![]() In the winter, places like Alaska, Iceland, and Norway, offer fantastic opportunities to capture the aurora. Perhaps Mother Nature’s greatest display, the Northern Lights are one of those natural phenomena that leave you at a loss for words. ![]() I find that night photography in the winter can be one of the most productive times for astrophotography In the northern latitudes, the reason is simple – the Northern Lights. Look at the image below – the colors in the sky look good, and the cool mood is nice, but the snow is oversaturated and looks unnatural. When snow is underexposed and in the shadows, it’s much easier to overdo the color. When you do, you might find that you pushed the colors too much.Ī side note – I find that it is much easier to dial in realistic colors if you’re starting with an optimal exposure that’s exposed to the right. Take a step back, let a processed image rest for a day before coming back to it. My advice is to take some time while processing your winter images. I’m guilty of it myself, and to some, that appearance may be enticing. However, I’ve found it is very easy to go too far, and the result is oversaturated snow or a color cast. Incorporating or emphasizing blues and cooler tones helps portray the feeling of winter to the viewer and audience. I find that a ‘cool’ approach works well for processing winter scenes. Most winter scenes that include snow, will need positive values of exposure compensation applied so the scene is balanced and exposed properly.Īnother issue is processing winter scenes. ![]() This won’t apply to you if you’re shooting in manual, but if you’re using a mode like Aperture or Shutter Speed Priority, pay close attention to your histogram. The brightness plays tricks on the internal metering system of cameras and a camera will tend to compensate for snow by underexposing the entire scene. Snow reflects a lot of light, and thus, it appears very bright. Winter elements, especially snow, affect optimal exposure and subsequent processing. They can keep your hands warm if you have to take off gloves/mittens to adjust camera settings, and I have even used them to unfreeze tripod twist-locks in freezing temperatures. They are an essential piece for me in winter. I overdressed, made sure my camera gear was accounted for and easily accessible, I had additional gear for wading in cold water, and it made my experience much better than ‘wading in -30 degrees’ implies. I wore waders and waded into some rivers by Jasper National Par for many shoots. Be prepared for shorter battery lengths and lens fogging due to condensation.Ī few winters ago, I visited the Canadian Rockies during a stretch of -30 degree F weather. That means understanding how the temperatures will affect your camera gear too. That means having the appropriate clothing – down jacket, layers, insulated mittens, hand warmers, etc. You’ll have a better experience and you’ll be safer if you’re overprepared. Especially, if you’re planning on taking advantage of that ‘bad’ weather. Being ill-prepared for winter shooting is a recipe for disaster. This isn’t so much a photography tip, as it is a general gear tip. The storm left behind multiple feet of snow in some places. The image below was taken just following a significant blizzard at Yosemite National Park. It’s simple, elegant, and it is much easier to compose.Ĭhasing new or fresh snow, or going to a place where there’s always a lot of snow (like the mountains) can make your photography life easier – it will help you create a composition that has a stronger focus on your main subject, and it will also allow you to ‘see’ the landscape better since it’s easier to identify things like leading lines. Take that same forest, but coat the understory with snow, it’s a totally different place. It’s complex and has many distractions, those distractions make it hard to compose a great image. A typical forest is laden with branches, twigs, plant growth, and more. It wipes away distractions and provides a clean slate in many cases. It is also a very important element for photography. These are some tips that I’ve compiled from my experiences and I hope they help you with your next winter adventure.Īh, fresh snow, such a beautiful sight. These experiences have made me more aware and in-tune with how to approach winter photography. I’ve made mistakes, been unprepared, and experienced a lot of different conditions. Over the years, I’ve learned something new after every winter excursion. Although the cold temperatures and harsh weather conditions can make it tough to shoot and get outside, the unique elements that accompany winter can create some fantastic images. Winter is an excellent time for landscape photography, and it’s one of my favorites.
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