Winter photography essentials

SNOW!

Patterns and colours in Winter are often more vibrant because of the contrast with the snow.

So you’re excited about this cold, white stuff because it’s the first of the Winter and it’s a novelty…. And at the moment, it’s nice and fresh and fluffy and it makes you want to go out and get those amazing Winter shots you see all over the media at this time of year.

Well, with a few precautions and a little bit of knowledge, your efforts should look good, no matter what digital camera or phone you shoot with.

Look for the unusual opportunities.

I’ve picked out a few useful hints below that should help.

#1 Try not to let your camera get too warm before you leave the house.

As soon as all that warm metal and plastic hits the cold air, it’ll probably mist over and you’ll have to wait longer for it to be useful again- that’s on the inside of the camera, as well as the outside! Keep it in a coat pocket if you can, to allow it to acclimatise, or keep it on the strap around your neck, under your coat and only whip it out when you see your photo opportunity.

#2 Carry a spare battery or two.

When the weather turns cold, so does everything else and camera batteries are no exception. With all that zooming and focussing in a cold, recalcitrant camera, they’ll not last as long, even fully charged, so keep your spares in a lovely warm inside pocket or camera bag, away from keys, coins and any other metal object that could short out the contacts- we don’t want a pocket fire, no matter how cold it is!

#3 Use the viewfinder, if you have one.

Rear LCD displays are handy and useful, but they don’t half use up your battery power! Instead, find out how to switch it off and look through the little eyepiece conveniently placed on the rear, usually top right. Make sure it’s set for your eye by adjusting the focus with the tiny little lever or dial that’s often right next to it. If no eyepiece, see tip #2 above. There’ll be a lot of glare from all of that snow, as well, so it might not be as easy to see the composition in the LCD.

#4 Stop Chimping!

Unless you’re desperate for a particular shot and need to see if you got it, don’t keep looking at the pictures you’ve taken- it’s called ‘Chimping’, because when they review their images, photographers will often make an excited ‘ooh ooh’ sound! Wait until you get home, or at least, the warm café or car. That way you’ll save battery power.

#5 Once back home - wait!

For the same reasons your camera steamed up going from warm to cold, don’t be tempted to immediately look at the images- instead, leave the camera in the coat pocket for half an hour or so to re-acclimatise. Take off your wellies, go and make a deserved cup of tea and switch on the computer instead!

That's 'snow' lion, that's a statue.... I'll get my coat....! :)

I’ve not mentioned the technical aspects of Winter photography here as it’s worthy of another post- suffice to say that you should try to get out early morning or late evening, when the light is lovely and yellow- assuming the sun is out!

Wrap up warm and have fun!

Paul