shooting in the snow. Advise

[Jesus haro]

I have a shooting next week with Epic in the snow. Freeze cold and damn weather and in terms of contrast, some other days it will be flat and grey , somedays it will be contrasty.....
I need any advise regarding working in cold weather and the Epic. Something to take into account.
Exposure with snow all around could be a good topic for discussion also.
All the best
Js

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Besides the usual Histogram, make sure to use MB w flags, both Top and Bottom, as you'll get ton of reflection form the actual snow, and as I always advise, don't ever sacrifice your Aperture settings, make good use of ND's, best of luck.

Oh, if temperatures are as extreme as they usually are, make sure to do a Black Shading Calibration on site after about 15 minutes that the camera has been outside.

Best of luck with your shoot.

 

[Mark Toia]

Just dont over exposed your highlights... and everything will be sweeeeeeeeet...

 

[David Battistella]

I've done several films in winter conditions.

You might also want to consider a digicon in high contrast scenes or any filter that will elevate the blacks as with all that white the blacks can get pretty crushed out if you are not careful in those high contrast situations. Pack ND. If you are altitude you have to also factor that in.

 

[stu aull]

On overcast I have always quipped "ah, wonderful flat lighting" - its the sunny stuff that can get you, of course. HDRx might be worth a consideration for certain shots?

Stu Aull
SX 199'
Alaska

 

[Russ Fill]

Just finished up shooting in -27 degrees F at 10,000 feet for a couple of weeks. Camera ran great. I even had to go up for a couple of hours with the doors off of the helicopter and shoot aerials hand held on the skinds, when it was -27. Gggggggrrrrreeeeaaatttttt fun.
Any way as they all said before do a black shading at operating temp and also do freak out when your viewfinder goes all funky. The cold effects the LCD a lot... You might want to add a couple of those hand warmers to the side of the viewfinder if it doesnt change after a few min's of on.
The viewfinder, Usually it will warmup and be fine but don't trust the colors you see in it. Trust the histogram. The camera will shoot just fine just the monitoring, not to be trusted. You can turn your fan down when its this cold to. I guess there is a silver lining in some shoots for the fan noise.... Your lenses might start to act kind of strange if you have zooms that use liquid.

A large golf umbrella works wonders for being able to shoot with out having to bundle up the camera and keeps the wet stuff off of you and the camera. Thats what AC's are good for at times. And if its big enough you all get to learn about personal space limits.

And if it snows .... Slowmo

 

[Mark Whatmore]

Seems it's already been well said, but watching the highlights is the key, particularly when you remember that you're shooting RAW so can easily lift things but never recover from overexposure. Watch the histogram, goal posts and traffic lights. I shot this in Norway, much of it at -27. It is quite challenging as the light often seems strange and hard to read.

 

[Jesus haro]

MAny thx for all your comments. I ll do my best of it.

 

[Peter Stelzhammer]

another note; if you're shooting under bright sun take good care of avoiding IR pollution, it can get pretty ugly with all the reflections from the ground, snow-clothing-fabrics and so on... just to mention!

also be prepared that your batteries wont last as long under cold conditions and always have something with you to clean your lens and camera from snow-dust... that's all from my side... some warm drinks will aslo help

the touch LCD is like a mirror in direct sunlight and you see every fingerprint - use a sunhood, go the VF-route or have somebody with you to double-check the monitoring (levels/overall picture, can also be done remote via red mote if needed)...

 

[Paul Watt]

Keep the battery you're using in your jacket, and the eyepiece works better when it's very cold too.

 

[Jason Goodman]

Peter's comment is important. IR should not be overlooked particularly with all that ND. ND filters block visible light and will leave you with an overwhelming preponderance of IR entering your lens. We did the first 3D Winter X Games ESPN ever shot followed by a feature in the mountains of Montana and although neither project involved EPIC, both taught us a lot about IR pollution.

 

[Stefano Ceccon]

NDs + IR + MB
Global exposure subjects, for safety can serve you HDR for snow light.

Epic + Canon 70-200 f2.8 L @3,2

 

[Peter Strietmann]

Seems it's already been well said, but watching the highlights is the key, particularly when you remember that you're shooting RAW so can easily lift things but never recover from overexposure. Watch the histogram, goal posts and traffic lights. I shot this in Norway, much of it at -27. It is quite challenging as the light often seems strange and hard to read.

This is amazing! Rich in content, aesthetic individuality, story telling and execution. Well done.

 

[Joachim Hoge]

Most of my shooting with myEpic has been outside in winter here in Norway. The Epic has worked very well in freezing conditions above the arctic circle for 2 mons straight last winter. I even found the LCD to stand the cold better than other viewfinders and LCDs I've used I the past.
watch your highlights, keep your batteries warm, the histogram is your friend. Your eyes will fool you in bright light and snowy conditions. They will "stop down" so the image I the viewfinder or LCD will look very dark to you. Try to keep goggles or sunglasses on between shots. If I'm on a viewfinder I even try to keep my right eye closed if eye have to look around between shots.

 

[MarcoLomiler]

Seems it's already been well said, but watching the highlights is the key, particularly when you remember that you're shooting RAW so can easily lift things but never recover from overexposure. Watch the histogram, goal posts and traffic lights. I shot this in Norway, much of it at -27. It is quite challenging as the light often seems strange and hard to read.

Thanks for sharing this fantastic doc.
Thats why i love the ice , feels like there is no time on ice.