November Newsletter - Photography in the Snow
Nov 12, 2020
When the adverse weather hits, most people run inside. The only reason you should run inside is to get your camera. Here are some tips to help catch those great snow photos.
1. Shoot in Aperture Priority Mode Aperture Priority will allow you to quickly change your depth of field. When shooting in Aperture Priority, the camera will choose the appropriate shutter speed. Aperture Priority is great in cold weather because it also reduces the number of things you have to keep track of. By only setting your aperture value, the camera will automatically change your shutter speed. It will also set your ISO, as long as it is set to Auto ISO. However, I usually keep my ISO at 100 to keep noise to minimum. In the snow and bright light it won’t make much difference. This is best for cold weather where you only want to focus on the minimal changes. Less changes mean fewer fingers out in the cold.
2. White Balance
Snow pictures using default or automatic settings on your camera can turn out gray. The reason for this is exposure and white balance. The camera gets confused in the bright snow because your camera thinks the world is gray. So, when it sees a bright snowy image, it will automatically try and adjust the picture to make your image look gray. Snow usually shows up on the blue side of the color spectrum. Try using the cloudy white balance setting or manually set your white balance around 6,500 kelvin.
3. Exposure
If you want your snow to be white you have to overexpose because your meter wants everything to be gray. With snow photography, it’s a good idea to overexpose to compensate for your camera’s automatic metering system (which is calibrated for middle gray). Just move your exposure compensation dial up by 1 to 2 stops and you will have perfectly white snow in your image. If you don’t, you’ll end up with different tones of dull gray images.
4. Keep Extra Battery Warm
Batteries lose charge in the cold and in the extreme cold they can lose their charge very quickly. So not only do you want to have an extra battery, be sure to keep that extra battery warm. Put it in an inside pocket if possible.
5. Check the Histogram
Another idea for checking your exposure when shooting in the snow is to take a look at your histogram to be sure you are not losing image details in the snow. The histogram will tell you if your highlights are overexposed or blown out. Conversely, you want to be sure you’re not overcompensating and underexposing everything. So, it’s a good idea to shoot in raw so you can make adjustments when you get home.
6. Metering
Most DSLR cameras a different light metering modes to select from. If you have a Canon, start with Evaluative Metering, or Matrix Metering for Nikon users. For sunny days, try Spot Metering.
7. Protect Your Camera
Before heading out in the cold winter, be sure you have either a UV or clear filter to protect the front elements of your camera lens from moisture and condensation. To avoid condensation buildup in your camera when you come in from the cold, grab a large zip-lock bag for your camera and seal it tight. Throw a couple of silicon packs in the bag to help absorb moisture. Keep the bag closed when you get home and don’t open it until the camera reaches room temperature. Allowing your camera to return to normal temperature gradually will significantly reduce that chance of condensation.
8. Photograph in the Mornings to Capture Snowy Details
With snow photography, you need to be fast. Get up early and get outside. Actually, the earlier the better, as it’s much colder in the mornings than during midday. The sun throws light all over our blue planet. While it does this, the light heats up everything that it touches. As soon as the light hits the snow, it will start to melt. The smaller details, such as icicles and snowflakes, will disappear fast. Aim for the smaller details first, and the bigger ones later.
9. Dress in Layers to Stay Warm
It goes without saying – if you are out in the cold, you need to dress up warm. Layers and a good hat and gloves are a must. No matter how you feel now, you’ll quickly become miserable if you are cold. You won’t be able to focus if your brain is screaming ‘get warm!’. Plus, your fingers will be useless. You can also take sunglasses so you don’t feel the snow blindness.
10. Focus on the Contrast
For snow photography, you’ll find it difficult to focus. This is due to the weather conditions of winter. The cold temperature can create a mist or fog, especially in the early morning or late at night. This is something that will soften the lines you would usually focus on. Also, trying to capture scenes where the color white is predominant will make it difficult to focus.
11. Use a Lens Hood
A lens hood is probably something you don’t use often, if at all. You may think you don’t have any, but, if you check the box your lens came in, you may have left it behind. With snow photography, the chance for lens flares is higher. This is because the snow is very reflective due to its white color. The hood will help avoid these.
12. Try a Polarizing Filter to Limit Snow Reflection
A polarizing filter sits at the front of your camera lens. It has a few uses, such as suppressing glare from reflective surfaces. It also helps to darken skies, and this is the reason why it might be helpful for snow photography. If you are using a circular polarizing filter, you can control how strongly the polarizing affects your images. You have more control over the light balance over the sky and highlighted areas of the shot.
13. Stock Up on Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths are a godsend for photographers. They are great at cleaning the glass on your lens. Not only cleaning but also wiping off a little moisture from your lens. **Breathing on your lens can turn the moisture into a thin sheet of ice. So use a cloth. Will you be out experimenting on the next snow day? I’m planning on it.