Winter Wonderland Photography

Happy December, readers! I can’t believe how time flies – just yesterday I was enjoying turkey with my family for Thanksgiving and it seems like Christmas is already at our doorsteps. One thing that many of us here in the North associate with Christmastime and the holidays is snow. I have always loved the effect that snow has on the world; it can truly change dynamic landscapes into a glistening, white, blank slate. I remember when I was in grade school, one day they cancelled classes after students were already in the building – so they called back the buses and sent us all home.  On the ride home, I remember looking out the bus window at the passing scenery and feeling like I was in a white world with no color. Ever since then, I have hoped to somehow capture that effect through photography. While I don’t yet feel that I have achieved the perfect example of this look, I have definitely come close.  Take a look at one of my best attempts below:

The fun thing about photographing snowy scenes is the effect it can have on the photo itself. I like to think it enhances the photo. One of my favorite photos I took when I was at Penn State University one fall when they had a freakishly early snowstorm. Although everything beneath the snow was stuck in early fall mode – the snow on top was deceiving.  See the photo I took there below of a tree – still partially green, but beginning to change colors and totally surrounded by mounds of snow!

Another fun effect created after a snowstorm is when the snow sticks to one side of the trees, which shows sideways snow!

Last, but not least, are my two favorite winter photos that I captured right here in Rhode Island.

Worden's Pond in South Kingstown, RI after a blizzard

Birdhouses in a Snow Storm

I love the contrast between the two photos. One is after the storm has passed, with bright blue skies and a snow-covered frozen pond, while the other shows two birdhouses faring the storm. Overall, when you are trying to capture snowy photos, it depends on what specifically you want to show. A great website that provides basic camera settings and what type of effect they create on your photos is:

Photography Kick-Start Guide: Adjusting Your Camera’s Settings for the Photo You Want

What are your favorite winter photos to capture? What settings do YOU use for your camera? Share with us in the comments section!