FILL THE WHITE GAPS
Learn how to handle exposure in the snow like a pro to capture magical winter light
During the winter season, natural light is a precious resource. To frame winter wildlife at its best, aim to take photos during the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. In the morning, face east, and in the afternoon, position yourself towards the west to catch the warm glow of the winter sun – your smartphone’s compass will help you identify the direction in which you should be facing.
The bright snow backdrop can pose some challenges when it comes to the ideal exposure. The snow can deceive the camera’s light meter, resulting in underexposed photographs. To combat this, it’s best to intentionally overexpose or underexpose your images in specific situations. A popular approach is to overexpose scenes on purpose by using maximum open apertures. This technique lets you increase the shutter speed, which makes it possible to freeze wildlife interaction. This way, you also avoid pushing the
ISO to the extremes, and this helps capture more vibrant colours and prevents the bright snow from having a grey tint. However, when taking pictures of winter birds against a bright sky, it’s better to underexpose the image.
When it comes to pressing the shutter, there’s no room for error in timing. Get your camera settings ready, frame the subject first, then remain in one spot for an extended period. Waiting for the animal to turn around and make eye contact with the camera creates a sense of intensity in your composition. When the wildlife is staring directly at the lens it has a much stronger impact on the viewer, creating a powerful connection. Since lots of winter wildlife is typically shy, capturing this moment is a rare experience that will leave a lasting impression on both you and your viewers.