Many photographers will have the opportunity to experience the cold and snow of winter, either in their home area or by traveling to a cold location. Winter is a time of year where some people simply look to endure the cold and survive the season. Others will revel in the cold and snow and they will find a pathway to enjoy it. No matter where you are on this continuum, there are some ways that you can enter the cold natural world. It is a time where stunning vistas are available, where some animals are easier to locate, where one can find intimate expressions of the season, and where the environment will impact out bodies and out equipment.
First, unless you are fortunate enough to have some amazing beautiful scenery right out your back door, you’re going to need to drive to the location you want to photograph. That means your vehicle needs to be prepared for the cold and snow. Be current on maintenance, have a full tank of gas, good tires, and a willingness to drive a little slower with patience. These are prerequisites before you embark on your photo trip. Due to weather conditions, the drive may take longer than expected or you may need your vehicle as a brief shelter to change lenses or batteries. Your vehicle is an important component of your winter photography.
Next, you will need a plan to dress for the weather conditions at the location where you want to shoot. Outdoor photography in the cold can be physically challenging. Clothing choices could include a wicking base layer, insulating layers, wind & water proof outer layers, and a warm hat. Our feet should be protected in waterproof insulated boots because walking and standing in snow is to be expected. Hands are a special case that need multiple considerations. We need to keep our hands warm and we also need to manipulate small controls on our camera. My choice is fingerless gloves inside easily removable oversized gloves or mittens. So called “glomitts”, fingerless gloves with a foldable mitten end, is another possibility as are thin tight fitting gloves. No matter what you choose, you must be protected from the cold and wet while retaining the dexterity to use the camera and to maintain core body temperature to stay outside as long as it takes to get the photos you want.
Modern digital cameras are vulnerable to the cold and snow in several ways. Unless the camera is specifically built to be waterproof, melting snow can get inside the body and ruin it. Lenses are also vulnerable to melting snow. And both can develop internal condensation when moving from the cold outdoors to a warm interior (vehicle or building). A clear plastic cover or umbrella can protect your equipment from the elements. When you finish shooting, put your camera and lenses into plastic zipper bags with cold air and allow them to slowly warm inside to prevent damaging condensation. Batteries also need special considerations in the cold. Multiple batteries are a necessity and spares should be kept warm in internal clothing pockets. Sometimes a warm-up can even revive a cold battery for more photos. It is important to take good care of your equipment.
Finally, get outside and enjoy taking photos of the winter wonderland around you. Or travel to find the conditions you want to photograph. Fresh snow only looks fresh for a relatively short period of time. The appropriate light can be fleeting and full sun on fresh snow can make for a difficult exposure. Winter is an interesting season for photographers. You may find that some specific shots are only available in winter and, of course, the visual effects of snow and ice cannot be found in summer. Winter is a great time of year to capture some unique images, and even return to a summer location for a different perspective. Make a plan to get outside in snow season and I believe you will really enjoy what you see, shoot, and experience in cold weather photography.