The past week I was up in Rossland relaxing, doing a bit of skiing and enjoying myself. I was hoping to get lots of snow photos but it was very warm the whole time and the lack of snow did not motivate me at all. This is one of the few shots I did get, the view from my friends deck.
After a cold and very windy night it was time to pack up my tent for the last time and make my way to Rossland to spend the night there. The night had dumped patches of fresh powder around but most of it was blowing around and drifting in patches along the way.
After being on the road for 2 out of the 8 hours for the day I decided to stop to get some photos down near a river. Bad idea. As I was walking down the river bank while carrying my camera I managed to fall down the bank first breaking my fall with my camera and then my head. Camera and lens held up very well and seem fine. My head on the other hand did not come out so well. I managed to get a good 3inch gash in my head which seemed to bleed a lot. This is why it is always good to carry a first ad kit! After patching my self up I got the shots I wanted and it was time to get back on the road.
After my incident was not feeling up to taking to many more photos so I drove to Rossland and spent the rest of the day hanging out in the hostel and recuperating. Next is the last leg to Vancouver, which was mostly driving.
I have not been updating nearly as often as I would like to be, been busy shooting and working on some projects. I went camping last month to French beach. Although it was cold and wet it was quite nice to get out.
The day I arrived the weather was quite pleasant for a change although that changed as the day progressed.
I was hoping for a nice colourful sunset but it was not exactly what I hoped for but I still managed to get some decent shots.
The following morning I was greeted with heavy rain and wind with some snow mixed in for good measure. On my way home the sun did manage to come out for a minute or two though.
Winter can be a challenging time to take photos, the days are short weather is often less than ideal and it can be cold. If you are able to get past these slight challenges then it can be a very rewarding time of year tomake pictures.
1. Dress for the weather
This is the most important thing. Make sure you dress for the weather, and remeber to use layers as the tempature can change a fair bit durring the day. A warm hat and gloves you can use when you are not taking pictures is a must have and a light pair of gloves or fingerless gloves can be great to use while using your camera. A good set of boots is also a good idea even not in the winter. Boots that are lined with gore-tex or something simular is great as your feet will stay nice and dry.
2. Keep your camera cold
This may sound odd but if it warm you will end up fogging up your lens etc. This is more important from when you are coming in from the cold. The best way to avoid condensation is to put your camera in your camera bag and zip it up before you come back inside. Let your camera come up to temperature slowly and you should avoid these problems. The down side to keep your camera cold is that it will drain your batteries faster depending on how cold it is so keep this in mind. Make sure you have a good charge or bring spare batteries for your camera speed lights etc. If you are bring spare batteries you may consider keeping them in your pocket instead of your bag so they will stay warmer.
3. Compensate your exposure
When shooting in bright conditions such as bright white snow or ice your cameras meter will be tricked by the extra light that is being reflected from the snow and ice. A good rule of thumb is to “overexpose” by 1-2 stops or use exposure compensation or your photos will come out underexposed. It is also a good idea to check your exposure on your histogram and your LCD to give you an idea if you are at least close to having the desired exposure.
4. Bad weather
There is a good chance that you will be out in rain,wind, snow or some combination of nasty weather conditions. Although these conditions are not always pleasant to be out in they can often lead to interesting photos and create a unique or dramatic mood. Once again if you are dressed for the conditions it will really minimize your misery in these conditions. Another up side is that these conditions will most likely be few people out to get in your way and you should end up with some pictures not many other people have.
5. Have fun and try something new
Winter is a fantastic season if you ready for it and know what to expect you care really enjoy it. Just like any other situation you may find your self in while taking photos try to make the best of the situation and try to do something creative. Most of all enjoy it and have fun.
Well we seem to be done with the snow storms and now we are back to the usual wind/rain storms. It has been raining for the past 48 hours and added with the melting snow it has been flooding some areas. These photos where taken on Sunday from cattle point just as the rain started.
