How to Photograph Snow by Moonlight
For photography enthusiasts, the outdoors offer a plethora of opportunities for capturing beautiful or intriguing scenes. Winter scenes, in which it seems as though the whole world is blanketed with a fresh coating of snow, look pristine. Moonlit landscapes can be haunting to look at as well, so it is no wonder that many photographers are fascinated by combining these two elements. But photographing snow in the moonlight can be tricky, and to do it well requires patience and experimentation.
Instructions
-
How to Photograph Snow by Moonlight
-
1
Protect yourself and your camera before going outside. Dress warmly. If it is snowing, wrap your camera in a clear plastic bag, like a Ziploc bag, to protect it from the moisture. Cut holes for the viewfinder and lens.
-
2
Study your subject matter and decide how you want to frame the shot. Look for the most interesting and dramatic angle.
-
-
3
Take some test shots using your camera's automatic settings.
-
4
Examine your test shots, looking closely at the amount of light and the shading of the snow. Because it reflects any available light, snow is rarely white in photographs. Often, it has a blue or gray tint, partly due to the camera's automatic white-balance.
-
5
Adjust your camera settings manually. You may need to change your aperture and shutter speed to get the best possible lighting and color.
-
6
Experiment, changing your aperture and shutter speed incrementally until you get the desired result. There are no standard settings for photographing snow in the moonlight because there are many variables to account for, such as passing clouds, the fullness of the moon, or street lighting.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If the snow looks gray in one photograph, try overexposing the next shot slightly to lighten it.
If you are using a film camera, you may need to photograph some test shots on one night, recording the settings used, and go out another night to make the adjustments. You will need time to develop the film and study your photos.
When using a film camera, be sure to take plenty of extra rolls of film.
If you are shooting wildlife in the snow, use a slower shutter speed.
Consider taking along a tripod so that you don't end up with blurry photos caused by shivering in the cold.
Cold weather drains batteries quickly, so pack some extras for your camera. Alkaline batteries are a good choice.
Brush snow off your camera lens; do not blow. The condensation from your breath could freeze the lens.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit moonlit barn image by Hilma Anderson from Fotolia.com
