Stackhouse007 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 364 posts, RR: 2 Posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 9 hours ago) and read 1707 times:
Hello everyone,
I still consider myself a new spotter and still love contributing to this community. I only have 5 shots in the db but I am looking for more to come! My question is, the winter is coming around the corner and I live in Michigan so snow is on the way!
Do I need to change camera settings or anything for shots that snow is in the air? Can you take pictures even with it snowing? Does the snow come out bright? I just got my camera and this is my first winter trying to get shots so I am very curious.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 1, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1691 times:
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Good thread. I think the biggest challenge to winter photography is simply withstanding the cold. As I'm sure you know, the windchill can be quite extreme in large, open areas like airports.
I still haven't mastered matching camera settings to winter light. Hope to make progress on that this winter. But I think one of the most important thing to remember when shooting in the snow is that poor visibility doesn't automatically ruin the chances for a good shot. Also, the effects of the snow can really make a routine shot quite remarkable:
ThierryD From Luxembourg, joined Dec 2005, 2021 posts, RR: 52 Reply 2, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 1687 times:
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Hey Kyle,
like always the camera settings you need depend on what kind of result you want to achieve but in general you don't need any changes in comparison to normal "summer weather".
The snow has about the same brightness as white aircraft fuselages, so no need for exposure compensation there.
Stackhouse007 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 364 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1624 times:
Thanks for that info guys! I am very excited to get some interesting shots. I know that I will need to get some warmer clothes and hats and what not. lol.
Maybe a dumb question, I know that if Ipods and such are left in the cold too long you should let them warm up before turning the screen on.. Is that the same with cameras? Should I stay close to my car to keep the camera warm or does that really not matter?
Astro777lover From United States of America, joined Nov 2008, 212 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1620 times:
Quoting Stackhouse007 (Reply 3): Should I stay close to my car to keep the camera warm or does that really not matter
From what Ive been in the cold, i usually would put my camera in my jacket and hold it close. But where i was it was -31C/ -24F so it was different.
When you get out of your car your lens will probably get fogged up so make sure you have a cleaning cloth. (or is that when you go from cold to warm?).
I've never shot aviation photos during the winter time because I live in Florida so there is no snow, so you will have to show me how they come out!
At tip: The camera is metal, so i recommend wearing couple pairs of gloves if its really cold. (I don't know how cold it gets in Michigan)
Good Luck!
-Austin
Canon EOS 450D, Canon 70-200L 2.8 IS USM, Canon 580EX II
Stackhouse007 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 364 posts, RR: 2 Reply 5, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 1617 times:
I actually can't wait for snow this year, even though I haven't even uploaded all of last year's.
Tips:
Equipment
1. Get the exposure right. Obviously, but my camera tended to under-expose. You might have to set the exposure manually, or at least set some kind of compensation.
2. Make sure your gear is water/weather sealed (usually only the high-end stuff is), or that you've got it covered up pretty well. Snow on the camera turns to moisture on the camera, and if it's not weather-sealed, that could easily lead to problems. As my stuff is pretty well sealed, I didn't have to worry too much with plastic bags, etc... to cover the lens/body, but that could work. Alternately, if you don't need to see over a fence, you can shoot from inside the car.
3. Try not to let your gear get too cold, as when it goes into warmer temps, (back in the car/house/etc...) this could lead to condensation.
General
1. For me, good snow tires. Vancouver actually doesn't get much snow in the winter, so when we do, people don't know how to drive in it (and usually try to do so in all-weathers). 4-wheel drive and good snow tires is the way to go.
2. Bring a towel. Jumping back into a warm car is nice after getting a shot, but that snow still on you will soon melt, and things will get wet...
3. Have fun... nothing like being stuck in a snow-storm and watching heavies blast the runway/taxiway clear....
RonS From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 761 posts, RR: 24 Reply 7, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1564 times:
Great tips. I'm psyched for some snow shots as well.
All opinions expressed by me are my own opinions & do not represent the opinions in any way of my employers.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 8, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 1553 times:
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Great shots, Dana. I love how that Air Canada livery stands out so nicely in white-out conditions.
