Winter photography skills

The temperature drops suddenly, and winter comes to you overbearing. Although the weather has turned cold, people's interest in traveling has not diminished, and many people are full of expectations for winter. Colorful ice lanterns, pure and proud rime, and idyllic scenery wrapped in silver make people relaxed and happy. Because of this, many people want to seal up the beautiful scenery in front of them forever and record the charming scenery with their cameras. The following are my winter photography skills for your reference, hoping to help friends in need.

First, pay attention to taking pictures in winter

1. The outdoor temperature is relatively low in winter, which is quite different from the indoor temperature. So it's best to put the camera in the camera bag or carry it with you when shooting outside. Moreover, it is best to avoid shooting in a low temperature environment for a long time, because if the camera is in a low temperature environment for a long time, it will lead to the aging of camera equipment to a certain extent. Moderate shooting time will greatly reduce the aging phenomenon of camera equipment caused by low temperature.

2. Fogging is a common phenomenon when shooting outdoors in winter. When the lens is foggy, use a professional lens wiper or lens paper to wipe the lens. Keep the lens cover open after cleaning so that the camera can adapt to the external environment as much as possible. Many people will cover the camera in their clothes when they see the fog, so as to keep the camera in a warm environment, but this is a misunderstanding. Simply put, covering the camera with clothes will artificially create an instantaneous temperature difference for the camera and aggravate the fog, so it should not be done.

Fogging in the camera is also a very easy situation when shooting in winter, which is caused by the condensation of water vapor produced by the mixing of cold and warm air. Therefore, before opening the lens cover to shoot, it is necessary to wipe the fog on the fuselage with a paper towel, and then wipe it with a special cloth for the camera after the fog is completely dry. I have to say that some people don't care much about the fog on the fuselage, but still open the lens cover to shoot. This is a very wrong approach. In this case, opening the lens cover will cause fogging or even fogging of the lens under normal circumstances, which will shorten the service life of camera equipment to some extent in order to cause unnecessary trouble.

Finally, when shooting in winter, be sure to bring one or more spare batteries. This is because, in the low temperature environment, the service time of camera battery will be greatly shortened than usual. If you don't want to spend more money on the camera battery, you should do your homework and plan the shooting time carefully. I believe you will have a good time and shoot smoothly.

Second, special scenes: different colors, different performances

The scenery in winter is not only the expression of snow, but also many other scenes with different colors. So adjust the exposure according to the main color of the main scene. But there are rules to follow. In short, the red-dominated scenery needs to be exposed less, so that the picture can be more vivid. When shooting scenes dominated by green, we must ensure the intensity of exposure, otherwise the picture will lose its vitality. When shooting blue scenery, you need to reduce the exposure, which can increase a sense of mystery, while for yellow, increasing the exposure will make the picture brighter. When dealing with the color of black and white ash, you can adjust it at will according to your own feelings.

Third, special scenes: dazzling and beautiful night scenes

The night scene is one of the scenes that many people who go out to play must take. The sky is like a dark curtain, and all kinds of lights are dazzling and beautiful. When shooting at night, we need to reduce the exposure to shoot. At the same time, you can also use the camera's multiple exposure function to assist, so as to shoot more colorful night scenes.

Fourth, special scene: shooting the sun against the light

The sun is the favorite scene of many photographers, and people can often get different inspiration from sunrise and sunset. To shoot the sun in winter, we must first determine the composition. The close-up sun will give people a strong visual impact, while the distant sun will have infinite artistic conception. Secondly, you need to pay attention to the exposure. Because a lot of sunlight will enter the lens when shooting the sun, it is easy to cause underexposure, so we should pay great attention to changing the exposure compensation.

Development: Technical Strategy of Outdoor Photographic Equipment for Winter Protection

Going out to shoot in cold winter is very different from sunny spring and autumn, especially in areas characterized by snow scenes such as Northeast China/Bashang/Snow Mountain, which are often accompanied by low temperatures below -20 degrees. In addition to keeping the photographer warm and protecting himself, the protection of photographic equipment must not be sloppy. The recommended temperature of general cameras, especially SLR cameras, is mostly 0-40 degrees Celsius, and a few sealed and moisture-proof cameras may expand this range. However, when shooting in extremely cold areas, special attention should be paid to keeping the equipment warm, protecting the equipment itself and ensuring the battery's endurance at low temperature.

