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Winter Photography Tips

1. Overexpose snow up to a full stop

When you shoot with using a normal light-meter reading, the snow will often be underexposed and look dull and grey. This will especially happen on overcast days. A half a stop to one full stop overexposure will make the snow look white again.

2. Be aware of the risk of condensation

Know that condensation can form on the inside of your lens when you take the camera from the cold temperatures outside to the warm temperatures inside. Keep the camera in a re-sealable plastic bag when you enter a warm place and don’t seperate the lens from the body of the camera. The condensation will form on the outside of the bag instead of on your lens.

3. Bring an extra battery

The life of a camera battery is significantly shortened in the cold.

4. Photograph falling snow with a slow shutter speed

The snow will appear in your photo as blurred steaks and interesting lines, and will also look more dramatic. Just remember to use a tripod or make sure you can handhold a slow shutter speed without camera shake.

5. Use flash to photograph falling snow

This will give you a fun effect.

6. Think about your foot prints

A sense of wild winter landscapes can come through much more powerfully when all other signs of human are removed, leaving the landscape alone to brave the winter winds.

7. Look for wind or steam

These elements will add drama and life to your winter images.

8. Snow will reflect light like a large reflector


9. Enhance the cold tones of winter

Monotone colours can be very powerful. In post production, boost the cold tones or add blue tones.

10. Sunlit winter days will produce texture, shadows and make the snow sparkle.

Let the shadows tell your winter tale. Keep an eye on the direction of the sun. Side lighting reveals more details. Cloudy winter days will give you diffused lighting that will eliminate most of the tones in snow.