Snowy Djurgården in January – A Winter Photo Walk in Stockholm
This walk was about observing the bleak but beautiful winter scenes around Djurgården and using contrast to bring out a moody feeling in the photos.
Introduction
I joined one of the regular walks organised by STHLM Photowalks, wandering through the park as the afternoon light faded and the temperature dropped.
For this walk I kept things simple.
Camera: Fujifilm X-T5
Lens: XF 23mm f/2
Film Simulation: Kodak T-Max P3200
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A Fujifilm film simulation recipe for X-Trans IV & V. (Based on FujixWeekly / community.fujixweekly.com)
This is my go-to recipe for a contrasty black and white photos.
Film Simulation: Acros (or Acros+Y, Acros+R, Acros+G)
Monochromatic Color (Toning): WC -1 & MG -1
Grain Effect: Strong, Large
Color Chrome Effect: Off
Color Chrome FX Blue: Off
White Balance: 5500K, +4 Red & +7 Blue
Dynamic Range: DR400
Highlight: +1
Shadow: +3
Sharpness: +2
High ISO NR: -4
Clarity: +1
ISO: up to ISO 12800
Exposure Compensation: 0 to +2/3 (typically)
You can also find the full recipe here on FujixWeekly
The walking route:
We started from cafe Matmeka at Etnografiska Museum, then walked slowly back towards the Kungsträdgården area.
People walking along the snowy path
Winter strips the scenes down to essentials of white snow and dark, bleak surroundings. The dark coats, white ground, repeating and subtle movement of the people walking and the snow falling made for a nice atmospheric shot.
People walking through Djurgården
Ducks drifting beneath the bridge
The calm water broken by gentle ripples. Ducks drift along the water creating symmetrical leading lines with the bollards in the water.
A man walks past a statue
Human scale against something permanent. The grain and contrast of the T-Max simulation helped create an interesting composition of the statue and the person walking. There was something that I found interesting about the high contrast of the dark figure and stature against the bright snowy ground.
Black and white photo of a man walking past a statue at Djurgården, Stockholm
Tree stumps framing a distant building
The rough texture of the wood against the snow and the softer shapes in the distance worked well in black and white, especially with the added grain of the Kodak T-Max simulation.
Black and white photo of Djurgården Stockholm
Why Black and White Works So Well in Djurgården
Djurgården photography in winter benefits from simplicity. There is less visual noise, fewer colours competing for attention. Black and white strengthens that effect.
The Kodak TMax P3200 look adds a slightly gritty edge that prevents winter scenes from feeling too clean or postcard-like. It brings out structure in snow, texture in trees, and depth in shadows. For Stockholm winters, this balance feels natural and believable.
Closing thoughts
This snowy Djurgården walk was a great exercise in observing small interactions between people, nature, and space, and letting the mood of winter shape the images.
With the Fujifilm X-T5, the XF 23mm f/2, and the Kodak TMax P3200 simulation, the results feel textured and atmospheric.
Get in touch and let me know what you think of the photos, and if you have any questions!
