Cold Weather Shooting Advice

[Mad Aussie]

I need some. And who better than to ask than a bunch of Canadians, Poms and Yanks right??

In July (the dead of winter here), my wife and I will be spending a week in Tasmania, specifically the Hobart region.

We can expect temperatures as low as -8 C (17 F) in the mountains we will visit, but probably more likely around the 0 C (32 F) through to about 10 C (50 F) days.

So ... my question(s) are, is this cold enough to be ...

a) worried about battery life and therefore need to take steps to keep the batteries warm?

b) worried about condensation issues when taking the camera out or returning to the warmth of the car or accommodation?

What advice can you give me?

[casil403]

MY tips:

Spare batteries are essential. Keep them in an internal pocket close to you where they can maintain body heat. This has been a photo saving bit of knowledge in my past winter when I was out shooting in -20C Sometimes when it gets seriously cold up here a fresh set of batteries only last about 1/2 hour. Sometimes I will use disposable heat packs as well to keep them and me warm.
Keep the stuff in your bag and try to avoid temperature extremes. If you have a place to store your stuff that is in a bit of a cooler area then that is great. Some folks use ziploc bags to store their camera equip in, but I generally don't. I keep my gear in the spare room by the cold door in the bag. I take out the card prior to bringing my gear in the house and then I just leave it in so it can gradually acclimatize. I figure Calgary has such dry air it really sin't a biggie...being in a place like Tasmania where it is a bit more humid then you might want to reconsider this last paragraph.


Great info found here:

Marko did a podcast or two a while ago on the subject I believe.....
Cold weather photography - Article on Photography.ca

78 – Winter photography gear
Snow photography - rain photography - Article on Photography.ca

I also know of a great resource on flickr for you to check out!
Flickr: Discussing Winter Photography Tips - Part Two - Coping with Cold; Carrying your Gear in Photo News Gallery

Hope that helps....Lisa

[Mad Aussie]

Thanks Lisa. I remember Marko's podcast now you mention it.
And I've read a bit about not bringing the camera gear directly into a heated environment after being in very cold temps etc.

It's interesting to hear from people like yourself that have actually put this stuff into practice.

I like that dudes thermometer trick he uses in that Flickr link

[Greg_Nuspel]

I thought you wanted cold weather advice not nice weather advice. In Canada cold starts at -20c.

Condensation would be my main concern, one word Ziplock.

[casil403]

I also have a few silica gels tossed in my camera backpack. I save them whenever I get something that has them and I toss them in the pack to absorb any moisture/humidity.
Figure it can't hurt and is another layer of protection.
You can also buy zipper thermometers and attach them to the camera bag zipper and just fold the zipper into the camera bag when you bring the bag in. That way no muss-no fuss.

Oh and don't forget the wind briefs to keep the junk protected!

[casil403]

And I dunno if you can get them down in Tasmania, but if you see them and it is cold, I can't recommend disposable toe warmers enough. I swear by them in the cold to keep my feet warm! I used them all the time when I was out at FCP last year shooting the river ice and snow.
They look like this:

[Mad Aussie]

Ok ... Ziplock bags ... how do they help? Does it not condensate through them??

Silica bags ... my camera bags are loaded with them always ... against humidity!

Toe Warmers ... never seen them ... but have used ziplock bags!! I really don't expect it to be that cold. I've been in snow in NZ and in nice weather stripped down to a t-shirt because it was too hot in the snow gear.

My Junk ... hmmm ... maybe another ziplock bag huh?? Do they come in Aussie Average??? (That would be huuuuuge in Canada )
Oh c'mon ... you KNEW you'd get a comment like that from me!!

[JAS_Photo]

Even though the temperatures you are talking about are not that cold, after you have been out a few hours, you really start to feel the cold. So make sure you have warm boots, gloves, and a hat. With good fitting leather gloves you can handle the camera without removing them. Here, when it is very cold leather gloves are not warm enough and I have to wear mitts over them. Dressing in layers is good. I wear a quilted type vest over a fleece sweater or light jacket most of the winter.

[Mad Aussie]

Yep ... coming from NZ and having been in the snow over there a few times (not always in good weather) I do know we need to be prepared for the cold if we are to out in it for any length of time. Apart from a couple of half hour walks we don't anticipate being in very cold conditions though.

I will take my ski jacket though ... and that made me hot in -8C in NZ a few years back.

I have ski gloves but obviously they aren't going to be much good with a camera in hand so my winter cycling gloves will have to suffice. They should be fine for what we are doing.

[Greg_Nuspel]

Ziplock bag help by reducing the amount of humidity available to condense. Since air contains a set amount of liquid per unit volume (relative humidity) by reducing the amount of air volume available you reduce the amount of moisture available. So place a lens/body in a bag squish out the air as best you can and you will have very little moisture available, if you don't do this the entire rooms volume is available. Even a closed camera bag reduces the volume available since the moisture has to pass through the bag. I have seen a lens fog up instantly when a lens cap was removed.

Just remember to remove you memory cards, they warm up fast and you'll want to view your photos.