Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-01-12
CAMERA ANGLES
BY A. J. wEDDERBURN
Curator Of Photography Z
The Smithsonian Institution

To most adults snow Is
nothing better than q hazard
but to photographers the
mantle Of white Is q means
for obtaining new and diff
ferent pictures Of familiar
scenes. This is as good q time
as any TO make plans to get
your share Of snow pictures
this winter.
Pictorially speaking. snow
does present q few problems
that differ from day-in-day-
out photography. But these
can easily be overcome II q
few precautions are observed.
Unless we are careful snow
scenes are apt to be either
too nat or too contrasty.
To avoid these conditions
We must pick and choose the
time Of day to take pictures
Is well as make o deliberate
effort to keep large patches
Of deeply shaded area out Of
the picture. We can also beef
UP our snow scenes by the
proper use Of filters and, on
dull. sunless days by the adj
diNon Of synthetic sunlight
In the form of flash side
lightings.
Early morning or late aft
ernoon. when long delicate
shadows are cast across the
nat white expanses Of snow
fall. are the best time to take
your snapshots. The lighting,
coming in at an angle, viii
delineate the irregularities
that viii not show up II the
light Is overhead or fiat.
If YOU WANT to increase
the contrast between snow
and sky just slip q medium
yellow filter over the lens and
open one stop to compensate
for. the filter. For more
dramatic emphasis use a red
filter with q two or three
stop compensation Of the
aperture. For better flesh
tones where there are people
In the picture. try q light
green filter and open two
stops. This filter will also
give a better rendition Of
tones when foliage is in
cluded.
OF course. the above men,
toned filters are only recon-
mended when black and
white film is in the camera.
With color. the film would
take on the tone of the filter.
You can improve your color
shots. otherwise. by using a
skylight filter to reduce the
blush cast on the snow
caused by the blue sky.
Exposure is another thing
to watch carefully when
dealing with snow. We must
remember that the snow
blanket acts as a powerful
reflector that bounces q
tremendous quantity of light
al the camera lens. So, for
top quality results. be sure
to- use an exposure meter for
every shot. A good m eter
pays for itself in film savings
in q very short time.
DURING COLD weather,
condensation on the lens is
something to be watched for.
This is particularly true
when the camera goes in and
out Of doors often during the
day. Carry some lens tissue
with you solthat you can wipe
the lens free from any mist
or frost that may form on
the lens. II will also help If
you carry the camera inside
your clothing or in an over
coat pocket when not in use.
When the camera has been
out for any great length Of
time in very cold weather,
check it occasionally to make
sure that the shutter is work.
ing properly. Cover the lens
and work the shutter just to
make sure.
When composing your
snow scenes check each back
ground to make sure there
IS no large clump Of highly
contrasting tree clumps or
shrubs that will make your
negatives excessively con-
TRASHY.
You will find no lack Of
subject matter to photograph
after a snowfall. Trees and
shrubs win present unusual
forms when covered with
snow. The delicate tracery of
q light snow will also make