TIPS FOR WINTER LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY
There are quite a few parts of southern Australia that experience frosty conditions and the occasional fall of snow, but if you want a guarantee of the white stuff then your best bet is head for either the Victorian or NSW snowfields anytime from June to September. You don’t necessarily have to go to the ski resorts - although there will be plenty of action shots to be had here - as snow falls regularly all along the ranges (otherwise appropriately as the Snowy Mountains) from late autumn to early spring and there are plenty of quieter locations and trails to explore with your camera.
A landscape changes completely when it’s blanketed in snow and it takes on magical properties; obliterating many details, softening shapes and eliminating almost all colours to create monochromatic scenes. Low grey clouds and mist add to the atmosphere while in sunny conditions everything sparkles and the crisp, clean, cold air adds an edge to the lighting. The sun is lower in the sky during winter which creates longer shadows, accentuating the smooth forms created by deep snow, while the warmer light of a sunrise or sunset - especially if there are clouds in the sky that are also catching the colour - contrast dramatically with the white-covered landforms. Frozen water can be equally photogenic, creating interesting patterns and shapes along the edges of flowing creaks, or turning small dams or lakes into icy still-life studies.
Be Prepared
Preparation is a key part of photographing in snowy conditions and it starts by keeping an eye on the weather reports because nothing beats a fresh snowfall. All evidence of human or animal activity is obliterated and the branches of trees - even the thinner ones -
