Tips snow photography

How to Take Photos in Snow

In this post, I’m going to share with you a number of snow photography tips to help you get great photos in the snow.

Snowy conditions make for some wonderful photography opportunities. However, taking photos in snow can be a little bit challenging. This is for a number of reasons, from the brightness of the snow, through to the cold weather conditions that can hamper a camera’s functions. Then of course you have to consider general winter issues, like ice and cold, that can make conditions challenging for a photographer.

I’ve taken photos in the snow in locations around the world, from high altitude ski resorts through to winter in Nordic countries like Finland where the temperature has been below minus 30 degrees Celsius / Fahrenheit.

I’ll include some tips for getting great photos of snowy scenes, the camera settings you need for snow photography, some ideas for snow photos, and some tips on suggested camera gear and accessories for snow photography. Let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Tips for Taking Photos In Snow

Here are some tips for getting the best photos in snow, whatever your camera.

Start with the Composition

Whatever type of camera you have and regardless of the subject or scene, the composition of your image should always be one of your key considerations.

Composition in photography is all about deciding what is going to be in your image, and how the different elements of the image work together. So you need to think about what exactly your image is of – the subject – and compose around that.

There are lots of compositional tips and tricks you can use to improve your image, from things like the rule of thirds through to use of color, leading lines and so on. If you’d like some tips, see my guide to composition in photography to get you started.

Shoot at Blue and Golden Hours

Light is a key component of photography. Through the course of the day, the light changes in both its direction and color. In the early morning and late evenings, when the sun is just below the horizon, the light is very blue and cold in tone, and this time is known as the blue hour.

Just after the sun rises and before it sets, the light is very yellow and warm in tone, and this period is known as the golden hour.

These times of day are good for photography in general, but are particularly good for shooting snowy scenes. This is because snow is very reflective, and tends to amplify and reflect light well. So a warm sunset or cool pre-dawn tones can look really wonderful as part of a snowy scene.

It’s also worth keeping in mind when planning your snowy photography shoots that you will generally be shooting in the winter season in most destinations. This means that the days will be shorter, giving you less time for daytime photography.

However, it does carry the advantage that sunrise / sunset are closer together, and you can usually capture the golden and blue hours without having to get up really early or go to bed really late. When I’ve done winter photography in the artic circle, sometimes I’ve found that the few hours of daylight are all golden all the time, which made for fantastic photography opportunities.

Get the Focus Right in Snow

One thing you might notice when shooting in snow is that your camera or smartphone might struggle to lock focus, with the autofocus hunting backwards and forwards. In a worst case scenario, it won’t be able to auto focus at all, and you won’t be able to take a photo. Or you might get an out of focus shot which isn’t usable.

The reason for this is down to the way that most camera focus systems work. The focus function normally require a contrasting area to focus on—any area of the scene with contrasting elements. A large expanse of white snow tends not to have much contrast, and so the camera doesn’t have much to lock onto.

This issue isn’t specific to snow. You will often have the same problem if you try to take a picture of a wide open blue sky—the camera has nothing to lock onto.

In both these scenarios, the solution is to find something other than a uniform expanse to focus on. With the case of a blue sky, this might be something like a cloud. With snow, it might be a tree, or a person, a building, an animal, or any object that stands out against the white snow.

You might need to change the camera’s focus mode and specifically select the object you want it to focus on in order to get the results you require. So instead of full autofocus, you might change to a single point and focus there.

If you are still struggling to get focus using the automatic focus system, then check if your camera has a manual focus option. If so, you can use this to over ride the autofocus system and get a sharp image. Note that not all cameras and lenses support manual focus. Most DSLR and mirrorless cameras do, but not all compact or smartphones have manul focus.

Use the Exposure Compensation Feature for Snow Photography

One very common issue that I see when folks on my photography course send me questions about snow photography, is that their images are coming out darker than they expect, with photos of snow looking gray rather than white.

Snow photos coming out too dark happens all the time, but luckily there is a simple fix that works across pretty much all cameras and other devices.

First, you might be wondering why your snow photos are coming out too dark, or are “under-exposed” to use the correct photography term. The reason is down to the way that a camera evaluates the light in a scene. To put it in simple terms, all the white snow in the scene confuses the camera, causing it to reduce the amount of light it captures, and therefore underexposing your image.

If you want to learn more about how a camera works and the concepts of exposure, see my guide to exposure in photography, and my guides to how a DSLR works as well as how a mirrorless camera works.

