First Light, First Snow: A Wintry Start to 2026 in the Ogwen Valley

There is a specific kind of silence that only comes with the first snowfall of the year. It’s a muffling of the world, a literal clean slate that turns even the most familiar landscapes into something alien and majestic.

For my first photography outing of 2026, I knew exactly where I had to be: The Ogwen Valley in North Wales.

Into the White: The Ogwen Valley

As I drove into the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia), the transition was instant. The rugged greens and browns of the valley were replaced by a pristine, biting white. The peaks of Tryfan and the Glyderau were shrouded in cloud and capped with fresh powder, creating the kind of high-contrast drama that every landscape photographer dreams of.

The conditions were challenging—sub-zero temperatures and that biting Welsh wind—but the rewards were everywhere. From the frozen edges of Llyn Idwal to the way the dusting of snow highlighted the ancient textures of the rock faces, the valley felt like a living gallery.

Capturing the Scene

My goal for this first session of the year was to focus on the scale of the valley. I spent a lot of time working with lead-in lines provided by the half-buried stone walls and the dark, meandering streams that cut through the white blanket.

Pro Tip: When shooting in heavy snow, remember to overexpose by +1 or +2 stops. Your camera’s meter wants to turn that brilliant white into a dull grey—don't let it!

Watch the Adventure on YouTube

I brought the cinema camera along for this trip to capture the movement of the mist through the valley and the sound of the crunching snow underfoot. If you want to see the behind-the-scenes process and the final high-res gallery from this trip, head over to the channel.

Steve Stain Photography - YouTube

Big News: 2026 Photography Workshops

With the new year comes new opportunities to get out into the field together. I am incredibly excited to announce that I will be running photography workshops throughout 2026.

These workshops will be held in some of my favorite locations across the UK:

• Composition & Storytelling: Finding the shot in a cluttered landscape.

• Mastering the Elements: How to shoot in snow, rain, and "bad" weather.

• Post-Processing: Bringing your RAW files to life.

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Want to be the first to know?

Official dates and locations will be released very soon. To ensure you get priority booking and the early-bird details, subscribe to the website newsletter below. 

What’s your photography goal for 2026? Let me know in the comments below!