Avoid these pitfalls
8: Snow blind
Pitfall explanation
Even though the dog is missing the top of his head, this is a really cute picture. And he'll be a puppy for only a short time. But the photo suffers from a common malady that afflicts unwary snow shooters: middle-gray metering. When we look at snow, our optical system automatically adjusts the scene so that we see it as white. A camera, on the other hand, tries to equalize the light in the scene, it comes out underexposed, and snow ends up a rather darkish tone called middle gray.
Even though the dog is missing the top of his head, this is a really cute picture. And he'll be a puppy for only a short time. But the photo suffers from a common malady that afflicts unwary snow shooters: middle-gray metering. When we look at snow, our optical system automatically adjusts the scene so that we see it as white. A camera, on the other hand, tries to equalize the light in the scene, it comes out underexposed, and snow ends up a rather darkish tone called middle gray.
Can this photo be saved?
Absolutely. It just takes some exposure tweaking in software. As long as it wasn't too dark out, the image noise shouldn't be too bad.
Absolutely. It just takes some exposure tweaking in software. As long as it wasn't too dark out, the image noise shouldn't be too bad.
How can I avoid this problem?
Tip 1: Use exposure compensation. Bump the exposure up anywhere from f/0.66 to f/1.7 (the amount depends on your tastes and the camera's sensitivity).
Tip 2: Use spot metering. Instead of using the camera's default metering, which generally averages across multiple points in the scene, use the spot meter to measure something darker--in this case, the dog's body. That will automatically increase the exposure.
Tip 3: Use the Snow/Sand scene mode. Digital cameras that offer extensive scene program modes usually include one for compositions with large stretches of light areas such as snow or sand. These presets generally made the aforementioned adjustments, as well as tweak some other settings (such as white balance) at the manufacturer's discretion.
Tip 1: Use exposure compensation. Bump the exposure up anywhere from f/0.66 to f/1.7 (the amount depends on your tastes and the camera's sensitivity).
Tip 2: Use spot metering. Instead of using the camera's default metering, which generally averages across multiple points in the scene, use the spot meter to measure something darker--in this case, the dog's body. That will automatically increase the exposure.
Tip 3: Use the Snow/Sand scene mode. Digital cameras that offer extensive scene program modes usually include one for compositions with large stretches of light areas such as snow or sand. These presets generally made the aforementioned adjustments, as well as tweak some other settings (such as white balance) at the manufacturer's discretion.
Which cameras handle these scenes best?
What it takes: Either the appropriate scene mode or some basic manual exposure controls.
Suggested models:
What it takes: Either the appropriate scene mode or some basic manual exposure controls.
Suggested models:
Additional resources
CNET Community: Point and Shout
We've all experienced the joys, the frustrations, and that magical moment when a workaround solution to a particular problem jolts you. Here's a chance to share your brilliance with fellow readers and learn a bit from them.
Online digital photo printing and sharing
Whether you have a handful of vacation shots or you're a serious photographer with a big image archive, there are plenty of sites that can make printing and sharing a pleasure. We tried out more than 40 of them to give you a snapshot of your options.
Digital camera memory-card selector
Choosing digital camera memory--CompactFlash, Secure Digital cards, and Memory Stick--should be a no-brainer compared to choosing a camera. It's not. Let CNET's Digital camera memory selector clear away the smoke and mirrors surrounding these formats and bring storage clarity into your life.
Digital camera buying guide
We've distilled our expert advice on finding the right digital camera into a handy seven-page guide.
CNET Community: Point and Shout
We've all experienced the joys, the frustrations, and that magical moment when a workaround solution to a particular problem jolts you. Here's a chance to share your brilliance with fellow readers and learn a bit from them.
Online digital photo printing and sharing
Whether you have a handful of vacation shots or you're a serious photographer with a big image archive, there are plenty of sites that can make printing and sharing a pleasure. We tried out more than 40 of them to give you a snapshot of your options.
Digital camera memory-card selector
Choosing digital camera memory--CompactFlash, Secure Digital cards, and Memory Stick--should be a no-brainer compared to choosing a camera. It's not. Let CNET's Digital camera memory selector clear away the smoke and mirrors surrounding these formats and bring storage clarity into your life.
Digital camera buying guide
We've distilled our expert advice on finding the right digital camera into a handy seven-page guide.
