If you look out the window this time of year you're probably wondering when the sun will finally come out. It's the middle of winter, the holidays are over and you have to work again. January is often labeled as the most depressing month in the Northern Hemisphere, but now is the time to take the most beautiful landscape photos.
Winter landscapes are interesting and that mainly has to do with colors. Summer and spring are wonderful times, but the greenery of summer is all too common. In mid-winter, the color of the soil changes to a brownish shade that allows for a little more contrast. When you add snow, you get images with more than one dimension.
Many people consider winter to be a boring, lifeless time, but in terms of color, things really start to get interesting for a photographer in winter. Without all that greenery, you're finally free to capture some of the warmer colors that can make a landscape pop.
Please take this into consideration
First of all, remember that it is the middle of winter. To get those beautiful warm colors you have to wake up quite early, and that means you'll have to deal with days of extremely cold early morning temperatures. To support you, take a giant thermos of coffee with you on your early winter adventures.
Also make sure you tell someone you know where you are going and take a cell phone with you. You never know what can happen when you have to deal with freezing temperatures and possible early morning dizziness.
Look for this in a winter scene:
- Warm and cool colors. The contrast between warm and cool colors is what makes winter landscapes so beautiful. Look for warm tones on the ground and cool tones in the sky. Compose the shot in such a way that you emphasize the interplay between the two.
- Light snowfall, because if you get too much snow your photo will be a big white spot. Look for areas where the snow lightly covers your subject so that there is always a little bit of your subject peeking through.
- Morning mist or mist. Find the lakes to photograph in winter. If you capture them at just the right moment, the mist adds a beautiful dreamy atmosphere to the image. Remember to use a fast shutter speed if you want sharp fog and a longer shutter speed if you want it to look silky smooth.
The photo above gives a good example of fog/haze and the two photos above are a perfect expression of the warm and cool colors and light snowfall.
White balance and exposure compensation
If the shot consists mostly of snow, it's important to realize that snow can have a major impact on your camera. A camera may think the shot is brighter than it actually is, turning the snow into a dirty shade of gray. This problem can be easily resolved by adjusting the camera's exposure value or snow mode settings.
By turning up the exposure value on your camera, you're essentially telling your camera not to darken the image just because the subject you're photographing is very bright. It is the fastest way to get rid of the gray snow problem that can occur if you winter landscapes photographs.
If you can't change this value on your camera, chances are your camera has some kind of snow mode. Just switch to that and start snapping away. The snow mode ensures that the snow you photograph is white and not gray.
Shoot in black and white
The contrast between the extreme white of snow and everything around it is also very suitable for black and white photography. If you're shooting in the early morning, consider bringing out some more abstract ideas in your landscapes. Think of the bigger picture such as the shapes created when white snow contrasts with dark colors.
Often a photo that consists mainly of snow simply works better if it is a black and white image. Don't miss this opportunity. Color can both enhance an image and rob it of its meaning. It all depends on the context.
Photograph on the coast
Also take photos on the coast in winter. For example, go to Callantsoog or Sint Maartenszee for the most beautiful landscapes and use the fresh, cool air and barren landscape to create a serene atmosphere. Waves crashing against the shore can also add a touch of drama.
When photographing on the beach in winter you have to take the light into account. The sun is much lower in the sky during the winter months, which can cause long shadows and harsh contrasts. To combat this, you can of course try shooting during the golden hour, just before sunset or just after sunrise, when the light is softer and more diffuse.
The weather forecast is also important here. Wind and waves can be stronger in winter, so be prepared with a sturdy tripod and a weatherproof camera. This can also add an interesting element to your photos, with the movement of the waves and clouds in the sky adding to the drama of the scene.
When composing your photos, look for interesting patterns and textures in the sand and rocks. The contrast of the cold, wet sand against the warm, rich colors of the sky can create a stunning image. Also don't forget to include elements that give a sense of scale, such as a lone figure or a pier in the distance.
Finally, the beach is often less crowded in winter, which can be a plus. This can make it easier to find a spot where you can capture the beauty of the winter beach without any distractions.
The next few weeks should be the best weeks for creating landscapes. Don't let the weather put you off. Grab this opportunity and enjoy it!
