Shake off the Winter Blah's © Wendy Folse Jan 31, 2003
If the winter time blah's have you snuggling up and staying indoors this article is for you. There is no better time to try out your new camera equipment or dust off your old favorites. Old man winter creates some of the most dramatic scenery you could ever hope to capture on film. From glistening new fallen snow to bright multi‐colored icicles, pure magic can be found right in your own backyard. For a great review of easy techniques, take a look back at one of my previous articles: Winter Wonderland: Taking Great Snow Pictures In order to capture these spectacular images there are a few things that are worth taking into consideration. The first is safety. Winter conditions present their own share of hazardous so pay close attention to your surroundings. One trick is to learn to keep both eyes open when looking through the viewfinder. This sounds simple but many people have a habit of closing one eye when composing a scene and may not even realize it. With one eye closed it is easy to stumble or trip over unseen obstacles. it is also easy to lose your balance and slip on icy surfaces. It takes a little practice but learn to shoot like the pros and keep both eyes open. The second important thing to remember is equipment protection. Winter weather can present many unfavorable conditions that can cause camera equipment to fail. In freezing temperatures, condensation becomes a big factor. Not only can condensation affect your film, it can also affect your lenses. Bringing film and equipment from a warm environment into a very cold environment requires some thought. If temperatures are below freezing, keep equipment exposure to a minimum. Mechanical as well as electronic parts can become sluggish as the temperatures drop. Load film in a protected area and keep your camera inside of your jacket close to your body. Have extra batteries on hand as the cold temperatures can drain batteries much faster. Also be sure to keep your camera and lens dry. Snow melts and can quickly ruin your equipment. Working with mittens or gloves can be a pain so I have found that fingerless gloves are perfect for winter time shooting. Another excellent winter time garment is a shooting vest. It allows me to carry everything I may need while leaving my hands free. Wearing the vest under my jacket also helps keep my equipment nice and warm and limits exposure to the elements.
The third important thing to keep in mind is that light values can be rather tricky in the winter. There is usually a lot more light than you may realize. Snow and ice reflect a lot of light and can fool your light meter. Brush up on The Simplified Zone System and learn to out‐think your light meter for those priceless winter time images. The fourth thing to consider is composition. Simplicity is the key. Get up close and personal and keep your shots simple. Let the wonder of Mother Nature speak for itself. A frozen droplet of water reflecting a landscape can become a masterpiece. So too can a single robin perched on a snow covered fence. Tell the story. Look for spots of color against the blankets of white, or search for patterns and textures. Side‐ lighting, such as early morning or late afternoon sunshine, enhances texture. Early morning are always preferable as the snow is usually fresh and undisturbed but don't hesitate to take advantage of late night images as well. Bundle up, grab your gear and head outdoors for a wonderful way to shake off the winter time blah's.
The copyright of the article Shake off the Winter Blah's in Photography is owned by Wendy Folse. Permission to republish Shake off the Winter Blah's in print or online must be granted by the author in writing. Page 1