5 Reasons To Enjoy Winter Landscapes

4 July 2016

5 Reasons To Enjoy Winter Landscapes - Alfonso Calero

"Winter is Coming" is a famous quote from Jon Snow of the T.V. Show "Game Of Thrones". While many people might go into a G.O.T form of hibernation at this time of year, that doesn't have to happen! Photography can lift your spirits and bring loads of better photo opportunities even in the freakin' cold weather.

So pull out your jacket and gloves and get out and explore the creative possibilities that are waiting. Here are some reasons why you should be out and about shooting some great images at the coldest time of the year.

Astrophotography from Curl Curl, Sydney. Canon 5D Mark III with Carl Zeiss @ f3.5 ISO 3200, 30 seconds. — Astrophotography from Curl Curl, Sydney. Canon 5D Mark III with Carl Zeiss 18mm lens. 30 seconds @ f3.5, ISO 3200.

1. Sunrise is not as early
You don't have to wake up at 5 am to catch a dawn shoot or wait till 9 pm to hook a sunset. Winter days are definitely shorter with a sunrise at around 7 am and sunset at 5 pm. Of course as the months pass times will change slightly. Aside from knowing the correct time for a sunrise or a sunset, it is also important to arrive at least 30-45 minutes before a sunrise and stick around just as long after a sunset. The blue hour, as it is known, can produce some magic moments. When shooting for the stars then knowing when you have a full moon or not can also affect your photo opportunities.

Curl Curl, Sydney. Canon 5D Mark III, Carl Zeiss 18mm lens. 30 seconds at f/3.5, ISO 3200.

2. The air is cleaner outside
Indoor air quality also becomes a greater concern during the winter because of the amount of time that people stay inside in poor ventilation. Without adequate circulation, carbon dioxide levels can become an issue, leading to headaches and lethargy. Generally, outdoor air quality is better than indoor air, so the best antidote is to get outside regularly.

3. The stars are clearer
There is less humidity and the best view of the Milky Way is available at this time of year. The atmospheric conditions like light pollution and humidity also affect the view. Clearer skies are more often experienced in winter. Here is a link to an article on astrophotography basics.

4. Lower light levels
Because of the lower angles of the sun (the same lower angles that make it so bloody cold), your "quality of light" is generally better throughout the day and shadows are longer (sometimes a good element for your photos). If your shooting day presents you with cloudy, overcast weather, you might also consider changing to the “Cloudy” white balance setting to add some warmth to your photos and minimize any blue cast. This means your ND filters or grad hard or soft filters are not being used as much.

5. Lower sun
For aerial photography, snowy and frosty conditions perfectly emphasise ridges and features and they can be photographed with a clarity not seen at any other time of the year. The low level to which the sun rises casts much longer shadows, making visibility of above ground features much easier to spot. Heavy brooding skies, the low sun and those stormy seas and frost-coated landscapes.

Bombo Quarry, Canon 5D Mark III, Carl Zeiss 18mm lens. 30 seconds at f/3.5, ISO 3200.

Alfonso Calero graduated from the Sydney Institute of Technology with an Associate Diploma in Photography in 2001 and has been professionally photographing fine art, food, portraits, landscapes and travel subjects ever since. He is the owner of a travel education and tours company that delivers workshops every Saturday morning in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Fremantle. One on one or small group sessions are also available. He also takes groups to Japan, Philippines, Spain and Tasmania once a year for 5, 10 and 12 -day photography workshops.