Why Photography in Snow is Difficult
Snow creates amazing photo shoot possibilities, but photography in snow is not as easy as one may think. White covered landscape, branches and trees make us excited, but when you take the shot it is not very exciting! Let’s see what usually goes wrong in photography in the snow.
List of possible issues when taking photographs in snow
1- Snow is Blue or Magenta
This is the common problem that photographers face when photography in snow. The main reason is that the exposure is not set correctly, i.e. the photo is underexposed.
Underexposed image
When using Multi segment (Matrix or Evaluative) in semi automatic exposure mode (P, Shutter, or Aperture Priority), the camera’s light meter measures the overall light. As snow reflects more light, it can fool the camera and force the camera to underexpose the picture.
Solution for underexposed images when taking photographs in snow
The simple, yet effective solution is over exposing the scene by one stop. If you are using manual exposure, just set your exposure +1 stop. If you use semi automatic, set the Exposure Compensation (usually the button has +/- sign on it) to +1. Problem solved!
Correct Exposure.
2- White Balance is off
This is another common issue in photography in snow. Although snow looks white to our eyes, the camera sees it differently. Practicing Custom White Balance is the best solution. Refer to your camera’s make and model and find out how to set the custom White Balance, even when shooting in Raw. Correct White Balance can improve the image quality.
White Balance is Off
Correct White Balance
Camera's default setting
Exposure Compensation +1
Correct exposure and White Balance
