Mario’s note: Today Iaio Atamián brings us an inspiring article full of tips and ideas to photograph this winter. Take shelter from the cold before continuing reading 😉
Winter has arrived! Are you ready to go out and capture those stunning photos that only winter allows you to capture?
Winter is a special season for all photography lovers, as it brings with it endless visual possibilities that you can take advantage of with your camera. In today’s article I bring you a small review guide so that this winter (or the next one, if you are in the southern hemisphere of the planet) you can put into practice all the knowledge that you have been acquiring in the Photographer’s Blog and take some great winter photos.
Note: This article is best read and enjoyed with a nice cup of hot coffee, tea, or herbal tea. Happy reading.
take good care of your equipment
Cold, snow and water can be deadly enemies for your photographic equipment if you are not careful. You will find everything you need to care for your equipment in the following article: Tips for cleaning SLR cameras.
watch out for falls
Throwing yourself into taking pictures in the snow without sufficient preparation can be a mistake. Not only do you have to take care of your equipment, remember that the most important thing in photography is you, let’s take care of the photographer 😉 Try to wear comfortable and warm clothes and the right footwear to avoid slips and falls. If you want some tips to prepare everything for your trip, read the following article: Tips for travel photography.
not everything is nature
You don’t need to go deep into the forest or up a snowy mountain to take great winter photos, cities are also great settings for winter photography. By training your photographic eye you will be able to take excellent photos without leaving your city.
Be careful with the flash
Be careful when using the flash as it is not recommended to use it in all situations. If it’s snowing and you’re shooting with a flash, there’s a good chance you’ll get results like the example photo. Because snow reflects light so intensely, shadows are very harsh and deep, so firing a fill flash will compensate for all the dark areas. If you have any questions, you can consult the following article: Everything you need to know about flash.
Get closer to the subject
As much as possible, try to get closer to the subjects to improve your photos, find the best angles and try to make all the elements of the photo in harmony. You can agree to follow the photographic rules or not, but I advise you to take a look at the following article if you want to get the best results: 7 basic rules to get good photos.
Take advantage of the movement
It is impressive when a photograph manages to freeze an instant, but at the same time, transmit all the speed and movement in the scene. Winter offers endless possibilities for you to go out and capture their movements. With this guide you will be able to freeze the movement, and not thanks to the cold: tips to capture and transmit the movement.
Pay attention to the details
Keep your eyes wide open and your camera always ready, because at any time and place you can find something worth photographing. The details of the scenes can generate excellent photographs, it is enough to be attentive to find them. If you want some examples of detail photography, you can consult the following weekly challenge: detail photography.
not everything is snow
In winter, not everything is photographing snow-covered landscapes, you can also try to photograph the incredible flora and fauna of these. You can portray an endless number of species that make winter their ideal place. You can read the following article if like me, you love to photograph birds and birds: Tips and tricks for photographing birds.
play with the shadows
Shadows add strength, rhythm and expression to photos, reinforce the message and add contrast: without them photos would lose presence. He tries to get the most out of the shadows and how they are drawn on the snow. It’s just a matter of practice, don’t be afraid to make “mistakes” since some of them do nothing more than beautify the photographs.
Take advantage of the landscapes
Winter charges almost everything it touches with expressiveness, especially landscapes. If you are a lover of these, do not hesitate to go out in search of them. If you want a successful photo trip, don’t wait to be lucky and find that virgin landscape waiting for you, start planning, take advantage of the power of the Internet and investigate the best places. If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, here are 7 tips for your next photography trip.
Take photos at all hours
When the afternoon begins to fall and the sun hides on the horizon, the worst enemy of the photographer appears, the darkness, but do not fear, it will not ruin your photos if you know how to face it. The light situations typical of sunrise and sunset in winter will charge your photographs with emotion if you know how to take advantage of them. Read the following article if you want to learn how to master them: Recommended settings for correct sunset and sunrise photography.
In bad weather… Good portraits
Don’t think that the only thing that changes in winter is the environment, you do too: you dress warmer, your expression changes, the color of your skin, etc. Take advantage of all these changes and turn them into impressive portraits. Don’t worry, here are two great articles for you to take portraits like a pro: 11 Tips and Tricks for Stunning Portraits Y 26 Easy tips and tricks for professional portraits.
Be careful with the contrast
The snow acts as a mirror for the sunlight and its clarity is overshadowed by the harshness of the shadows that surround it. In winter, lights and shadows can give you a hard time if you don’t know how to make both coexist peacefully in your photographs. Correct metering and exposure will solve almost all your problems. What? Don’t you know what light measurement is? Here is an article so you can do it like a professional: Examples of light measurement modes in photography.
As white as the snow
Surely you have heard the saying “snow White”, but when you see your photographs you end up noticing that more than white, the snow has a bluish or grayish tone. To make the snow as white as you see it in your photos, you will need to adjust the white balance. Do not be scared, just by reading the following article you will know how to configure it: White balance.
Black and white, why not?
I take the audacity to quote Mario regarding black and white photography:
“Nothing in the world is like black and white photography. There are black and white photos that take your breath away, that upset you, in a good way.”
Combining winter photography with black and white is very effective, but remember that if a photo doesn’t say anything, it’s unlikely that just turning it to black and white will reverse it. Here is an article where you will learn how to take those black and white photos that Mario was telling you about: Tips for better black and white photography.
the unspoken winter
The photographs are more for what they transmit and tell than for what they show explicitly. You can try to give a feeling of winter time using unconventional elements. It is not an easy challenge, but I invite you to seek to portray winter outside from another place. Everyday elements can take you in new directions in search of new perspectives, only if you take a sip of creativity.
Now all you have to do is prepare your equipment, find a good coat and start taking some impressive photos taking advantage of this winter.
I hope you liked today’s article, and do not hesitate to make your contribution in the comments. Oh, and don’t stop supporting me with your recommendations on Facebook, Twitter and Google+. Thanks in advance.