Shooting in Snow

[Matrixxdg]

Hi All,
Texas boy here headed to Colorado next month to try my hand at skiing. I have a Nikon D80 and was wondering if ya'll could put your 2 cents in about shooting in snow.

Thanks...

Mike G

[kenw]

similar to shooting in sand: overexpose a bit to make sure the snow is white and not 18% grey. If you autometer, it will be grey.

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

May sound crazy but put a polarizer on that lens!

[Matrixxdg]

Thanks all....anyone else. All info welcome

[Matrixxdg]

Originally Posted by kenw

similar to shooting in sand: overexpose a bit to make sure the snow is white and not 18% grey. If you autometer, it will be grey.

What do you think....+ EV2 or 3?

[lancemoreland]

Typically one stop. Your meter calculates its reading as 18% of reflected light which is true of all shades of grey and colors except white and black. White reflects 36% of light and black reflects 9%. Notice Black is exactly half and white is exactly double the norm of 18% both equal one stop. Remember, 1 stop is exactly double or half of the light entering the camera on either side depending if you are stopping up or down. So a safe estimate for snow is to over expose by one stop and for a black cat under expose by one stop.

[Matrixxdg]

Thanks Lance...that explained it.