More chocolate than film

Frankly Unsharp

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Some people claim that they would go out in any weather and get great shots. Well, that only proves that they never have visited Finland during the period of october-december, when darkness is everywhere, and all you want to do is to stay in bed and eat your chocolate...
Or you can get up and have a look at your "new" Mamiya Pro SD. If it was painted brown, I might eat it. Mmmmmmm....
 

cliveh

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But what about the Northern lights?
 

OptiKen

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I think your suggestions about what to shoot (Northern lights) and using a flash so you can shoot just can't compete with Frankly No's (the OP) workflow of "stay in bed and eat chocolate" when it's pitch black and below freezing outside 24/7.

Hot chocolate, anyone?
 
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OP

Frankly Unsharp

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Northern (flash)-lights

Sorry, I have never seen the northern lights, since they can mostly be seen north of the polar circle. You'd better stick to your own flashlight, it has probably more power, and is easier to control.
 

bdial

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Winter is a good excuse to stay inside and work in the darkroom. I do like the "stay in bed and eat chocolate" idea too though.
 

cliveh

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Sirius Glass

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Welcome to APUG
 
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OP

Frankly Unsharp

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Going to bed too early?

Thank you, cliveh, for that piece of information! As my home town is on the same latitude as Helsinki, I should be able to see the Aurora Borrealis
 

Dr Croubie

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Heiss choco mit rum is all you need. Kept me going all through an Austrian winter. By the time I'd sobered up and cooled down, I'd skiied to the next schneebar and had another few before continuing again.


I was once in Rovaniemi in December, all I can remember is not being able to move my arms from having so many layers of clothing on. You haven't seen cold until you've seen below -30.
 

Xmas

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It is real mean posting a thread with coffee or chocy or beer.

But Im not going to come out from under the duvet although outside outdoor temp only a balmy 8C.

I buy some drinking chocolate tomorrow.
 

bsdunek

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I hope you have some good red wine with the chocolate. I don't know what wine goes with your Mamiya... :confused:
 

Two23

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Winter on the Northern Plains is likely as bleak as anything in Finland. I love it! Winter is my favorite time of year, especially nights. I have a bunch of monolights & battery packs that I use to light big stuff up. I also like to take photos of the small towns at night. Winter has its own austere beauty that I love very much.


Kent in SD
 
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OP

Frankly Unsharp

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Let it snow, let it snow

Our problem here in the southern parts of Finland is not the snow, it's the lack of snow. The first layer of snow almost always rains away, leaving us with a bare land, covered by dead, colorless leaves. bdial and Dr Croubie, you both have your survival plans ready, that's good, even though Dr Croubie's way could be a little hard on the liver... But he is the Doctor, I guess he knows what he is doing.
Shooting indoors, like ericdan, sounds good, but the films mentioned are not enough, 3200 ASA/ISO could be a starting point.
bsdunek, you are right about the red wine, maybe something sweet...
Two23: You have the right spirit, just go for it!
 

mauro35

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I'm in Finland too. The problem of the dark autumn is the main thing you hear people complaining about the most. Well, wheather is something you cannot control and in my photography I aim at trying to describe the mood of the time and place, which can vary dramatically depending on hour of the day, season, moisture content in the air, quality of light (as well as absence of it) and so on. From this perspective I find october-december inspiring and I have been able to achieve some photographs I really like that were exposed during those months. I'm not trying to say it's beautiful in here at this time of the year, it can indeed be depressing, but photography can express those blues and turn them into a beautiful creation.
 
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OP

Frankly Unsharp

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Testing Your gear

Last time I tried to do some landscape photography, my tripod flew down the hill, and I never saw it again. It was made of magnesium, and the locks worked by friction, or they were supposed to do so, but in the damp weather it looked more like a trombone, with the legs moving in and out, no grip whatsoever. The tripod took an earlier flight home (well, in that direction).
 

andrew.roos

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Welcome to APUG!

Perhaps I may recommend the excellent retrospective "Here Far Away" (English title, the book is also available in Finnish) by Finnish photographer Pentti Sammallahti? I'm sure it would go excellently with chocolate, red wine and winter.

Andrew
 

Jim Jones

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Dr Croubie said:
. . . You haven't seen cold until you've seen below -30.
Click to expand...

When the temperature at the Thule, Greenland, Air Force base was below -60F (about -51C) we weren't supposed to venture outside. I was glad to obey, and therefore haven't seen really low temperatures.
 
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Frankly Unsharp

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A great idea! I'll check at my local library, to see if the book is available. Thanks!
 
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Frankly Unsharp

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Jim Jones said:
When the temperature at the Thule, Greenland, Air Force base was below -60F (about -51C) we weren't supposed to venture outside. I was glad to obey, and therefore haven't seen really low temperatures.
Click to expand...

-51 °C is a real killer, what were You doing in a cold hell like that, cuddling with polar bears? My humble record would be -25 °C with a wind that sucked all warmth from my body, no matter what clothes I put on...
 
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