Tips on cold weather photography and how to protect your gear

Winter photography tips

Winter is always an exciting time to get out and take some pictures. The beautiful white backdrop gives everything a completely different perspective than the rest of the year.  In winter photography, we deal with environments that we do not normally encounter. The various environmental factors can also affect how our photos turn out. At the same time, we want to be able to capture those beautiful moments without harm to our gear. This post will serve to give a few tips on how to help your winter photography.

Focusing and metering

Focus

The environment plays a major role in how we shoot photography. This is one reason why you should learn how to operate your camera in manual or priority modes if you have them. Autofocus will occasionally have trouble during periods of falling snow, fog, and overcast. In automatic focus, your camera will look for contrasts. In these conditions, the lens may keep fluttering while it looks for a focal point. Sometimes, your camera may find a focus point, but it keeps finding the wrong point. Switch over to manual mode during these conditions. Using focus effectively in winter photography can enhance your images by highlighting the season’s unique textures, light, and details. Here are some more concise tips tailored for winter conditions:

1. Emphasize contrast with shallow depth of field

• Use a wide aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or f/4) to blur snowy backgrounds, isolating subjects like frost-covered branches, wildlife, or icicles. The soft bokeh complements winter’s serene aesthetic.
• Tip: Ensure your subject (e.g., a single snowflake or a cardinal) is sharp against the diffused backdrop.

2. Leverage manual focus for low-contrast scenes

• Snowy landscapes can confuse autofocus due to low contrast. Switch to manual focus for precision, especially in heavier snow or foggy conditions.
• Use live view and zoom in to fine-tune focus on details like snow textures or distant trees.

3. Focus on textures and details

• Winter offers intricate patterns (ice, frost, snowdrifts). Use macro lenses or close-up focus to capture these details sharply.
• Tip: Focus on the edge of a subject (e.g., where ice meets a leaf) for maximum clarity.

4. Use back-button focus for dynamic subjects

• For moving subjects like skiers or animals, set up back-button focus to separate focusing from shutter release. This allows quicker adjustments in snowy, fast-paced scenes.
• Practice tracking focus in continuous mode (AF-C) to keep subjects sharp.

5. Account for cold weather effects

• Cold can slow autofocus systems. Keep batteries warm and allow your camera to acclimate to outdoor temperatures to maintain focus accuracy.
• Clean lenses frequently to avoid fogging or snowflakes disrupting focus points.

6. Use single-point autofocus for precision

• In cluttered winter scenes (e.g., snow-laden forests), select a single autofocus point to target specific elements like a lone tree or animal tracks.
• Avoid multi-point autofocus, which may lock onto unwanted foreground snow.

7. Incorporate reflective light for focus

• Winter’s reflective snow creates unique lighting. Use spot metering and focus on well-lit areas to avoid overexposure, ensuring sharp details in bright conditions.
• Tip: Focus on midtones (e.g., shadowed snow) for balanced exposure and clarity.

8. Experiment with focus stacking for landscapes

• For expansive winter landscapes, use focus stacking to achieve sharpness from foreground snow to distant mountains. Take multiple shots at different focus points and blend them in post-processing.
• Best for tripod use in calm, clear conditions.

Metering

Another issue some people have is that their photos turn out gray in the snow. The automated middle gray is great for normal conditions, but in the snow, it usually is not the effect people like unless you are looking to add a little drama to the photo. An easy fix for most people will be to adjust the exposure compensation by 1/3 to 2/3 to add more light to the exposure. The better route would be to use aperture priority mode and matrix metering, which will not be covered today for sake of brevity. Also, shooting in raw format over JPEG will allow you to better adjust your pictures in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop or your other favorite photo editing software.

Protecting your camera from the winter elements

One of the most important things to do is protect your investment from the elements. This involves using things such as rain and snow protectors to other cold weather protections.

