5 Tips for Making the Most Out of the Next Snowstorm

If you live in North America, you probably don’t get too excited about snow. For many, snow is just a nuisance that needs to be cleared out of the driveway, but there is much more to snow than just shoveling. For photographers, snowstorms will give a new and fresh look to a familiar sight. Even in New York City, one of the most photographed cities in the world, you can capture exceptional, never seen before, images during snowstorms. Ask any Eskimo, and he will tell you that snow can come in many forms, each is unique and will have different effect on the environment and therefore on your photos. With that in mind, I compiled some tips that will be helpful if you want to get the best of the next snowstorm.

1. Protect yourself

Leaving the house during a snowstorm or a blizzard can be a very bad idea if you are not prepared. Staying dry, warm and safe while being out in the storm should be your number one priority. Before leaving the house make sure to take with you waterproof gloves and knee-high snow boots. If you have ski equipment, don’t hesitate to use it for your photo shoot. I always wear my waterproof ski outfit when I’m out photographing in the storm. This includes ski mask and goggles. Goggles are especially useful during blizzards as the combination of wind and snow is very painful for the eyes. Underneath all of the above, I wear thermals long sleeved shirt, leggings and socks. Another thing that always helps me stay warm are hand warmers, and my favorite hack is to put them inside the boots.

2. Protect your equipment

As I see it, there are three main options to protect your gear during a storm. The first one, if you are dealing with light snow and no wind, is to go commando - hiding the camera under a jacket or umbrella if you have a friend with you. Some DSLR cameras are weatherproof and my Canon has suffered through many trips in snowstorms without any layers of protection. The second option is buying a camera water protector. I bought one around $10 and it worked beautifully during the latest, 2016 blizzard Jonas. Having said that, if you move around and don’t use a tripod it is not the most convenient option for operating the camera. So a third option is to create your own water protector by using the thickest garbage bag you can find. You simply cut a hole in the bag for the lens, then place the camera inside the bag with just the end of the lens sticking out through the hole. Now, you can mount the lens hood over the plastic bag to keep it from moving and blocking your view. A rubber band can be used as an additional safety measure.

3. Take a friend

During snowstorms the streets are usually empty. A person standing in the middle of the road, holding a black umbrella, can make the difference between a nice photo and an exceptional one. However, finding someone in that perfect position is not an easy task. Moreover, waiting for the right moment to come during a storm can be exhausting. Sending a friend to pose for you, holding that perfect colored umbrella you bought in advance, is much easier and highly recommended for the quality of your photos as well as your safety.

4. Look for landmarks


So you are out on the city streets, during a snowstorm, looking for your next shot. Including the city’s landmarks in your photos is going to be a safe bet. In New York City for example, aim for composition that will make the location recognizable, such as a subway station entrance, Empire State Building and yellow cabs. These will provide an instant context and their familiarity will be the initial bond of the spectator with the photo.

5. Put the finishing touches

Now, after walking in the storm and taking all these images, you come back home only to find out that the beautiful snowflakes are nowhere to be seen. No worries, a few steps in any photo editing app can transform your images from that old winter look to the new and fresh 'winter wonderland' look. A few basic steps that I always start from can help you make that change: Take the highlights down, clarity up and get rid of the shadows. As a result, more details will appear in the image, including the snowflakes. After doing these three steps, you can now better appreciate the quality of your image.

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Winter Storm Jonas

It was a warm opening, but the winter finally made it to New York. A year after winter storm Juno, winter storm Jonas hit the city. It started snowing on Friday night and on Saturday morning I woke up and found a city in white. Snowflakes were dancing outside the window and my phone was buzzing with a severe weather alert. Listening to the news, I heard the mayor asking the citizens not to leave their houses. I did as expected, I took my coat and went out.

Outside, the wind carried the snow in every possible direction. Nature was taking over the concrete town and transforming the city into Winter Wonderland. The red stairs, yellow cabs and green subway stations were all covered in snow. Even the snow fighting trucks, that plowed and salted the city roadways, couldn't overcome the overwhelming amount of snow flakes that landed from the sky. After a while, I could no longer tell the difference between roads and sidewalks.

