How to capture a perfect winter memory
Interested in partaking in winter photography this break? Here are some useful tips for both iPhone and DSLR cameras.
Using your iPhone
If your iPhone has “portrait mode” and you’re looking to take nice family photos or photos of your pets, I would suggest using that. With portrait mode, you’re able to create a depth of field effect. This lets you have your subject in focus while the background has a bokeh blurred effect.
Choosing a correct shutter speed
When the snow is falling slowly on those nice winter days, you can get away with a shutter speed of 1/125 seconds. If you find yourself in a blizzard you might want to bump up the shutter speed to 1/350 seconds.
Reading the histogram on your DSLR camera
When using a DSLR camera it can be easy to fall into the habit of just looking at the LCD screen. During winter time the brightness of the snow surrounding you throws off your perception causing under-exposed images to look bright and correctly-exposed ones to look washed out. As tempting as it may be, DO NOT delete any images in the field. Use your histogram to determine what actual exposure your camera is getting.
How to read a histogram
A histogram is a graphical representation of the pixels exposed in your image. The left side of the graph represents the blacks or shadows, the right side represents the highlights or bright areas, and the middle section is mid-tones (middle or 18 per cent grey areas).
Personal protection
It can get mighty cold here in Ontario during the winter months. Make sure you’re wearing gloves. Gloves that maintain dexterity will help working the camera and keeping your fingers warm.
One last tip for winter photography: get creative out there. Don’t just photograph snow – breathe some colour and life into those shots by photographing people’s reactions to the snow. Animals in the snow are good subjects too; they look so beautiful!
All the best! If you think you’ve put these tips to good use consider entering our photography-based social media contest. Here’s everything you need to know:
’Tis the season for hot chocolate, ugly sweaters, and winter festivities. What are YOUR favorite holiday traditions? We would like to see you make the most of your winter break. Share your photos with us until January 5, 2019, for your chance to win a surprise prize*! Tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter with #ontarionwinter. Photo entries can include winter scenery, cozy sweaters, hot chocolate by the fire, festive pets, holiday décor, new year’s celebrations, and more! Ho ho ho, bring on the holiday spirit!
*The prize is a surprise because surprises are fun. Not because we haven’t figured out the prize yet and our printer deadline is approaching. On a separate totally different topic: if you’d like to donate a prize for a social media contest to your friendly neighbourhood not-for-profit independent university student newspaper email Anna at anaim@theontarion.com
Story by Alora Griffiths
Photos by Alora Griffiths/The Ontarion and Tiffany Agliani/The Ontarion