Snow Photos

Hello,

Being from Florida I've never had to work with the snow in landscapes. I'm attending school in Ohio, so this concept of photographing landscapes full of snow is new to me. I snapped this shot at a waterfall which was frozen. I was hoping it wouldn't be.

Anyway, any tips to make the snow pop out a bit without blowing highlights out and also keeping everything else exposed/colored properly? This picture is only 1 picture. In LR I honestly just played with the levels a bit to try and do it, but I'd rather get it done right in camera.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/bclaf/123905591​45/

looks to me lke it is under exposed, may want to check white balance too...
the white of the snow can fool both white balance and the exposure

Looks fine to me except the snow side is in shadow...there is no glare.
You could up the exposure in PP but I would revisit and get some light, texture and shadow on the snow.

Under exposed by nearly a full stop. Next time over expose the snow pics by nearly a full stop, problem solved.

I would expect snow is not a lot different from beach sand. The kind found in many areas of Florida.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorial​s/exposing_snow.shtml

Everything is in the shade, so to me the snow looks about the way it should. I've shot a fair amount of snow stuff, I don't think you should have to alter your exposure just because it's snow, the camera accounts for that. In my last batch of photos, I did lower the wb temperature a bit on a few of the photos to make the snow a bit more blue.

I'm thinking a polarizer won't make a difference on a photo with no reflected sunlight.

patrick j wrote in post #16674981
I've shot a fair amount of snow stuff, I don't think you should have to alter your exposure just because it's snow, the camera accounts for that.

Exactly how does a camera know you are shooting white snow? Snow reflects more light than 18% grey.

Snow is just like sand....I too would have shot this a full stop over. A filter could be used but then you run the risk of dealing with issues brought on by the filter. Being from Alaska I had to deal with the same issue Brandon did here when I shot the beach for the first time (without a filter).

It is a beautiful shot...I am sure you can tweak it a bit to get it where you will really enjoy sharing it.

Titus213 wrote in post #16674123
Under exposed by nearly a full stop. Next time over expose the snow pics by nearly a full stop, problem solved.

I would expect snow is not a lot different from beach sand. The kind found in many areas of Florida.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorial​s/exposing_snow.shtml

Ah thanks! As for the exposure I probably should calibrate my monitor, a couple more pics I have taken have been said underexposed.

And I don't shoot the beaches to often, and when I have I've used fill flash since most are portraits there.

Spike44 wrote in post #16674010
Looks fine to me except the snow side is in shadow...there is no glare.
You could up the exposure in PP but I would revisit and get some light, texture and shadow on the snow.

How would you go about doing this? I've lowered the highlights and increased shadows, and barely added white. I did a little sharpening overall then a little brush on the snow.

I appreciate everything!

patrick j wrote in post #16674981
Everything is in the shade, so to me the snow looks about the way it should. I've shot a fair amount of snow stuff, I don't think you should have to alter your exposure just because it's snow, the camera accounts for that. In my last batch of photos, I did lower the wb temperature a bit on a few of the photos to make the snow a bit more blue.

I'm thinking a polarizer won't make a difference on a photo with no reflected sunlight.

A common misconception. Check the Luminous Landscape link I posted above.

Titus213 wrote in post #16675070
A common misconception. Check the Luminous Landscape link I posted above.

+1. Of course right now looks like Florida has more snow then we do. LoL

karobinson wrote in post #16675094
+1. Of course right now looks like Florida has more snow then we do. LoL

Ha! So do we...unfortunately.

Titus213 wrote in post #16675070
A common misconception. Check the Luminous Landscape link I posted above.

Well, yeah but - here is one from last Sunday (just before the bronco debacle), taken with no exposure compensation. This is cropped from a larger photo. Looks about like what my eyeballs saw.

HOSTED PHOTO
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all good advice above...

this may also be of interest if you hadn't tried spot metering...

http://www.betterphoto​.com/article.asp?ID=26​1

patrick j wrote in post #16675945
Well, yeah but - here is one from last Sunday (just before the bronco debacle), taken with no exposure compensation. This is cropped from a larger photo. Looks about like what my eyeballs saw.

Hosted photo: posted by patrick j in
./showthread.php?p=166​75945&i=i185918799
forum: Critique Corner

Shooting Mode Aperture-Priority AE
Tv(Shutter Speed) 1/320
Av(Aperture Value) 10
Metering Mode Evaluative Metering
Exposure Compensation 0
ISO Speed 200
Auto ISO Speed OFF

You are certainly welcome to shoot any way you want. On this one you appear to have gotten a correct exposure although I would like to see the full frame. My advice is not to rely on one time experience but to trust the collective wisdom of years of photography by thousands, if not millions of photographers and use exposure compensation when shooting snow scenes. It's proven science. And has been for more years than I expect you've lived.

But, and this is a valid but, I have just been shooting birds in the snow. I use a 7D and have been using spot metering for the birds and the occasional squirrel. Assuming I have done my job correctly, the spot meter will ignore the snow and meter off the bird. This will give the correct exposure for the subject but the snow will be a bit bright.