Tips on photographing SNOW

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Angela Posted: 10-23-2008 11:01 AM

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The time has arrived for some of us for snowy pictures! Because it is white, snow tricks the camera (as camera thinks an image is mostly is 18% gray) and the snow turns out gray. Alot of bright snow can also act as a second light source. To get bright white snow and accurate colors, here's some tips!

Bryan Peterson of Understanding Exposure has the "Brother Blue Sky" rule. On manual, expose for a nice blue sky and you'll have accurate colors.
Some cameras off a Snow/Winter setting, which can be okay, but auto modes like that inhibit your creativity...

If you don't have a nice blue sky, use a gray card, or some photographers use their hand to meter off of. Or use a hand-held incident light meter. You can also lower your ISO 1.5-2 stops lower than your camera meter wants.

Otherwise, follow these tips on Exposure Compensation:

If its super bright, blinding snow in the sun, you may want to add +1.5 to +2 EV to compensate so you still get white snow. There won't be any detail in the snow.
For snow that's more subdued (side lit and you see detail) add +1/2 or +1. You may get some detail/texture in the snow.
For already gray snow on a dark day, and you want gray snow, do nothing.

Use your lens hood on sunny or snowy days to protect from lens flare or snow/mist.

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Snow doesn't have much contrast, so if you want snow detail, it is even more important to shoot during the time of day when you get some directional lighting - early morning or late afternoon.

Here's more resources:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/exposing_snow.shtml

~ Angela
Nikon D700 | Nikon D300
70-200mm 2.8 VR | 24-70mm 2.8 | 14-24mm 2.8 | 85mm 1.4 | 50mm 1.4 | 18-200mm VR | 105mm 2.8 VR | 10.5mm | Lensbaby 3G
SB-900 | SB-800 | elinchrom strobes | reflectors
CS4/LR2

Angela McCormick Photography | Photo Blog

Filed under: gray card, meter, snow, exposure
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betherly replied on 10-25-2008 11:52 AM

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Great information! I'm trying to live in a steady state of denial that snow is coming. We just turned on our furnace last night and that was pretty traumatic.

Elisabeth

Nikon D40, 18-55mm kit lens & 55-200mm VR lens