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"My Baby's" first snowfall and a few questions

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Hamili

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Hi everyone

Today I took my "baby" out in the snow. I wanted to try snowscapes and here's a couple of my pics. How do you guys do it? It was snowing quite heavily and I can't easily take pics without drops of water or snowflakes on the lens blocking and ruining the shots...and this on top of being unsure how much I should raise the EV to. Tried +1.7 and +2 but stil a little dark. These pictures had to have "Auto Levels" run to get it right.

With an unbrella stuck between my left shoulder and neck, the camera bag on the right shoulder, camera on both hands but at the same time trying not to drop the bag or the umbrella or both, the lens cap string and the neckstrap getting in the way everytime I change positions, I don't know if I'm just not used to how the body of a photographer coordinates itself or if I'm doing something wrong. Maybe eventually, i'll find a balance.

I thought of putting the camera in a plastic bag but then I wouldn't be able to see the LCD (it was opaque). That idea was short lived. I also forgot to bring something to wipe the lens with so I had to dig under the jacket and sweater for the only soft, dry piece of fabric I had on me. The drops are evident on the last pic (sheep meadow) Yadda yadda yakkity blah... I don't want to sound like I'm whining. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful time but maybe you guys have a technique I could learn from. : ) Is it better to wait until the snowfall is over?

Thanks for any help and suggestions.
Please comment on the pics.

http://www.pbase.com/image/8406758
http://www.pbase.com/image/8406754
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407684
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407687

--
hamili
P5, 707
http://www.pbase.com/hamili/favorites
 
Beautiful photos Hamili.

Perhaps a lens hood can help to keep snowflakes off the lense. You might also try using a UV filter to protect the lens from all that moisture/wiping. As far as shooting in snow goes, http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1009&message=3789308 .

Thanks sharing your pics :)

Randy D
Hamili said:
Hi everyone

Today I took my "baby" out in the snow. I wanted to try snowscapes
and here's a couple of my pics. How do you guys do it? It was
snowing quite heavily and I can't easily take pics without drops of
water or snowflakes on the lens blocking and ruining the
shots...and this on top of being unsure how much I should raise the
EV to. Tried +1.7 and +2 but stil a little dark. These pictures
had to have "Auto Levels" run to get it right.

With an unbrella stuck between my left shoulder and neck, the
camera bag on the right shoulder, camera on both hands but at the
same time trying not to drop the bag or the umbrella or both, the
lens cap string and the neckstrap getting in the way everytime I
change positions, I don't know if I'm just not used to how the body
of a photographer coordinates itself or if I'm doing something
wrong. Maybe eventually, i'll find a balance.

I thought of putting the camera in a plastic bag but then I
wouldn't be able to see the LCD (it was opaque). That idea was
short lived. I also forgot to bring something to wipe the lens
with so I had to dig under the jacket and sweater for the only
soft, dry piece of fabric I had on me. The drops are evident on the
last pic (sheep meadow) Yadda yadda yakkity blah... I don't want
to sound like I'm whining. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful
time but maybe you guys have a technique I could learn from. : )
Is it better to wait until the snowfall is over?

Thanks for any help and suggestions.
Please comment on the pics.

http://www.pbase.com/image/8406758
http://www.pbase.com/image/8406754
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407684
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407687

--
hamili
P5, 707
http://www.pbase.com/hamili/favorites
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for sharing the very nice pictures. Those are hard to beat!

As far as photographing in the snow there is little to worry about. I use a lens hood and a little common sense. It has been snowing here In Oklahoma for two days and I just keep out of the direct fall if the precipitation is heavy or find a little shelter for me and my cameras, F717,CD400 and CD1000. Sony product is pretty well made and short of 'toad-strangler' rain fall it will survive.

