Merry Christmas, originally uploaded by originalrobart.

This is not one of my better photos. It was taken on Christmas day to be part of @satscenes a Twitter game. Despite the compositional and lighting issues this photo does serve to help us all learn a point. When you’re learning – and we are all always learning – bad photos have value in the lessons they teach us.

The glass bauble has captured too many reflections. It suggests too much going on. That could be good – if the rest of the photo was dark and we could really delve into those details. We cannot – and that just leaves us with distracting details. Distraction is not a good thing in a photograph. We need the image to direct us and not confuse us. This should be a simple and clear image and that is now lost. It leads me to 2 conclusions.

1) Always make sure you have the right amount of detail in a photograph – neither too much or 2 little.

2) Always make sure you have the right amount of light. The right amount of light is the brightness that will let the picture tell a story.

Details and lights are everything.

Of course its also a chance to get some pictures in and of the snow.

Except that none of us actually now how to take pictures in the snow.

So here are some  top tips for taking pictures in the snow.

1. If you’re camera has a snow setting – use it. Snow is bright and contrasting environment. Having your camera set for this will help. If you don’t have a snow setting, then try a beach setting. Beaches and snowfields are oddly similar places. If your camera doesn’t support these scenes try reducing exposure compensation a little. This should help
2. Use a flash to photograph falling snowflakes. You’ll need plenty of light to help fix the position of the snowflakes.
3. Snow is very monochrome. Find something that has a bright colour to it and include this in your photograph. This will help create an interesting looking photograph. Red works well in the snow.
4. Snow presents a rare and changing environment. Keep a camera handy. If you see something that looks interesting take the picture then and there. You don’t know how long the scene will last.
5. Snow also means fewer people around. This means quieter looking streets and roads and this may lend itself to some interesting atmospheres for your photographs. Remember this if you thing you photograph seems ordinary. It may not look so mundane when you come to print the photograph.
6. Beware of shadows! Snow is very good at picking up shadows and suddenly your pristine white piece of snow can have a dirty great shadow on it. Keep your eyes open to avoid this.
7. Check your white balance. Use auto white balance or manually set the white balance by taking a picture of some snow. Whatever you do do not use a white balance set for artificial light this will put an unsightly colour cast on your images.
8. Wrap up warm, snow is cold. Your hands will get cold when handling the camera so make sure you can keep warm.

Of course the most important thing – enjoy yourself.