DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY NEWS FROM ePHOTOzine

 

The Dolomites have been captured in all their beauty in this superb shot titled “Dolomite View” by site member PaulHolloway.

The view is filled with amazing detail, from the crisp mountain peaks to the soft layers of light that give the scene shape and atmosphere. The natural tones and textures bring out the character of the landscape, while the sweeping view creates a calm, open feeling. It is the kind of image that makes you pause and take in the wide mountain world in front of you, almost as if you are standing there yourself. Simply put, it is an amazing view and a superb photograph that is worthy of POTW recognition.

Every Photo of the Week (POTW) winner will be rewarded with a Samsung 128GB PRO Plus microSDXC memory card with SD adapter, providing top-tier storage for all your creative needs across multiple devices. But that's not all! In January 2026, we’ll crown our 2025 Photo of the Year winner, who will take home the ultimate prize of a Samsung Portable 1TB SSD T7 Shield, courtesy of Samsung. It’s time to shoot, submit, and showcase your best work for a chance to win these incredible rewards!

The temperatures are slowly dropping which means it's a good time to start thinking about cold weather photography.

Photo by David Clapp - www.davidclapp.co.uk

 

What To Wear

Layers are key as lots of thinner layers will trap more warmth than a single thick coat, plus you can always take a layer off if you get too warm! Always wear a waterproof outer layer and don't forget your scarf and a hat that covers your ears. Even though they can be a bit annoying, gloves are a must too and if you don't want to spend time removing them every-time you want to adjust your camera, invest in a fingerless pair, or a set that have a mitten part you can pull over your fingers when not using your camera. If your gloves are made of wool or fleece, do note that they do get very wet easily and this can lead to your hands becoming cold rather quickly. Wear boots that are waterproof, warm and most importantly have a good grip. Carry spare socks too as having wet feet, particularly when it's cold, isn't a fun experience.

 

Carry Food And Drink

If you're planning on heading out in the cold for a few hours, always take some food and drink with you. A small flask of something warm such as tea, coffee or soup can be warming on particularly cold days.

 

Always Tell People

Make sure someone knows where you are heading and when possible, take someone with you. If you are heading out on your own always write down where you'll be as people have a habit of forgetting things if you just tell them verbally.

Do double-check you have your mobile phone with you (and that it's charged) before leaving the house as telling people where you're going won't be much use if they can't get in touch with you.

 

Your Gear

Even though modern gear copes rather well in all temperatures do still take spare batteries as they can lose their charge quicker in cold weather. Do remember that aluminium tripods become very cold to the touch in winter, so you may want to fasten it to your rucksack rather than carrying it in your hands.

Even if you're going to a location you know well it's still a good idea to pack a map and compass (even if you do have a smartphone!) and a remote shutter release will come in handy when you find yourself shivering. If you don't have a remote release consider using your camera's self-timer so shake doesn't spoil your shot. Increasing your ISO will also help keep shutter speeds higher.

 

Do Your Research

Don't push yourself too hard if you're planning on going for a walk and do try and find out what the terrain will be like at your chosen location for example,  is it muddy? Do surfaces become slippery after a cold night? Etc.

As days are shorter, do take drive times as well as how long it will take you to walk there and back (if you are) to your chosen photography spot into consideration as you don't really want to be walking back to your car in the dark! If you are planning on shooting a sunset, a head torch will be more useful than a hand-held one as it'll mean your hands are still free.

Check the weather regularly for a few days before your shoot as well as while you're out as weather, particularly up in mountainous areas, can go from fine to terrible quite rapidly.

Photo by David Pritchard

 

Gear:

• Wide angle lens – overall atmospheric shots of the market
• Zoom lens – shots of people and produce
• Camera that works well at higher ISOs – Christmas markets look particularly good in the evening so a camera which gets good results at the higher end of the ISO spectrum would be handy to have
• Tripod – If you can squeeze one into the crowds it will make your life a lot easier

Technique:

Festive markets are bursting with Christmas colours so make sure you take advantage of this. Late afternoon or early evening are the best times to visit as the dark sky against the festive lights create a magical atmosphere. Christmas wares on colourful displays look great so take the time to stand back and use a small aperture to get a stall's full collection of produce in. You may have to wait until almost closing time if you don't want people in your shot but shoppers, particularly if they're interacting with stall holders, can add to your picture. Just remember to be polite, ask if it's OK to photograph them and their stall and don't get in the way – it's a business after all so if they ask you to move on politely do so.

If there's room to get close to the gifts on offer look out for baubles and other decorations dangling from the stalls. They can make great macro shots, particularly if they're glittering against a background you've thrown deliberately out of focus. Adding a little flash can help quicken the shutter speed which can be a big help when working in low light.

As your market will probably be outdoors, watch your exposure as it can alter drastically between the walkways and under the stalls which can cause your shots to be underexposed. Keep an eye on your white balance too as street lights can look rather orange. You'll probably find it's best to bracket most of your shots, taking a shot above and below the correct exposure. Try standing back and shooting enough shots to stitch together as a panorama to show people the whole scene.

There's no doubt that the market will be bustling so there will be ample chance to capture some shots of people wrapped up in their winter gear, carrying plenty of shopping bags filled with Christmas gifts. Try using a slower shutter speed to blur their movement as they walk through your frame. If any lights are swaying or there are fairground rides these will also work well blurred into colourful lines of light.