Snow is great. I just returned from a field trip to Elgin, Kansas an old cattle drive rail head and in the snow the old building photographed Great!
--
Darryl Cox
 
Baby?? How sick can one get
Hamili said:
Hi everyone

Today I took my "baby" out in the snow. I wanted to try snowscapes
and here's a couple of my pics. How do you guys do it? It was
snowing quite heavily and I can't easily take pics without drops of
water or snowflakes on the lens blocking and ruining the
shots...and this on top of being unsure how much I should raise the
EV to. Tried +1.7 and +2 but stil a little dark. These pictures
had to have "Auto Levels" run to get it right.

With an unbrella stuck between my left shoulder and neck, the
camera bag on the right shoulder, camera on both hands but at the
same time trying not to drop the bag or the umbrella or both, the
lens cap string and the neckstrap getting in the way everytime I
change positions, I don't know if I'm just not used to how the body
of a photographer coordinates itself or if I'm doing something
wrong. Maybe eventually, i'll find a balance.

I thought of putting the camera in a plastic bag but then I
wouldn't be able to see the LCD (it was opaque). That idea was
short lived. I also forgot to bring something to wipe the lens
with so I had to dig under the jacket and sweater for the only
soft, dry piece of fabric I had on me. The drops are evident on the
last pic (sheep meadow) Yadda yadda yakkity blah... I don't want
to sound like I'm whining. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful
time but maybe you guys have a technique I could learn from. : )
Is it better to wait until the snowfall is over?

Thanks for any help and suggestions.
Please comment on the pics.

http://www.pbase.com/image/8406758
http://www.pbase.com/image/8406754
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407684
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407687

--
hamili
P5, 707
http://www.pbase.com/hamili/favorites
Click to expand...
--
Sony 707, Coolpix 4500, Mac G 4 computer with PS7
 
"I also forgot to bring something to wipe the lens with so I had to dig under the jacket and sweater for the only soft, dry piece of fabric I had on me."

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Don't tell me you use your shirt to wipe water drops off of that Zeiss lens!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
May as well use sandpaper!!!! Oh the horror!!!!!
 
I really liked "Cold Bird," especially the lighting. "Two Sparrows" could have benefitted from a crop; the DOF issue got in your way. "Bethesday fountain" has a great mood and just the right sense of motion, but you need to level the horizon in photoshop. The last one is the weakest; there's just not much "there" there, as Dorothy Parker once said. You can use the Healing Brush to clean up a bunch of the offending snow droplets, if you want to see how much improvement you get from that., but I don't think they're the root of the problem.
Hamili said:
Hi everyone

Today I took my "baby" out in the snow. I wanted to try snowscapes
and here's a couple of my pics. How do you guys do it? It was
snowing quite heavily and I can't easily take pics without drops of
water or snowflakes on the lens blocking and ruining the
shots...and this on top of being unsure how much I should raise the
EV to. Tried +1.7 and +2 but stil a little dark. These pictures
had to have "Auto Levels" run to get it right.

With an unbrella stuck between my left shoulder and neck, the
camera bag on the right shoulder, camera on both hands but at the
same time trying not to drop the bag or the umbrella or both, the
lens cap string and the neckstrap getting in the way everytime I
change positions, I don't know if I'm just not used to how the body
of a photographer coordinates itself or if I'm doing something
wrong. Maybe eventually, i'll find a balance.

I thought of putting the camera in a plastic bag but then I
wouldn't be able to see the LCD (it was opaque). That idea was
short lived. I also forgot to bring something to wipe the lens
with so I had to dig under the jacket and sweater for the only
soft, dry piece of fabric I had on me. The drops are evident on the
last pic (sheep meadow) Yadda yadda yakkity blah... I don't want
to sound like I'm whining. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful
time but maybe you guys have a technique I could learn from. : )
Is it better to wait until the snowfall is over?

Thanks for any help and suggestions.
Please comment on the pics.

http://www.pbase.com/image/8406758
http://www.pbase.com/image/8406754
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407684
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407687

--
hamili
P5, 707
http://www.pbase.com/hamili/favorites
Click to expand...
--
Eric Hatch
It's never too late to follow your heart.
 
