IKYLEify

This weekend I will be going to to my local mountain with a few of my friends and I would like to know which settings or modes would be helpful. I have a Canon T3i with the kit lens and a EF-S 75-300 zoom lens. I would just like to know what settings would help, for pictures and video. I'm new to photography by the way

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

Two things to think about - white balance and exposure. All that reflective white can fool a digital camera on both counts.

On a cloudy day, the WB setting for cloudy should be pretty good. If it sunny, try using the custom WB function by taking a close shot off of a blank patch of clean snow. Then follow the procedure for your camera to use it to set the custom WB.

For exposure I usually add 1 - 2 stops (depending on how much snow is in the scene) of exposure compensation to counter the cameras tendency to under expose images with lots of white. Try a few sample shots that way, then check your histogram and adjust so you have as little right end clipping as possible.

A polarizer might be helpful

DaveMM Loc: Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Shooting in RAW will allow you to adjust white balance afterwards with no loss of quality. As already stated, open up 1 or 2 stops for snow scenes. Again, RAW will give you the maximum bit depth for your shot which will allow the most exposure adjustment with the least loss of quality.

It is worthwhile learning to use RAW, although as you are a beginner I would suggest that you set the camera to RAW + Jpg and then you will have the best of both worlds. For now, you can use the Jpg, then later when you have more experience you can go back to the RAW file and obtain the best picture possible.

JoeB Loc: Mohawk Valley, NY

Welcome to UHH IKYLEify. Just follow the above advice and you should do just fine. Post some shots when you get back, would like to see them.

:thumbup:

Nightski

Pictures that I had trouble with in the snow. This is embarrassing, but what can I do? This is where I am at with this. I am the one that sent you the private message.

Snowshoe photo 1


Snowshoe photo 2

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Hey Doc ..... because of the bright snow your camera is gonna take a picture that's gonna be tooo dark .....

..... In automatic, focus on your subject and look at your settings .....

..... now switch to manual mode, duplicate your ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture .....

..... you want to increase your lighting 2 full stops ..... you can do this two ways, either decrease your shutter speed or open up your aperture ..... or one of each! what you choose is subjective .....

..... because of all the white it'll most likely be easier to slow down your shutter speed ..... ex. if your shutter is 1/2000 drop it down to 1/500 ..... this will increase your exposure two stops and should leave the snow white instead of grey .....

Nightski

Thanks Wabbit!

Wabbit Loc: Arizona Desert

Hey Doc ..... you're very welcome .....

Nightski

Jim, I followed your instructions and I ended up with a much better picture today, but I still made a mistake that I'd like to share in case there is anyone like me reading this. I got a step by step instruction sheet off the internet on how to create a custom white balance on a Canon Rebel xti. It said to choose any setting between the green box and M. It said you could do this in Manual, but if you're new at this, the other modes might be easier. Well, I am new at this, BUT I've only been using M mode, and I understand how to bump up the exposure in it, even though I didn't know that's what I was doing until you explained it to me. So...I set my custom white balance in AV, because I am new and I was following the instructions. Well, when I tried to bump up the exposure, it didn't work in AV like it works in M, and I couldn't figure it out. It was 5 degrees fahrenheit with a 20 mile hour wind out of the north. I took the picture and made a beeline for my car. Now do I have to get rid of that custom setting somehow, or does it just disappear after you shut the camera off? I will post my new picture here after the voting. Then everyone can tell me what they think. The good news is that I learned a couple of things. :) Thanks again for your help, Nightski.