NYC Pride Parade 2016

NYC St. Patrick's Day Parade

Photos from last year's parade - St. Patrick's Parade 2015

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.

More Tips:
5 Tips for Capturing Beautiful Photos at the Zoo

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.