Photo ©2005 and Commentary ©2025 by Chuck Davis
Monday, December 8, 2025
For the past 18 years, I have led snowshoe walks for the US Forest Service. The photography snowshoe walk is one that I really enjoy.
I ask each of the photography-walk participants, “What color is snow?” 95% respond, “white”. I follow up with the group, “Why then does the snow look grey or muddy in some of my winter shots?” The answer is a follow-on to last week’s photo parable wherein I introduced the importance of light. If your snow is dingy looking, give it more light. Some photographers recommend as much as two full stops of additional light.
“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18 KJV).
What color is snow? Snow crystals are translucent. They reflect all the colors of the visible light spectrum. We perceive this to be white.
If your winter photographs look dingy, add more light. If your life feels dark, take another step toward Jesus. He can make you shine like the snow in today’s photo parable.