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Deer skull in snow
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Deer skull in snow

by Rob Graham

Gallery: Man & NaturePosted December 21, 2009204 views5 comments
This was taken a couple days before my last post, while the snow was still deep. I've not done a lot of winter/snow photography, and am struggling at times to get the exposure right. I think I had the exposure close for this one, but struggled to get white snow without the histogram being totally blown out during processing. I may be expecting to much too since the sky was overcast. Any suggestions on this image, and in snow photography in general? Most of our recent winters haven't been that white, but this winter is shaping up much differently. Thanks in advance. 50D, ISO 400, 1/160, f/8.

Comments

5 comments
Comment posted by Ron Pullen on December 21, 2009 at 8:16 PM
The snow looks natural to me, good job. Unique photo. Ron
Registered on December 18, 2005, 74 Posts, 1413 Comments
Comment posted by John Mumaw on December 21, 2009 at 9:24 PM

Fine rack you have there!
I almost always have to set exposure +1/3 to +2/3 to override the camera's meter wanting to measure the predominant whites a medium grey. That, and/or keeping the histogram as far to the right as possible without overexposing always does the trick for me. You must have done something right as the snow looks completely natural to me.
Registered on September 9, 2005, 62 Posts, 2289 Comments
Comment posted by John Kerr on December 21, 2009 at 9:55 PM
I too struggled with snow exposure last winter. I started doing just what exactly what John M has suggested here and increased my exposure a couple stops. Your exposure here looks pretty good to me.
Registered on October 28, 2009, 111 Posts, 1070 Comments
Comment posted by Marc Ward on December 21, 2009 at 11:48 PM
Rob,
This is a superb image. Great story, wonderful lines and tones. Exposure is spot on. My only desire would be to see more negative space at the bottom to make the image a bit less bottom heavy. Well done!
Registered on February 26, 2009, 304 Posts, 1365 Comments
Comment posted by Hugo Fernandes on December 23, 2009 at 4:46 AM
Really great light and framing!! Very natural light, the exposure is very well balanced!! Great work
Registered on December 2, 2009, 3 Posts, 73 Comments