deviant art

Deviant Login Shop  Join deviantART for FREE Take the Tour
×

×

Winter Nature Photography

Sat Jan 19, 2013, 2:53 PM
We all know about the cons of shooting in winter: it's cold, it's dark, there is no bright colours, no flowers, the battery dies faster, and getting to places may be harder. But there are may positive things too! Here's my list for a nature photographer, and feel free to add to it in the comments:

1.There are opportunities for making both happy and gloomy pictures. It is easier to make a horror/macabre/dark photo when everything looks dead and desolate, not green and lushy.
2. You have a reason to spend time outside.
3. There is time to master low-light photography.
4. Photography is a good excuse for walking in knee-deep snow.
5. Since everything is dry and covered with snow, you have to be more creative in finding an interesting thing to shoot, and post-processing.
6. The sunrise and sunset last longer, so you have more golden hour time (assuming that you get to see the sun at all :)
7. There are some great natural phenomena, such as hoarfrost, sundogs, northern lights or ice fog.
8. No mosquitoes!

Now, your turn. Climate-specific cons are welcome!

Skin by =winnietehpoohie (modified by ~MarsiaMS)

911

1 10 0

Details

Stats

Submitted on
January 19
Views
911 (1 today)
Favourites
1 (who?)
Comments
10
URL
Thumb
Only verified accounts can report policy violations. Please check your email and click on the verification link.
* Required field
Add a Comment:
 
:iconteetotally:
I totally agree.. especially with the 'reason to spend time outside' (though risk of wet feet after a few hours, and subsequent cold.. if inappropriately dressed :))
I have just stumbled into the world of photography and much to learn yet but winter presents lots of wonderful sights and challenges and - at least from where I sit - it's going to last another week or two or.. (that's the downside though, I'm tired of it after almost 5 months)
depressing if there is only one sunny day in 20, all grey can make for a nice gloomy picc but after a while it gets annoying.

14. the end of winter, when there's still snow on the ground and bushes, but green buds and the first flowers breaking through. nature reborn..
15. melting ice on leaves and twigs and moss... in the sun (especially in golden hour) it looks as if mother nature has opened her jewel case.
16. easier to lure swans and ducks onto dry (white) land with just a few breadcrumbs :)
Reply
:iconmarsiams:
~MarsiaMS Mar 19, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
The appropriate clothes are really, really important :) I put on many layers, two pairs of gloves, sometimes even two pairs of socks! :D Feet do not get wet in under -20 here, unless snow gets in your shoes and melts there.

I thought spring has come to Germany already... Are you in the north of the country?

And thank you for adding to the list!
Reply
:iconteetotally:
wellies, I found, are quite appropriate. especially when you put two pairs of fluffy wooly socks on your feet :)
spring is making the off interlusional (that IS a word ;)) appearance but every time you get your hopes up and spring clothes and sunglasses out more snow.
I'm in Berlin, which is not particularly northern, and it has been snowing for 20 hours straight now. only just 2 days after I shot lovely lottle crocusses sticking their heads out.
go figure.
guess I'll be getting more 'practise low-light photography' time than I thought :D
Reply
:iconmarsiams:
~MarsiaMS Mar 19, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
Crocusses! That means you have your spring started, at least :D No flowers here, just frost and piles of snow. I hope it's gone in April, but snowfalls in May are not unusual here.
I'm sure Berlin has many gorgeous sights in any light, both landscapes and cityscapes. Happy practicing! :sun:
Reply
:iconolivieraccart:
*OlivierAccart Feb 8, 2013  Hobbyist Photographer
Your advices are both funny, wise and really interesting !
It's good to learn to do with what we have and be contented ... it's mind-opening !
Thank you Olga !
Reply
:iconmarsiams:
~MarsiaMS Feb 8, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
Thank you, I'm glad you like them! :D
Reply
:iconrustymermaid:
The sunrise at this time of year is definitely worth going out to see and the frost leaves are great to take photos of.
I like the grey light in the fog too.
Reply
:iconmarsiams:
~MarsiaMS Jan 30, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
True!
Reply
:iconbadgersoph:
~badgersoph Jan 28, 2013  Professional General Artist
I've been meaning to add to this...

9. Snow can offer opportunities for high-contrast photography.

10. Blue. If you like the color blue, this can be a very happy time for you.

11. LYING in snow to get "just the right shot".

12. Finding tracks in the snow. It's really cool to find a zillion huge bird footprints (crows or vultures maybe) and the prints of wings brushing the snow!

13. Unless you're very careless, NO POISON IVY!!!
Reply
:iconmarsiams:
~MarsiaMS Jan 28, 2013  Hobbyist General Artist
Cool! Those all are very good! :D
Reply
Add a Comment: