How to Use Your Camera in Cold Weather

'Tis the season, and we're getting lots of letters from NYI = students=20 and other Northern Hemisphere Web visitors about taking photos in = cold=20 weather. There are lots of great photo opportunities out there = whether=20 your idea of a good time is ice fishing, snow shoeing or just = plain=20 walking in the winter wonderland. You just need to get out there = and take=20 the proper steps.

The letters we get reveal that the proper steps for winter = camera=20 protection are often confused in people's minds. Here's an e-mail = we got=20 recently from a photographer in Ontario, Canada, that is typical: = "I am=20 happily snapping away, but having a bit of a problem keeping my = camera=20 warm and unfrozen in our cold, blustery weather. If I carry it = bundled=20 under my coat, should I keep it in a plastic bag (I read about = this=20 somewhere) to prevent condensation? Any other suggestions for = camera=20 protection?"

Okay. You asked. Here are the facts and the answers to all the = basic=20 camera tips regarding cold weather.

The problem with lots of camera tips about cold weather = photography is=20 that they get out of sequence. Here's why. There are really three=20 different scenarios to consider: First, what to do when you take = your=20 camera from a warm, cozy home or car into the bitter cold outside. = Second,=20 what to do when you're shooting pictures outside in the cold. = Third, what=20 to do when you finally bring your freezing camera back into that = warm cozy=20 house or car.

Okay. First, what should you do when you bring your warm camera = outside? Do you have to worry about moisture condensing from the = cold air=20 onto the warm surface of the lens or the film or the electronics? = No. Cold=20 air has low moisture content. There's little or no condensation = when you=20 go outside into the cold. (As we'll discuss, this becomes a = problem when=20 you go back inside.)

So what's the problem? The main problem is loss of battery = power!

Batteries

The chemistry and physics of how batteries generate electrical = energy=20 means that at very low temperatures all batteries lose power. = They're just=20 not as efficient. This is a particularly serious problem with = today's=20 digital cameras that are totally dependent on battery power. So, = when you=20 take your camera and flash out into the cold, you should = anticipate a loss=20 of battery power. How do you prepare for this?

First, by keeping the camera and flash (and their batteries) as = warm as=20 possible, even outdoors. To do this, when you go outdoors, carry = them=20 close to your body, for example, under your coat. Let them share = your body=20 warmth except for those brief moments when you are actually taking = a=20 picture. (Keeping your camera protected and warm this way will = also=20 minimize the possibility of a manual shutter sticking because its=20 lubricant freezes.)

The second way you prepare for the expected loss of battery = power in=20 the cold is to bring spare batteries with you when you go outside. = And=20 keep these spares close to your body too; for example, in a shirt = pocket=20 where they will also benefit from your body heat. Then, if your = camera (or=20 flash) batteries start to fail, you can insert warm fresh = batteries.

All right. You're outside now. What should you do differently = because=20 of the cold? Your objective is to continue to try to keep the = camera and=20 flash as warm as possible. For example, let's say you're staked = out=20 waiting for wildlife to appear over yonder hill. Set up your = tripod, but=20 if possible keep your camera protected under your coat until = you're ready=20 to shoot. Here's where a quick-release head comes in handy. When = you see=20 your quarry, pop the camera onto the tripod quickly and quietly. = An=20 ice-cold tripod will do its job for far longer than an ice-cold = camera,=20 which is likely to fail. Tripods, by the way, will eventually = freeze when=20 temperatures are well below zero, depending on the type of = lubricant in=20 the tripod's joints and head.

We've noticed that some digital cameras conk out quickly in = cold=20 weather. Carry lots of batteries. As we already noted, if you find = your=20 battery power failing, you have extra warm batteries with you.

Static Electricity

What other problem bedevils the photographer in the cold (other = than=20 frozen fingers and runny nose)? For dedicated users of film = cameras, one=20 special problem is static electricity. If you live anywhere in the = North,=20 you know the problem during the winter =96 if you walk on a = carpet, you may=20 get a shock when you shake hands or touch a doorknob. Realize that = static=20 electricity is a problem only when the humidity is low. And cold = weather=20 means low humidity because cold air cannot hold much moisture. = When you=20 use your camera outdoors in the cold, therefore, you risk creating = a=20 buildup of static electricity when you advance the film (this is = the=20 equivalent of walking on that carpet) and when the buildup is = sufficient a=20 spark may flash inside your camera, fogging the film. While this = is rare,=20 it does happen. We've seen it and the results ruin the affected=20 photographs. How can you minimize this possibility in cold = weather?=20 Advance your film carefully. With a manual camera, advance the = film=20 slowly. With an autowind camera, shoot only one frame at a = time.

Keep Yourself Warm

And the final camera tip for shooting outdoors is for you to = keep warm.=20 Dress in layers. Wear good warm boots. Bring along a Thermos of = hot soup.=20 (Coffee and alcohol are counterproductive; they make you less able = to=20 maintain your body warmth!) And, if it's really cold, consider = some=20 supplementary heating devices, such as skiers use =96 plastic = packets of=20 chemicals that can warm the hands or feet when they are kneaded, = or even=20 battery heated insoles for your boots. You need thick gloves, but = these=20 are not great when it comes to pressing the small buttons on your = camera.=20 So consider gloves sold in backpacking stores that have fingertips = or=20 mittens that can be folded back so that you can momentarily use = your bare=20 fingers.

Shooting in Snow

What about taking photographs when it's actually snowing or = sleeting?=20 If it's just a few flakes, simply keep your camera under your coat = except=20 when you shoot. Not long ago, we were outside photographing when a = heavy=20 snow squall hit. In a few seconds, the whole world was awash in = swirling,=20 blowing soggy snowflakes. This kind of heavy downfall can play = havoc with=20 the exposed parts of electronic SLR or digital point-and-shoot = models,=20 where any moisture can snarl the all-important circuits that = control all=20 the camera's functions.

Here's a camera tip for when it's really coming down. Don't use = your=20 SLR unless you have it protected by a waterproof device such as = the=20 plastic-bag type housings made by Ewa. These handy gadgets are = designed=20 for snorkelers =96 you put your camera into the plastic bag and = seal it.=20 Your camera's lens is positioned so it "sees" though a clear = optical glass=20 filter. Your camera is protected from moisture by the plastic sack = and the=20 lens by the glass filter. We should note that these are fine for=20 snowstorms as well as snorkeling. They aren't made for higher = water=20 pressure that scuba divers encounter at greater depths. That's = another=20 topic for another article.

Another approach in snowy conditions is to use a waterproof=20 point-and-shoot or even a waterproof single-use camera. Several = single-use=20 models put out by Kodak and Fuji have ISO 800 film and should be = able to=20 capture an image as long as it's not too dark.

Whether you're using a waterproof holder or a waterproof = camera, you'll=20 have to make sure that snowflakes or water droplets don't obscure = the view=20 of the lens. If necessary, wipe your lens with a dry, lint-free = absorbent=20 cloth. We use either a well-worn all-cotton t-shirt for this = purpose, or a=20 microfiber cleaning cloth.

If you follow these precautions, you should have no problem = keeping=20 your camera protected when working outdoors and taking all the = great=20 winter photographs that you encounter, regardless of the = weather.

Condensation

Now it's time to come back indoors. Here's where condensation = can be a=20 problem. You've seen moisture condense on a cool glass of water on = a hot=20 summer day. Your lens and the film inside the camera behave the = same way=20 when you bring them inside =96 moisture from the warm inside air = condenses=20 on their cold surfaces. The lens can become completely covered = with=20 moisture, as can the film and the mechanical and electrical = components=20 inside the camera. You don't want moisture =96 water! =96 on your = lens or=20 inside the camera. So how can you avoid this problem?

Let your camera warm up slowly. Place it on a cool windowsill = or an=20 unheated porch for a couple of hours so it can rise slowly to room = temperature. Condensation can play havoc with an all-electronic = camera.=20 This is where the suggestion of wrapping a cold camera in a = plastic bag=20 comes into play. The moisture will settle on the outside of the = bag rather=20 than on the camera's outside and inside surfaces. You can protect = the=20 delicate electronics this way. In fact, it's best if you place the = bag on=20 the camera while still outside, not when you bring the = camera=20 in.

With these simple precautions and camera tips, you'll be able = to take=20 great photographs outdoors in cold weather. Cold weather offers=20 exceptional opportunities for wonderful landscapes because of its=20 crystal-clear air. So don't be daunted when the temperature drops = into the=20 Arctic zone. Just dress properly, take these few precautions, head = outdoors, and get going!

For more information on winter photography, and digital = photography=20 tips, you may also want to read NYI's articles Snow = Business: A=20 Digital Perspective and How to Take = Great=20 Skiing and Snowboarding = Pictures.

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How to Use Your Camera in Cold Weather

Batteries

Static Electricity

Keep Yourself Warm

Shooting in Snow

Condensation

Interested in photography?
Check out our courses.

The = Complete Course=20 in Professional Photography

Adobe = Photoshop for=20 Photographers

NYIP Short = Course:=20 Fundamentals of Digital Photography

How to Use Your Camera in Cold Weather

Batteries

Static Electricity

Keep Yourself Warm

Shooting in Snow

Condensation

Interested in photography?Check out our courses.

The = Complete Course=20 in Professional Photography

Adobe = Photoshop for=20 Photographers

NYIP Short = Course:=20 Fundamentals of Digital Photography

Interested in photography?
Check out our courses.