Some key points from a presentation by guest presenter and local professional photographer, Adam Winfield

Adam’s presentation offered advice to members on various techniques for capturing winter scenes.

Personal comfort and safety
o Keep warm
o Be able to contact somebody in an emergency
o Let somebody know where you’re going and when you expect to return

Care for your kit
o Take spare camera batteries and keep them warm – close to your body
o Wear gloves in sub-zero temperatures – bare hands can freeze to tripods and other metallic surfaces
o Don’t be put off using your camera in falling snow, but protect it:
> Purpose-made camera protectors
> Improvise with a plastic bag
> Many cameras have a degree of moisture protection and can be used for short periods in falling snow
> Thoroughly dry and clean your kit after use in snow

Creativity
o In snow and frost a white landscape relies more on shape, texture and pattern for effect
o Compose shots carefully, using lines, shapes and textures
o Look for splashes of colour (e.g. a res post box in a white snow scene)
o Get out early to find virgin snow scenes with no footprints or tyre tracks

Technique
o Cameras meter for a mid-grey.
o Relying on auto-exposure can lead to “muddy” grey tones
o Shoot in aperture priority and dial in one or two stops positive exposure compensation
o Light levels are low in winter, so be prepared to use a tripod, or increase the ISO setting for handheld shots

Other ideas for winter photography
o If braving the elements is not your style, keep shooting indoors.
o Study photography magazines and websites for ideas and techniques for indoor photography
o Check out our separate technique article on “Home Experiments”