Winter photography Archives - Infrared Conversions, IR Modifications & Photography Tutorials

Behind the lens, winter is beautiful, dramatic, and eye-catching. Whether you are new to the photography scene or are already experienced behind the camera, winter is a unique time of the year for photography and to learn new skills. If you are prepared and know some do’s and don’t’s you will end up with some wonderful photos. So, head out and take the time to play with your camera settings, experiment with your composition, and your techniques. Just be sure to stay warm, keep your gear protected, and master the art of taking correctly exposed photographs. To help you, here are some tips to ensure you end up with photos that you are looking for.

Start by preparing yourself

You may think this has nothing to do with photography, but if you are cold or not prepared you are more likely to rush things so you can head back inside to the warmth. So make sure you wear proper clothing that is designed for cold weather. Layering is essential, with a thermal base layer to start and water and windproof outer layer to finish. In-between, wear a fleece. Snow pants are advisable if you plan on exploring in snowy conditions. As for accessories, a hat is a must—it is best if it covers your ears—and a neck scarf or face mask is also recommended. Waterproof footwear is essential as well as warm, quality socks.

Now about the gloves. It is vital to invest in a good pair that allows you to use the buttons, dials, and filters on your camera. Pick a pair that suits the conditions: fingerless gloves are suitable for mild temperatures; wool-lined and magnetic finger capped gloves for cold temperatures. This is really important as your hands will need to hold the camera and so will be exposed all the time.

Be aware of your skin against the cold metal of your equipment. You don’t want your hands, cheek, or nose freezing to the camera. If you are going to be carrying a tripod, it’s a good idea to fix some foam around one of the legs to make it easier to carry in cold weather. Some tripods already have this, but if yours doesn’t add one yourself.

Be sure to pack a couple of personal items like snacks and a drink and a cellphone which is fully charged (make sure you keep it close to your body in an inner jacket pocket). Always take a mini first aid kit with you as well and if you are venturing into the wilderness an emergency firestarter and some water. It’s also worth packing some chemical heat packs for when your fingers or toes are cold and not warming up, they last for hours.

Prepare your equipment

In extremely cold conditions you may have to wrap your camera in something warm like a scarf to avoid it freezing. Also, keep in mind that if you are going inside after being outdoors your lens might steam up. So you would need to allow 20-30 mins for the camera to acclimatize.

If it is snowing or raining you need to ensure you keep your camera dry. You can either use a home-made cover using a plastic bag (see image below) or you can invest in a proper rain cover.

One big thing to be aware of is that you need to take spare batteries with you as cold weather drains batteries much quicker. Even when not in use, they lose their charge. Make sure you keep your batteries close to somewhere warm like inside an inner pocket in your coat.

Let’s get technical

If you are using a tripod switch over to manual mode and focus to ensure you have maximum control over the settings and focus. If not then select either shutter priority or aperture priority depending on what you are shooting. For example, if you are photographing an action shot of a snowboarder then shutter priority will be better. But a landscape shot would be more suited to aperture priority. The actual settings you select will depend on the specific scenario you are photographing. But the one thing that you should always aim for is a low ISO. The lower the better.

Avoid grey snow

Have you ever looked at a photo you have taken of snow and wondered why it seemed underexposed even though your exposure setting was correct? Well, if you are using auto white balance, winter scenes can confuse your camera because of all that white. So to avoid your shots looking dark and your snow appearing grey, you need to use exposure compensation to overexpose your shot. This will allow you to take photos of snow which looks pure white rather than grey.

Think of snow as a canvas

Snow itself can be pretty boring to look at. So to avoid your photos looking dull find a point of interest to add to the shot. One of the great things about snow is that anything which is dark or colourful will pop against the white background. So look out for buildings, people or even wildlife that can bring the snowy scene to life.

Timing is everything

A scene with a beautiful blanket of white snow can look stunning. But after a few thousand people have walked across it, it doesn’t have the same impact. This is especially important in cities where dirt and pollution will make the snow look dirty. So try to time your shoot to be immediately after a snowfall in cities. That way you can capture a beautiful winter scene before it has been spoilt. Even in the wilderness pay attention to where you are walking. The last thing that you would want is some of your unwanted footprints in the shot.

Winter is a wonderful time for photography outdoors. The cold and crisp air maximises visibility and makes conditions fantastic for landscape photography. There’s also the added benefit that days are shorter and so you won’t need to get up as early to capture sunrise shots or stay too late for sunset shots. But photographs in winter can sometimes be very tough to capture. Use the tips above to help you capture magical winter photos.

