SnowflakePhotography

ByJeanDavids

Note:TheResourcessec.onattheendofthisdocumenthasotherinforma.onthatcanhelpyouinlearningtheprocessaswellasthevideosonthenextpage.

VideostoShare

Howtocaptureapictureoftheperfectsnowflakevideo.h=ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjBGTEK8UgE

Howtophotographsnowflakeswithamacrolensh=ps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzrHLIB_5zs

Gear

• CameraorcellphonewithMacroorclose-uplensorcapability–therearemanywaystoaccomplishthis

• Tripodandcameraremote• LighVng–LEDorotherthatarecoolenoughnottomeltthesnowflakes

• Gloveorothermaterialthatservesasapleasingbackground

• MustbedoneinacoldenvironmentawayfromconVnuedsnowfallandwind

• IhavecapturedsnowflakesoutdoorsonpolarfleececlothandthenbroughtinsidegarageawayfrombreezeandothersnowflakesthatconVnuetofallinordertocapturephotos

h=ps://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-snowflakes-with-a-dslr/

• Youcanactuallyseetheflakepa=ernswiththenakedeye.Searchforflakesfirst,thenworkonfocus.

• FocusingonSnowflakes:• Camerastendtohavetroublelockingfocuswhenthesubjectissoclose,soIflipthelens/camerafocusmodetomanualmode.ThenIturnthefocussoitfocusesascloseaspossiblesoIcangetmaximumzoom.Ilineupthecamerawiththeflake,andthenusemybodytomovefurtherandcloserunVlIseetheflakecomeintofocus(it'slikemagictometowatchthis!).

• TakeLotsofShots:• It'snotalwayseasytoseeifyounailedthefocusperfectlyontheLCD,sotakeextratomakesure.Ifit'sasnowflakeIreallylikeIwilltake5-10shots!

• TryDifferentBackgrounds:• Darkcolorshelpshowtheflakesdetails,addingcolorcanbefun,anddon'tforgettextures!Socfabricsaregreatforsnowthatisfallingfast,asithelpstopreventthemfrombreaking.

h=ps://www.photoshopac.ons.com/blogs/blog/.ps-for-photographing-snowflakes

SnowflakesareverysmallTheycanbeassmallastheendofaballpointpen.

TypesofSnowflakes

Firsta=emptsatsnowflakeswereshotonthelidofourgarbagecan.

Thisa=emptusedpolarfleecescraps

Imagebelowusedbackingfromphotodisplayboardmaterial

BoughtlargerpiecesofclothatWalmartandcutsometomakerollstouse–thesewereshotwithaniPhone7plus

BestfirstimageacerediVngusingphotoshoptoreplacegarbagecanbackground

SteveFowleraskedmetosharethisinformaVonwithyou.“Thesearenotmyphotosbutbelongtoafriendofmine.Ithinkitgoodtodemonstratethefactthatexpensive/specialequipmentisnotnecessarytomakethesephotographs.HeusedanoldPentexfilmcamerawithahomemadeextensiontubemadefromatoiletpaperrollandapieceofglass.Heputthesnowflakeontheglassandunderlitit.VerysimplebuteffecVve.”

BestImagesSoFar

WhatIhaveLearnedSoFar

• DSLRworksbe=erformebutiPhoneishandierandtakeslesssetup.

• IuseMomentMacroforiPhone• LighVngisimportanttocapturetheimagebest–contrast• Theanglemakesabigdifference.Shootasstraightonaspossibletokeepasmuchinfocusaspossible

• Backdropmaterialmakesabigdifference–contrast• Don’tshootinwind–breaksupsnowflakes• Don’tshootinsunorwarmcondiVons–meltsthem• KeepexperimenVng• Shoot,shootandshootagaintogetbestshots

AddiVonalResources• h=ps://digital-photography-school.com/how-to-photograph-snowflakes-with-a-dslr/

• h=p://www.brendabentleyphotography.com/snowflake-photography-using-an-iphone/

• h=p://www.its.caltech.edu/~atomic/snowcrystals/class/class-old.htm?nclid=IwAR33uywcq4W-ysMJvOuTPue6jzvKy_1JHeO80z68e9TExGizkRFHrUvDKAg

• h=ps://learn.zoner.com/how-to-photograph-snowflakes/• h=ps://petapixel.com/2018/01/31/shoot-macro-snowflake-photos-home/

• h=ps://www.clickinmoms.com/blog/take-macro-snowflakes-pictures/

• h=ps://earthsky.org/earth/how-to-take-photos-of-snowflakes