The good news is that there is a simple fix to gray snow in your photos. All you have to do is use your camera’s exposure compensation feature. This tells the camera to let more light in when taking the photo, and will result in a brighter image.

Nearly every camera on the market, including smartphones, have an exposure compensation option. It will either be available directly via a button on the camera itself, that looks like “+/-“, or via the camera menu.

When you press the button, you should be given a scale that runs from negative numbers to positive numbers, perhaps from -3 to +3, with zero in the middle. Any number above zero will increase the brightness, any number below zero will decrease the brightness.

Each full positive increment of 1 (i.e. from 0 to 1 or 2 to 2) will result in the image being twice as bright.

Each full negative increment of 1 (i.e. from 0 to -1 or -1 to -2) will result in the image being half as bright.

For snow photography, a good rule of thumb is to increase the exposure by “+1”, also known as one stop. Then shoot and adjust if needed.

You should be able to do this from most shooting modes, although this will vary by camera and device. If you have any issues, either look up your camera manual, or search the internet for “exposure compensation + your camera model“.

Use a Lens Hood

If you have a camera with a removable lens, like a mirrorless camera or a DSLR camera, then you should consider using an accessory known as a lens hood. These are also sometimes called sun hoods.

A lens hood is simply an extended piece of circular plastic that fits onto the end of the lens, giving it an extended look. Usually, the main reason to use a lens hood is to reduce unwanted glare entering the lens from the sides of the shot, which can cause flares and other image quality issues in your photos.

In snow photography, there is often a lot of glare as the snow is so bright, and a lens hood can help cut down on this, giving you higher contrast and cleaner images.

However, even if it’s not sunny, a lens hood can offer benefits for snow photography. Primarily, if it’s snowing, a lens hood can help stop flakes of snow landing directly on the glass of your lens. This protection is why I nearly always have a lens hood on my camera—it’s helpful in both snow and rain to help keep my lens dry.

Some lenses come with a lens hood. If not, they are generally inexpensive to buy for most cameras. You can purchase them either direct from the manufacturer or from third party manufacturers. Click here for a list of lens hoods. Just make sure the lens hood is designed for your lens, as lenses are of a different diameter and the lens hood needs to match.

Try a Polarizing Filter

Another snow photography tip for cameras that support interchangeable lenses is to use a polarizing filter. A polarizing filter is a bit of glass that attaches to your lens which is used to filter out polarized light.

Polarized light is generally light which has been reflected from a certain type of surface, which includes snow. If you use a polarizing filter when shooting snow, it cuts down on the glare, and will improve the contrast and colors in your image.

Polarizing filters have a lot of uses in photography in general, from cutting down on reflections to making the clouds in a blue sky really pop. So they are definitely a worthwhile investment for a range of photography subjects beyond snow photography. You can read more about polarizing filters here.

Use Aperture Priority or a Special Snow Photography Mode

For the majority of photography that I do with either our DSLR or mirrorless cameras, I have the camera set to aperture priority mode. Snow photography is no different.

I like aperture priority because it allows me to easily control the depth of field of a photo, but frees me up from worrying about setting the shutter speed and ISO as I would have to in manual. Of course I keep an eye on these settings to ensure they are within acceptable parameters, but generally I prefer to let the camera deal with those things so I can focus on getting the shot itself.

When shooting snow, in most situations it will be outdoor situations with plenty of light, so I don’t have to worry about the shutter speed dropping too low or the ISO going too high. Instead, I can focus on the composition of my shot and capturing the moment.

Most cameras with an aperture priority mode let you set it via the camera’s mode dial. Aperture priority will be marked as “A” or “Av” in most cases.

If your camera doesn’t have an aperture priority mode, then you might check to see if it has a snow photography mode (or winter mode), which will help ensure correctly exposed images. Alternatively, try either the portrait mode for shooting portraits, the action mode if you are capturing fast moving action, or the landscape mode for landscapes.

Shoot in RAW if available

For a long time, the RAW format was the exclusive domain of higher end digital SLR cameras. These days though, many more devices can shoot in RAW, including high end smartphones from Apple and Samsung and higher end compact cameras.

A RAW file is an unprocessed (in most cases) version of the image file which doesn’t sacrifice image data for file size. RAW files have a number of downsides, including the size of the file and the fact you have to edit them. However, the upsides are that you have a lot more control over the final look of the image when it comes to editing.

I have a great deal more information on what RAW is in photography here. Suffice to say, if your device supports RAW photography, it is worth trying it out for snow photography.

Protect Your Gear

When you’re out shooting the snow, you need to be mindful of how the conditions can affect your gear.

