Understanding how to approach dynamic, unpredictable conditions is critical when you're out in the field. That means learning how to adapt and react to weather and light, especially in challenging environments like snow-covered mountains and shadowed forests. These are places where details emerge slowly, requiring careful observation and thoughtful composition.
Coming to you from William Patino, this immersive video explores the art of photographing snowy landscapes. Patino demonstrates the importance of flexibility, choosing to venture into the mountains and a forest blanketed in snow. The forest, a location Patino frequents, offered a fresh perspective thanks to the unique lighting and weather. The video captures field footage, discusses compositional strategies, and dives into image processing to illustrate how to simplify complex scenes.
One striking segment focuses on isolating a single branch framed naturally by surrounding trees. Patino explains how the composition’s balance relies on using the darkness to guide the viewer’s eye toward small patches of light. He emphasizes the value of shade, which makes it easier to control the light in your frame and draw attention to the subject. This advice is particularly useful in forest photography, where chaotic details can overwhelm an image. Understanding how to use trees as “bookends” ensures the viewer’s eye doesn’t drift out of the frame.
Patino also discusses how to refine the details in post-processing. For example, warming highlights while cooling midtones maintains the natural contrast between the coolness of the snow and the warmth of morning light. He highlights how subtle adjustments—like protecting highlights or raising exposure—can transform a good image into one that evokes depth and atmosphere. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Patino.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out our latest tutorial, "Photographing the World: Japan II - Discovering Hidden Gems with Elia Locardi!”
