Snow/ski photography

[Paul Karl]

Hello everybody,

In January i'll go to a ski station in France. And i want to do some great pictures like this one.
I generally use Kodak Tri-x 400 with D76 or Rodinal.
And i would like to keep this film because a love the grain and the contrast.


1. But in ski station there is a lot of light and i'am afraid that 400 iso will be too much*, does it will be too much ? Should a take a slower film (Tmax 100 for example)?

2. In order to darken the ski i want to use a red filter, i'am also afraid that filter will make too much contrast with lost of too much tone & details. Should a use a orange filter instead ?

Thanks.
Paul Karl

http://img4.hostingpics.net/pics/325305snow08.jpg
Credit : Maksym Rudnik

*I own a nikon F90X and the fastest shutter speed is 1/8000 s.

P.S. : Sorry for my bad english i am french.
Paul Karl
Flickr: Paul-Karl's Photostream

 

[Designer]

Paul Karl, welcome!

No need to apologize for your English.

Also, please take down the photograph and post a link to it instead.

 

[Paul Karl]

Done

 

[Designer]

It has been too long since I shot any film, so I will not be a good one to suggest film or filters.

 

[Light Guru]

Before changing film speed be sure to factor in the exposure difference with the red filter. That filter will cut the amount of light reaching the film.

 

[Torus34]

A red filter will change your exposure by a few f-stops. An ISO 400 film will have, depending on the filter, an effective ISO as low as 100. An ISO 100 might be dropped to an ISO 25.

 

[vintagesnaps]

It doesn't usually snow a lot where I live but it did last winter and I got some nice pictures on Portra. It was a day after it had snowed and was sunny with a beautiful blue sky so I got some nice blue tone shadows on the snow from tree branches etc.

But I shoot a lot of B&W film too, especially if it's a bright sunny day I'd probably use 100 rather than 400 speed.

I've used both red and orange filters shooting B&W generally if its sunny, and I'd think red would work since the snow would be reflective.

 

[PWhite214]

The Hoya filter factor chart shows 3 stops for the red 25A filter. Depending on the skier action, lens length and the sunny 16 rule I would anticipate shooting at 1/800 @ f11 with no filter. Three stops for the filter, 1/800 @ f4. Snow is reflective, meters get fooled easily by snow. One to two stops over exposure may be required.

There is a lot of information on the internet. Tips for Taking Better Photos in the Winter Snow | Analog Film Photography. Just search "B&W film Snow".

Fortunately Tri-X has plenty of latitude. Check out "Stand Develop" with either Rodinal or HC-110.

Have fun,

Phil

 

[Paul Karl]

Thanks for the response.
@phil : Why use Stand Develop with either Rodinal or HC-110 ? in particular ?

I think i will use Kodak T-max 100 with orange filter. but i really want dark skies and i will try also with red filters . But I don't know which rev to use.

 

[PWhite214]

Here is the article that led to trying stand developing. Workflow Tutorial #2: Stand Development with Rodinal | J B Hildebrand Photography
I did not have Rodinal on hand, so a little research led me to try HC110 (actually Legacy Pro L110, same formula) 100:1. I like the resulting negatives, fine grain, so tried other films at various ISO. I have not tried it with any T grain films.

I would stick to ISO 400 or faster.

Phil

 

[gsgary]

I would stick with your film Tri X if it's too bright, pull it, i shoot lots of HP5 not too different to Tri X. i use a handheld meter and take a incident reading (no meter in my film cameras) more accurate than your cameras meter
This is HP5 no filter iso400