To start with, when it’s cold, expect your battery to last for fewer photos. You might not notice too much difference if the temperatures are just around freezing point, but as it gets colder you will definitely notice a big drop off in capacity. So you’ll want to carry spare batteries and keep then in an inside pocket (such as in a vest or interior jacket) to keep them warm.

Next, if you are in really cold conditions, you’ll want to be careful when taking your gear back to a warm location like your house. The rapid temperature change can cause condensation to build up even inside the camera, which will not do the sensitive electronics any good. To prevent this, place the whole camera inside something like a sealed freezer bag before you bring it inside.

If the weather is even more extreme, then you might consider a camera cover like this which will protect the whole camera from snow and rain. These are a useful accessory for photography in general, and are not too expensive.

I have more tips on protecting your gear (and you!) from the cold in my winter photography tips guide.

Be Safe

Our last snow photography tip is just to be safe. Photographing snow is a lot of fun and very rewarding, but you obviously have to take care in wintery conditions.

There are all sorts of hazards when it’s cold, from the health risks associated with the cold itself like hypothermia and frost bite, through to slippery surfaces when icy and avalanches.

Always put your health and safety first, even if it means missing a possibly great shot. If you’re heading to remote locations, follow best practice and ensure someone knows where you are and what your itinerary is. If you are travelling alone, be sure to have a way to contact someone in the area if you run into any trouble.

Camera Settings for Snow Photography

I’ve covered this in part in the tips section, but here’s a quick overview of my suggested settings for snow photography for some different camera types to get you started.

These are of course suggested settings to get you started and you may need to adjust depending on your specific situation, image style, and device.

Snow Photography Settings for Mirrorless / DSLR / Camera with Manual Control

If you have a mirrorless camera, DSLR camera or other camera with manual controls, set it up as follows:

Aperture priority, wide apertures (f/1.2 – f/4) for shallow depth of field, and narrow aperture (f/8 – f/16) to get more of the scene in focus
ISO – either set the ISO to Auto, or adjust based on the light. Usually 100 – 400 will be fine except at night.
Shutter speed – in aperture priority this will be set for you
Exposure compensation: Set to +1
RAW: configure the camera to capture images in RAW mode
White Balance: Set to Auto and you can adjust this when post processing

Snow Photography Settings for Compact Camera / Camera without Manual Control

If you have a compact camera or a camera that doesn’t give you manual controls, then try the following for photographing snow:

Set the camera to “snow” or “winter” mode if it has one (many do)
Exposure Compensation: Nearly every camera has some form of exposure compensation feature. Set this to +1. There might be a “+/-” button on the camera, otherwise check your camera manual for the feature
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off (see here for instructions on disabling camera flash)

Snow Photography Settings for Smartphone Cameras

If you have a smartphone, the chances are you have limited manual control over many of the key settings. However, most smartphones these days are very clever, and should be able to get great snowy photos without too much adjustment on your part. Some things to try:

HDR mode on – this will ensure an evenly lit image across the whole frame
Exposure Compensation: Nearly every smartphone has an exposure compensation feature in the camera app. Set this to +1
White balance: Auto
Flash: Off (see here for instructions on disabling camera flash)

Snow Photography Ideas

Now you are all ready to take some great photos in the snow. But you might be wondering what exactly to take photos of. Here are some subjects and image types to consider.

Landscapes

A beautiful snowy landscape is a classic scene to photograph. My tips would be to ensure there is good depth in your shot with defined foreground and background elements to give your viewer a sense of perspective and scale.

You can also use a subject like a person to add some color and a human touch to a shot. Another option might be to use a snowman or other human created object to interest your viewer.

Wildlife

Snow makes a great backdrop to wildlife photography. From a beautiful red breasted robin through to majestic stags, you can easily use an animal as the key subject in your snow photographs.

Action Shots

If you’re looking for fun ways to take pictures of people in snow, then I think capturing action is a great way to do that. This could be people having a snowball fight, sledding, building snowmen, skiing, making snow angels, or simply out for a walk in a winter wonderland.

For action photography, you might want to switch to shutter priority rather than aperture priority if your camera supports this, as this way you’ll be able to control whether you freeze your subject (fast shutter speed) or capture some of their motion (slow shutter speed).

Gear for Snow Photography

Snow photography doesn’t require specialized equipment to get great results, however you may consider investing in some of the following in order to have a better experience and improve your images.

