Capturing snow - voices in my head

Doc W

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I don't know why I don't shoot snow more often. We get so much of it here. Anyway, I am going out to shoot for most of the day and a little voice in my head is telling me that snow requires special consideration. The light is now gloomy but the sun might burst forth later. Should I pay attention to voices in my head or do you guys have some quick advice?
 

BrianShaw

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How do you plan on metering? Reflective metering snow gives misleading exposure recommendations.
 

Vaughn

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Take a lot of photos, take notes. Learn from the errors, repeat the successes.
 

Sirius Glass

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BrianShaw said:
How do you plan on metering? Reflective metering snow gives misleading exposure recommendations.
Click to expand...

Echoing that. There are several ways to go:
  • Use a general light reading and open up a stop or two, this works but is the least accurate
  • Meter off the palm of you hand and put that in Zone 5
  • Meter off the clothing and place than in the right Zone area
  • Use an incidence meter
 

bernard_L

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Vaughn said:
Take a lot of photos, take notes. Learn from the errors, repeat the successes.
Click to expand...
+1
Sirius Glass said:
Meter off the palm of you hand and put that in Zone 5
Click to expand...
I have in my memory that the palm of the hand is Z VI. Out of caution not to propagate inaccurate information on the interweb, I checked. Versus a Kodak 18% card, and under a 4000K source, using a Sekonic 308B, the palm of my hand is 2/3 stop lighter. Practically, measure off the palm and open diaphragm by 2/3 stop.
Sure, it's "only" 2/3 stop. Just the difference between ISO and Zone System speed ratings, sometimes fueling long discussions.

Plus, for some snow scenes:
  • If the snow is the main subject, possibly it's better not to push it into Zone VII/VIII (shoulder, decreased separation, increased grain)
  • Higher-than-typical ground reflectance raises the values of open shadows
In such cases, an exposure lower than indicated by an incident metering might be appropriate. And the placement of the palm in Zone V suggested by Sirius Glass may be appropriate.

All this said, go by the advice of Vaughn.
 
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Chuck_P

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I always try to think of some new way to talk about metering snow scenes but I always fail so I just leave it.
 

Sirius Glass

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Chuck_P said:
I always try to think of some new way to talk about metering snow scenes but I always fail so I just leave it.
Click to expand...

What fun is that? Have you tried my suggestions?
 

BHuij

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I love shooting snow, but I mostly shoot it under overcast conditions. So my metering approach doesn't really change. Spot meter the area of darkest shadow that I want to contain detail, place on Zone IV, check to see whether or not the brightness of the snow/sky requires contracted development to keep the contrast range of the scene easily printable. I'll drop shadows to Zone III for some scenes if it means I can stick with N development. Particularly on roll films.
 

cliveh

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Snow allows for simplicity of image in black and white. Just look at this superb composition from Andre Kertesz:-

 

MattKing

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When it is snowy, things are quiet enough that you can hear the voices that normally just whisper.
I shared this in a Christmas Card several years ago:

Early Snow - Footprints

We've had an early snow here in the last couple of days. This shot is from our deck. I'm...
 

Vaughn

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Skull and snow in the sun. Photographed as found. 4x5/150mm lens. I metered the darkest area deep in eye socket, that set my exposure (f64 @ 1/4 sec, TMax100, that's an extra stop of light given for bellow extension and it felt right.) With all that light bouncing around, the socket read 14 and the snow only at 18. Not a contrasty scene and I gave it normal development (probably HC-110). 16x20 silver gelatin print, Grade 3 Gallerie, selenium toned. Enough detail/texture in the highlights to give the feeling of the topography on the surface of the snow, which was about a stop brighter than the sun coming off the skull. One of my favorite prints.
 

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RalphLambrecht

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I would place snow on ZoneIX!
 

Alan Edward Klein

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I have no idea what exposure setting I used. The wife of the owner of the property was yelling at me because I was trespassing. So I had to pack up quickly. Her husband caught up to me at my car and we had a nice talk. I felt like some guy cheating with another guy's wife. I eventually sent him a digital scan of the picture. Do you think the picture was worth it?

 

wiltw

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