Some of us will go out in the cold, no matter how bad the weather is, to find the crisp winter light. Your trip will be more fun if you plan it ahead of time.
The harshest parts of our weather come out in the winter, so many people put their cameras away until early spring. But if you put your camera away, you'll miss out on the natural beauty this magical season has to offer.
Here are some tips that will make the trip more fun.
- Keep an eye on the weather. Knowing what the weather will be like is very important. You don't want to drive for a few hours and then hear on the radio that it's going to rain for the next few days. During the winter, the weather can change in a big way in just a few hours.
- Wear the right clothes. When you're out taking pictures in the winter, it's very important to keep warm. Winter has the worst weather, so if you want to go outside for a few days, you should always be well-prepared.
It's always a good idea to tell someone where you're going and what route you plan to take. If you get hurt or get stuck in a storm, someone might be able to help you.
- Look for details. Snow, ice, and frost make most subjects look and feel different. When it's cold and early in the morning, close-up photography is at its best. The frosty morning also makes our landscapes look like they have patterns.
- Only bring what you need. Only bring the things you can't live without. You don't have to upload every piece of equipment in your camera bag. If you're going to be out all day taking pictures, you should pack as little as possible. Keeping your energy up will also help you carry a light load. You might be climbing icy rocks or crossing snow-covered hills; a warm flask would serve you much better than a third camera.
Be careful where you put your camera. If you're taking pictures early in the morning, try putting it at an angle to the sun. This will create strong shadows in your pictures. This will also give your landscape photos more mood. Once you've found the right spot, pay special attention to what's in the foreground. This will give your picture more depth.
- Be careful when you expose. Snow and ice are very hard to expose correctly. Usually, snow makes it hard for your camera's metering system or hand-held light metre to work. When you take a light reading in snow, the picture will always be underexposed. The metre will say that the snow is grey.
Now is the time to start taking shots in a range. If you shoot in a bracket, add 1 to 2 stops of light to make up for what your light metre says. Using an 18 percent grey card, which I explained in a previous article, should also give you a perfect light reading.
