Ice Castles in the Snow

A friend of mine told me recently that she thought our photo club should give timely tips to the members, so that when everyone is going to be outside taking snow pictures, they'd know how to do it correctly. So, I decided to give a "shooting in the snow" tip today. If you're already an expert, just disregard it.

Note: You'll notice that some of trees in the background of this picture, and the steam in the front, aren't a pure white, but that's the way I wanted it. So, when you're taking pictures, or when you're editing, always keep in mind what you want the final effect to be.


Photo Tip 1: When you're taking pictures of snow or ice, you want to make sure that the whites look white and not a dirty gray. Our cameras don't see as we do, though, so how do we accomplish this? Since your camera is going to try to make the snow appear as a middle gray, you have to "open up", or increase the light that's getting to your camera's sensor. You can do this by using your exposure compensation button & setting it to +1/3 for a start. That probably won't be enough, but it's a place to start. After you take the first picture, check the histogram on your camera to see if that's enough. If not, increase it to +2/3, etc. Sometimes you might have to increase it to +2 in order to make the snow a true white. Lighting will change this a lot, so if the sun is going in and out of the clouds, check to see if you need to change your exposure compensation. You want the snow to be white, but you don't want to blow-out the highlights. If you bump up the exposure compensation too much, that's what will happen. If you're shooting a white object on white snow, this gets even more tricky, so check your histogram frequently to make sure you're getting the shots you want.

Photo Tip 2: When you're getting ready to go take pictures in the cold, take the largest and strudiest Zip-Loc type bag(s) with you. BEFORE returning inside, put your camera inside the bag & zip it shut. Let your camera & lenses warm to room temperature before reopening the bag(s). This will prevent moisture condensation inside your gear.

Now, get out there in the cold, make some pictures and have great fun.

Stepping Stones

If you're given a bag of concrete and a bucket of water, you have two choices. You can either build a stumbling block (a concrete barrier), or you can create stepping stones which can become your bridge to success. It's your choice. Make it the one which will help you achieve your dreams.

I didn't have a picture of a bag of concrete, so this picture with one stepping stone will have to do. I hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful and productive day.

Imagination

Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world." ~ Albert Einstein

This simple quote helps explain how a spark of imagination led to the creation of many of our most important inventions. If the inventors had not had the imagination to first dream about electricity, the automobile or the computer, they would not have used their knowledge to create these things that we depend on so much today. Before invention comes imagination. Without imagination, knowledge is like an empty vessel. It's only when the imagination is stimulated that knowledge can begin to grow & the desire to create ignited.

Don't Wobble

" In walking, just walk. In sitting, just sit. Above all, don't wobble. " Yun-Men

I had this picture of a Mallard Duck that I took last week and saw this quote from the Little Zen Companion and thought the two kind of went together. Or, maybe it's just my strange sense of humor. I don't know. Anyway, I decided to share it with you.

I hope you have a great day and remember, don't wobble. LOL!

How We See

"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see." ~Henry David Thoreau

Two people can look at the exact same scene and see two entirely different things. What we see, what we feel and how we react to things is dependent on how we were raised, what we've experienced and what filters we've developed during our lives. This scene, which to me depicts a quiet & peaceful country road, could bring back feelings of dread to someone who has had a bad experience in a similar setting. What we are looking at is exactly the same, but what we are seeing is quite different. So, before you "make" your next picture remember that what you photograph may be seen in many different ways. Some people will be drawn to your photograph & others will be unaffected by its' beauty. This is not because of the merit of your photo, but because of how the viewer "sees" it. "It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."

Success

The elevator to success is out of order today. You're going to have to take the stairway, one step at a time. By: Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Success doesn't always come easy, but most things worth having do require some work on our part. This owl certainly isn't going to catch his dinner by sitting in the tree watching the world go by & you won't reach your goals by sitting on the sidelines. So, if you want to reach the goals you set a few days ago, buckle down and get to work. :)

Have Fun!

I took these two pictures from my dining room window yesterday with my little Canon point & shoot camera. Sometimes doing simple things, like using a little camera, can be fun! Everything doesn't always have to be about using the most expensive camera or traveling to far-off destinations. So, if you only have a point & shoot camera, or don't own the camera of your dreams, don't worry about it. You can still get good pictures if you follow the basic rules of photography and take time to let your subjects "speak" to you. So, remember to think before you click the shutter &, most importantly, have fun.