The world is tucked neatly into a warm white blanket. Under the snow slumber the insects and arachnids I love to photograph during warmer times, so I am turning to my winter pastimes of preserving #lovelydeadcrap and shooting snowflakes.
The problem with shooting snow… ok, there are several problems. One is that each flake is tiny, requiring me to set up a macro photo rig – even the new macro lens I was excited to work with wasn’t quite enough for my satisfaction in getting up close and personal with the delicate crystals. Yesterday’s session wound up with a rig that would probably give real photographers the vapors – I had the macro, a lens extension (31 mm) and a ring light… and I was shooting freehand. Next time we get decent snow I’m going to take the time to get the tripod with macro slider set up to see if I can get some well-focused shots, because shooting freehand I get maybe one in ten that is usable at all. And none of what I got make me really happy with them.
If you are curious what the experts do with snowflakes, I wrote about it a while back. Some of them get absolutely amazing portraits of the ultimate ephemeral. Me, I get what are the equivalent to spontaneous snapshots.
The second problem to shooting snow is that not all snow is the same. Snow falling out of the sky takes many forms, and I’m not just talking about the concept that each snowflake is unique. Some snow falls as pellets of tiny crystals accreted together as they plunge through the atmosphere. Other snow is given the time, moisture, and perfect conditions to grow into big, beautiful crystals that are delicately detailed. Still other snow starts out as big flakes, falls through another moist layer, and the crystals branch off in odd directions – you’ll see examples of that in yesterday’s shots.
And the final problem of shooting snow? Especially freehand as I do? When you start to shiver, your ability to maintain focus on a depth of field that is no thicker than a sheet of paper goes out the window. Hah. I had to come in and warm up between sessions yesterday. Which is why you’ll see two different backdrops. I use a scarf or a shawl to lay down as a backdrop for the snowflakes. I can’t resolve a single flake from the white backdrop if I am trying to take a picture in situ, but I can if they fall on the cold cloth (I let it come down to ambient before shooting, or they melt while I am trying to focus).
Comments
9 responses to “Shooting Snowflakes”
You’re a better (wo)man than I am, Gunga Din. No way I’d have the patience required to even attempt this.
Well, it’s good practice for shooting bugs 😀 And that’s my main thing I love to photograph. I’d get rusty over the winter if I put up the camera entirely.
But no self-respecting bug, or arachnid, is gonna come out in this weather. I gotta think there are some suitable macro subjects INSIDE, where it ain’t so beastly frigid.
There are, and one of these days I’ll take the time to set up the tripod and lightbox – my aunt and uncle gifted me with some lovely rocks they collected in Arizona, polished and pretty. I think some macro to capture the details in the agate, jasper, and other geological marvels would be a good exercise.
I’m looking forward to seeing your pictures of the rocks!
I had forgotten that you mentioned you were gonna take pictures.
So when I saw your blog title, I thought you were taking your .380 out to a safe space, and plugging whiners as they emerged in order to whine.
Whining isn’t worthy of a death sentence!
I think those are a different type of snowflake.
Great photos. You left out details of the slow and careful stalking of the snowflakes! (and now the NatGeo theme will be in my head all day)
I wonder how much magnification you would need to get a frame filling snowflake photo and what the depth of field effects would be.
Any chance of setting up inside and shooting through a partially open window?