Winter Scene Camera Adjustments
Just thought you might a photo tip of the week if you are brave enough to go out into the cold tundra of Wisconsin.
If you have a point and shoot. Please see if your camera has a scene mode with a “Snowman” on it. This will help your images turn out totally awesome compared to leaving it in auto mode that will result in an image on the right. Some point and shoots don’t have scene modes but do have exposure compensation modes. For Point and Shoot cameras this would be in your menu with usually a “+/-” symbol by it. You usually can’t adjust this unless you are in the “P” mode of the camera. Put the exposure compensation to +1, then leave it in “P” mode and take all your images in the snow in this mode.
DSLR camera users would need to put the camera in the “P” mode as well but use the “+/-” button, usually located on top of the camera. While pushing the “+/-” button use the dial by your thumb or index finger until it reads +1.
Having the right expsure really will bring out the dark subject matter with a lot more detail using these setting on your camera. For example, a black dog on white snow. This is an extreme case but will really bring out the strands of hair on a dark dog like this if you use these settings.
Be sure to charge all your batteries up before going out into the cold or bring some extras. Alkaline and NimH batteries don’t do so well in the cold but lithium rocks as far as longevity.
I am still looking for subject to teach at my first camera class so please go to Creative Photo Lounges Facebook page and drop me some suggestions or just email me at facebook@harmann.com
John Harmann-Professional Photographer and Owner of Harmann Studios and Harmann’s Creative Photo Lounge located in Sturgeon Bay, Luxemburg, and De Pere, WI.