The winter season slump.....

I don't have a studio or lighting yet. I'm looking for ideas or comments from people that live in cold weather states or countries. What do you shoot during the cold, dull and dreary time of the year?

Got a south-facing window for a key light an a piece of white foamcore for fill?

You can do portraits, table top, macro, all with natural light.

You could shoot birds in the backyard (set up a feeder)

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13552766
Got a south-facing window for a key light an a piece of white foamcore for fill?

You can do portraits, table top, macro, all with natural light.

You could shoot birds in the backyard (set up a feeder)

I have a west-facing 8 foot slider, nothing south. I've been thinking about the bird thing. I have a ton of squirel's though. I'm afraid they'd destroy the feeder

Use a squirrel proof bird feeder with a baffle:
http://www.amazon.com …rd_r=0J42E55XWJ​P06QDTFSV6
http://www.amazon.com …/ref=cm_cr_pr_p​roduct_top

Use Black Oil Sun Flower seeds:
http://www.amazon.com …F8&qid=13240163​55&sr=1-14

*** Important ***
If you have a cats prowling your yard, they will catch, main and/or kill your birds and make you sad. Keep them inside.

Neslorm wrote in post #13552784
I have a west-facing 8 foot slider, nothing south. I've been thinking about the bird thing. I have a ton of squirel's though. I'm afraid they'd destroy the feeder

I have squirrels too, but they learn fast that they can't get anything out of my feeder (It's called a "Squirrel Buster"), so they hang out underneath it and just get the stuff that the birds scatter around. I just got a wireless remote and plan to set my tripod up on the patio table with my 70-200 and teleconverter mounted. I'll just sit at the kitchen table and trigger it when something enters the area I'm aimed at. Should be able to get some good shots all winter long.

Genmai wrote in post #13552837
*** Important ***
If you have a cats prowling your yard, they will catch, main and/or kill your birds and make you sad. Keep them inside.

Great advice, but it doesn't help when they are the neighbors' cats.

Genmai wrote in post #13552837
Use a squirrel proof bird feeder with a baffle:
http://www.amazon.com …rd_r=0J42E55XWJ​P06QDTFSV6
http://www.amazon.com …/ref=cm_cr_pr_p​roduct_top

Use Black Oil Sun Flower seeds:
http://www.amazon.com …F8&qid=13240163​55&sr=1-14

*** Important ***
If you have a cats prowling your yard, they will catch, main and/or kill your birds and make you sad. Keep them inside.

Thanks, I'll check it out!

Preeb wrote in post #13552842
I have squirrels too, but they learn fast that they can't get anything out of my feeder (It's called a "Squirrel Buster"), so they hang out underneath it and just get the stuff that the birds scatter around. I just got a wireless remote and plan to set my tripod up on the patio table with my 70-200 and teleconverter mounted. I'll just sit at the kitchen table and trigger it when something enters the area I'm aimed at. Should be able to get some good shots all winter long.

Great advice, but it doesn't help when they are the neighbors' cats.

Good idea, I'll think about it. Thanks.

Neslorm wrote in post #13552706
I don't have a studio or lighting yet. I'm looking for ideas or comments from people that live in cold weather states or countries. What do you shoot during the cold, dull and dreary time of the year?

Events such as these:

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DC Fan wrote in post #13552897
Events such as these:


These events all took place in the last few days. There are dozens and dozens of these events, all accessible to the public. It takes only a brief web search to learn the schedule of these events and then a short drive to reach them.

Photographers need to know enough about the areas where they live, so they can find photogenic events to attend. That means not living in isolation and having enough curiosity and web searching skills to learn about the outside world.

Oh trust me, I do know that. I'm going to shoot an indoor track meet tomorrow at high ISO. I just recieved Lightroom 3 and I want to play with it. The majority of the shooting I do is sports related. I want to dabble in other areas.

More Frosted windows - some of the best yet.

Malibu in the snow.

Midnight Applenappers; thieves in the night.

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #13552766
Got a south-facing window for a key light an a piece of white foamcore for fill?

You can do portraits, table top, macro, all with natural light.

You could shoot birds in the backyard (set up a feeder)

Actually many of the very early portrait studios in the northern hemisphere (US & Europe) had huge glass walls on the north wall because the north light is much softer (like a big sort box) than the direct light that comes from the south the east in the AM and the west in the afternoon. Only on the longest days of the year, last part of May, all of June and early July and only then in the very early morning or very late after noon does any direct light come through that window so perfect for portraits most of the time. A built in huge soft box. Direct sun and portraits in most cases not usually the perfect combo.

But I say get out in it.
A couple of classic Stieglitz's and he was using a large view camera.
http://www.artsology.c​om …eglitz-winter-5th-Ave.jpg

http://www.masters-of-photography.com …tz/stieglitz_te​rminal.jpg

Neslorm wrote in post #13552706
I don't have a studio or lighting yet. I'm looking for ideas or comments from people that live in cold weather states or countries. What do you shoot during the cold, dull and dreary time of the year?

Spend too much time on forums. I just look for events, wait for a warmer day and head out to local bird sanctuaries and other areas around the city.

Grow a Pair, put on your jacket and get out there and play:p

I love winter photography

If I lived where you did, this winter I'd plan a short trip to the UP to shoot a dogsled race! Sled dog races can provide some of the coolest-looking images you'll ever make. Plus, a little get-away always helps to combat the winder doldrums.

^^great shots Mike! I wish we had snow in our area, it's been an unseasonably warm December. Lots of rain and short days I just put the camera in the bag...