Exposing for snow

[ElectroWNED]

I've got my XA loaded and ready for a foot+ of lake effect snow that's coming. Since this bad-boy is aperture priority, the only exposure control I have is changing the ISO. I've read that one should adjust two stops (ie 400 to 100); do you guys have any objections to this?

[skibeerr]

You should give snow two stops MORE exposure so you are OK lowering the iso two stops.

Just don't forget to adjust when the background changes, woods, houses etc.

And develop at 400 :D

[tlitody]

yeah two stops extra if you are metering off snow. If its black and white film you might want to use a yellow filter to add some texture to the snow.

[ElectroWNED]

You should give snow two stops MORE exposure so you are OK lowering the iso two stops.

terminology has always been my weak suit :o

[ElectroWNED]

yeah two stops extra if you are metering off snow. If its black and white film you might want to use a yellow filter to add some texture to the snow.

I might have to get a little creative with a filter for the XA ;)

[Mark Schretlen]

Just flip the little lever at the bottom of the XA to "Back Light +1.5" and shoot as you normally would without adjusting anything else.

[ElectroWNED]

Just flip the little lever at the bottom of the XA to "Back Light +1.5" and shoot as you normally would without adjusting anything else.

oh yeah, I forgot about that thing! :bang: :D

time to put it to use

[Brian Levy]

I usually add about 1 stop extra exposure up here. 2 stops seems to blow hilites too often for me. I agree if using a yellow filter then 2 stops extra.

[jordanstarr]

My experience has been the same as Brian's. I just increase one stop. I find 2 blows out the snow too much, but I also expose my 400 film at 320 (developing at 400) and my 100 film at 80 (and develop at 100), so it's more like 1.5 stops. Ditto on the yellow filter.

[c.poulton]

Just to send the topic off at a slight tangent - would you overexpose for sand too? I'm thinking beach where sand is the predominant subject?