A good camera bag to protect your lenses and camera equipment
Spare batteries for your camera
A polarizing filter if your camera supports them
A lens hood if your camera supports them
Warm clothes, include thermal baselayers if it’s going to be particularly cold
A good pair of winter photography gloves. These are the best I have found so far.
A tripod, especially if you plan to take photos in low light or nighttime conditions. See our guide to travel tripods here.
A camera cover to keep the snow and rain off your camera

Looking to Improve Your Photography?

If you found this post helpful, and you want to improve your photography overall, you might want to check out my online travel photography course.

Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped thousands of students learn how to take better photos. The course covers pretty much everything you need to know, from the basics of how a camera works, through to composition, light, and photo editing.

It also covers more advanced topics, including astrophotography, long exposure photography, flash photography, and HDR photography.

You get feedback from me as you progress, access to webinars, interviews and videos, as well as exclusive membership of a Facebook group where you can get feedback on your work and take part in regular challenges.

It’s available for an amazing one-off price for lifetime access, and can also be bought as a gift if you know someone who would love to learn photography. Find out more by clicking here.

And that’s it! I’d love to hear about your thoughts on snow photography, and am happy to answer any questions you have. Just pop them in the comments below and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

12 Snow Photography Tips (How to Capture Magical Snow Shots)

Snow is stunningly beautiful, yet capturing gorgeous photos of snow can be surprisingly difficult. If you simply head out on a snow photoshoot without proper preparation, you may run into autofocus and exposure issues (plus, the weather can lead to all sorts of gear failures).

Fortunately, I’ve been photographing snow for years, and I know how to handle each and every one of the common snow photography problems. In this article, I share my absolute best tips for snow shots, including:

The best snow photography settings
The best time to head out for pictures in the snow
How to keep your camera gear safe in the cold
How to photograph falling snow for a beautiful, ethereal effect
Magical snow picture ideas
Much more!

So if you’re ready to learn how to take gorgeous photos in the snow, then let’s dive right in, starting with tip number one:

1.

Focus on contrast (or use manual focus)

Camera autofocus works by identifying contrast. This works great in normal shooting situations – but when everything turns snowy and white, your autofocus will have a hard time acquiring focus, which can lead to a lot of frustration and even missed opportunities.

Fortunately, there’s a simple way around this:

Switch your camera to its single-point AF mode. Then position your main focus point over a contrast-heavy area of your snow scene. For instance, you might focus on the bark of a tree, some vegetation poking through the snow, the roof of a house – anything that pops against the white.

Next, press your shutter button halfway. If you’ve found a sufficiently contrasty part of the scene, the focus should lock – but if it still won’t work, you’ll need to identify an even more contrast-heavy subject.

Finally, hold down your shutter button as you recompose the shot. And once you’ve created the perfect composition, press the button the rest of the way to take your perfect photo of snow!

Note that if you’re trying to photograph a low-contrast scene, such as a white house against a snowy backdrop, you may want to give up on autofocus entirely. Switch your lens over to manual focus, then carefully turn your lens’s focus ring until you’ve achieved perfect sharpness. (For even better results, use your camera’s Live View mode to preview the image on the rear LCD and zoom in to check the focus at a high magnification.)

2. Choose the right camera settings for snow photography

While the best snow photoshoot settings will vary depending on the light, the situation, and your artistic intentions, I do have a few simple recommendations to keep your snow shots looking sharp and well-exposed.

First, set your camera to shoot in RAW. You see, when you use the RAW file format, you’ll have far more information to work with when editing. This will let you recover clipped shadows and highlights (and thanks to the brightness of sun on snow, the latter are pretty common in snow photography).

I’d also recommend selecting your camera’s Evaluative metering mode, also known as Matrix metering. This will analyze the entire scene to achieve the best possible exposure in most situations. If you’re struggling to get a good exposure, you can always try switching over to Spot metering or Partial metering, but Evaluative metering is a good starting point.

Third, shoot in Aperture Priority mode. It’ll allow you to adjust the aperture and ISO while your camera automatically changes the shutter speed (with the goal of achieving a good exposure).

Aperture Priority mode is a great way to gain control over different camera settings without feeling totally overwhelmed. It’s also a lifesaver in cold weather because you generally only need to spin a dial to adjust your aperture (cold fingers aren’t so great at doing complex operations!).

(Another option is to shoot in Manual mode. However, in Manual mode, you’ll need to adjust all your settings, not just the aperture and ISO, so Manual mode isn’t ideal if you’re still wrapping your head around exposure, nor is it great for fast-moving situations. But if you want complete control over your camera settings, and you don’t mind working with cold fingers, then Manual mode is an excellent choice. )

Once your camera is set to Aperture Priority mode, you’ll need to choose an aperture and an ISO. I’d recommend setting your ISO at its base level (generally ISO 100, though this can change depending on your camera). This will keep your images looking clean and free of noise.

