How to be prepared for winter photography
Winter in Colorado offers many great photo opportunities. From snowy mountain sunsets, to skiing action and wildlife, this is a great time to get outdoors and make pictures. However, the extremes of Colorado winter can threaten the safety of your camera gear and you. Before you go out in the cold, prepare yourself properly.
Caring for camera gear
- Keep extra camera batteries and memory cards in a warm pocket.
- Avoid condensation on your gear. Moving from the warm indoors to frigid weather can cause moisture to form on lenses and inside cameras. Avoid this by leaving the camera gear in the car when going indoors and don’t make the car too warm while driving. When outside, don’t warm your camera under your coat.
- Check lenses and camera for fog frequently. If there’s condensation on your camera indoors, it may freeze when you go back out. Be sure to bring plenty of lens cloth to remove fog and condensation from your gear.
- Check your camera’s sensor periodically to be sure that moisture hasn’t settled there. To check for spots, make a photo of an evenly lit scene like snow or a clear blue sky. Zoom in on the image on your rear screen and look for spots. Use your sensor cleaning kit to remove them, if needed.
- If your tripod doesn’t have foam coverings on it, you can make it easier to handle in the cold by adding foam pipe insulation to the legs. You can find this at any hardware store. Duck brand makes foam pipe covers that come four to a package. These come with a slit on one side and you can easily slip them over your tripod legs. They fit snuggly and you may not need to add any tape.
Dressing properly for winter photography
Match your clothing to activity:
Think carefully about your photo activity before choosing clothing. If you plan to stay active, for example skiing or snowshoeing, then dress in thinner layers to help regulate your body heat. This way you can take something off if you’re overheated. If you don’t plan on a lot of exertion — for example, hanging out waiting for the right light — choose insulation and loft. A down parka is a good suggestion here, on top of a shirt and Thinsulate® underclothing. Avoid cotton clothing in your underlying layers. Cotton will hold on to moisture and make you miserable. Avoid anything tight fitting — you want room to move and you want that warm air between layers.
Keep your feet and legs dry.
Waterproof boots and ski pants or waterproof bib overalls are a must if you will be out in the snow. These will enable you to work in damp conditions and stay dry and warm. Avoid tight boots. Cold will transfer to your feet more easily in tight shoes. Be sure you can wiggle your toes while wearing thick socks.
Keep your head and hands warm.
Protect your head with a good hat with ear coverings. A neck gator is a good option for keeping your neck warm. You can always take off a hat or gator if temperatures rise. Keep your hands warm with loose mittens or gloves. Try bringing a thin pair of gloves that provides dexterity for operating your camera. Keep these warm in a pocket when not using them and switch to a heavier pair of mittens or loose-fitting gloves to warm up.
Leave clues
Don’t disappear. Let others know where you’re going and leave travel details and a map. Let them know when you plan to return so they can begin a search if you’re overdue. Be sure to bring your cell phone.
