Film photography in the wintertime.

Film Photography in Winter: Should You Choose Black and White or Color?

Winter offers photographers a unique set of challenges and rewards. The cold, the snow, and the dim light create a beautiful yet tricky environment for capturing moments on film. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just starting with film, winter presents a fantastic opportunity to explore different aesthetics. One of the first questions you might ask yourself when you step out into the frosty world is: Should I use black and white or color film for my winter photography?

In this post, we'll dive into the advantages and differences of both black and white and color film in winter conditions, helping you decide which is best for your style and what you're trying to capture.

Black and White Film: Embrace the Contrast

Black and white photography has a timeless quality, and winter’s muted tones can provide the perfect backdrop for this classic style. Here’s why black and white film might be the right choice for your winter photography:

1. High Contrast and Dramatic Landscapes

Winter is filled with contrasts: the stark white of snow, the deep shadows of bare trees, and the dark, moody skies. Black and white film excels in highlighting these contrasts. It brings out the textures in snow and ice, emphasizing the intricate details in nature that can sometimes be lost in color images. If you want your winter photos to feel dramatic, mysterious, or even cinematic, black and white is a great way to go.

2. Simplifying the Scene

The bare branches of trees, the stark emptiness of snow-covered fields, and the cloudy skies can look visually overwhelming in color photos. Black and white simplifies the scene by stripping away the distractions that color can introduce. This allows the viewer to focus on the shapes, lines, and textures of the landscape, making the scene feel more serene and introspective.

3. Perfect for Overcast Days

Winter is notorious for its overcast skies. Rather than trying to balance the harsh, flat light of gray skies with the bright whiteness of snow, black and white film can handle this light beautifully, creating smooth, even exposures that feel natural in the winter months.

4. Nostalgia and Timelessness

Black and white photography has an inherent nostalgic feel. Many classic winter photos you see are in black and white, adding to the vintage, timeless vibe of the season. If you’re aiming for a look that feels like it could have been taken decades ago, black and white is a great choice.

Color Film: Bring the Winter to Life

While black and white film is a great fit for winter’s contrasts and textures, color film can capture the vibrancy of the season. Here’s why you might want to choose color film for your winter shots:

1. Vibrant Winter Scenes

While snow may look white to the naked eye, winter landscapes can have a surprising amount of color. From the pale blue of the sky to the soft yellows and oranges of street lights at dusk, color film can bring out the subtle hues that are often overlooked. The red of a cozy cabin, the green of evergreen trees, or even the rich brown of bare tree trunks—all these colors can create an inviting, warm contrast against the cold, frosty environment.

2. Golden Hour Magic

In winter, the golden hour—the period just after sunrise or just before sunset—often happens at a different time than in the warmer months, and the light is especially soft and magical. Color film captures the warmth of these fleeting moments, making it an ideal medium for shooting those low-angle rays of sunlight that cut across snow-covered landscapes.

3. Capturing Winter’s Subtle Palette

Though winter can seem bleak and monochrome, it actually has a wide range of colors. Think of the different tones of ice, the variety in the sky at different times of day, and the warm colors of indoor scenes contrasting with the cold outdoors. Color film is great for capturing this spectrum and conveying the full essence of winter's atmosphere.

4. Bringing Holiday Scenes to Life

If you're photographing winter festivities—whether it's a Christmas market, New Year’s celebration, or the everyday hustle and bustle of a snowy town—color film will bring the energy and joy of these scenes to life. The bright reds and greens of holiday decorations or the glow of firelight and candles are all captured beautifully on color film, creating a sense of warmth and cheer in the cold winter air.

Considerations for Both

While both black and white and color film have distinct advantages, there are some practical considerations to keep in mind when shooting in winter:

• Cold Temperatures: Extreme cold can affect your film. Color film, especially, can have more noticeable grain and color shifts when exposed to very low temperatures. If you're using color film in winter, make sure to keep your film warm until you’re ready to shoot, and be aware of how the cold can influence exposure.
• Long Exposures: Winter light is weaker, especially in overcast conditions. Whether you're using color or black and white film, be prepared for longer exposures. This can lead to more pronounced motion blur in winter scenes, such as people walking in the snow, which may work well for some shots and not for others.
• White Balance: If you’re using color film and shooting in snow, be mindful of potential color casts. Snow can often appear bluish in color film, so adjusting your exposure or using a filter to correct the light can help you get the color balance you want.

Conclusion: Black and White or Color?

Ultimately, the choice between black and white and color film comes down to your personal style and what you're trying to capture. If you're drawn to dramatic contrasts, moody tones, and timeless aesthetics, black and white film might be your best bet. But if you want to bring out the rich, subtle colors of winter—especially those fleeting golden hours—color film will help you achieve that vibrant, atmospheric effect.

No matter which film you choose, winter provides a beautiful, challenging, and rewarding canvas for your photography. Whether in black and white or in color, the snow, ice, and chilly landscapes are ready to be captured through your lens.