Various collections

If you want to do a good job, you must sharpen your tools first. Please prepare a professional camera before entering the cold area. It is best to use all kinds of high-end fuselage, such as Canon EOS 1 series fuselage, Nikon D2, D3, D300(D700) and so on. The top-class fuselage is fully sealed, dust-proof and splash-proof, which will bring great convenience to your outdoor shooting work. In addition, you need to bring an extra film machine and several rolls of reversal films. Compared with the priceless treasures of time, energy and scenic spots, the precious equipment investment is not only worthwhile, but also valuable.

The fuselage needs to be cleaned first to remove sweat, dust, grease, salt particles and so on. Polish the' contacts and interfaces' between the handle and the fuselage with an eraser to ensure a more reliable connection. Check the working conditions of moving parts such as shutter and mirror, and choose a lens as the main force to use. On the one hand, it takes courage and skill to ensure that the camera falls less dust, on the other hand, it takes courage and skill to change the lens with frozen fingers in the cold wind and the temperature of-0/0 degrees. When the fuselage and lens are ready, you should buy a cold-proof cover, which has both cold-proof and silent effects and certain protective effects. You are not afraid of a slight bump. Even if it accidentally falls to the ground, it will not let snowflakes enter the gap of the equipment, which will cause the machine to be damp or even freeze.

When looking for clothes for the camera, you should also prepare a pair of gloves to operate the camera. It doesn't need to be very thick (you will definitely wear more than two pairs of gloves when you go to a cold area), but it must be windproof and sweat-proof (especially if you don't windproof at low temperature, your body will soon lose its temperature), and it won't become hard and brittle at low temperature. Gore-Tex gloves in outdoor equipment are very suitable, but the price is a bit high, generally more than 1000 yuan, so I won't go. In addition, bringing a few plastic bags that can be folded and sealed around will also have unexpected effects.

cap

A hat with a brim and a wide brim is better, which can not only shade the sun, but also cover the rain. High-altitude areas with ultraviolet radiation can also block some ultraviolet rays; In cold areas, hats can also reduce the heat dissipation of your head; A considerable proportion of the body's heat is emitted from the head, especially when the temperature is low; Finally, the hat has an unexpected function. If there is direct glare behind, it will often become painful and difficult for friends with glasses to take pictures. It will be much more convenient to have a hat to cover it.

There is no special requirement when buying a hat. Try it yourself, just fit your head.

Scarf/towel

Scarves are necessary clothes for going out in winter. Its main function is to seal the neckline and prevent the neck from losing temperature and frostbite due to air intake. If there is an accidental injury, the scarf can also be used to hold down the wound, so the fashionable scarf that MM often wears is not particularly suitable. You can choose cotton or knitted ones as appropriate.

Friends who go to cold or high altitude areas can buy a headgear, also called a headgear robbery, to fully protect the whole face.

Waiyi pants

The choice of coat is very important. Generally speaking, color friends don't have to go to places where the natural environment is too harsh like outdoor mountain friends, but more often rely on vehicles, and they don't have to think too much about the need to keep warm in the car, so the choice of coats is mainly jackets and quick-drying pants.

A coat is actually a windbreaker suitable for outdoor sports, usually half a length. The ideal jacket with single layer or thin interlayer (mostly used to catch plush) should have the following characteristics: windproof, rainproof, breathable, wear-resistant, tear-resistant and easy to move. However, many middle and low-grade coats can not fully meet the above characteristics: rain-proof. Generally, coats are hooded, made of waterproof and breathable fabric, and each seam has adhesive. In order to breathe, waterproof and breathable fabrics will be used, and breathable windows with zippers will be opened under the armpits, chest or back; In order to prevent tearing, tear-proof fabrics are generally used (reinforced fibers on the fabrics look like hidden grids); In terms of wear resistance, in addition to wear-resistant fabrics, elbows and shoulders have additional wear-resistant layers; In addition, bright colors are generally used for on-site identification.

When climbing the snow-capped mountains at an altitude of 2-3 hours from the summit, use the jacket first for final charging. At this time, you will take off your down jacket, take off your big backpack and wear only one coat to go into battle lightly, which is also the origin of its name.

Traveling with photography as the main purpose is best supported by vehicles, and you don't have to think too much about the needs of extreme situations such as camping. You can find a backpack of the right size, which can be used for changing clothes and other things that must be used on the road. You don't have to pay too much attention to the design and load-bearing of the backpack and the performance of human efficacy, or simply put, you just need to find a strong big pocket.

