Capture frozen details in nature

Explore close-up photo opportunities in the great outdoors (when the weather plays ball!)

Even though we’ve looked at ideas for indoor photography in this issue, seize the opportunity to shoot close-ups in your garden on a frosty or icy day. Start early: not only will the frost be at its finest, the air is also likely to be more still. Trying to photograph long-stemmed plants in even a mild breeze can be a lesson in frustration!

Use a longer focal length so that you can isolate interesting subjects and abstract patterns – such as the cracks and air bubbles in a frozen pond or puddle, or the feathery swirls in a deep-frosted car window.

If you can, put your camera on a tripod, as this will give you more freedom when it comes to choosing the perfect aperture, ISO and shutter speed for the subject. Just be sure not to nudge the subject with one of the legs!

Use black or coloured foam board to hide distractions in the backgrounds of your close-ups.

Pushing the white balance towards blue adds a cool feel that suits the frosty subjects.