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I know it is a while off but I have been thinking about my ski-ing holiday next year. I have recently 'got the photography bug' and am enjoying taking landscapes and want to get some good shots of the Alps when I am there.
Has anyone got any tips for me relating to shooting Alpine landscapes? Also, what equipment do I need to take? Is a tripod essential, and if so can anyone recommend one and a suitable backpack that I can strap it to? I am about to invest in a set of LEE filters and was wondering if any in particular would benefit shooting snow scenes?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Darren.
When looking at tips for shooting snow, the one you will come across most is the advice to overexpose by about two stops, in order to stop the camera from recording the snow as anything else but white matter.
I'll leave the other subjects for others to comment on.
Conrad's tip is probably the most important one to remember - and if you use digital I guess you can just check the exposure as you go.
If you are shooting in sunny conditions you can probably get away without a tripod and often without grad filters too as a sunlit snow foreground is very bright. A tripod + filters are often still essential though for low light dawn/dusk shots.
A polariser can be useful but be careful cos blue skies at high altitude can tend to go a bit dark with a polariser.
Alpine landscapes aren't easy though so good luck!
The most obvious thing to me is to be aware of the battery not working due to the cold . So have a well wrapped up spare set with you.
At high altitudes I suggest you do not use a polariser as a blue sky will almost certainly end up almost black 
Ski-ing with a tripod may be a bit cumbersome, perhaps a monpod would be better, stick it into the snow and it will be quite sturdy. ( And not take up so much of your weight allowance on the plane )
Another point that's not so obvious is that snow reflects the colours that surround it. This means that on a clear day, shadow can be excessively blue if you'r not very careful about setting your white balance.
Of course, at dawn and dusk, this can be used to your advantage. Pictures of mountains in so-called alpenglow light can be stunning!
Thanks for the tips, they'll be very useful.
I had not thought of a monopod but I guess one could work well when stuck in the snow. Weight on the plane is not an issue as we are driving, but obviously I would have to carry any tri/monopod attached to a backpack on chairlifts and whilst ski-ing. I am keen to try some panoramics so guess that a tripod would be better here? Do any come particularly recommended? I have heard a lot of mention of Manfroto, do any models stand out above the others? Price range up to £200 with head.
Thanks again.
Darren.
Get one of those wee hot-shoe spirit levels to ensure your horizons are level with the panoramics. Clear blue skies will tint the snow a pale bluey colour so use an 81 a or b warm up filter to remove the blue cast if using film. I'm sure there's a digital answer too but I don't know it.
I'll second joolsb's recommendation of alpenglow on the mountains - one of nature's spectacles.
Ian.
Quote: Clear blue skies will tint the snow a pale bluey colour so use an 81 a or b warm up filter to remove the blue cast if using film. I'm sure there's a digital answer too but I don't know it.
RAW capture then "click" white balance with eye-dropper on the snow...
Quote: be careful cos blue skies at high altitude can tend to go a bit dark with a polariser.
I used my polariser a lot and I actually quite like the dark blue from the sky see what you think: ... sorry can't get the link to work but in you look at my profile I've put one of my attempts from a skying holiday this year.
Robin,
Just checked your Alpine shot and I think the dark blue sky looks OK. Thanks.
Darren.
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