Winter Shooting
Winter is here, with its short daylight hours and bone chilling temps. Many photographers would rather spend these cold months, curled up next to a fire, reminiscing over the summers photos, dreaming of next years opportunities.
It doesn’t have to be like this. Winter can offer some of the most rewarding photography, if a few simple steps are taken and approached with the correct mindset.
Get Your Mind Right
Getting past the fear/hate of getting cold for a little while is half the battle. The difference between getting good and bad shots really does start with the attitude you have about taking them. Once you have set your mind to going out and getting some good photos, you are bound to find something interesting to shoot. If you are dreading your shoot and can’t wait until you are back inside and warm, then your photographs will reveal that in lack luster photos that just don’t have it.
Treat Me Right
Not only do you have to get the right attitude to get good photos, you have to treat your camera and equipment right. One of the worst enemy’s of shooting in cold weather is condensation. Keeping your lens and camera free of condensation, or moisture is something you should be keenly aware of. If you have your camera out in the cold for a while and some snow gets on the lens, trying to blow it off can be one of the worst things you can do. Your warm breath on the lens will create condensation that will quickly freeze, leaving you with blurry ice-images. The same goes for your body and barrel of your lens. A warm breath can melt snow, causing water to seep inside your camera. Getting into a warm car, after you have been out shooting will make condensation form on all parts of your camera. For this reason, it is recommended to turn off the heater. Hey, you are already dressed for cold weather (aren’t you?)!
Time To Shoot
There are many ways to approach shooting in a winter scene. One way would be to show the human drama/struggle having to deal with the cold weather. This could be a shot of a person, or group walking down the street, bundled up and fighting the wind and snow. Another approach is to focus on the details. A withered flower in a pot, covered with snow would really set off the contrasting nature of summer and winter. Focus on peoples feet, trudging through the snow. The world is your snowy oyster!
Whatever you decide to shoot, winter is the best time to break out that polarizing filter. With the high reflectivity of snow, a lot of detail is lost that a polarizing filter could bring back. Remember, that you get the best results, when you are at a right angle to the sun.
Black & white is always a good choice when shooting in snow. The high contrast of the snow and surrounding environment practically shout B&W!
So, go out this winter and make some amazing winter photos. You will be glad you did (your fireplace friends will be jealous) and you may actually look forward to next winter.
