PRACTICALPHOTOGRAPHY.COM 43
Winter LandscapesexactlywhatI do.Post-analysisof an imagewill
oftenhavepartof thesubjecton a cross-sectionof
a third, but I don’t aim to do this, I simply shoot
what I feel looks right to me in the viewfinder.
You could call it gut instinct, perhaps. Sometimes
conforming to a concept or supposed rule can be
more of a hindrance, rather than freeing your mind
and having the conviction to compose and shoot
what you want to shoot, how you see it.
Understanding the weather and conditions when
you’re out on location has a huge impact on getting
the image you want, and quite possibly on your own
health and safety. Knowing it’s going to snow or be
fr osty isn’t enough. Know that you will need extra
ti me to do normal things, driving conditions willbe
tr ickier, getting to a location will take longer, and
everything else that goes along with it. Walking to
a location in the cold will mean warming up and
then cooling down rapidly as you hang around for
the light. Managing your core body temperature
is essential if you’re not to get too cold, or even ill.
Knowing your physical limits is essential when out
in a cold wintry environment, and it’s not worth
dying for an image. The day may start out sunny, but
the weather can change rapidly and substantially
at this time of year, so look for the signs of change,
especiallyin a snowy,mountainousenvironment.
Ofcourse,theweatherandlightplaya hugerole
in shooting landscapes. Being out early, preferably
pre-dawn, and being in a position to react to the
ri sing sun and lighting conditions is essential and,
fo r me, it’s the best time of day. Sunset – and the
hour or so before and sometimes for a while after
– can also be great for shooting winter landscapes,
but with the sun low in the sky during the shorter
winter daylight hours, shooting all day can be
a creative possibility.PLAN FOR PANORAMAS
EDITING ADVICE
Editing and post-production are kept to a minimum. After the
initial processing of the RAW image in Adobe Camera Raw my
tweaks and adjustments are done in Photoshop – Curves, Levels,
localised adjustments to shadows and highlights if needed, and
a hint of dodging or burning if necessary. Avoid over-sharpening
and too much saturation, as colourful images with halos just
don’t look right. Some of my winter landscapes will have been
pre-visualised as panoramas and shot accordingly – three
horizontal images, shot from left to right, overlapped by about
30% and to be stitched together in Photoshop, something it does
very well. Black & white images are created using Nik Silver Efex
Pro, a powerful plug-in with huge potential for those into mono.Top Trotternish
Ridge shot from
the Quiraing, on
the Isle of Skye.Above The
snow-covered
silver birch trees
in Glen Etive.