What is the best way to photograph snow, and are there any filters that will make it look better?

Answer 1

Snow tends to fool the camera sometimes, it's not as bright as your camera thinks it is. All that reflected light fools the meter.

Your camera's meter probably wants to make the snow 18% gray. Of course, you want the snow to be white, so you have to our think your camera. If you have manual control, increase the exposure about one stop. Most digicams have a + / - exposure control, so try a few shots at different settings and see which looks better.

If you are photographing people, you will probably need to use your flash.

With digital, you have to be careful not to blow out the highlights. If your camera has a histogram, check it for winky-blinkies, or see if the scale falls off to the right, which indicates over-exposure.

Filters? A polarizer will make the blue sky pop and may reduce reflection somewhat. A TTL meter will automatically increase exposure to compensate for the filter.

Answer 2

The main thing about snow shots is that your metering system will probably underexpose them. Metering systems average out the tones in a scene then set the exposure so that the average will be 50% grey as a lot of the scene will be snow you will need to move the EV (exposure compensation) up by one or two stops or settle for grey snow. Watch your histogram and keep it away from the right hand side when you do this. Use something in the middle or far distance to show scale such as a tree(s), person(s) or chalet. Otherwise its difficult to show the sheer size of these things and your awe while you are there doesn't come across in the picture. At this time of year the light is fairly low anyway so you get good 'modeling' light, but be aware that your shot will have really dark shadows and really bright snow that will beyond your camera to resolve so bracketing shots or at least shooting in Raw will be needed to record all the tones. Dawn light gives a golden glow, sunset gives a warmer reddish glow, both have their appeal. Wide angle shots are the norm, but I would also advise selecting distant detail with your telephoto has a place too, kind of the picture that's within bigger the picture if you see what I mean. Look for some 'minimalist' shots the lone tree in snow type of thing. Chris

Answer 3

If you are shooting with a camera with manual settings then try using a gray card to set the exposure. The card will most likely give you an exposure that, using shutter speed, is considerably slower than what the camera wants to do automatically. If you don't want to carry a gray card then take the camera's setting anc back it off a stop of shutter speed....your results may vary depending on the brightness of the scene.

A good book on the subject is "Understanding Exposure" by Bryan Peterson. It has helped me greatly in understanding the relationship of ISO, shutter speed, and aperature. The book is an easy read and has lots of wonderful pictures (and it is cheap).

Answer 4

Polarizing filter should help a little even though it's scattered light or an ND filter. Make sure that it isn't washed out. It might help to use a flash on darker subjects at full power.