Quoting Dlowwa (Reply 6): 3. Try not to let your gear get too cold, as when it goes into warmer temps, (back in the car/house/etc...) this could lead to condensation.
Isn't there some trick for this? Putting the cold-soaked camera in a sealed plastic bag before taking it inside, perhaps?
Quoting Dlowwa (Reply 6): 1. For me, good snow tires. Vancouver actually doesn't get much snow in the winter, so when we do, people don't know how to drive in it (and usually try to do so in all-weathers). 4-wheel drive and good snow tires is the way to go.
Spot-on. It's all about the durometer/hardness of the rubber. Summer and even "all-season" tires harden in the cold and turn into hockey pucks on the snow and ice. Winter tires remain soft and grippy. If the snow tires prevent even one fender bender, they just paid for themselves. And it's not like you're wearing out two sets of tires at once...your warm-weather tires last longer.
Jspitfire From Canada, joined Feb 2005, 308 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1516 times:
Good thread! Up here in Yellowknife winter is already here, lakes are freezing over and snow is flying.
I really enjoy getting out in the winter to shoot. Although the days are short, the sun is always low in the sky which gives great light all day long. I've never had any problems with the camera, even in temperatures below -40 C. I still haven't found a way to keep my fingers warm, getting warm gloves that you can still press buttons and change settings with is a real challenge!
One other thing to watch out for is your battery life. When I'm out shooting the nothern lights in temperatures around -30 C, I usually have about 45 mins on a fully charged battery.
2H4 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 8950 posts, RR: 62 Reply 10, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 2 days 5 hours ago) and read 1515 times:
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Quoting Jspitfire (Reply 9): I still haven't found a way to keep my fingers warm, getting warm gloves that you can still press buttons and change settings with is a real challenge!
I'd like to try using some thin, heated glove liners (like motorcyclists use) inside of those big gloves with the fingertips that open up.
Dlowwa From Canada, joined Apr 2005, 7247 posts, RR: 32 Reply 11, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 1 day 9 hours ago) and read 1469 times:
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Quoting 2H4 (Reply 10): I'd like to try using some thin, heated glove liners
I've been using something similar to those. I decided to compromise between warmth and dexterity. I've got biker's gloves, which basically cut any wind chill, but don't provide as much warmth. A benefit of the ones I have is that they have a rubberized-type grip so holding on to the gear as much easier, and they are tight/thin enough I can just manage to use the controls on the camera back without having to take them off. Downside is of course they're not as warm, but things don't often go too far below freezing here, so coupled with big pockets/warm car interior I do fine. Even in temps. just above freezing they're manageable for longer spells outdoors: yesterday I spent four+ hours in the morning outside in the brush shooting birds, and my hands didn't get too cold. Temp. was only a few degrees above freezing.
Sovietjet From Bulgaria, joined Mar 2003, 2339 posts, RR: 14 Reply 12, posted (3 years 7 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1462 times:
Quoting Dlowwa (Reply 6): Alternately, if you don't need to see over a fence, you can shoot from inside the car.
This is not a good idea. Sitting in the car when it is cold outside and taking photos will almost always ruin them because of the sharp difference in air density between your hot air inside the car and the real cold air outside. To see what I'm talking about, go behind someone that has the window open on a real cold day and you'll see plenty of "heat haze" and air distortion coming out of the windows. This results in almost all shots looking like they are out of focus because you are shooting through that stuff. I would recommend stepping several feet away from any warm parts of the car. To avoid condensation(not that I've had this problem)...leave the camera on your car roof if you decide to go back in the car and warm up.
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 8):
Isn't there some trick for this? Putting the cold-soaked camera in a sealed plastic bag before taking it inside, perhaps?
If you have a carrying bag(or backpack) just put it in there then go home(or in the car). Since the bag is cold from being outside...it will slowly warm-up again once it is inside...and so will the camera inside.
Not if you just stick the tip of the camera out of the window. At least I've never had the problem of car interior induced heat-haze, although as I mentioned, it doesn't get as cold around here as it does in other parts, so I could see this becoming a problem elsewhere.
Quoting Sovietjet (Reply 12): leave the camera on your car roof if you decide to go back in the car and warm up.
Just make sure you're confident about the weather sealing (or it's in a bag) before you do that!
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