BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Informative Topics on Photographing People

Photography Question 

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How to Shoot in the Snow?


Someone wants me to take their pictures outdoors. Where I live, it is snowing right now and she wants her pictures to be in the snow. Is there something specific I should know about taking pictures in the snow??


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December 01, 2004

 

Jon Close
  Just know that lots of white snow in the fore/background will fool the meter into underexposure. +1 or more exposure compensation may be called for. Fill flash outdoors is useful to remove shadows that leave eye sockets too dark.


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December 01, 2004

 

Justin S.
  I always found that overexposing 1.5 to 2 stops for snow always produced exceptional pictures for me. Although that may be good for the color of the snow, I'm not too sure how it might affect the skin tones of the person, though. I've never taking a portrait of a person out in the snow.


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December 01, 2004

 

Mason Gray
  The blue is caused by reflection from a blue sky. Your eyes automatically adjust to make the snow look white, but film or a digital sensor sees the true, blue color. Add a warming filter if using film, or adjust the white balance if shooting digital.
As mentioned in the first response, your meter is fooled by the bright, white snow. Your meter wants everything to be gray. You need anywhere from 1 to 2 stops overexposure to get white snow.
Roy
www.lighttimephoto.com
Roy Breslawski


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December 02, 2004

 

Tiffany L. Cochran
  It is helpful to keep an 18% grey card handy for bright and dark scenes as well. Meter off of the card, then recompose your shot with those readings.


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December 07, 2004

 
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