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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Snow Metering
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12/19/2004 09:23:40 PM · #1
Im going to canada on wednesday. Never seen snow since I was like 4 because it doesnt snow down here in south florida. Of course, Ill be bringing my camera and taking a lotta lotta shots. Bright white snow can obviously mess up the metering for a certain shot. If for example I wanted to take some pictures of snowboarders, do I use Evaluative metering, which will meter for the whole scene. Do I use partial metering which will meter the 9% center circle in my canon camera, or do I use Center weighted average metering which will first meter for the circle 9% and then average out for the rest of the scene? So which do I use, or do I just use evaluative and underexpose by a stop or so due to the snow?
12/19/2004 09:26:18 PM · #2
I would use average metering and overexpose that by 1/2 or 2/3 stops to start with.
12/19/2004 09:33:23 PM · #3
Remember to bring your circular polarizer filter and lens hood too.
12/19/2004 09:35:21 PM · #4
To get white snow I don't think you want to UNDERexpose, but rather overexposing. If the snowboarders are most important to your shot, I would consider using the partial metering off of them and then overexposing a bit using exposure compensation.
12/19/2004 09:37:34 PM · #5
I was told to meter on the sky for correct exposure on snow (in particular when the sky is clear).
12/19/2004 09:39:31 PM · #6
I belive you'll want to overexpose by two stops... if memory serves, that's where I've had the best results.
12/19/2004 09:40:19 PM · #7
I think the key is not to meter on the snow, or the camera will get confused and underexpose the shot leading to the snow looking dirty.
12/19/2004 09:42:36 PM · #8
I shot ski and snowboarding for over 4 years, keep your camera on manual, and take a spot reading from someones jacket or your hand.
12/19/2004 09:45:09 PM · #9
Originally posted by ericlimon:

I shot ski and snowboarding for over 4 years, keep your camera on manual, and take a spot reading from someones jacket or your hand.

what if you have no spot metering?
12/19/2004 09:52:47 PM · #10
From what I've been reading about the Sunny16 exposure method, snow is about 1 stop above what it would be without the snow.

Perhaps this will help, "The Ultimate Exposure Computer" by Fred Parker.

David
12/19/2004 09:54:25 PM · #11
Originally posted by hsteg:

Originally posted by ericlimon:

I shot ski and snowboarding for over 4 years, keep your camera on manual, and take a spot reading from someones jacket or your hand.

what if you have no spot metering?

Use center weighted or hold your hand close enough to cover the area (or use a grey card) -- this is provided you can put your hand (grey card, etc.) in the same light as your subject.

David
12/19/2004 10:01:02 PM · #12
the 20d has no spot metering!?
12/19/2004 10:02:14 PM · #13
Originally posted by petrakka:

the 20d has no spot metering!?

nope, only on canon 1 series bodies.
12/19/2004 10:05:29 PM · #14
On the 20D I use Partial Metering for (haven't been in snow) situations where a person is in the shadows (darker than background) and there are bright buildings and/or objects behind.

12/19/2004 10:48:15 PM · #15
Use evaluative metering and dial in at least a +1 EV exposure compensation
12/20/2004 12:47:27 AM · #16
Check out this.

Also, the two links at the bottom of that page will be helpful.
12/20/2004 01:06:33 AM · #17
Mess up the first picture in Manual mode and then compensate till it looks good. :-D
12/20/2004 01:12:21 AM · #18
Beware white balance - snow can reflect a blue sky and take on a blue cast. Same on cludy gray days, it will look gray.

and if you are bored, //www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/indexmag.html?//www.microscopy-uk.org.uk/mag/artmay01/snowcrystal.html

12/20/2004 02:46:41 AM · #19
Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Beware white balance - snow can reflect a blue sky and take on a blue cast. Same on cludy gray days, it will look gray.


Solution for this = shoot RAW...
12/20/2004 03:49:30 AM · #20
Originally posted by doctornick:

Originally posted by Prof_Fate:

Beware white balance - snow can reflect a blue sky and take on a blue cast. Same on cludy gray days, it will look gray.


Solution for this = shoot RAW...


I tried to shoot in the raw one snowy day, nearly froze my woody off.

Sorry...it is getting late and me punchy.
12/20/2004 09:30:41 AM · #21
The December issue of Outdoor Photographer magazine has a story entitled "the color of Snow" with a byline of "Overcome the photographic challenges, and snowy landscapes will offer fresh subjects and dramatic color". I haven't read it yet. It may be aimed more toward landscapes and scenics than ski & snowboard shots, but it might make good reading for your plane ride north.
12/20/2004 09:37:35 AM · #22
Originally posted by hsteg:

Im going to canada on wednesday. Never seen snow since I was like 4 because it doesnt snow down here in south florida. Of course, Ill be bringing my camera and taking a lotta lotta shots. Bright white snow can obviously mess up the metering for a certain shot. If for example I wanted to take some pictures of snowboarders, do I use Evaluative metering, which will meter for the whole scene. Do I use partial metering which will meter the 9% center circle in my canon camera, or do I use Center weighted average metering which will first meter for the circle 9% and then average out for the rest of the scene? So which do I use, or do I just use evaluative and underexpose by a stop or so due to the snow?


You have a digital camera so use it. Take the shot, look at the histogram, retake until right then use that. :D

12/20/2004 10:33:00 AM · #23
Originally posted by hsteg:

Originally posted by petrakka:

the 20d has no spot metering!?

nope, only on canon 1 series bodies.


Actually, common consensus on the 300D (Rebel) forums over at DPReview is that the 9% partial metering is driven by the AF point chosen in the image. So, if you force a certain AF point to be used, instead of letting the camera pick, you should get the right metering for that specific spot in the image. I've never done any real testing to be 100% certain it's working this way, but my experience leads me to believe that they're correct. Should be simple enough to set up a test at home for yourself to find out for certain.

Also -- shoot RAW all the time. Can't stress that one enough! Amazing amount of exposure recovery you can do after the fact, plus setting custom white-balance to correct any color temperature issues. If you're new to RAW, I highly recommend PS Elements 3.0 now that it includes a RAW capability - it does some amazing work, and all automatically!

Good luck ....

12/20/2004 10:48:10 AM · #24
Follow-up on my previous message -- check this thread over at DPReview ..... if the 300D can do partial (i.e. "spot") metering this way, I'm sure the 20D can.

//forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1031&message=7959601
12/20/2004 11:03:50 AM · #25
Originally posted by jonpink:

You have a digital camera so use it. Take the shot, look at the histogram, retake until right then use that. :D


Better yet, look at the histogram while you're setting your exposure. You can then adjust the aperture to render the brightest spots to white and avoid blow-outs. Of course the +/- on exposure compensation will depend on how much snow is in the shot, how clean the snow is, etc.
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