January 21 2014 | Tracking the Light

Afternoon and evening, January 21, 2014.

SEPTA in snow — SEPTA local arrives at Overbrook on the way to Thorndale. Canon EOS 7D photo.

This morning dawned with a blood-red sunrise. Something about a red sky in the morning?

What I’d call ‘winter’ has been given all sorts of new fancy names. Probably the most absurd is the ‘polar vortex.’ Next up is the term handed to today’s precipitation: ‘bombogensis.’

Call it what you like. By about 2:30 pm today 6 inches of snow was improving photography all over Philadelphia, and by 5 pm there was 8-10 inches was making for interesting images.

My brother Sean and I spent the afternoon in Philadelphia making photos of SEPTA and snow accumulation while running errands. Falling and drifting snow made for some dramatic photography opportunities.

SEPTA in the snow — Inbound SEPTA multiple unit approaches Overbrook Station. Canon EOS 7D photo.

Late-running Amtrak Keystone service crosses over at Overbrook. Canon EOS 7D photo.

SEPTA number 10 trolley takes the corner at Lansdowne Avenue. Canon EOS 7D photo.

SEPTA trolley — SEPTA number 10 glides along in the snow on the afternoon of January 21, 2014. Canon EOS 7D photo.

PCC trolley — A vintage PCC in Route 15 service ambles along snow-covered Girard Avenue. Canon EOS 7D photo.

Trailing view of a SEPTA PCC on Girard Avenue, on January 21, 2014. Canon EOS 7D photo.

Snow exposure I always tricky. My basic rule of thumb is to use the camera meter to set a gauging point, then open up (over expose) by 2/3s to a full stop above the camera meter. Using the histogram on the back of the camera, I then fine tune my exposure depending on the setting.

I detailed how to interpret the histogram for snow exposures in an earlier post. Click to see: Photo Tips: Snow Exposure–Part 2 Histograms