Gray Card

[LeeIs]

Exposure meters assume that the scene has an average reflectance of 18%. When you shoot a subject that has a higher than average reflectance, like snow or sand, the meter will set the exposure to produce an under exposed photo. The opposite is also true. When you give the camera an 18% Gray Card to sense it will give you the right settings for the lighting conditions. Use those settings and your shot will be properly exposed and snow will be white instead of gray.
You can also put the card within the scene on a test shot and then use that in setting the gray point for the print of the final shot.

Good explanation as I didn't know what a grey card was either. Although I might have heard of it on a few occasions. Dark snow sorta like the fire hydrant shot the other day.

Nice pristine, clean shots by the way. The colours are dead on and very vibrant.

[chopperward]

hiya

nice snaps!

can you get these cards from camera stores etc?

what size are they?

hopefully there will be snow in northampton, uk to test this out!

[Chunk]

can you get these cards from camera stores etc?

what size are they?

hopefully there will be snow in northampton, uk to test this out!

I bought mine in a local camera store. Two 8x10 inch cards were $10 US. I'm going to be giving one of them to a friend who is heading for Antactica in a month or so. He shoots slides and has asked me for help in learning how to shoot snow scenes.

If you go to http://bhphoto.com and search for "gray card" you will find some.

Wish I could send you some of our snow that we are supposed to get today. Do you get much there during the year?

[Chunk]

Good explanation as I didn't know what a grey card was either. Although I might have heard of it on a few occasions. Dark snow sorta like the fire hydrant shot the other day.

Nice pristine, clean shots by the way. The colours are dead on and very vibrant.

Thanks for the compliment. I'd suggest giving it a try since there is not much cost involved.