Friends who go to developed scenic spots can skip this section, and friends who go to the original ecological cold or mountainous areas suggest taking a sleeping bag. Not every place has a warm and comfortable hotel to rest in. In case you encounter a hotel with poor conditions, or a local villagers' house, even a single-story sleeping bag can make you sleep well, so as not to be frozen in the middle of the night and shivering in loneliness and hopelessness. Another advantage of sleeping bags is cleanliness and hygiene. Compared with hotel bedding that I don't know how many people have slept in, sleeping bags used alone are much more reassuring.

Photographic bag

Since we are going out to take photos, we must not take less traditional equipment, and the camera bag is also necessary (as for the abnormal condition of using the equipment box, let us admire it, there is no need to follow suit), but then again, it is no use taking too many guys out, so try to keep the equipment simple. After all, even if you have a car, it is very troublesome to pack too many things. Moreover, too many choices will interfere with your feeling and judgment of the image, and you are too busy.

Bring a backpack or bag that can hold a three-headed camera, and a 12 inch notebook is enough. Pay attention to those with their own rain cover when choosing, in order to cope with the possible sudden deterioration of the weather. As for the protection function, brands such as Le Shebao and Buckingham have done well enough and are trustworthy, so I won't say too much. If it really doesn't work, I have to choose a big box of Bailey, as long as you can drag it.

Although a large part of the above-mentioned camera bags of foreign brands are also produced by domestic factories, we still do not recommend buying camera bags of domestic brands. After all, compared with the money, time and energy spent on a trip, the money spent on choosing a high-end camera bag brand is completely negligible, but it brings higher reliability.

These little things introduced on this page will greatly facilitate your shooting trip, and will not take up too much volume and weight to increase the burden. It is really a must-have weapon for travel. Friends who have financial resources should consider more.

GPS and walkie-talkie

GPS is of great significance for driving on the road and finding shooting locations, and it is absolutely indispensable equipment. For friends who travel for the purpose of photography, another advantage of GPS is that it can help you record the shooting location of photos, so that you can show them when you get home and come back to see them next time.

The choice of GPS in the market is very large. Since the development of GPS, maps and other functions have been quite complete. Therefore, according to the characteristics of photography tour, choose a vehicle-mounted handheld dual-purpose product with independent power supply capacity and not too large volume and weight. In the process of finding the shooting position, many places are inaccessible to vehicles. It is very important for GPS to have an independent power supply capacity of 2-4 hours. It should be as thin as possible and easy to carry. As for waterproof requirements, it can be guaranteed by silicone rubber sleeve and waterproof vacuum sealing bag.

As for many mobile phones with GPS function, they can be used as an aid, but it is best not to keep the GPS function on all the time, because positioning consumes a lot of power. It is of great significance to take a mobile phone with electricity when going out.

Compared with the extremely important GPS, the walkie-talkie is not so essential, and it is a small role with or without it. Friends who are active in the coverage area of mobile communication can skip this paragraph. The main function of walkie-talkie is to keep in touch with cars and coordinate actions during driving. When we arrive at our destination, we can keep in touch when we spread out to find shooting seats, so as not to get separated. 1200 is enough for Yaeyama VX-2R.

filter

Digital cameras can adjust various colors and effects later, so there is no need to consider color filters at all. In addition to the traditional ultraviolet protective glasses, there are only two kinds that can be used: gray glasses and polarizers.

The reflection of sunlight in the snow is very strong, so most people choose to shoot in sunny days. At this time, it is likely that the light is too strong, exceeding or approaching the upper limit of shutter speed, so you need to use a medium gray mirror to darken the scene. Some friends may say, why not just turn down the aperture? You know, landscape photography is a severe test for the comprehensive performance of the lens, and generally speaking, the best performance of the lens usually appears when the aperture is reduced by 2-3, so it is impossible to receive the smallest aperture and maintain excellent quality, so it is very helpful to have a medium gray mirror.

Another thing you need to bring is a polarizer, which is used to filter out polarized light and strong reflected light from snow and ice, improve the clarity of the whole picture and reduce glare. This is a well-known technique, so I won't say much here.

