How to Photograph Snow Scenes
The beauty of a fresh snow—or the interesting effects of snow melting—can be yours forever when you photograph snow scenes. Snow scenes make for great greeting card covers, calendar shots for December and January, and an awesome poster for someone who lives somewhere tropical. You can photograph snow scenes with a keen eye and a few simple tips.
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Instructions
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Bundle up. Even if you are running outside just for a moment, dress properly for the weather. You will not be able to concentrate on your camera if you are shivering and turning blue.
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Keep your hands functional. Wear thin but warm gloves for best results. You’re not going to fare too well trying to take photos while wearing a giant pair of fluffy mittens.
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Secure your camera. A really great snow shot could be lost forever if you drop your camera in a pile of slush. Take advantage of the little wrist strap most cameras come with or wear the camera around your neck. Look for camera holders at camera shops for something that works for you.
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Be ready with a lens wipe. A camera lens in the snow is very susceptible to moisture, snow droplets and fogging up. Have a lens wipe or other soft, clean cloth in your pocket so you can swipe it off when necessary.
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Watch the sun. As with any photo, the sun should be at your back so you don’t get a dark frame. Also watch for sun reflecting heavily on the snow, which it likes to do. This will surely foul-up your shot. Simply move to a different angle if that is happening to you.
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Give the photo some perspective. A big, white hank of snow is going to photograph like a big white nothing. Make sure to include trees, sticks, the skyline or something other than just snow in the photo so people know what the heck they are looking at.
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Look for unique formations. Nature offers one of the best art galleries ever, especially with seasonal stuff like snow. Perhaps snow is arranged like a face or head on a tree branch. Maybe it’s piled so high on a car that you can only see a bit of a tire sticking out. An amazing snow photo in Tucson (yes, it sometimes snows in Tucson) would be snow atop a saguaro cactus, something you don’t see very often and two things that are not usually associated with each other.
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Tips & Warnings
Try to make usual shots unusual by using different angles. A snowman takes on a whole new look if you lie at his feet for an upward shot, for example.
Snow makes a great canvas for interesting tracks, snow piles and arrangements. Keep your eyes peeled on every inch of the fluffy white stuff for magical opportunities.
You can photograph "yellow" snow but don't eat it.
- Photo Credit Ryn Gargulinski
