SECOND EDITION: Birds in Snow, High Contrast Scenes, Strategies and Work-Arounds
1) BLUE JAY ... If your objective is to create an image that says "Bird in Winter/Snow," etc., keep in mind that just the appearance of snow as opposed to a frame full of snow, is all that you need. By filling the frame to the extent possible with the bird, you make your statement while at the same time, working around the headaches associated with the exposure issues that snow scenes can create.
2) MALE JUNCO ... On the other hand, a small, dark bird surrounded by snow, with the snow predominant in the viewfinder, may overly influence your camera's light meter. Even spot metering centered over the bird, coupled with exposure compensation to the plus side, may still bias your meter keeping the bird underexposed (too dark). What I do in that case is to open the image in a film editor (Photoshop) and increase the LEVELS to the bright side until I get detail in the bird. I don't care if the snow loses all nuances because the featureless white still says "the bird is in snow." The effect to me, is like an Asian tapestry. Artistic and stylized yet literal.
3) WHITE-THROATED SPARROW ... Same strategy as in #2). I personally like this effect and chalk it up to serendipity - I would not have used this editing technique had exposure been a breeze. Sometimes lucky is better than good.
4) MOURNING DOVE ... A little snow is all the shot needs to say "winter."
5) CANADA GEESE ... Even snow-covered stream banks reflected will say "winter."
6) MOCKING BIRD
7) WHITE-THROATED SPARROW ... Another example of bumping up LEVELS using an image editor like Photoshop, that to bring out details on the small bird which were underexposed in the original but recoverable. The detailed nuances in the snow were blown out in the process ... but it's the results that matter, and, I'm happy with the results.
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The two most difficult aspects of photography from a teaching point-of-view, are COMPOSITION and EXPOSURE.
If you haven't seen the article preceding this, you may find it helpful in dealing with the challenges of getting "correctly" exposed photos of snow scenes, which, like other high contrast scenes, can be frustrating.
http://thenewstalkers.com/forum/topics/birds-in-snow-a-potentially-viable-combination-for-photographers-
When referencing "exposure" in photography, I often put the word "correct," in quotation marks; I do this because a "correctly-exposed" image can be a matter of subjectivity ... that is, often, several variations in exposure of a given scene may appear to be "correct," neither over-exposed (too bright), nor, under-exposes (too dark).
When I look through my viewfinder and think I see a particularly good composition, to make sure I'll get at least one "correctly exposed" shot, I'll do some or all of the following:
1) Shoot the same composition THREE TIMES ... once using my camera's MATRIX METERING, once using the CENTER WEIGHTED, and one more using SPOT METERING. If I'm lucky, all three shots will be "correct" (for me that means "publishable quality"), albeit each having a different feel or look.
2) Same as #1) but for each of the three shots, use my camera's EXPOSURE COMPENSATION feature to add variations. Yes ... I can be an obsessive pain-in-the-ass ... but I get some pretty interesting photos as a result.
There are other ways to approach exposure, but this is the way I prefer. But experiment ... really ... PLAY, HAVE FUN ... GO FOR IT!
And then there are situations so extreme in contrast, that you'll have to make TRADE-OFFS ... like a little, dark-colored bird surrounded by bright, white snow. Unless you can get close enough to the bird to fill the frame with him (or if you have a $10,000 lens ... 500mm/2.8 ... which I DO NOT), make up your mind ... BIRD or SNOW ... you will not likely correctly expose both in the same scene.
Sorry.
But wait ... there's more (I hate when I sound like Glenn Beck!). I have been messing with a work around for this dilemma, and, I will post some of the results with explanations. But first, before I post the images, please take a little time to assimilate the above - I believe it will give a better insight.
A. Mac
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When referencing "exposure" in photography, I often put the word "correct," in quotation marks; I do this because a "correctly-exposed" image can be a matter of subjectivity ... that is, often, several variations in exposure of a given scene may appear to be "correct," neither over-exposed (too bright), nor, under-exposes (too dark).
Nah, you don't sound like Beck... you sound like a late night infomercial, LOL!