As for your aperture setting: This really depends on your artistic interests. A wide aperture (such as f/2.8) will give a beautiful shallow depth of field look, but a narrow aperture (such as f/11) will keep most or all of the shot in focus, which can help highlight all the intricate details in a snowy landscape. If you’re not sure which aperture to choose for your snow photography, try shooting two images of each scene – a wide-aperture shot and a narrow-aperture shot – then compare them when you get home and see which you like best.

After you’ve chosen an aperture and an ISO, take a look at your shutter speed. Your camera will choose this based on exposure considerations, but if you’re shooting handheld, you’ll want to make sure the shutter is fast enough to ensure a sharp shot (1/100s or so is a good starting point, though it’s a good idea to experiment so you have a sense of your own handholding skills and limitations). If the shutter speed is too slow, go ahead and either widen the aperture or raise the ISO, which will force the shutter speed upward.

Finally, you’ll generally need to dial in one or two stops of positive exposure compensation. Due to the quirks of its meter, your camera will try to make the snow look gray, and exposure compensation will counteract this effect to keep things bright. Note that your shutter speed may drop below its acceptable limit (see the previous paragraph), and if that happens, you’ll need to adjust your aperture or ISO to move the shutter in the right direction.

3. Use the right snow photography gear

You can capture gorgeous snow photos with any gear, but if you’re looking to really elevate your shots, I do have a few recommendations.

First, make sure you use a camera with a larger sensor and strong high-ISO capabilities. On dark, cold, snowy days, the light is often relatively limited, and you’ll need to boost your ISO to capture sharp handheld shots, so an impressive sensor can make a big difference. A full-frame mirrorless camera like the Canon EOS R5 or the Sony a7 IV will do an amazing job, though you can also get great results using an APS-C mirrorless model (e.g., the Nikon Z50 or the Canon EOS R10) or a DSLR.

Second, if you plan to shoot in bad weather, make sure you pick a weather-sealed lens. The focal length isn’t especially important, though it should match your interests; you don’t want to shoot with a super-telephoto lens if you’re trying to capture snowscapes! If you’re not sure what type of images you want to capture, consider using a 50mm prime lens (which works great for street photography, portraits, and walkaround photography) or a 24-70mm zoom (which is extremely flexible and can handle both wide-angle landscapes and tighter shots).

Third, if you’ll be working with limited light, be sure to use a sturdy tripod or at least a monopod. That way, you can keep your shots sharp even when the sky is heavily overcast or covered by falling snow.

You also shouldn’t neglect your own winter gear; make sure you wear warm clothes, a heavy coat, a warm hat, and warm but flexible gloves. You don’t want to head out only to end up with frostbite (and it’s also worth noting that, if you’re shivering due to the cold, it’s tougher to capture sharp shots!).

4. Capture snow while it’s still fresh

If you want magical photos, head out just after a fresh snowfall. The world will be sparkly and pristine. You won’t have any footprints, yellow snow, mud, or dirt to deal with; instead, you can focus on creating stunning shots of your winter wonderland.

That said, if you want footprint-free snow, you should plan the photos you’re going to take and the order you’ll take them in. Otherwise, you might accidentally trample the snow during the shooting process, which will ruin your ability to capture future pristine photos.

Note that pristine snow doesn’t last long. Capturing fresh snow might also mean heading out early to shoot (before the kids get up!), or monitoring the weather and getting outside just as the snow stops. Of course, if your schedule isn’t quite so flexible, that’s okay. Just take your camera to an area that you know people won’t disturb, like a forest or field.

5. Keep your batteries warm

You can’t take pictures in snow without fresh batteries – and unfortunately, in cold weather, your batteries won’t last long.

So carry at least two batteries, and keep one in an inside pocket at all times. (Depending on your camera’s battery life, I’d even recommend shooting with three or four batteries. You can grab third-party options online for cheap.)

When the battery in your camera runs low, replace it with a warm one. Then put the drained battery in an inner pocket; you may even be able to use it again once it warms up.

6. Bag your camera when you come inside

When you take a cold camera into a warm environment, what happens? You get condensation on the lens and potentially even on camera internals, which is – you guessed it! – not good. (If you’re really unlucky, it can lead to mold. )

Fortunately, it’s an easy problem to prevent.