Thanks eric. Someone suggested cropping the OOF bird from the two sparrows pic and I it's well taken. I think I'm going to do just that. I really like the foreground bird a lot too. I also find the OOF trunks in the background distracting but that'd be too much for my inexperienced hands to clone out. leveling the horizon should't be too difficult to do.

Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Everybody here is really encouraging me to take more pictures and grow. Two reasons that influenced me to buy the 707 besided the price drop was 4 Memory sticks and this forum. Before, I bought the camera, I was sure I'd be happy with it, not only for it's performance but also for STFers support.

Thanks!
erichocinc said:
I really liked "Cold Bird," especially the lighting. "Two
Sparrows" could have benefitted from a crop; the DOF issue got in
your way. "Bethesday fountain" has a great mood and just the right
sense of motion, but you need to level the horizon in photoshop.
The last one is the weakest; there's just not much "there" there,
as Dorothy Parker once said. You can use the Healing Brush to
clean up a bunch of the offending snow droplets, if you want to see
how much improvement you get from that., but I don't think they're
the root of the problem.
Click to expand...
--
hamili
P5, 707
http://www.pbase.com/hamili/favorites
 
I have been thinking recently about the cycle of pictures through the seasons. After months of green and colorful pictures, it is a nice break to get some of these snowy wintery pictures. It won't be long, though, when people are getting anxious for pictures with some color again.

Very nice posts, I like them, enjoy.
Hamili said:
Hi everyone

Today I took my "baby" out in the snow. I wanted to try snowscapes
and here's a couple of my pics. How do you guys do it? It was
snowing quite heavily and I can't easily take pics without drops of
water or snowflakes on the lens blocking and ruining the
shots...and this on top of being unsure how much I should raise the
EV to. Tried +1.7 and +2 but stil a little dark. These pictures
had to have "Auto Levels" run to get it right.

With an unbrella stuck between my left shoulder and neck, the
camera bag on the right shoulder, camera on both hands but at the
same time trying not to drop the bag or the umbrella or both, the
lens cap string and the neckstrap getting in the way everytime I
change positions, I don't know if I'm just not used to how the body
of a photographer coordinates itself or if I'm doing something
wrong. Maybe eventually, i'll find a balance.

I thought of putting the camera in a plastic bag but then I
wouldn't be able to see the LCD (it was opaque). That idea was
short lived. I also forgot to bring something to wipe the lens
with so I had to dig under the jacket and sweater for the only
soft, dry piece of fabric I had on me. The drops are evident on the
last pic (sheep meadow) Yadda yadda yakkity blah... I don't want
to sound like I'm whining. Don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful
time but maybe you guys have a technique I could learn from. : )
Is it better to wait until the snowfall is over?

Thanks for any help and suggestions.
Please comment on the pics.

http://www.pbase.com/image/8406758
http://www.pbase.com/image/8406754
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407684
http://www.pbase.com/image/8407687

--
hamili
P5, 707
http://www.pbase.com/hamili/favorites
Click to expand...
--
TurboTed

(It's easier just being insane than acting insane)
 
very nice shots. i can imagine your awkward position while taking these shots base on your description. did you have a stiff neck afterwards....lol?
but it's worth the effort. way to go hamili.

rik
Hamili said:
Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Everybody here is really
encouraging me to take more pictures and grow. Two reasons that
influenced me to buy the 707 besided the price drop was 4 Memory
sticks and this forum. Before, I bought the camera, I was sure I'd
be happy with it, not only for it's performance but also for STFers
support.

Thanks!
erichocinc said:
I really liked "Cold Bird," especially the lighting. "Two
Sparrows" could have benefitted from a crop; the DOF issue got in
your way. "Bethesday fountain" has a great mood and just the right
sense of motion, but you need to level the horizon in photoshop.
The last one is the weakest; there's just not much "there" there,
as Dorothy Parker once said. You can use the Healing Brush to
clean up a bunch of the offending snow droplets, if you want to see
how much improvement you get from that., but I don't think they're
the root of the problem.
Click to expand...
--
hamili
P5, 707
http://www.pbase.com/hamili/favorites
Click to expand...
 
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