well the light is golden. It’s a sort of natural high for us.

A golden doodle jumps and plays in the snow. — Our dog, Pumpkin, is a willing model even in the winter.

At the beginning of winter, we’re distracted by holiday cheer, shiny baubles and Christmas lights. It keeps us busy and gives us plenty to focus on (pun intended).

By early January, when the trees have come down and routine has returned to normal, winter becomes a desolate landscape. Our cameras can take a place on a shelf, gathering dust until the first robin of spring makes an appearance.

I coaxed Natalie into playing in the snow with our dog and caught this shot of her taking a break.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Admittedly, finding interesting subjects to photograph takes a little more work in winter. But opportunities do exist.

Picturing Ohio in Winter

If you’d like to work on picturing Ohio in winter, get creative. Talk your kids or grandkids into a snowy hike, sledding or snowboarding. Check to see if the neighbor kids built a snowman. Take your dog for a walk in the snow. Try to look at nature from a new perspective.

Ducks and geese on a pond in winter taken in Chillicothe Ohio's Yoctangee Park. — I caught this snowy scene with my phone at Chillicothe’s Yoctangee Park.

If you plan on shooting, be sure to be smart about the weather. Dress appropriately and don’t forget gloves. Protect yourself and your camera from the elements. If you’re going alone, be sure to let someone know where you’ll be. And perhaps most importantly, keep your trips short. In addition to shortening the battery life of your camera, longer trips can present dangers such as frostbite. Keep it short and keep it fun.

Red berries encapsulated in ice in the winter. — A few years ago we had an ice storm. Everything was encapsulated in ice. You have to be ready when opportunities present.

What shots do you like best in the winter? Do you have any great tips for shooting in the weather?

A girl snowboarding on the left and on the right a young woman posing with her dog in the snow. — Amanda (left) and Natalie are older now, but still like to play in the snow sometimes.

FindingOhio in Winter

Thanks for joining us in FindingOhio today. If you’re interested in photography, be sure to visit our photography page. There are lots of great places to visit in Ohio in the winter.

Photos of a golden doodle dog playing in the snow in Ohio. — My dog is a willing model so long as I let him play in the snow. The silly shot on the right came after Natalie threw a handful of snow in his direction. Be careful not to keep pets out too long in the cold.

If you’re looking for some ideas, check the day trips section. You can also take a look at last year’s winter hike to Rising Park in Lancaster. For some great winter ideas, check out the winter section of Ohio’s official tourism page.

A photo of a dad and daughter with their snowman taken in the mid 1970s. — Not every photo has to be a work of art. This shot of Dad and I around 1976 is just a snapshot. It’s not a great shot or even particularly in focus, but I’m still glad to have it. Take joy, this winter, in taking photos.

Thanks again for visiting. As always, we appreciate you sharing our content to your social media pages. This gives us an opportunity to spread the message that the Buckeye State is a great place to live and visit!