Snow pics exposure setting.

Posted by: BigH47 on 05 January 2010

I've just taken a few snow pics flash and long exposure, the later ones are "orangy". i assume I need to change something White balance? what settings should I use?
I should know this stuff by now.
Canon EOS 350D.

With flash.

Without.

Posted on: 06 January 2010 by MilesSmiles

quote:
Originally posted by Robbert:
In Holland we have/had bikes:

Great pic.

Posted on: 06 January 2010 by bhaagensen

Denmark 6.1.2010. Sorry, probably dead boring, but the house in my kitchen view always looks so darn cosy. Bet mine looks like a dump in comparison :S

On a slightly on-topic note: Tungsten white balance (because the colour of the available light). Exposure: Its a night shot, so as long as it requires.

Posted on: 06 January 2010 by bon

1) White point settings are normally set to 'auto' or 'Daylight' so shots taken in flash will normally be properly balanced but those taken under artificial light will show a colour cast as observed. So either set the white point before the shot is taken or use RAW and modify post shot. (JPEG's are regarded as a 'final' shot and so don't have intrinsic editing capabilities though you can still do stuff extrinsically.)

2) Daylight shots (used an averaged or multipoint metering) will underexpose snow scenes. Reason: The averaging is based on the scene before the camera have an average of 18% reflectance but snow will be much higher so the camera reduces the exposure speed/aperture meaning the shot gets underexposed.

two solutions are 1) To bracket the shots a couple of stops (exposure compensate +1 and +2) or 2) Set camera to manual (or use exposure lock)and take a reading from a grey card.

The shots above of the snowman in the gardedn during daylight show effect of the underexposure.

Posted on: 06 January 2010 by Bruce Woodhouse

Here is a tough exposure, just as the sun came up close to home yesterday morning. Probably should have fiddled with the white balance but the exposure is OK I think (+0.7 exposure compensation). It looks really nice converted to monochrome too-or perhaps I'm just a sucker for B+W. We have a good foot of lovely powdery snow.