Rain and snow protectors

Some photographers have recommended that people toss those lens caps. Many of them do not photograph in the elements. When you are not using your camera, put the lens cap back on to help prevent scratches, smudging, fogging, or water drops. If you do get smudges or water on your lens, be sure to use a microfiber lens cloth or lens brush. Do not blow on the lens as it could cause fog. If it is raining or the snow is wet, use a camera rain cover to protect it from the elements. While cameras such as my Nikon D7200 and Nikon D810 have weatherproof housing, they should never be purposely left naked to the elements. Camera covers come in plastic disposables to more durable covers. The two below are a couple of examples.

Movo Clear Rain Cover for DSLR Camera 5-Pack for $12.95. Click photo for more info.

Altura Photo Professional Rain Cover for Large Canon & Nikon DSLR Cameras for $19.99. Click photo for more info.

If you are a backpacker or camper, you should also have a dry bag just for your camera equipment. Our cameras are very expensive investments that should be adequately protected. Cold is another major issue for shooting in the winter. The cold can affect the mechanical operations of the camera and the battery life. Do not leave your camera out in the cold when you are not using it. Put it back your bag or pocket. Your camera will be less likely to have problems (battery, LCD, or mechanical) if put up when not in use. While most cameras on the market can operate at 32 degrees F and lower, you should consider using a more rugged camera for areas that see extreme cold. Be careful with storing the camera close to your body under your coat, as the heat and sweat could form condensation. Here are some specific points and tips.

Batteries

The cold causes batteries to lose capacity, but they can regain power when warmed. Keep spare batteries. Put them in an inside coat pocket or other warm place. Alkaline batteries are the worst-performing in cold weather.

Camera housing

Be careful with plastic in the extreme cold, as it becomes brittle. When you open the battery and memory doors or flip LCD screens, open them carefully to avoid breaking them.

LCDs

One thing to remember is that LCDs may become sluggish or gray out. When the camera warms up, the LCD returns to functioning normally, but know that your on-screen color may be affected while it is cold.

Memory

Most quality memory cards, such as the Sandisk Extreme Pro usually do not suffer from cold weather and are waterproof. You can read a review of these here.

Returning indoors

When returning indoors (or to a heated vehicle), the camera can develop condensation because of the warmer environment. Remove the batteries prior to going inside, and do not replace them until your equipment has warmed. Prior to going inside, place your camera in a sealed bag with outside air (such as a freezer bag).

Wearing proper attire in the winter

Last but not least, it makes little sense to protect your photography equipment if you are not protecting yourself from the elements. Avoid cotton at all costs if you are going to be in the elements for any amount of time, and especially if you are camping, hiking, or walking long distances. Cotton retains moisture. If you are simply going outside to take pictures of the kids, this does not really matter as much. Use synthetic garments, wool, or wool blends. Wool is amazingly wonderful, but often pretty expensive.

Layer your clothes as follows:

🔹Base layer: This is what touches your skin, aka underwear. This could be briefs or panties and a shirt or bra to long underwear. All of this depends on how cold it is and what you’ll be doing. Again, try to avoid cotton.

🔹Middle layer: This is the insulating layer. This could be a fleece, synthetic blend, wool or wool blend top. These come in light, mid, or heavy, depending again on your activity level and temperatures. Consider convertible zip pants for the bottom middle layers.

🔹Outer layer: This is your shell. This layer should be breathable if you are doing any sort of activity and weather-dependent. If it’s colder, you obviously want an outer layer. Consider a down jacket and rain gear. Also, choose appropriate gloves or mittens and headgear such as a fleece or wool skull cap.

Conclusion

Winter photography is a rewarding pursuit that unveils the season’s serene and intricate beauty through your lens. By mastering focus and metering techniques, safeguarding your camera from the elements, and dressing appropriately for the cold, you can capture stunning images while keeping yourself and your gear safe. Embrace the challenges of winter’s unique conditions, experiment with the tips provided, and let the season’s magic inspire your creativity. Get out there, stay warm, and start shooting!