Taking Pictures of Glaciers with SLR Camera?

Planning a trip to take pictures of glaciers in Argentina. What tips about shooting pictures of glaciers can people give,considering the weather elements of the environment. Will be using an Olympus E510.

First, don't use a blue filter unless you want everything in your photos blue. If you were shooting B&W film it wouldn't matter.

Second, check at cameraarmor.com and bonicadive.com and look at the protective covers they offer. They offer protection from the elements and might be a good investment.

Third, use a polarizer to not only darken a blue sky but also to remove glare from the ice and snow. A Slylight filter with the polarizer will help reduce the bluish tint of snow/ice in shadow. Stack them Skylight with polarizer on top.

Fourth, use +1 to +2 EV to keep the snow/ice white. If you rely solely on your meter you'll have gray snow/ice.

Fifth, put your camera in an insulated bag or cooler before taking it inside. Let everything warm gradually to room temperture before taking the camera out. Just remove your memory cards first.

Sixth, use a tripod as much as possible and use the camera's self-timer to release the shutter.

Watch your Histogram! Exposure is easily fooled by snow scenes. Mind you most of the glaciers I've seen have been anything but white.

Batteries don't like the cold and are a lot less efficient, keep spare ones warm close to your body. Lithium are much better at this than NiMh which are awful.

Avoid, as best you, can quick changes in temperature, cold to warm is worst as your lenses will mist up, makes you wonder what it's doing to the electronics too. To help against this and other weather problems you might consider one of these;-

http://www.cameraclean.co.uk/acatalog/co...

Chris

Chris

You'll be very lucky to see your preview screen or histogram in snow and ice conditions so you need to get your metering and exposure technique drum tight - snow has around 80% reflectance!

Try this free tutorial:
http://www.image-nut.com/spip.php?rubriq...

If in doubt I'd shoot RAW and if not then I would open up by 0.5-1 stop... use a Polarizer too.

NB Make sure you protect your eyes effectively - take some really good sunglasses and wear them!!!

Bring along 2 extra filters.

Circular polarizer ( get the Nikon one as its extinction factor is higher, not the mk II ) this will reduce glare from the ice while maintaining proper exposure.

and a light blue filter (if you're shooting b/w) to darken the ice while letting the blue skies through..

shoot raw with 1/3 to 1/2 stop under exposure. you will be able to push for details later in photoshop..

Have a great trip!!!