When you head out into the cold, bring along a large ziplock bag. I usually keep one in my camera bag or jacket pocket. Then, when you’re ready to go inside, just fill the ziplock bag with cold air, put your camera in the bag, and make sure the lock is sealed tight.

Once you’re in the house, put your camera somewhere it can warm up slowly. When the camera reaches room temperature, you can take it out of the bag and use it normally.

(And if you decide to go back outside to photograph after a brief rest in the house, you can safely take your bagged camera out in the cold, open the bag outside, and start shooting again.)

Note that you’ll need to bag your cold camera before taking it into any warm environment, including stores, heated elevators, and a heated car. Therefore, if you want to photograph an outdoor snow scene and a beautiful interior in a single photoshoot, capture the indoor areas first, then go outside. That way, you won’t get stuck waiting around while your camera warms up (which often takes several hours!).

7. Shoot in any light

Snowy landscapes look good in both sunny and cloudy weather, so don’t restrict yourself to shooting in specific light. Simply learn to work with the lighting conditions you’re given!

When the sky is cloudy, find elements that will break up the white snow and add interest to your photos, such as trees, grass, or ice. You can also look for intricate landscapes, such as grasses against snow or patterns in frozen puddles and streams.

When the weather is sunny, look for shadows created by the bright sun, and try converting your shots to black and white. If you shoot in the early morning or evening, do what you can to capture the warm light on the cold snow. Consider using a wide-angle lens and see if you can find a high angle that really conveys the expanse of the landscape.

You can also capture beautiful blue-hour snowscapes, though you’ll need a tripod to keep your camera steady for a lengthy exposure. If you do decide to go this route, I recommend identifying several potential compositions in advance, then setting up a few minutes before the blue hour arrives. Once the light gets going, take plenty of shots, but be careful not to touch your camera; you don’t want to cause any blur due to vibrations! Here, a remote shutter release can be extremely helpful.

8. Photograph when the snow starts falling

Some photographers don’t like to take their cameras out in bad weather, which is perfectly understandable; just know that snowy days often provide amazing opportunities for images!

Here are just a few ideas for photography on snowy days:

Birds huddled in snow-covered trees
Trees surrounded by a minimalist expanse of white
Pedestrians hunched over against the wind
Plants with little “hats” of snow
Cityscapes with blowing snow and warm lights in the distance

If your goal is to capture scenes that feature falling snow, you’ll want to avoid using lengthy shutter speeds, which will simply blur the snow into near-invisible streaks. Make sure your shutter speed is fast enough to freeze the snow (if needed, you can always boost the ISO – noise doesn’t show up as clearly when mixed in with snowflakes!).

Of course, be sure to protect your camera, especially if the snow is wet and/or heavy. Consider using a rain cover or – if the wind is minimal – an umbrella. I’d also recommend carrying a towel, which you should use to wipe any stray flakes off your camera and lens, as well as a rocket blower, which you should use to blow snow off the front lens element. It’s also a good idea to use a lens hood to prevent snow from landing on the front element, though you’ll need to check the front of your lens frequently to make sure it’s snow-free.

9. Act fast

Snow changes quickly. It can stop falling in an instant. And when the sun comes out, snow melts, so that those beautiful trees go from dazzling to drab in no time at all.

Monitor the weather carefully. Look out your window frequently. Have your gear ready to go.

And if you come up with a snow picture idea that you like, or if you look out the window and see beautiful snow photoshoot opportunities, don’t dawdle. Capture some snow photography while you still can!

10. Be patient

This tip is a corollary to the one above – because while it’s important to always be ready, it’s also important to be patient, especially when you’re faced with rapidly changing conditions.

You see, depending on the light, snow can look sparkly, ethereal, three-dimensional, flat, and so much more. Sometimes, getting the right look simply involves waiting for the light to change.

So if the snow doesn’t look quite how you hoped, check the light. Is the sun behind a cloud? Is the sun too low or high in the sky?

Then wait for the right conditions to take your shot.

11. Play with perspective

As with all forms of photography, composition is an essential ingredient of great snow photos – so you should pay very careful attention to the items you’re including in the frame, and you should also carefully consider your perspective.

For creative snow photos, try getting down low to shoot up, like this:

You might also find a deck or a hill that you can use to shoot downward; that way, you can show how the snow blankets the ground, weighs things down, and clings to everything.

And for each photo you take, look for opportunities to make the shot even better. Walk to either side of your subject, consider different angles, get in close, walk far away, even change lenses. After all, who knows what gorgeous photos await?

12. Capture some sparkly bokeh

A sunny winter day is a great time to create bokeh thanks to all the sparkling snow and ice.

