Winter:

 

Now that we are officially in the depths of winter (the snow is up to my knees at our house), I decided to write about my favorite things about shooting in winter. Yes, I know its cold but you can still get great images with just warm clothes and some determination.

First thing is waterfalls. This may seem counter productive since it is cold out and there is not much water flowing. This isn't completely true, in mild winters you can get a nice combination of ice and water to make the waterfalls stand out differently than any other season. And if it's frozen, experiment with color and light.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second is barns. I like the contrast between a red barn and the white snow. Often catching these at the right light is crucial, I prefer sunrises since that is usually when I’m on the road and I can capture them. The warm light, fresh snow and red barn can make for some nice rural scenes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next is landscapes in general. These get transformed by the snow which makes a bleak scene seem beautiful. Scout some locations. Trees and rolling hills are two of my favorites. And remember light, you want morning or evening light to soften the white of the snow and avoid blowing it out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lastly, if its too cold outside, setup inside. Experiment with product photography or something else creative. I have found smoke (if you can ventilate the area) and food coloring into water to be fun. I also used this time to get pictures of my vintage cameras. Choose items that are unique and place them in varied settings to get a new perspective.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No matter which way you go, don't let winter stop you from getting out there, making beautiful images and being creative.