Snow and Ice

Sprout Creek, Lagrangeville

If you haven't noticed, it's cold outside! Snow, ice and cold are the subject of our next digital assignment. Here are a couple of tips for taking snow photos. Take lots of images and post your most interesting "five" to your blog.

1. Control Exposure - Even though smartphone cameras take great photos, it is wise to consider controlling your exposure manually. Light meters in cameras try to expose the large snow areas as 18 percent gray, leaving you with a dark image. With film, photographers will often "overexpose" 2 stops to make the snow appear white. The latest Iphone operating system allows for some control of exposure. If the snow in your digital images appears to dark, you can adjust it in Photoshop using the Brightness/Contrast controls. 
2. Make Sure you have a Subject - What exactly are you photographing? Name it in your mind. Remember the subject is the first thing the human eye will see when looking at your image.
3. Create Depth - Large areas of white can create a flat and lifeless image. Is there a distinct foreground, midground and background in your image?
4. Keep the Sun behind your back. (Bud don't get your shadow in the image.)
5. Best to shoot after a new fallen snow...nice and clean!
6. Branches heavily laden with snow make interesting images. (Contrast with dark pine trees works well too.)
7. Watch where your footprints are, they can ruin a great shot.
8. Capture action shots. (Kids playing, sledding, snowball fights)
9. Try getting a portrait. (See After the Crash below.)
10. Consider using black and white, it will bring out the starkness of a winter scene. 
11. If you use color, add contrast to make the color "pop". Red works really well in snow scenes.
12. Add people to your scene for reference. (In a landscape)
13. Stay warm! Dress appropriately for the conditions.
14. Keep your camera cold, if you keep it warm it will fog your lens!

After the Crash, Holga Photograph

St. Francis Statue

Never Dies