Combination of tools

The last useful accessory is the combination tool, and Lezeman's combination pliers are obviously better than Swiss army knives. During the journey, there will be many functions, such as the screws of the tripod bumping all the way, loosening all the way, tightening them, and so on. The plane is not allowed to be carried with you, so it needs to be checked in advance.

sunglasses

Another necessary thing is sunglasses. Snow has a high reflectivity to ultraviolet and visible light. Wearing sunglasses can effectively avoid eye burns (legendary snow blindness) and protect yourself. At the same time, sunglasses also have the function of local wind protection, killing two birds with one stone.

Sunscreen and lipstick

Maybe men are not afraid of the sun, but it is necessary to take some of these two things and use them often. The intensity of ultraviolet rays in snow is strong, and the climate in winter is dry and cold, so you need to apply something on your skin to prevent sun and wind. In the past, glycerol was usually used to prevent freezing, but in recent years, this is less. After all, it looks a little disgusting. Friendly reminder, the following Mentholatum Sunscreen Lipstick is made of wind oil. Friends who don't like pungent smell should change to other types.

Digital cameras rely more on batteries than traditional cameras, so it is very important to check whether your battery is in normal working condition before taking pictures and buy another spare battery. Almost all types of batteries use chemical reactions to store and release electric energy, so they are greatly influenced by the working environment temperature. Some data show that when used in cold areas, the power loss of the battery is often as high as more than 50% for every drop in temperature of 10 degrees. If you keep the camera working in a low temperature environment, you will find that the battery that could have taken hundreds of photos will prompt that the battery is low after taking dozens of photos. Thankfully, the standard lithium battery in digital SLR cameras is relatively less affected by temperature, and its battery life is longer than that of traditional Ni-MH or old Ni-Cd batteries. Even so, it is still a wise choice to bring one or two fully charged spare batteries. Keep the spare battery in your arms to keep warm. If the battery reported by the camera is dead, you'd better put it in your arms, and the battery will return to normal at room temperature. After the spare battery is exhausted, a warm battery may bring you the last glimmer of hope.

There is also a specially designed external battery box in the market, which uses AAsize rechargeable battery or lead-acid maintenance-free battery to store electric energy, and can be connected to the camera through the power interface. However, most SLR cameras are equipped with high-capacity lithium-ion batteries and can be attached with battery handles, so it is of little significance to use this external battery, but users of portable DC can consider that the external battery bag can be pinned inside the coat to keep warm. However, the products on the market are mixed, so you should choose carefully, and don't choose those products with unstable output voltage, so as not to bring irreversible damage to your baby camera.

We have cleaned the front camera and bought a spare battery. When everything is ready, we can start. When we arrive at the scheduled shooting location, we can't make a move. The temperature difference between indoor and outdoor is large, so it is not appropriate to take out the camera directly. It is best to leave the holster and camera bag outdoors for a period of time until the temperature drops almost, and then start shooting. We should not be too hasty. As for some magazines or articles, it is really misleading to hold the camera in your arms, take out some photos when necessary, and then quickly cover them back. If the camera can't stand the cold outside, it's no use covering it again. If the camera can stand the cold outside, is it necessary to cover it? Moreover, the human body will emit water vapor, especially when wrapped in thick clothes, which makes it easier to sweat. Some water vapor will seep into the clothes, and when it is taken out, it will condense into tiny ice particles when it meets the cold outside, which will cause the shutter aperture and other mechanisms to fail to work normally, or it will be completely frozen and unusable.

In addition, when breathing, water vapor will be brought out, condensed on the fuselage or infiltrated into the fuselage. Therefore, it is best to wear robbery hats, masks and other equipment, on the one hand to reduce water vapor, on the other hand to protect the face from cold. You know, the tip of the nose is also a site prone to frostbite.

When shooting outdoors, there are often sporadic snowflakes falling, snowflakes blown by the wind falling on the fuselage, and so on. At this time, the advantages of professional fuselage and lens are reflected. Smaller snow particles do not need to be ignored at all, just wipe them at the end of shooting, but pay attention to the joint between the lens and the bayonet of the fuselage. Some rubber sealing rings on the lens holder will lose elasticity at low temperature, resulting in poor sealing, so the snow particles falling here need to be cleaned up in time.

Don't put the camera in the bag after shooting. Remember on the first page that we mentioned that we should bring some folded sealed bags? Now it comes in handy. Put the camera in a sealed bag and seal it, then put it in a photo bag, so that the water vapor will not directly condense on the fuselage after being brought to a warm room. The tiny water droplets after the melting of the falling snow on the fuselage are not serious for the professional fuselage and lens that are dust-proof and drip-proof. Just wipe them with a paper towel.