The Bike. Boulder, Colorado, 2014
The current temperature outside is a whopping one (1) degree Fahrenheit (which translates to -17 degrees Celsius for my overseas friends). We are on our way to a high today of about three (3) degrees. All is white, and small, dry snowflakes are still coming down with maybe four inches of snow already on the ground.
What a shock after such a mild fall.
These are tough conditions in which to venture forth with camera in gloved hand to make images. Ask anyone from Minnesota, even Camp Counselor Carl (“Pictures in a blizzard? Done that from a moving moped!” –CCCarl). But these are precisely the conditions in which you can find unusual images and perspectives– whether landscape, cityscape, abstract, or street.
Once I get my courage up, I will attempt this very thing (the above image was made before the temperatures plummeted so low and the snow really began to accumulate). As I do, some things I’ll keep in mind…
–Keep the camera and lenses protected from the falling snowflakes–if dry flakes, treat them as mild pieces of sand…if they are wet, pretend you are in rain. Try a plastic bag or a hotel shower cap for a cheap protection option.
–Watch your histogram and adjust your exposure accordingly. It is common for your camera to underexpose all that white snow (it treats it as neutral gray).
–Be careful where you direct your breath. It is quite easy to fog up your viewfinder or LCD with a bit of heavy breathing over your camera.
–Consider not changing lenses unless you are inside or under shelter to avoid getting flakes and debris inside your camera.
–Carry a lens cloth of some kind to wipe or dust away snowflakes.
–Carry an extra battery or two as they will drain more quickly. Keep the spare in a pocket close to your body, or wrap it in one of those disposable hand warmers.
–Consider wearing a thin-but-warm glove, with which you can operate your camera controls, under a heavier outer mitt. This way, you never expose your naked hands to the elements. Put both layers on for walking around, and strip off the outer mitt for shooting.
–Wear more clothes than you think might be necessary–you’ll likely be standing around more than you will be moving, so you’ll freeze up like a jiffy popsicle if you underdress. Use the layering technique so you can adjust your wardrobe to the temperature changes.
–As you bring your camera inside, the glass can fog up depending on inside/outside humidity levels. Allow time for your equipment to adjust to these temperatures. One technique is to put your camera in a plastic bag before you bring it inside, then give it an hour or so before you unseal it.
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