The visibility was low and the wind was brutal, but cars still roam the streets. Every now and then one of the cars got stuck in the snow, but there always was someone nearby to push it back to the road. Everywhere I looked people were helping each other to cross the streets, get up after falling or giving a steady hand when needed. It was a beautiful sight to behold.

I was heading towards Times Square. Usually, I do my very best to avoid it, but this time the temptation was just too strong. You should always expect the unexpected at Times Square and sure enough, moments after I arrived, I saw a skier, elegantly skiing his way through the square, as if it was a part of his daily routine.

To me, there aren't many things that can top that, so I left Times Square towards Bryant Park. At the park, the fountain was frozen as usual and around it I saw dozens of park employees. They were trying, unsuccessfully, to keep the snow away, but even the huge salt mountains they piled up couldn't fight the pouring snow.

That day nature won over the city. Jonas blizzard covered New York City with 26.8 inches of snow, just 0.1 inches away from the all-time record of the 2006 blizzard. During the storm, New York City has plowed 7.25 million tons of snow, enough to fill the Empire State Building 24 times. Later that night, when the storm was over, I went out again to see the aftermath of the storm. I learned that the same snow that freezes the streets can also melt our hearts.

Spring Time!

After a very cold winter it is now spring. The flower show at Macy's was a good sign, otherwise I wouldn't have known. The snow started falling around noon and it stopped only a few hours before midnight. It was as beautiful as ever but I felt bad for all the wildlife that really needed a brake from the cold.    

Central park is always beautiful but when it snows it is absolutely spectacular, especially since people tend to avoid the park during snow storms.

Times Square is also a must for me during snow showers, there is always something going on there. This time, the bride and groom made my day as they were jumping and kissing, posing for the wedding photo-shot.  

Although I really enjoy the snow I hope that it is the last one for the season. The ducks had enough snow and ice, they are now ready to move on to spring...

Winter Wonderland

Last week, we had the final snow storm of the season. This time I was fully prepared for it and my route started at Times Square and ended, as always, at Central Park. However, from Times Square I walked downtown, on Broadway, towards Union Square and from there I took the yellow line uptown to the park.

By the time I took my camera out, at Times Square, the streets were already full with street photographers capturing photos with pretty professional gear. It seems like photographing snow storms is getting quite popular in the city these days.

While I was walking through the streets I got the feeling that this is all old news; like I have already seen it before. But when I arrived at Madison Square Park, I was blown away, it was absolutely spectacular. I stood on a bench near the dog run and waited for the perfect moment. At this point my hands were completely frozen because the snow on the gloves started melting and froze again into ice.

I decided to look for a shelter to warm up in but I couldn't resist taking a few shots of the adorable snowmen standing in front of the Flatiron building.

Finally, I found my refuge place in a nearby office building, which also gave me the opportunity to capture the storm from above.

After thawing my gloves and warming up I went to Union Square. In a few hours of snow the place was completely white and the chunks of snow falling down were the perfect addition to this "'winter wonderland" scene.

There is No Business Like Snow Business

I woke up early in the morning anxious to see the result of Juno, a.k.a #snowmagadon. As most New Yorkers, I was very disappointed when I looked through the window and saw that we are not covered in snow more than usual. There was so much preparation to this storm, everything was shut down, schools, subway trains, stores and offices, cars were banned off the roads and many were given a day off work. In this case, the math is simple; one day off + heavy snow = Central Park. So there I go. The park was packed and everybody was happy and smiling. Sledging was one of the main attractions. Even the smallest hills had someone sliding off of them. Kids and adults alike, were all just having fun sledging down the hills. I especially liked the mother and two children sliding with their hyper energetic puppy. Another popular activity was building snowmen and (of course) taking selfies with them.

Remember when a week ago I said that: "Piles of snow were quickly turned into snowmen, popping up under every tree, like mushrooms after the rain"? Well, after Juno there were giant snowmen popping up. Some of them were definitely the tallest snowmen I have ever seen. Walking through the park felt like touring a snowmen museum. Absolutely fabulous! Between all the humans, dogs visiting the park enjoyed the snow as well. They were jumping and running, sniffing and digging.

