Winter coats

[GDP2012]

We have what the news is calling Snowmageddon in the Evergreen State which presented a lot of photography opportunities. I have been photographing this sculpture in a variety of weather conditions. Today's snow presented another opportunity but this photo exemplifies my struggle with photographing in the snow. I found the dark sculpture against the white snow to be a challenge. Is the snow to washed out or is the sculpture to dark? What could I have done different to improve the level of detail in the sculpture without blowing out the snow? Also, since there is so little color in the image would it make more sense to convert it to black and white?

Camera: Sony SLT-A55V
f/9
1/500 sec
ISO-600
Focal length: 55mm
Metering mode: spot
Exposure program: Aperture priority
Contrast: normal
White balance: Set to "cloudy"

[Doug Sundseth]

The dynamic range here (distance between the highlights and shadows) is too great for your camera to capture. That means that you need to compress the range by using HDR/tone mapping or by adding light to the darker parts of the image. The former is probably easier with this subject.

As to whether to go to B&W: You won't lose much by the conversion, but you won't gain much either. You could flip a coin?

FWIW, I generally prefer to keep the little color there is in these situations, but some others would disagree. It's a taste thing.

[shruggy63]

I'm slightly surprised that your camera doesn't have a snow setting. I think the lack of texture on the snow is what's bothering you? Or maybe it's my monitor :-) If so, I don't think it matters too much unless you want a really big print of it. Its unmistakeably snow & it's not blue as in a lot of snow shots.
If the snow stays for you, I'd go back & reshoot but get the statue to fill the frame. That way you might get the texture & I find the bench, the seagull(?) & the very low contrast trees in the background draw the eye from the subject. Good luck!