So, perhaps you’ve mastered the art of taking photos in the warm months, but what happens when the chill returns to the air? You might be left wondering how to make any of your photos differ from one another if everything is covered in that blanket of white snow, so here are eight tips for capturing the loveliest set of winter photos.

1. Bundle up

You may have a set of clothes that you use when shooting. Your routine will have to be modified a bit, depending on the weather. While bringing layers of coats and jackets is a given, one of the essential items to remember is a pair of water-resistant gloves. It will be easier to move snow (if necessary) or toss a handful in front of the lens for a flurrying effect. There are also gloves made especially for winter photography, which will give your fingers the ability to adjust modes on your camera while keeping them warm. Believe me when I tell you that photographing in any sort cold weather without gloves can be an unpleasant experience. Also, just as important, don’t forget to wear the right pair of shoes, either!

2. Get there early

Snap a photo that reflects how quiet and peaceful the Earth can be before humans have a chance to intervene. Try looking for natural landscapes because images can be more exciting if it seems as though the photographer is the only one who will ever be able to see the landscape just how it is at that moment. Alternatively, if you’re looking to shoot in the city, go out and photograph recently fallen snow in the early hours of the morning or even at night. The juxtaposition of the lights/architecture of the town and the fleeting beauty of undisturbed snow will make for a fantastic photo.

3. Catch a sunny day or a full moon

One of the most amazing things about snow is how reflective it is. Photograph when there is a fresh blanket of snow on the ground and a bright moon. You will see your landscape almost as well as in daylight with the naked eye. Alternatively, if you shoot on a sunny day, you can catch the glint of the snow when the sun hits it (you may need to use a polarizing filter to avoid the reflection of the sun), or maybe the intricacies of a single snowflake as the light shines through it. The art of capturing something small, such as a snowflake, and making it seem large in a photo is called macro photography; for macro photography, you’ll need a special macro lens. This type of image can be advantageous if you can provide a window into a tiny world no one sees daily.

4. Adjust your camera’s exposure

To capture pictures of snow the right way, you will need to increase the exposure on your camera. Because of the reflective qualities of snow, your camera will have a hard time registering the amount of light coming through the lens. In other words, it will get tricked into thinking there is too much light and so it will underexpose your image. To make up for it, you will need to overexpose your image so that the snow looks more white rather than grey in your photo.

5. Buy a telephoto lens

Consider using a telephoto lens. This type of lens has a longer focal length and will capture scenes in a way wide-angle lenses cannot. The great thing about a telephoto lens is that it compresses distances in a scene which can give a pleasing result in photos in general. In the snow-filled scene, this can look great. Splurging on the right kind of equipment can be expensive, but if you have the means, this type of lens will carry your winter photos to the next level.

6. Remember to keep your camera safe

If your camera somehow gets wet with rain or snow, refrain from trying to wipe it off because you could end up pushing moisture into the crevices of your camera instead of having the desired effect of drying it. Instead, it is recommended that you bring your camera inside and leave it wrapped in a towel until it is dry. This way, you do not risk the safety of your camera with a hasty reaction. Also, to prevent your camera from getting wet in the first place, there are unique covers that will help protect it from the weather.

7. Bring batteries

When shooting in the winter, your battery life will not be nearly as long because batteries lose charge quicker in cold weather. To avoid ending up in your perfect location with a dead camera, keep a pair of batteries close to your body in your pocket. This will keep them warm and ensure that you won’t miss that perfect shot if the weather is not cooperating. Backup plans are critical!

8. Try something different

If you feel as though you’ve captured enough of the winter landscape and you’re itching for a change, try to capture what life is like inside when it’s cold outside. Photos of people or pets relaxing by the fire will communicate to your viewer what the temperature is like outside, and it will be like telling a full story of that day in one still image. Maybe you’ll decide to capture the heart-warming scene of the family sat around a fire. Perhaps there is an old holiday decoration that wants to be brought back to life through photography, or maybe you’ll come across a simple scene of someone set up with a book, a warm blanket, and a mug of hot cocoa. Sometimes the answer to our creativity roadblocks exist in places we weren’t looking before, so try introducing some new scenes to your repertoire.

Winter is one of the best seasons for landscape photography. The crisp and cold air means there is less haze in the sky and shorter days means you are able to shoot sunrises and sunsets, not at crazy times in the day. But winter photography isn’t easy, so don’t shy away from the challenge, and try your luck at winter photography with these eight tips. You never know what kind of beautiful images you will discover in some of the harshest conditions.

A Guide To Winter Photography