Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums - Frost, Ice, Re-freeze & 'Tenacious Grace'

Some Of Water's Cold Season Photo Opsforms on the edges of things from the spray.
In (3) previous articles we have consideredSelf-Assignments For Above Photography Tips
photography tips using water as an ideal photoChoose the projects that interest you most.
subject during warm seasons when it involvesFollow the photography tips conscientiously.
waves, waterscapes, waterfalls, reflections,Re-shoot when you aren't satisfied. Do it til you
abstracts, spray 'n splash, bubbles 'n foam,are satisfied. It'll take all your patience and passion.
puddles, condensation, hail, mist and fog to help usYour skills and eye will improve with the practice.
out of the photo doldrums. Now, let's considerShoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod
some of it's cold season photo op's for doing that.as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly.
Water is unique because it can be found in allPin small samples on the wall for a few days to
three basic states: vapor, liquid and solid. In thestudy before making final prints for wall art.
cold seasons, when it can turn crystalline or solid,Photography Tip # 1 - Frost: (1)During winter
is when it can produce truly fascinating andcold-spells choose a window that faces the rising
amazing pictures. Here are some photography tipssun and place a humidifier in front of it. Open the
for that season:inner window about ΒΌ" to let warm moist room
# 1 - Frost: Transforms things into artwork. Onair enter and contact the outer window to form
leaves and vegetation, subtle edge and veinjack frost on it. Take pictures as the sun rises
patterns stand out boldly as intriguing designs. Onand shines through the frost. (2) In late fall and
window panes frost patterns can be fascinating.early spring when the forecast predicts frost, get
Again, it's mainly a matter of checking out youroutside early and look for fallen leaves and
local weather forecast, knowing yourgrasses with frost on them. Take pictures.
surroundings, what to expect, and getting therePhotography Tip # 2 - Ice: When it's cold enough
with your camera before it melts!for ice to form, locate some large puddles or a
# 2 - Ice: If there are puddles, or a pond or lakepond and look for "ice captives" (leaves) just
nearby check out the edges when the waterunder the ice surface, and take pictures of them
freezes. There will be ice captives; leaves andthrough the ice.
twigs just below the surface encased in the ice,Photography Tip # 3 - Re-freeze: When the
sometimes with air bubbles and patterns in the iceweather does a snowfall, then a thaw with rain,
itself. Just be careful about thin ice and how farthen a re-freeze, get outside and check the
out on the ice you venture when taking suchdepressions and roadside ditches for snow swirls
pictures!under clear ice with leaves, etc caught in it and
# 3 - Re-Freeze: Here is a special ice-situation totake pictures.
look out for; It snows, then turns mild and rainy,Photography Tip # 4 - Tenacious Grace: When
then suddenly cold snaps. Check out thethe weather turns really cold locate a nearby
depressions and roadside ditches. The snow hasstream that briskly tumbles over rock piles and
been 'sculptured' by the melt and run-off, thenbranch jams and you'll find 'Grace'. Find a pleasing
encased (along with leaves, etc) in the clear icesection of it with water running by it and shoot
from the rain and cold snap, producing some verywith a slow shutter speed to blurr the water in
unusual subjects.contrast to the sharply detailed ice.
# 4 - Tenacious Grace: Is there a lively stream orIn the next of this set of articles we'll consider still
brook nearby, one which tumbles and bubbles4 more photography tips on cold season photo
over stones, rocks or fallen trees and branches,op's that water can provide for overcoming the
generating splash and spray? When thephoto doldrums: icy streams, freezing rain, icicles
temperatures drops well below freezing you'll findand snowflakes.
a delicate embroidery-like ice (hence the name)