Winter Photography Tips and Best Practises (Get Out and Have Some Fun!)
Do you like winter photography? We do! And we’re immensely grateful to Charles for writing this post and sharing it with our community. Please support the creator and leave a comment on the social post (you’ll find it at the end of the article).
Article and photos by Tdot.cc community member Charles Ponte
Getting out during a good snowfall can stir up a variety of emotions. For me when the snow is falling, and the conditions are right I feel like I am in some sort of dream state, and I start to remember how it felt to be a child experiencing falling snow for the first time!
This winter has been a rush of nostalgia for me. I almost forgot how it feels to experience this much snow.
I found myself trudging through thick snow on the lake shore in the early hours before sunrise for a view of the Moon and Venus setting over our beautiful Toronto skyline. A moment I will never forget!
At a pedestrian bridge lined with candle style light posts during a heavy snowfall. It felt like a scene from a movie! I came to this location before with a promising forecast hoping for a good snowfall, but the snow just did not come down. I ended up waiting in my car for over an hour to no avail. On this night, however, I timed the snowfall perfectly and when I showed up, I was in complete awe as the thick flakes of snow gently fell through the picturesque lighting on the bridge and coyotes howled through the valley below. I remember having a shiver up my spine as I stood there on the bridge taking it all in.
Exploring the downtown core with friends on one of our heaviest snowfalls this winter. The city lights, energy, and excitement downtown during the heavy snowfall were palpable. Everyone I saw seemed to be enjoying themselves as they helplessly did what they could to go about their business that night during the snowstorm. I am so grateful to have experienced this night with such a tight-knitted crew of friends.
These are just a few of my photography experiences this Winter along with taking the ferry through the broken ice to Ward Island and walking on the frozen lake made for an unforgettable Winter full of lasting memories.
If you find these stories inspiring and want to get out in the snow and experience this for yourself here’s a couple words of advice that you might find helpful.
Tips and Suggestions for Shooting in the Snow
Firstly, take your time driving, especially on hills. Turn on your hazard lights and slow to a crawl if you have too. It is so easy to slip on a snowy road going downhill and by then it is too late you have lost complete control of your vehicle.
Use the radar feature on your favorite weather app. It shows the snow as it moves in and out and can really be helpful when it comes to timing a good snowfall. I use The Weather Network.
Choose a time when the snow is falling, and it is not windy. The wind can just make things feel unpleasant and make the snowfall ridiculously hard to capture, especially at night when using a slower shutter speed.
Dress according to temperatures and conditions. Gloves, thick socks, boots, layered clothing, snow pants and a good Winter jacket to keep you comfortable. It is never fun being cold and wet. Do not forget to cover your camera as best as you can and bring a cloth to wipe your lens.
Lastly, do not add fake snow effects to your photos; in most cases, it just looks distracting and besides, what fun is that? Get out and enjoy the real thing. Enjoy the feeling it gives you and the memories. You will not regret it, even if things go awry, you will have a story to tell.
Credits / Thank You
Thank you Charles. Be sure to follow the artist on Instagram: @charles.ponte
Comment on this post! Here is the social post that accompanies this article. We’d love to her your thoughts on winter photography and these works by Charles Ponte.
