How to Photograph in the Snow

10 tips for the most beautiful photos in the snow

A good snowfall can make the world look completely different. Everything gets a white coat and sometimes a quiet, ghostly atmosphere. This makes it a great subject to photograph. Unfortunately, snow can also disappear quickly, so you need to head out immediately to capture it. Frank Jordan, nature photographer and Kamera Express employee, shares 10 tips for photographing in the snow.

Tip 1: Photograph with a sturdy tripod

Using a tripod automatically gives you more time to work out your composition and prevents motion blur in your photos. Preferably use a sturdy and somewhat heavier three-legged tripod. A brand such as Sirui has plenty of tripods that are very stable and highly suitable for snow photography. Of course, there are more brands in our assortment that are also suitable for this type of photography.

Tip 2: Use a remote shutter release

With a remote shutter release, you can operate the camera from a distance. By using a remote shutter release you prevent blur caused by pressing the shutter button on your camera. An alternative can be to use your camera’s self-timer. If you want to eliminate motion blur completely, you can use the mirror lock-up function (if your camera supports this feature).

Tip 3: Turn off your image stabilisation

Some lenses have built-in image stabilisation, for example with Canon this is indicated as IS ("Image Stabilizer"), with Sony as OSS ("Optical Steady Shot") and with Nikon as VR ("Vibration Reduction"). If you are using a tripod, you can safely switch off your image stabilisation. A stabilisation motor can still cause unnecessary vibrations when activated, resulting in a blurry image. In such situations, it is therefore unnecessary to use the image stabilisation of your lens.

Tip 4: Pay attention to your exposure

Your camera’s light meter is by default set to 18% grey. When there is a lot of white (for example snow) in your frame, the camera tends to underexpose. Some cameras can respond to this situation, but checking it yourself is of course better. To prevent the white in the photo from turning grey, you generally need to overexpose by between half and one and a half stops. So pay close attention to the histogram. A lot of ‘space’ on the right side of the histogram indicates an underexposed image.

Tip 5: Ensure protection for your camera

Snow is a form of precipitation that consists of ice crystals. Ice crystals consist of water, which is bad for electronic equipment. By using a rain cover, you prevent your camera from getting wet. Snow is also very cold and can cause freezing of moving parts in the camera. Therefore, do not let snow sit on your camera for too long and wipe it clean regularly. Read here how you can protect your gear.

Tip 6: Consider black-and-white photography

Due to the lack of colour in the landscape, shapes often become more dominant. This makes winter particularly suitable for creating black-and-white images. You can set your camera to black-and-white mode or shoot in RAW format and convert the photo to black and white using editing software such as Adobe Photoshop or Corel PaintShop Pro. Naturally, we have more editing software in our assortment.

Tip 7: Make use of a polarising filter

When you use a polarising filter, the colours in your photos become even stronger. A polarising filter reduces unwanted reflections from the snow, increases contrast and gives the sky a deeper shade of blue. In addition, a filter also protects your camera lens glass from external dirt.

Tip 8: Going on a winter sports holiday?

Then consider an action cam! An action cam, such as from the brand GoPro or DJI, is a true sports camera that you can easily attach to, for instance, your skis, snowboard or helmet. Thanks to the unique perspective, you can always relive your downhill runs.

Tip 9: Protect the equipment you are not using

A good camera bag is not a luxury when you head out in the snow. Moreover, a good camera bag is also very handy when you go on a winter sports holiday. Bags from, for example, Lowepro and Peak Design are very sturdy, comfortable to carry and provide excellent protection for your equipment.

Tip 10: Take care of yourself

Nothing is more beautiful than photographing wonderful winter weather, but it can also be very cold! So take good care of yourself and wear sturdy shoes and warm clothing. Thermal underwear, such as from Stealth Gear, is not a luxury here. A thermos with coffee, tea or hot chocolate can also be very enjoyable in the cold weather.