Old Man Winter has many of us in his icy grip. Although the footing to go on photo field trips can be dicey, the rewards can be well worth your effort. Here are some suggestions.

1 – Dress warmly, and wear comfortable shoes that work well in slick conditions. You may want to try those hand and foot warmers that are a chemical concoction that will get toasty when activated. I really like them. Don’t forget your head. We loose most of our heat through our head.

2 – Check the ASA /ISO on your camera. Match the brightness conditions to your film speed. If you are in a very bright situation, go for a low ASA/ISO 50-200.

3 – Try getting out when the light is most beautiful. That usually means dawn and dusk. You will probably get better color in the skies during those hours.

4 – Catch the snow when it is freshly fallen, with the snow clinging to every branch.

5 – If you have ice, again get out quickly, to catch close-ups of ice encasing items, like twigs, flowers, benches, etc.

6 – Vary up your depth of field. Try making a close-up with a tight focus, using a wide aperture and a fast shutter speed. This will allow the background to fall into a soft blur.
Conversely, Try using lots of depth of field, perhaps on a long row of snow-encrusted trees, all in focus, using a narrow aperture. I just took in an Ansel Adams show yesterday at the Corcoran Museum, and his snow photos are breathtaking.

7 – Batteries don’t like cold. I keep them warm, against my body, in a pocket.

8 – Try to travel lightly. Only take the lenses you know you will be using. You don’t need to lug all your photo gear with you.

9 – Take a photo friend along, making a fun project into enjoyable time together. Follow it up with a cozy talk, drinking some hot chocolate by an inviting fire.

I’m off to Southern Italy and Sicily, in a few days, leading a photo tour for two weeks. I’ll check my email occasionally, and if possible, will send some images back for all of you to share of our trip. Until then, Ciao!

Please visit my web site at www.suebloom.com