So 3 shots at different exposures and make up your mind about the subject.
And where are the examples????
Sometimes 6 shots or more ... BUT ONLY if I think when looking through the viewfinder, that the composition is inherently outstanding in-and-of-itself.
For highly contrasty scenes, I'll always take at least three ... or more.
For any scene that's kick-ass to begin with, I'll go for 6 ... once-in-a-while, all 6 will be publishable; more typically, 2 or 3.
I've added three images for starters ... more to come ... lots more if you want.
Now we are talking. That Jay is just perfection.
And now I can see the difference between the Junco and the Sparrow. I don't get Junco's here. Beautiful little bird. But I can clearly see the effect of upping the exposure time in that picture. The bird floats in a sea of white.
With the sparrow, the branch acts as ananchorand so the photo is more literal.
Very interesting lesson. I am going to try it with our next snow.... when ever that happens.
Now there are 7 images ... more later, or, possibly a third article.
Nice. Is that white on the tip of the Blue Jay's beak?
That's a hook ... a natural part of the bill used in feeding.
Those newadditionsare amazing Mac. I love the mocking bird. You can see every feather on him.
Thanks for this informative article AM . I'm not at all clear on your terminology though .
I'm guessing spot metering is taking a light measurement at one precise spot [which requires zooming ?] Is that right ?
As to the other 2 , I haven't got a clue ...
Rich,
Spot metering concentrates the meter's calculation to small portions of the scene giving little or no "weight" to other areas within the viewfinder. Center-weighted as implied, gives the greatest weight to the center of the scene ... a larger diameter than spot metering.
Matrix-metering evaluates the entire area as seen in the viewfinder evaluating 30 or more segments and determining exposure based on all the segments.
Hope this helps.
Yes , it was a big help . Thanks much . BTW , that was a really great technical info link .
The past is gone, the future is an illusion ... there's only ...
Now.
Get the camera.
Damn.. Now I want snow just to give it a try. But I might only get a squirrel.
I'll put on my snow shoes and bring an extra tripod ... we'll get those bird/snow shots!
I'll post more shots tomorrow ... possibly as a THIRD EDITION>
Oh my goodness.
What an extreme and unexpected delight to discover your participation on this new site, A Mac. I'm tickled pink! Your extraordinary images have inspired me, and when I can, I'll be investing in a better camera.
You add so much with your outstanding photographic skills. The birds are outstanding.
Welcome to NT jmcalifornia!
Glad you joined us.
I sure love them dang birds! They're awesome and nice shots! Colors are bright, with depth. Mockingbirds sing at night and always enjoyed listening to them. Favorite pictures are the Blue Jay and Dove (but you know I like them all).
Kori, he's a modern Audubon with a camera.
God/Nature/The Cosmos creates the birds and their beauty ...
I just take their pictures.
Thank you for your kind words.
Now that was nice to read!
This is what I need to learn, too!
Canada Geese, Blue Jays, snow and ice - Welcome to Canada! Great photos as usual A. Mac. Thanks for the advice about not showing too much snow, ice, etc. in the photo - very helpful.
Great work as always AMac just one question, how much do you pay these critters to sit so still? Really though I always like the Blue Jays and Mourning Doves they are such a photographic birds. Thanks for the advice.
They're Equity birds ... so the receive union scale ... and I pay the females the same wages as the males!
Equal pay for equal work.
This is exactly what I meant about being much to technical for the faint of heart. (Me)
I just point and shoot and hope for the best. Can I upload a picture? Let me try:
Something is out there but how do I get it to display here?
tsula,
You can post the picture directly in the Reply box.
1) Click to reply
2) In the menu bar at the top of the Reply box
3) Click on the second icon from the right ... it says "Image" ... it will open to an upload option "Add Image" box.
4) Assuming that image is on your computer click "Browse" and find the image and select it to upload
5) Follow the layout options and hit "OK" ...
6) The image will appear in the Reply box.
Let me know if you get stuck.
