Photos in the snow: Setting the right scene in the Tiroler Zugspitz Arena
A snowy, white mountain landscape is a soothing sight. Sometimes you would like to capture this moment of tranquility and take it home with you. But taking pictures in winter is not necessarily easy. Here is the second part with tips for the perfect photo in the snow.
The experts from FroZen Lights have already revealed which technical settings help a photographer to take the perfect picture in the first part. Precisely because the white winter idyll is not blessed with color, however, the choice and design of motifs are also decisive criteria for successful photos in the snow. Sjef Handels recommends looking for light contrasts, colored accessories or interesting combinations of foreground and background in the surroundings. With large masses of snow, a detail that puts the environment in perspective enlivens the photo enormously. Even footprints in the snow break up a white expanse. A ski hut at the edge, groups of trees or the famous icicles give a picture statement and depth. Zooms and close-ups of small objects, such as frost, ice or a leaf in the snow, are exciting.
Sonne, Vollmond, Schneegestöber
"Even backlighting should not be shied away from," says Handels. To warn right away not to photograph directly into the sun. "Better hide it behind a tree so that it just winks through the branches." The lighting effects made for almost dramatic, definitely stunning photos in the snow. He's even more enthusiastic about shooting under a full moon, but then with a tripod for the longer exposure time. "There is no trace of darkness anymore, even the mountain flanks are slightly bluish in the pictures." The fascination of nature also makes use of photos of snow flurries or clouds of fog drifting across the landscape.
Putting people in the right light
Handels also advises to pay attention to a lot of brightness for photos in the snow, especially for portraits. However, the sun should not come directly from the front or the back. Otherwise the face will be too dark or the person will blink. If the light is coming from the side, check the viewfinder several times to see if shadows are playing on the face. If it's snowing, then watch out that no flakes settle on the nose or float in front of the eyes. "Afterward, they can look like small flaws in the image." In general, he says, a person looks more sublime if they are shot slightly from below. For children's pictures, on the other hand, Handels advises getting down on your knees and at eye level. "Otherwise, the view from above only makes the little ones look smaller."