You see, pinpricks of light – e.g., light sparkling on snow – when rendered out of focus, can create outstanding bokeh effects, like this:

So here’s what you do:

First, look for a subject that has something bright or shiny in the background. This background element could be light reflecting off melting snow, light broken by tree branches, or light shining through ice. Set your camera to a wide-open aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or f/4), and make sure there is some distance between your subject and the shiny background.

Thanks to the wide aperture, your subject will be in focus, but not the shiny background elements. And when you hit the shutter button, you’ll get lovely background bokeh!

Pro tip: You’ll get the best results if you can get close to your subject, so pick your closest-focusing lens and have fun!

Snow photography tips: final words

Will you be out taking photos on the next snow day? I’m planning on it, and I hope you are, too.

Have fun with your snow photography and experiment with different settings for creative results. Just remember to dress for the weather and protect your gear!

Now over to you:

Which of these snow photography tips and ideas do you plan to try? Do you have any snow photoshoot tips I missed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

5 Unusual Snow Photography Tips That Can Change Your Winter Shots

A couple in a sheep meadow, Central Park

Winter is in full swing - it's time to get outside and wander through the snow in search of magical shots. Have you used any of the winter photography tips below?

Use "white" vignette

The purpose of vignetting is to keep the eyes from falling off the edge of the image and to look back towards the center of the image. Given the amount of white and gray in snow photography, you generally can't use a traditional dark vignette as it will be too obvious and out of place. So just use white! nine0003

White vignettes can add a special magic to snowy photographs. To add a vignette, use any photo editor, such as the Adobe Lightroom tool.

This is a fairly simple tip, but it can still make a big difference, as you can see in the photo above.

Add contrast (a lot)

Brooklyn Bridge at sunset during a blizzard

shooting picturesque texture and quality. Use this to your advantage and increase the contrast and saturation to bring the photo even closer to the look of an artistic painting. Oversaturated photos are usually a bad idea, but snowstorm shots can be just the opposite. nine0003

Compare the untouched original below with the photo at the beginning of the article. Improved color, increased contrast and white vignette are all it takes to completely transform a painting.

White background, white frame

Couple in a sheep meadow, original

If you have a photo with a lot of white snow and even more so with a white vignette, emphasize it by adding a white underlayer and a white border to it. The frame will merge with the frame to become part of the action. nine0003

Photograph at dusk and at night to create menacing winter scenes

Snow can be more than just portrayed as friendly, peaceful and simple. It can often carry a dark and menacing feel if shot correctly, especially at dusk or at night. As the light level decreases, the contrast between white snow and darkness increases. This can cause, for example, tree branches to look like tentacles or disfigured fingers circling the photo. The contrast between the beautiful property of snow and the formidability of the picture is unique. nine0003

Lamp post at dusk, Central Park

Use the HDR method

HDR (High Dynamic Range) can bring out excellent HDR textural quality without unrealistic HDR colors. Depending on the lighting, snow often lacks texture. The difference between bright whites and deep shadows in these paintings can be so pronounced that it doesn't work very well. For photos like this, HDR is the perfect tool to put everything in its place. nine0003

Here is an example before and after photo taken with Photomatix.

Central Park Tunnel at night, original

And more sample shots!

Tags: how to photograph, landscape landscape, photography for beginners

How to shoot ice, snow and cold.

7 tips for beautiful photos

Winter is a great time to take pictures. But in order to capture the beauty of winter, you have to overcome cold temperatures not only for yourself, but for all your photographic equipment. We have prepared for you seven practical tips that will help you get great photos in the icy season without compromising your own health and irreparable damage to your entire arsenal of photographic equipment. nine0003

Remember that exciting feeling you had as a child when the first snow fell? If you turn into a grumpy adult when it comes to winter, challenge yourself to reclaim the wonder of winter this year!

If you hate the cold, stay inside!

When you think about winter photography, you most likely have a picture of an all-consuming general cold that surrounds and penetrates every conceivable and unimaginable cracks and holes, while you are trying to avoid frostbite while photographing. Perhaps the thought of crazy winter weather stops you from going outside to take photos during the colder months. But who said you have to go outside to get beautiful winter images? nine0003

Before you go outside, consider what you can achieve indoors. Have you noticed, for example, how icicles hang from the roof of your house? Instead of shooting them outdoors, try taking pictures of icicles from home as an option.

