You ready for snow days?

by Stanley LearyNikon D3s

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 5600, ƒ/5.6, 1/8000

Here are some tips that can help you take photos in the snow. First, you can use the scene mode of snow if it exists on your camera. Another option is the beach scene mode. Both of these will get you pretty close.

The downside to using scene mode is the camera doesn’t know if you are shooting landscape or action in the snow.

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 12800, ƒ/5.6, 1/800

I suggest using the exposure compensation on your camera to compensate for all that white snow.

Here is the location of the Exposure Compensation on the Nikon D3S. You push this and spin the dial on the back of the D3S to under or overexpose the photo.

The exposure compensation is in different places on each camera, so get your manual out and look for exposure compensation in the index.

Exposure Compensation Dial on Nikon P7000

Most of today’s cameras also have different metering modes. On Nikon, I recommend shooting with matrix metering.

Here are what camera settings I suggest for capturing action in the snow.

  1. Matrix Metering
  2. +1 Exposure Compensation – Take test shots and see if needing more or less. Each camera responds a little differently.
  3. Auto ISO
    1. Use the camera suggested latitude ISOs for your camera. For example, I use 100 – 104,000 for my Nikon D5 but only 200-6400 for my Fuji X-E2.
    2. Minimum shutter speed of 1/2000 for my Nikon D5 and 1/500 for Fuji X-E2
  4. Aperture Priority – Choosing depth-of-field that is appropriate for the photo. 
  5. Continuous Focus – Single focus mode will lock the focus, but if they are sledding to you, they will not be in focus. Need to be in the constant mode to track the subjects.
Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 6400, ƒ/5.6, 1/8000

For many of these photos, I shot as fast as possible at 1/8000. It isn’t necessary to stop the motion, but I saw what it looked like and liked the results.

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 5000, ƒ/5.6, 1/8000

Action Shot Tips

  1. Place yourself where the action is going. For most all these photos, I captured the people at the bottom of the hill. This way, I captured their expressions and not the backs of their heads.
  2. Don’t just shoot action, but the reaction and things around the action.
  3. Use your motor drive to capture a series of images.
Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 9000, ƒ/5.6, 1/8000

I was at the top of the hill and captured the brother and sister as they came back up the mountain. You can still see the excitement. I also purposely composed it to show someone at the bottom of the mountain, or you wouldn’t know it was a hill.

Nikon D3s, AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR, ISO 2000, ƒ/8, 1/500

For this photo, I was panning with them as they got a push. The idea is to mix up the images as much as possible, so you have captured more of the memories for the years ahead to remind them how everyone was having fun together.

I think I am now ready for some snow.