Photographing the 2021 blizzard during the coronavirus pandemic
February is here and so is the blizzard of 2021. Yesterday, snow and wind covered the NYC area, and it looks like it will be snowing some more today. This year, with the pandemic still upon us, I decided not to venture out, and, instead, to take a few shots of the storm from inside my place.
Here are a few shots:
A few ideas:
- photograph objects or items in/around your place using the window (and the winter scenery seen through the window) as backdrop
- capture snow texture and patterns, as they change with the wind
- capture icy shapes that form on the window
- photograph the falling snow against a darker background
- photograph snow as it accumulates on the porch, window seal or balcony throughout the day
- photograph the streets or scenery from your window; they might appear (almost) as aerial shots, depending on where you live and where you photograph from
Use directional light to emphasize your subject: backlight for silhouettes, split light for texture, and so on.
Also, if possible, photograph during the golden hour light to capture a hint of warm color in the snow.
Play with depth of field and use DOF to emphasize the subject.
For more about photographing winter, check out my #tbt post.
If you go outside to photograph the snow during or right after a blizzard, be careful. You might want to use photographer’s gloves (warm gloves that allow you to expose only the index fingertips, in order to press the shutter button), also plastic sleeves as well as lens hoods to protect the lens/camera body from snow/rain, warm clothes and booths, and so on.
Be careful out there! Also, hope this finds you all well and safe, and, as always, thanks so much for stopping by!
Alina Oswald 