Manual Mode 1/160 sec. F/22 24mm, ISO 200.

Only the most fortunate photographers jet-off  to exotic locations to take fantastic photos of amazing destinations.    The rest of us  hang around the same old places,  often resulting in the  doldrums and waning interest for anything photo-related.

This winter’s super cold temperatures compounded this feeling for us Midwesterners.   But, regardless of weather and temperatures, we often forget that our neighborhoods, and even our own backyards, hold photographic opportunities not yet discovered.      Realizing I had been sadly picture-less for a number of days, I ventured outside only to find the snow was deep enough to swallow much of my legs and self-generated photo-enthusiasm.   I eventually made it into my all-too-familiar backyard where, after searching for and finding some decent composition,  I put together a couple of shots I liked.   

Snow and Cold Weather Tips:
Exposure In Snow:  With snow on the ground, your camera sees (meters) very bright conditions and will adjust the exposure accordingly.   This means the resulting photo will be darker than it should be.   Yes, you can always brighten it up in post production but a better solution is to manually increase exposure compensation 1-2 stops before pushing the shutter button.    This will ensure that the camera captures the most amount of detail.  If you do not increase exposure compensation, you risk losing some details in the shadows and darker parts of your photo.  If these details are not captured when the photo is taken, that data will not be there to brighten up later in post-production.
Condensation: If you are outside long enough for your camera to get really cold,  you should seal it inside an air-tight plastic bag before bringing it back inside.  The inside humidity will condensate on the surface of your camera and lens.  Condensation might also occur inside your camera, and potentially harm delicate electronics.  Putting your camera inside a sealed plastic bag until it is room temperature is an easy and inexpensive way to protect your expensive camera and gear.