Shooting Snow-Covers Scenes

[Deckyon]

We are currently getting dumped on with 12 to 18 inches of snow. What is the best way to shoot snow-covered scenes?

I would like a few tips and pointers of some creative ways to shoot snow scenes. I am asking above and beyond Aperture/Shutter/ISO, as I can figure those out on my own. I am looking for composition tips. My cameras and lens selection are listed in my signature.

[Jon]

Snow-covered branches are always good; in fact any kind of rural snow-covered scene for that Currier & Ives look. Wildlife is often much more visible against the snow than against prevailing greens or browns. But mostly what makes snow scenes different from other landscapes or nature shots is the snow.

Flash, while it's still snowing, will let you capture the snowflakes in the picture to create the feel of the ongoing storm.

[Jim_T]

One tricky thing about shooting snow is exposure..

The large bright white areas generally trick the auto exposure into compensating too much and backing off the aperture or shutter speed more than necessary. As a result, the snow comes out looking grey. This happens more when it's cloudy and the scene is almost all white.

It's important to watch the histogram on snow shots. Make sure the 'haystack' is right up against the right hand side of the display (but not past it). You can do this by adding an exposure compensation of +1 or more.. (depends on the scene).

I'm not a RAW only shooter, but I do choose RAW for snow scenes because you have so much more latitude for exposure control after the fact...

[robertwgross]

New snow tends to be very white and reflective. Old snow isn't so much. That whiteness will throw off your exposure. The general approach is to use exposure compensation. For ultra-bright snow on a sunny day, use EC of +1.5, and for old snow on a bad day, use EC of +0.5 or +1.0.

If it is a snowy day, it tends to be cloudy, so you won't get distinct shadows. You'll get very subtle shadows or none at all, so try to take advantage of that.

If you can find an old wooden fence, let it get covered with snow to the point where you can just barely distinguish where the fence posts are, and shoot it diagonally, with the nearest post in the lower left and the distant post in the upper right, and shoot from a low angle. Shoot fresh animal tracks in the snow.

---Bob Gross---

[OviV]

Here in Miami, Fl we tend to use temperature compensation to avoid snow shooting issues. ;)

[Deckyon]

Thanks for the advice. Another question... If I use my 20D, would it be better to shoot it in B&W or normal and then convert to B&W in PS.

[eosster]

I would shoot color and convert as you can't convert BW to Color on 20D,

Cheers,

Charles,

[Persian-Rice]

Always shoot colour and covert. That allows you to choose. That is as long as you have developed a good conversion method.

Meter the sky or a grey card. You can also try using the zone system.

Cheers

[eosster]

Here is cool link on conversion method with PS, http://www.eyesondesign.net/pshop/bw/converting_to_bw.htm

Cheers,

Charles,

[AprilShowers]

Some of the most vibrant colors, I've ever experience were from a shoot I did up in the Austrian Alps.

On a ski trip I photographed an African female. A bubbly aspiring model with very dark pigment, dark gums, even slightly yellowish scleras was in front of the camera... for the shoot she wore a bright navy jacket, blue ski hat-and we traded off between that outfit , a yellow skisuit, and a lavender hat/scarf combo in snow boots.

The results were astounding; offset by the white snow and contrast with her dark skin the pics were nothing short of highly intriguing. I don't believe my efforts could've ruined it at all, even if I tried. There was something special about the diffused light, her skin, the colors, and the absence of shadows.

To top that her not so perfect teenage skin was beautifully complimented and her unique bone structure illuminated by the diffused glow (from the clouds above and the snow beneath)and oh my gawd the pics were a blast! Her skin looked flawless and richer than the most dense and milky dark chocolate.

I figured from my standpoint the exposure was going to be rotten but ... the outcome was quite the opposite. Speaking from a photographers point of view, I loved the intensity and vibrance/continuity, the shades were so intensely blue and pink and white, but at the same time not overexposed as to look unnatural or even underexposed to look amateurish. Her skin look unbelieveably soft to the touch and smooth almost as if it were snow of a different hue. The picture was later published!

Don't know if you have a 'thing' for fashion or for portraits, or if this will give spur new ideas, but at any rate, good luck to ya!