Practicing Taking Snow Pictures - Winter Walk: Took a walk today with my granddaughter trying to get practice taking pictures that include snow. There just hasn't been much snow this...

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

Took a walk today with my granddaughter trying to get practice taking pictures that include snow. There just hasn't been much snow this year.

Inspecting the roots of three trees that fell at the same time.

Walking the trail by the oak on the prairie.

Resting on a snow covered granite bench.

Emmett Loc: Onalaska, Texas

Well, the snow looked white in the first two. The upward angle of your lens may have been the reason for the gray in the last one. Usually have to up the exposure a little for the extra light. If you were in an auto mode, the camera adjusted for the extra light. Nice series for your granddaughters album.

Fotomann Loc: Toronto, Ontario Canada

General question re: winter photos.
I am in Canada and usually don't take pictures in the winter. I been reading so much about condensation and how it can wreck a camera.
Can you or anyone else tell me how you handle your camera in the winter when it is minus degrees out.

Thanks for any tips.

gleneric Loc: Calgary, Alberta

Fotomann wrote:

General question re: winter photos.
I am in Canada and usually don't take pictures in the winter. I been reading so much about condensation and how it can wreck a camera.
Can you or anyone else tell me how you handle your camera in the winter when it is minus degrees out.

Thanks for any tips.

Hello from Calgary :) I do a lot of winter photography out here, down to the mid minus twenties (Celsius) so far ... lots of fun either trying to shoot with gloves on, or taking them off and seeing how fast one can take a shot before fingers get numb.

As for condensation, going from inside (warm) to outside (cold) is the easy part. You have to be very careful on the flip side or yes you can get condensation. I have heard about various tactics for dealing with this ... most (all?) centre around SLOWLY reintroducing the camera to warm moist indoor air and/or limiting the direct exposure of the camera to the warm moist air by sealing it inside something while it warms up.

I have to drive to get to my favourite photo spots, and find that the gradual rewarming of the car is perfect. I put camera back into camera bag before getting back into the car, after I have been out shooting in the cold, and have never had condensation problems.

steve Loc: Iowa

Good job. really showed how cold it is. burrrrr

Fotomann Loc: Toronto, Ontario Canada

Thanks for the feedback. I been reading all about this plastic zip-lock bag stuff and so on. It really makes me hesitant since I cannot afford another new camera in my lifetime, ;-)

I took these pictures a while back but the lens was so frosty after getting home. Anyway. Thanks again.

Snow sculpture with slides for the kids.

Take a ride on a dogsled.

Canadian Lumberjack preparing for demonstration.

Elaine H Loc: fairfax, va

love the first one of the snow sculpture

Fotomann wrote:

Thanks for the feedback. I been reading all about this plastic zip-lock bag stuff and so on. It really makes me hesitant since I cannot afford another new camera in my lifetime, ;-)

I took these pictures a while back but the lens was so frosty after getting home. Anyway. Thanks again.

docrob Loc: Durango, Colorado

Mary1946 wrote:

Took a walk today with my granddaughter trying to get practice taking pictures that include snow. There just hasn't been much snow this year.

best things to come of a day like this will be the quiet lessons absorbed and the memories of spending a snowy day with grandma out walking in the woods - very touching.....no photograph can capture that.

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

Emmett wrote:

Well, the snow looked white in the first two. The upward angle of your lens may have been the reason for the gray in the last one. Usually have to up the exposure a little for the extra light. If you were in an auto mode, the camera adjusted for the extra light. Nice series for your granddaughters album.

Thank you for the helpful comments. I was using manual setting. I did edit the pictures slightly. Here is the third picture again, this time just cropped and sharpened. Is the snow better as is right from the camera? Or is it still a little dark? Also, I think when the raw file is converted to jpeg, that it looks a little darker.

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

steve wrote:

Good job. really showed how cold it is. burrrrr

Thanks. Actually it really wasn't that cold out, low 30's and calm when we first arrived.

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

Fotomann wrote:

Thanks for the feedback. I been reading all about this plastic zip-lock bag stuff and so on. It really makes me hesitant since I cannot afford another new camera in my lifetime, ;-)

I took these pictures a while back but the lens was so frosty after getting home. Anyway. Thanks again.

I like your first photo of the snow sculpture. That is one impressive snow sculpture. And the kids sure look like they are enjoying the slides.
Thanks for sharing your winter photos.

Mary1946 Loc: Minnesota

docrob wrote:

Mary1946 wrote:

Took a walk today with my granddaughter trying to get practice taking pictures that include snow. There just hasn't been much snow this year.

best things to come of a day like this will be the quiet lessons absorbed and the memories of spending a snowy day with grandma out walking in the woods - very touching.....no photograph can capture that.

You are so right, docrob. But looking at photos can help to bring back memories of those special times.

Emmett Loc: Onalaska, Texas

Mary1946 wrote:

quote=Emmett Well, the snow looked white in the f... (show quote)

Yes, that's a little better, but still no texture in the snow. Did you use a shallow depth of field, like 2.8 or 5.6? I think the exposure is OK, just working with f-stops now will get you there. Keep it up, your doing fine. Snow used to be tuff to shoot for me, til I ruined some good opportunities for landscape shots. Don't get discouraged.