Snowy Day Videos...

Well, winter is definitely upon us and there’s lots of video opportunity outside!! Shooting video in the snow can be tricky and we are here to help!! A few minor adjustments in how and what you shoot can make the difference in the quality of your shoot.

Its probably the most important and the one thing we take for granted; lighting. Lighting in the snow is deceiving; though the temperature in the middle of the day when the sun is high is the most comfortable, but this when shooting snowy video is the worst because brightness makes everything look too white and washed out. If you really want to shoot midday, do it when it’s slightly overcast. It may be a little colder, but you should try to shoot your snow videos at sun-up and sun-down, which gives you richer colors and you will have a vast array of colors like, pink, orange and purple to work with.

Most camcorders have preset configurations, but don’t rely on those. Use your manual settings for snow shooting. The “auto white balance” might work at times with snow, but you'll get the best results using the manual over ride and dialing in the white balance yourself.

You might consider using a neutral density filter; this can be a great way to take that harsh edgy look off the snow. These filters come in all sizes and you shouldn’t have a problem finding one that will fit your camcorder.

Playing in the snow is great fun and capturing candid shots or snowball fights will make great footage. Just remind your subjects to wear bright colors so they won’t blend in.

Here's a great tutorial to help you make better snowy videos!



For more photo and video tips, visit Mandarich Photography on the web!!!