Golden hour

Icicles in the afternoon

These are icicles at sunset. In Ontario, Canada, sunsets are often deep and bright

These icicles are illuminated by the cold light of a full moon

Preparing batteries

Let's say you decide to go outside to shoot; in this case, it is better to prepare in advance. Make sure your camera batteries are fully charged (including spares). They tend to run out faster in cold weather, so find a warm pocket to keep them there. It should allow the batteries to be leaned against your body; maybe it will be an inside breast pocket. Also, try keeping a hand warmer or, for example, a bag of salt heated in a pan in your pocket! nine0003

Enjoy a hot cup of tea while you wait for the batteries to charge! Steam is very interesting to photograph and the best shots are taken when it is backlit.

Snow measurement

Most people use the automatic settings on their camera, for example when shooting in "landscape" or "portrait" mode. With all these settings, your camera uses its internal meter to calculate the correct exposure or brightness for the shot. nine0003

But this could be the problem. When the landscape is littered with bright white snow, your camera will want to darken the exposure. This means that you will take a picture and the snow will turn gray. The camera doesn't know that you want the snow to look bright white in your photo. Of course, she does not even suspect that she is "looking" at the snow!

There are two ways to make white snow white. First, you must use manual mode to control the exposure yourself. If you don't feel comfortable using manual mode yet, try using exposure compensation. Set your camera to aperture priority, then use exposure compensation. Keep making adjustments until you see everything is correct. Please refer to your camera's instruction manual for information on how to set exposure compensation. nine0003

If you do not use exposure compensation, you will have to colorize winter photos using Lightroom. Notice how strongly the gray color of the snow is in the photo on the left

Even if you can fix your photos later with a photo editor, it's much better to get the right exposure the moment you take it

Look for contrast

Once you've mastered exposure and measurement, it's time to take some creative photos. The first thing to look for in a snowy landscape is contrast. Since snow is bright white, you should look for dark objects that will differ from the color of the snow. Contrast is what will help your photo pop and give it more dimension. In landscape photography, this could be trees, buildings, animals, or just people. nine0003

The dark trees in the background help define the shape of the snowy hill. A boy rolling down a hill creates contrast too

Think in black and white

Are you already looking for high contrast paintings? Bright white snow combined with dark objects creates the perfect high-contrast black and white photo. Viewing your photos in monochrome lets you appreciate the lines and texture in your photo without being distracted by the colors.

Bright snow contrasts with dark trees

There are two options for getting a black and white photo. You can change the camera settings so that the photo is monochrome initially. Or you can take photos in JPEG or RAW and convert the photos later. It is recommended to use the RAW format and set the camera to shoot in black and white. This way your photo will retain its color even if it looks black and white on the camera monitor. Using the RAW format makes it possible to see the image in black and white during shooting, but at the same time you have the opportunity to save them in color when viewed on a computer monitor in post-processing. nine0003

The silhouette is ideal for high contrast black and white photography

Slow shutter speed

The constant movement of snowflakes allows for creative shutter speeds. You can set a shutter speed to freeze the movement of snowflakes, and you can slow down the shutter speed to capture their movement. You can't see the wind with your eyes, but you can capture it through the snow. When you slow down the shutter speed, a blurry trace of the movement of snow flakes is recorded in the picture. nine0003

You can slow down the shutter speed a little and capture some motion blur.

You can slow down the shutter speed to 1/30 second to get even more motion blur. Just make sure both the camera and the subject are still (consider using a tripod)

Try using shutter priority mode. Slow down your shutter speed until you reach the desired amount of blur in your photo. Remember the third tip about measuring bright snow? If you're having trouble getting the correct exposure, switch to manual mode or use exposure compensation. nine0003

Protect your camera before you go inside

People who wear glasses know how frustrating it is to step into warmth from the cold. As soon as they enter the room, the glasses fog up! Condensation is to blame - elementary physics. This is moisture from warm air collecting on a cold surface. Your camera is no exception. When you bring it inside from a cold place, moisture will accumulate on it, penetrating all the tiny parts of the camera. Naturally, this can be a problem for the long-term health of the equipment. nine0003

What can be done to bring a cold camera into the house without worrying about condensation?

While you are still outside, place your camera in a large, durable sealed bag that can be sealed. Seal it so that moisture cannot get inside. Now, when you bring the camera into the house, moisture will not get on the camera body. Allow the instrument to warm up to room temperature before removing it from the bag. And when you remove the camera from the bag, there will be no moisture on it. nine0003

This airtight bag will keep all the condensation from the camera until it returns to room temperature

Beautiful photos in cold weather?

Whether you're shooting winter photos in the warm room of a cozy home, or you're about to brave the winter cold, here are a few simple tips to keep in mind.