If you live in a climate that experiences dark winters with short days, then you know how important it is to have camera gear that can see you through those long months. Check out a few of my top picks for photography gear that will serve you well during the winter season and keep you inspired to continue shooting.
1. Continuous light that looks natural
I have been eyeing a Westcott Ice Light ever since I first saw them in action at trade shows. I was always impressed by the soft and natural quality of light they produced. The Ice Light is a portable, dimmable, daylight balanced, continuous LED light with built-in battery. Just perfect for adding extra light to dreary winter days.
2. Camera with great ISO capability
If you are a natural light lover, you know how wonderful it is to be able to boost your ISO without having to worry about undesirable digital noise. The Nikon D750 allows you to do just that. It has been getting rave reviews since it first came on the market this past September and was named Popular Photography magazine’s 2014 Camera of the Year, and for good reason. The ISO handling of the D750 is one of the qualities that has made it such a standout, including other features like an FX-format CMOS sensor, built-in Wi-Fi, full HD video capability, and excellent autofocus performance.
3. Fast prime lens
Winter is a time when a lot of people resort to shooting indoors and when light is limited. It is worth investing in a fast prime lens that can capture the ambient light. For shooting indoors my favorite focal length is 35mm, and both Canon and Nikon make beautiful f/1.4 35mm lenses. If you are into video, these are also great lenses for capturing moving images.
4. Versatile reflector
The Lastolite TriFlip 8:1 Reflector Kit is truly a reflector for everyone. This 30-inch reflector features a two-stop diffuser and reversible sleeves with Black, Gold, Sunfire, Sunlite, Silver, Softsilver, and White surfaces. Use the black when shooting outdoors in the snow and you need to create some dimension in your portraits. Use the White or Softsilver indoors when shooting near windows and you need a little extra fill light. I love the unique shape of the Lastolie TriGrip reflector because it’s so easy to lean it against something and not worry about it rolling away. It’s a very sturdy reflector that is incredibly versatile for every season.
5. Speedlight for bouncing
Speedlights are powerful flashes designed to be used on- or off-camera. I am always so impressed when I see photographers who can make this flashlight look like natural light. The Canon Speedlite 600EX-RT is a great speedlite option known for its reliability. The Nikon SB-500 AF Speedlight is the latest from Nikon and includes a unique LED video light with three output levels.
I couldn’t live without my 35mm & speedlight! Thanks for sharing these Amy. I’ve had my eye on an Ice Light for a long time!