Evening star., 1951-01-14


thing OF beauty under a mantle OF
snow. A trash Uttered alley OF
yesterday may become festooned
fairyland of ethereal perfection
beneath its undisturbed coating OF
white crystals today. True, the
respite from the prosaic may be
brief but it will last long enough
for you to make a permanent rec
ord with your camera.
The photography of snow scenes
Is a challenge to the cameraman,
for 1t is not an altogether easy
task. So many factors are differ
ent from everyday camera tech
nique and there are many chances
for slip-ups between the click of
the shutter and the printing of the
final picture. But if 1t SHOWS, get
out your camera. for you always
have the chance Of getting a pic
ture that Is different and unusual.
It will be worth the extra time,
trouble, film and expense. Good
snow scenes are not the usual
thing but they can be made under
the right circumstances.
Too many photographers leave
snow photography to others simply
because they hate the idea of
tramping around the countryside
looking for likely scene. The
idea of sliding around in icy slush
has very little appeal to any one.
But the secret of getting good snow
pictures is to get out with your
camera before the snow is dirty.
And there Is little reason for going
far afield. The very scenery of
your own neighborhood, even
though you have photographed 1t
dozens OF times before, will be so
different and changed in appear
ance that you will find 1t hard to
recognize "a perfect target for
your camera.
Protect the Lens.
A stout pair of rubbers or ga
loshes and a warm coat and light
gloves will take the sting out of
winter and keep you in the right
frame of mind for shooting. If
the ,snow is still coming down
when you start out you can take
along an diversified lens hood to
keep the fakes from falling on the
lens and blurring the shot. If the
camera Is a small one you can
carry it In an overcoat pocket TO
keep the lens and shutter in good
shape. With big camera, the
lens can be taken out, wrapped in
a soft cloth and carried in the
pocket for the same reason.
Your best bet for landscapes
covered with snow will be a trip
to a city park or perhaps to the
nearby countryside. In the park
you will find benches, iron grill
work, bridges. monuments, water
fountains and many other subjects
that will have a totally different
look when snow covered. In the
country you will find innumerable
woodland scenes with streams and
rutted country roads to fill your
pictorial needs.
But whatever your approach may
be, try to avoid cramming all the
snow into one scene. A great blob
Of white. unbroken expanse is no
subject for picture. In other
words, don't photograph snow just
for the sake Of snow. Instead, let
the snow simply be a means to an
end-a good photograph. A snow
covered field may look good to the
naked eye. but try recording the
scene on film and you will quickly
appreciate the fact that the snow
alone is not enough. Treat the
snow for what it is-a sort of win
dow dressing for your pictures.
A closeup shot of a snow frosted
tree branch outlined against the
sky is one Of the most effective
shots you can take. A winding,
tree Lined country road with q
cross lighting to bring out the tex
ture of the snow is another favor
tte. AS you probably know by ex-
perience, the cross lighting you
will want for your snow scenes will