Weathering the weather

Well, we've had our first real snow in Rochester and I think it's safe to say that winter is officially here. I think this is a good time to address some issues we have to be concerned about when shooting in very cold weather, otherwise you can become very frustrated or end up damaging your equipment.

1. Condensation
The inside of your digital camera contains many small metal parts. Condensation is water forming on surfaces that are significantly colder or warmer than the air surrounding it. So just like your eyeglasses fog up when you step outside or when you stand over a pot of boiling water, your lens elements, and the inside of your camera can easily get moisture on it. With lenses, it may not be so much of a problem as waiting for it to de-fog, but over time, small amounts of water on your camera's electrical components can cause it to rust and malfunction. To prevent this, NEVER enter a warm building without first placing your camera into a sealed container or a waterproof bag (even a Ziploc will help), so that when you enter a warmer environment, the condensation will form on the container, not your camera.
Also, try not to breathe on your camera when making an exposure, and don't carry your camera under your coat when not using it, as the warmth and perspiration from your body will also cause condensation. It's also a good idea to keep filters over your lenses to try to keep moisture from getting inside your lens elements, which can eventually cause optical problems and mold.

2. Batteries
The lithium-ion batteries used in your cameras are great because they hold a long charge and can be recharged again and again. However, they don't do so great in cold weather and can lose their power much more quickly. This problem is exacerbated if you are making long exposures. It is a good idea to start carrying your charger in your camera bag, if you don't do so already, and you may even want to invest in an extra battery. Solutions to this are to keep your battery warm when not in use-- putting it in your pocket close to your skin or putting one of those heat pouches in your camera bag can temporarily give you more power.

3. Exposure meters
Your in-camera reflected meters will underexpose images taken in the snow. Either meter off a gray card or use an incident meter or spot meter reading (if you are photographing something close up like a portrait).

4. Personal safety
This may sound redundant, but do make sure to dress warmly and cover your head, fingers and toes! Gloves can be frustrating when trying to handle cameras, but exposing them to wind is a good way to make them numb and potentially get frostbite. If you're going to be shooting out in the elements for more than a few hours, wear some thin gloves underneath to give you more dexterity. It is also a good idea to shoot in pairs in case you get lost or one of you gets hurt. At least let someone else know where you are going if there is any risk involved. And it never hurts to bring a spare pair of socks, a charged cell phone and some snacks!

As a rule of thumb, make sure to test your own equipment to see how it reacts in these circumstances. You may experience significantly shorter battery life, more noise in your images, incorrect meter readings, etc.

For people who grew up in New York this may be nothing new to you, but for people like me from California, it's good to get into these habits now. If anyone has any other tips to add, please do so!

-Lindsey