AM, thanks for the details and I shall try this again:
I do believe that it has worked! Snow ball fight for anyone interested in being that cold.
Yes!
And a nice image ... lots of photographers fail to record the brightness of snow because camera light meters are calibrated to make "neutral" about 17% gray (black = 100%, white = 0%). When the meter sees extremely bright areas, it darkens them to get them to the 17% ... when it sees extremely dark areas, it tries to lighten them to the 17%.
In other words, to get "correct" exposures, you sometimes have to fool the metering by OVEREXPOSING to keep the bright or underexposing to keep the dark.
I'm guessing that if you bump up the LEVELS and the CONTRAST in this image ... but do so incrementally, you'll get it to pop. It's good as it appears, but it may be even better than you think.
Thanks! I'll have to remember to try some of the things that you are suggesting here. Going to try it once more. Since I am from NE originally I have some Fall pictures taken long ago and will try once, more to show one of them.
Looks as it this worked too. Very back road to the Township of Winchester.
Beautiful use of leading lines drawing the viewer in to the scene! The shadows create a rhythm that reinforces the leading lines' effect as do the tree trunks.
A very nicely executed image!
Thank you. We were on the way to my parents grave site up in those hills and rounding a corner saw this. Stopped in the middle of the road jumped out and just snapped.
Now lets try this one for I find your views very informative:
Wow ... Wow and ...
WOW! Beautiful!
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If I could elicit a single wow from you I would have been satisfied!
Lets try this one as an old time road through the Sugar Maples that were religiously tapped every spring. YUM!
It appears you have quite an intuitive eye for composition. Leading lines, rhythmic progression of shadows, tree trunks ... the two most difficult aspects of photography to teach, are composition and exposure; with digital cameras, LCD screens and editing software, exposure is less problematic, but composition still eludes many ...
It doesn't elude you, however. Beautiful image.
I'm going to do one more for your consideration of starkness. We found out after we had ridden this road that it was a service road for our reservoir and we got stopped by the police. Just too much time on our hands, I guess. I do not consider surroundings I just see what I feel is interesting and snap away.
Thanks for your critiques!
Hi, A Mac! -- This is Minnie, I should have used that name in signing up but I thought I would be choosing a screen name as part of the process. Anyway, love both the mourning dove and sparrow on branches. How far away are you shooting from? Are you using a telephoto lens on this, and how long a lens?
Hi Minnie,
So nice to see you here.
Depending on the lighting and distance from subject, for bird/wildlife subjects, I'll use a 200, 300 or 400mm zoom. In the lowest light I'll use the 200mm, not for the length but because it has a 2.8 aperture setting that gives me faster shutter speeds and better light gathering. Also ... it's great when wanting a shallow depth-of-field and soft backgrounds.
Wow. Quite beautiful. I love birds. Love the jay.
The others are gorgeous as well. Maybe I can post my Niagra Falls pic sometime
Thanks for coming to this article; it was posted a while back and it's good that our new and newer members may stop by.
When did you take my picture? I didn't even know!
I never hesitate to photograph something of beauty you were the beauty on that day.
I know little about photography, but I love looking at your work Mac..Thank you forsuch beautiful images. They make my day brighter.
Tsula, beautiful photos niijii.
These are so beautiful!
I think it depends on what you see as more important for the purpose of the photo - the road or the tree trunks. The green colour certainly makes the road the focus, but if you really wanted the tree trunks to be more important, you desaturate the green colour.
Dear Friend A. Mac: All exposures are appropriate and good, except the one that gets you arrested.
E.
Enoch,
First, good to see you again!
This post is from last winter so I'm happy you found it these many months later.
Next to fall colors, snow scenes are a favorite subject of mine be they with birds, or, woodlands/forests.
Like this, f'rinstance
Those are absolutely beautiful photos A Mac!
Oh, so THAT'S how this article got republished. It was a good review of dealing with exposure - some great photos in this article.
A Mac
Great shots
We have had a family of blue jays totally in charge of our backyard for a coupe of weeks as they little ones are leaning to fly.
Very noisy family but beautiful