Finally, the sunset painted the sky in pink. This was the appropriate ending to a perfect snow day after the storm. And the most important lesson I have learned is that if you don't have a sledge, you can always slide on a piece of cardboard. 

When the sun set, people pored from the snow hills into the roads. They were holding their sledges and the street lamps lit their way back home.

Winter Storm Juno

Wow! Never in my life have I seen so much snow. The snow showers started early this morning, but at that point it was just another snowy day in the city. Late afternoon, when I went out, it was absolutely spectacular. Everything was covered in white; cars, bikes, mail boxes, garbage bags, people jackets, umbrellas and hair. Even the tons of salt sprinkled on the roads and sidewalks were not able to fight the snow. I was walking on ice blocks and occasionally my boots sank into huge piles of snow. Yes, it was pure fun!

After walking on the 8th avenue for less than a minute, I was promptly covered with snow. There was a pile of snow on my backpack, another one in my hair and some fair amount on my boots. Also, my camera changed its color from black to bright white. I firmly resisted the cold as well as my parents panic messages from Israel, telling me to take a cab or at least the subway. 

I was filled with Adrenalin, so the cold didn't bother me. Surprisingly, although the city is in the middle of one of its biggest storms ever, the people I met on the streets were cooperative and were kind enough to avoid blocking my view and even pose for me. It seems that the snow is making people happy. Or maybe because I'm happy, people are smiling back?

I love the fact that the light reflecting from the snow makes the pictures look warm and welcoming. To me, the colors in this post match the feelings I had while strolling the streets. When I first came to New York I felt that this city is cold and hostile. I could not be more wrong and I'm happy I can now see kindness and warmness on every corner of this amazing city.   

The Cold Never Bothered Me Anyway

I love going to Central Park, especially when it is covered with white snow. So far, this winter we did not have a lot of snow and this is only the second time the park was covered with white, fluffy snowflakes. Piles of snow were quickly turned into snowmen, popping up under every tree, like mushrooms after the rain. My absolute favorite was a beautiful snowdog, that was carefully sculptured by a very talented couple.

I remember the first time I attempted to build a snowman, it was a complete disaster. The snow wouldn't stick and I ended up with a small amorphous snowmountain. When the snowdog was complete, I said my goodbyes and continued towards the Bethesda Fountain to meet up with other photographers for the 500px photowalk. It was very easy to find them, as there was a big crowd of people standing with fancy cameras. As I arrived, I was immediately drawn to a man walking with three Borozi dogs and, luckily for me, they were approached by a young English bulldog. 
I did the most reasonable thing I could think of and went to greet the dogs with my camera. There is no doubt that animals are my comfort zone and "somehow" the majority of my photos feature animals. The dogs were very playful but the Borozi are so big that in most of the photos I had at least one of them blocking the view. Eventually, I had to disconnect myself from the kisses of Brooklyn, the bubbly English Bulldog, and stumbled upon an empty, snowy-white road.

The dogs and the snow were all very photogenic, but the girl with the balloons was definitely the highlight of the day. She was walking towards the Bow Bridge and I was one step behind. It was a well calculated scene; the colors of the balloons, the clothing, the location, and I was fortunate enough to be there.

However, the last photo I will leave you with, also from the Bow Bridge, is of a vase that looks like a troll. Enjoy :)

  
        

Let It Snow

I have been waiting for snow for a long time, ever since I realized that last year I missed some great photo opportunities during last year's storm. Luckily for me I was in the city today when the snow showers started. I probably should also mention that the temperature dropped to -7 degrees Celsius / 19 degrees Fahrenheit. It was cold out there!

Ice skating today was a very good choice as both the rink in Bryant Park as well as the rink in Rockefeller Center were almost empty from skaters. It seems that most of the tourists left the city after the celebrations of New Year's eve. I really wanted to do some street photography, but, as always, I found myself in Central Park.

I love watching the male Northern Cardinal, their beautiful red color overwhelm me every time I see them. During the snow showers, the contrast between the white snow and the red feathers of the cardinal was absolutely stunning.

I started my day with colors and I finish it with black and white. I find that all the colors of people, cars and signs in the park are distracting from the beauty of the snow dancing with the trees in the park.

  Night photography will be up next.