Exposing Properly for Snow

[sarahdavis]

Thanks! I have my first snowy shoot tomorrow so this came at just the right time (+1 or so was what I was thinking, but I was planning to do some reading today just in case)

[Judianne1]

I under expose, and over expose and do one right on. It depends on the light and what time of day. The solstice is low light and I like the shadows and find it easier to work with. That may call for a little over exposure.

[paularnold]

It's all been interesting, if not confusing, but I'm guessing that I should go with the guy who has been shooting in Alaska for thirty years. Anyway, GOD dropped about a foot of snow on Christmas day so I'll try it tomorrow.

Paul

[Majik_Imaje]

(chuckle) thanks for the compliment and confidence.

Here is what you need to do for your area.

Sunshine - create a photo on automatic and now use manual and use those settings- as a starting point.

Cloudy - do the same thing.

Now move around in your world and try to use the same settings (basically) if your not sure open one stop or close on stop if you PERCIEVE a difference in lighting.

What you are trying to accomplish is CONSISTENTLY create good exposures - in manuall by opening the aperature or closing the aperature.

When I go out to shoot. FIRST I choose the shutter speed I am going to use.. THAT NEVER VARIES. I always use 1 1/125 - if objects will be moving then it is 1/250 those are the only two shutter speeds I use when walking around outside.

Sunny? 125 @ f11 I am in the ball park.

cloudy 125 @ 5.6 I am in the ball park

all I have to do is open one stop or close one stop to achieve perfect exposure. This takes practice.. Now if I could master this using film - where I can't see the results immediately. then you can master this very quickly because you can see your results and adjust accordingly.

It won't take you much time to achieve consiistent exposures frame after frame !!

quit letting the computer make the decisions for you. TAKE CONTROL of your camera !! you will learn so much - if you pay attention to your settings !! take notes,, keep track of what you are doing right and what your doing wrong.. YOU WILL MASTER THIS IN SHORT TIME !!

It just takes .............'practice' because Practice .. makes 'better'

[Majik_Imaje]

When I walked upon this scene - It was a no brainer I closed ONE STOP



I live in a much different world than you do. everything in the arctic is constant !! no atmosphere, haze, pollution etc. I don't have factories around me, nothing but brilliant blue sky or clouidy sky (3 f-stops difference).

Surrounded by ice , snow, sky blue huge sun. nothing changes up here.

Even in Boston walking on the boston commons my favorite place to sit and create interesting images of people. YOU CAN READ - light - you just have to practice. with digital it is simple you have instant results. !!
But film provided a much wider lattitude - there in is the MAIN difference.

If you get into the HABIT - of just adjusting your aperature - your going to get much more consistent results.. OR - JUST SAY ON AUTO

I want to be the one in control - not some computer !! Auto focus, image stablization, auto everything.. what in the world have we come to ??

No need to focus.. wow.!!! no need to understand the very basic building blocks of :CONSISTENT EXPOSURES ON MANUAL WITH NO LIGHT METER.



I have taught children for years how simple this was and they produced amazing stunning incredible results !!

I am not one bit impressed by today's digital photographers.

FACT: Digital lacks the soul that only film can provide !!

I am talking 30 x 40 and larger !!

NOTHING IN THIS WORLD: can match or beat the color of the Kodak Dye transfer process, digital is close but it cannot match those pure colors !!

Go to a museum and check out dye transfer prints and you will GASP when you get close !!

Two images created years apart ..!! Same exact exposure 1/250 @ F16

when people enter the scene and fill that viewfinder - open to F11 if dark colors fills your viewfinder F 8 If bright colors with sky F11

IT IS REALLY THAT SIMPLE - you just have to find the starting point - and adjust accordingly !!

Bracketing is a professional method of creating images CONSISTENTLY !!

[Sterling]

I am not one bit impressed by today's digital photographers.

You may want to check the name of this site. Are you sure you're in the right place?

[Majik_Imaje]

Yeah.. I am seeing people using computer type cameras that can auto focus auto white balance auto everything

how do I expose for snow !! ?????????????????

doh !!!

I rest my case !!

[gnownad]

Originally Posted by Majik_Imaje

Yeah.. I am seeing people using computer type cameras that can auto focus auto white balance auto everything

how do I expose for snow !! ?????????????????

doh !!!

I rest my case !!

Yes, but some people want to shoot in manual mode, and learning how to expose properly will let you be way more flexible in the variety of shots you can produce! Film and digital both have their merits, but I personally don't think one is better than the other.