The X-Shop Best Winter Screenshot Contest! 🎄✈️
Winter in flight simulators is a special magic. Snow-covered runways, ice crystals on the fuselage, northern lights over the wing, frosty haze over airports... Each of us has seen these fascinating moments on MSFS or X-Plane, and now you have a chance to share them with the community!
X-Shop launches the New Year's contest "The Best winter screenshot", where each participant receives an award — even just for participating. Yes, yes, we award 150 X-Shop Rewards points to everyone who sends their work! 💙
, How do I participate?
Everything is as simple as possible:
1.Take a winter screenshot in Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane
Snow, frost, blizzard, Christmas lights — any winter atmosphere is welcome!
2.Send a screenshot to the private messages of the X-Shop channel
Just one file is your best winter job.
3.Specify the email address from your aviashop.online account
This is a prerequisite for earning points! We will not be able to transfer the reward to you without specifying your email address.
Get 150 X-Shop Rewards points just for participating!
Even if you don't make it into the top three winners, the points are still yours.
, Prize pool
The best works will be awarded with additional awards.:
1st place — 1000 X-Shop Rewards points
, 2nd place — 500 points
🥉 3rd place — 300 points
All the winners will also be featured in a separate X-Shop holiday post with your names and screenshots! ❄️✨
, Important dates
Acceptance of works: until December 27 inclusive
Summing up: 1-2 days after the completion of the work
Don't delay until the last moment — winter is already here, and your perfect shot awaits!
Screenshot requirements
In order for the work to pass moderation, make sure that:
There is a winter atmosphere: snow, ice, frosty weather, winter airports or a festive mood.
Any aircraft and any location — from light Cessnas over Alaska to heavy Boeing over snowy Europe
You can use filters and color correction, but without excessive photoshop and editing.
One participant = one job — choose your best shot!
, Life hacks for creating the perfect winter screenshot
Do you want your work to stand out? Here are some tips from the X-Shop team:
1. Play with the lighting
The winter sun creates unique lighting effects — low sun, long shadows, golden light on the snow. Try shooting at sunrise or sunset for a dramatic atmosphere. Night flights with lights of cities and airports also look magical!
2. Choose the right weather
In MSFS, use live weather or set it manually: add snowfall, fog, or low clouds. In X-Plane, experiment with weather plugins like Active Sky or built-in presets. A light snowstorm or frosty haze will add atmosphere.
3. Find winter locations
Not all airports look the same in winter. Try:
Alaska (PANC Anchorage, PAFA Fairbanks)
Scandinavia (ENGM Oslo, ESSA Stockholm)
Canada (CYVR Vancouver, CYYZ Toronto)
Alps (LSZH Zurich, LOWI Innsbruck)
Russia (UUEE Moscow, USSS Yekaterinburg)
4. Turn on Replay Mode
Many of the best shots are born not in flight, but when reviewed through playback mode. You can find the perfect angle, catch the plane in a beautiful U-turn, or capture a landing from the side.
5. Processing is your friend
Light color correction can turn a good screenshot into a masterpiece. Add a little contrast, emphasize the cool shades of blue and white, and lower the saturation slightly for a "frosty" effect. But remember — the main thing is not to overdo it!
6. Composition solves everything.
Apply the rule of thirds: place the plane not in the center, but in one of the side thirds of the frame. Add a foreground (wing, engine) for depth. The horizon should be flat, unless you're intentionally creating a dynamic shot.
, Do not forget to specify an email!
This is critically important: in order to earn 150 points for participation and prize points in case of victory, we need your email from the aviashop.online account. Without this information, we will not be able to physically transfer the award to you. Make sure that you have entered the correct address — the same one that you used when registering at the store!
Why is it worth participating?
Each participant receives a guaranteed reward of 150 points.
The chance to win up to 1000 points is enough for serious purchases at aviashop.online
Recognition in the community — you will get into the X-Shop holiday post
Inspiration and exchange of experience — look at the work of other pilots, discover new locations
Festive mood — creating a beautiful screenshot is a pleasure in itself!
How do I submit the work?
Just write to the private messages of the X-Shop channel, attach your screenshot and specify your email address. That's it! We will process your application, and points will be awarded after verification.
Winter in flight simulators is beautiful, and we want you to share this beauty with us and the whole community. It doesn't matter if you're a professional screenshot artist or if you're taking your first pictures — participate, create, and receive rewards!
We are waiting for your winter masterpieces until December 27th! ❄️✈️
The X-Shop team