If you are delving into photography this winter then I might be able to save you some time and hassle by giving you these trusty tips on how to make beautiful images whilst being in the depths of those cold winter days.
I dislike winter. I really do. I am the type of person that’s 5 different layers on and is still cold. Usually come winter I long for warmer days but this year I have revelled in the winter and I have accepted it for its purpose and beauty. If you get a chance to read ‘Two for Joy’ by Adam Henson the author brings great insight into how and why the seasons can be beautiful in their own way.
I’m no Adam Henson, however, I want to impart wisdom upon you, for you, to use in this wintery time!
Number one, PROTECT YOUR GEAR!
- It looks like I don’t look after my gear in this photo but I trust in the ability of the camera brace! It is a safe piece of equipment!
- Your camera or phone is a very lucrative device and it must be protected at all costs! If it’s snowing or windy it’s a good idea to add a lens hood to your camera to shield it from flying snowflakes.
- Buy or make a little cover for your camera to protect its body.
- Bring plenty of batteries as your charge will be depleted quicker in the winter.
Relating to that point, Did you know? Your electronic device uses chemical reactions in order to work and when it goes colder these reactions slow down. The slowing of these reactions weakens your battery's power and drains it more. I actually witnessed someone with their car pulled to one side of the road the other day, and me and my boyfriend speculated that the battery had gone. I now know why!
Also! As they are colder they cannot deliver enough current to keep up with the demand but as you start to warm it up it will start working again. There we go! Just give it a nice warm rub (like a genie) and your battery will spring to life again.
Number two, wear specific gloves!
I had a problem recently where I couldn’t quite use my camera's wheel button as I was wearing thick gloves. I’d therefore recommend wearing gadget-friendly gloves (maybe even some running gloves which have a softer and thinner material). Your hands may be slightly cold for the shot but as soon as you have taken it I’d recommend putting them in your pocket with the nice hand warmer inside to catch them up to a nice warm temperature.
Number three, remember your camera is tricking you!
Wondering what I am on about? I bet you are. Without going into all the jargon associated with this part I am simply going to say that your camera doesn’t always pick up on the scene and photograph it as you see it. More specially, it believes colours to be medium grey compared to Black or White, so your image can look rather flat and boring. If you are trying to capture snow it will come out more grey than the bright white your eyes see. If you are interested in looking into how to correct this why not watch the video below?
Number Four, Use a Tripod
It may sound a bit cliché nonetheless it has to be mentioned!
If you have access to a Tripod and you are able to place it in a safe place (away from ice or on stable ground) then you may see the benefits in your photos.
Why? Your hands in winter tend to clam up and be a little stiff and slow. Try pressing the shutter button in freezing temperatures a few times and you’ll soon find your hands have decided to switch off for the moment. You’ll also find as your hands become less relaxed they will shake more which isn’t good for any type of shooting!
If you can get a tripod you can reduce the blur in your photos which you may get from the shakiness and also you could even choose to operate the camera from a handheld device you can press in your pocket. See? May seem a lot at first but there are two great advantages to this; a clear photo and a warm human being.
Last but not least, Number 5, Shoot during Golden Hours!
Golden Hour, if you do not know, is the hour when the sun is either rising or setting in the sky creating this beautiful rich golden colour. It is my favourite time to shoot as it makes my images look warm and inviting as well as not being too harsh with strong light. You also can get a beautiful flare shot if you play your cards right.
Did you know? That a lens flare is a beam of light that protrudes out onto an image. It’s that bright line that you create coming down from the sun. Your eye doesn’t see this flare but it’s all to do with the light hitting your camera lens.
You can see a picture I took with this flare on that winter morning (my previous Adventure Blog details these pictures and my adventure)
Just like in Wedding Photographs, it is possible to get lovely flare images if you shoot a couple when it is during Golden Hour. This adds an edge to the image and makes it look a bit more magical.
Winter Weddings can also be magical and it’s vital to capture the images in a way to keep the winter wonderland magic alive!
Thank you for taking the time to read this blog! I hope it will serve use for you when shooting your winter ventures!
All my love,
Holly
