Local photographers share their most Instagrammable spots for the season – and top tips for capturing that perfect winter shot
Mark Box
Waterbeach, just outside Cambridge, feels like a hidden pocket of calm. In winter, the river and surrounding fields take on a dreamy, misty quality that makes you forget you’re only minutes from the city.
Waterbeach – Mark Box
It’s a place where the light changes by the second and, if you’re patient, you’ll catch magical moments when the sun starts to burn through the fog and everything glows.
Top tip: set the alarm early! The best winter shots happen at first light, when the cold night air still clings to the ground and the rising sun warms the land. That’s when you get those low-lying mist layers and undisturbed wildlife, perfect for adding atmosphere to your photos.
Greg Painter
My favourite Cambridgeshire spot for winter photography has to be RSPB Fowlmere, a wonderful nature reserve where you never know what you might encounter.
RSPB Fowlmere – Greg Painter
Patience and planning are key – be prepared to wait in the cold, dress warmly and aim for sunrise or sunset when the light is most beautiful and wildlife is most active.
If you’re lucky, you might spot marsh harriers hunting over the reedbed, a starling murmuration at dusk or even a barn owl flying over the mere.
Martin Bond
Our winters are much milder than in the past and so it’s unusual to have sub-zero temperatures over a period of several days. However, when this does happen, the photographer seeking a perfect winter scene should head for the frozen flooded fields around Upware and Welney for an activity steeped in history – fen skating.
Upware and Welney – Martin Bond
Fen skating has been part of Fenland life for centuries: in towns and villages throughout the region, local men would compete for prizes of money, clothing or food during severe winters when agricultural work was unavailable. Their legendary endurance races and informal matches are the stuff of local folklore.
If you are lucky, as I was in 2022, the icy conditions might coincide with a morning mist or even a hoarfrost, which adds drama to the scene.
When wandering about in sub-zero temperatures, it pays to keep plenty of spare batteries to hand since the cold weather dramatically shortens battery life. When you get home, leave your camera in the bag so it acclimatises slowly to avoid condensation on your equipment.
When shooting wintry scenes, set your ISO low (100-400) to minimise noise, use low apertures (f/5.6-11) for sharpness and add positive exposure compensation to prevent the snow from looking grey. To capture action, use a fast shutter speed (1/500sec).
Cheten Sharma
I moved to Cambridge in 2019, and it didn’t take long for me to fall completely in love with the city’s quiet beauty and timeless charm. I’m especially drawn to photographing the bridges that gracefully span the River Cam.
River Cam – Cheten Sharma
Each bridge tells its own story, but my favourite vantage point is Garret Hostel Bridge, which offers a stunning view of both Trinity Bridge and Clare Bridge. In winter, when the morning mist drifts above the water and the soft light glows against the stone arches, the scene feels almost dreamlike.
For those hoping to capture this view, I recommend heading out early to make the most of the gentle winter light and using the bridge railing to steady your camera for longer exposures. To enhance the magic, I often use an ND filter, which allows for extended exposures that turn the river’s surface into a smooth, silky surface, perfectly reflecting the calm serenity of the season.
There’s a quiet, enduring charm to photographing Cambridge’s bridges in winter; a peaceful reminder of the city’s lasting elegance.
