Originally posted by Damn Brit If they were underexposed, that would imply that you were metering incorrectly in the first place. Using a gray card and metering the same way you have previously done might just give you the same under exposure.
It would also depend on the amount of underexposure and whether it is with all or some lenses. Most photographers get to know the nuances of their cameras meter and compensate accordingly.
Okay, yeah, but in this case, a gray card is almost certainly the right answer. Or, since we're talking digital, simply dialing in a stop or more of positive exposure compensation and taking some test shots. Bright white snow is the classic case for exposure compensation — the metering of any camera that doesn't realize it's dealing with a snowy day is very likely to be confused and make it too dark.
(That's why point & shoot cameras usually have a "snow scene" mode.)
Originally posted by Damn Brit Doing some research on exposing to the right (ETTR) might also help you.
Orrrr, it might confuse you horribly and cause you to make a lot of photographs with blown highlights.
Originally posted by Damn Brit If snow was grey in your shots, that could also be to do with your WB settings.
Really? Bluish, okay, yeah, but neutral gray?