Extreme Winter Photography

Unless you have purchased a digital camera that’s designed specifically for use in extreme cold, such types of poor weather can be hard on your camera. Some cold weather problems can cause temporary issues for the camera, while others can cause more permanent damage.

If you must shoot extreme winter photography, keep in mind that your camera simply may work more slowly or intermittently. This does not mean the camera has or will suffer permanent damage.

To avoid problems, just try to limit the camera's exposure to extreme winter photography conditions. Additionally, keep it dry and away from the snow.

If you must shoot in the cold weather, use these tips for improving your camera’s performance when shooting photos in extreme cold.

• Battery. Exposure to extremely low temperatures will drain the battery more quickly. It’s impossible to measure just how much more quickly the battery will drain, but it could run out of power anywhere from two to five times as fast. To decrease the effect of the cold on your battery, remove it from the camera and keep in a pocket close to your body. Only place the battery in the camera when you’re ready to shoot. It’s also a good idea to have an extra battery or two ready to go. Use these tips for extending battery life as well.

• Camera. Although the entire camera may work more slowly and intermittently in extreme cold, one of the biggest problems the camera may suffer is condensation. If there is any moisture inside the camera, it could freeze and cause damage, or it could fog over the lens, leaving the camera unusable. Warming the camera should fix the problem temporarily. You can try removing any moisture from the camera by sealing it in a plastic bag with a silica gel packet.

• DSLR Camera. If you’re using a DSLR camera, it’s possible that the internal mirror could jam because of the cold, leaving the shutter unable to work. There really isn’t any quick fix for this problem, other than raising the temperature of the DSLR camera.

• LCD. You’ll find that the LCD doesn’t refresh as quickly as it should in cold weather, which can make it very difficult to use a point and shoot camera that has no viewfinder. A very lengthy exposure to extremely cold temperatures could permanently damage the LCD. Slowly raise the temperature of the LCD to fix the problem.

• Lens. If you have a DSLR camera in extreme cold, you may find that the interchangeable lens doesn’t respond as well or quickly as it should. The autofocus mechanism, for example, may run loudly and slowly (although this could be a problem caused by a drained battery, too). It’s also possible that manually focusing with the focus ring could be more difficult because the ring is “stiff” and difficult to rotate in the cold. Try keeping the lens insulated or near your body until you need it.

• Warming up. When you warm up your camera after it’s been exposed to extreme cold weather outdoors, it’s best to warm it slowly. You perhaps could place the camera in a garage for several minutes before bringing into the home, for example. Additionally, use the silica gel packet and a sealed plastic bag to draw out any moisture. It’s a good idea to use the plastic bag and silica gel packet both when going from high temperatures to low temperatures, and vice versa. Anytime you subject the camera or components to a sudden, wide temperature change, it’s possible condensation could form inside the camera.

• Dry components. Finally, make sure you keep the camera and all related components dry. If you're going to be working or playing in the snow, you'll want to make sure your camera is in a waterproof camera bag or a sealed plastic bag to keep any snow away from it. You might not even realize you had snow in your camera bag or on your camera's components until you return home, and, by then, the snow may have melted, possibly causing water damage to your camera. Make sure everything stays dry and protected from snow, slush, and wet conditions.

• Be careful. Make sure you keep an eye on your footing when shooting in extreme cold. Chances are high that you'll encounter icy surfaces at some point, and if you're staring at the LCD screen, you may not be keeping an eye on the ice, causing you to slip and fall. Don't ignore the environment around you while trying to find the best composition for your photo!

• Avoid collisions. If you're shooting photos of the kids while they're sledding, it's easy to lose track of time while everyone is having fun. It's also easy to lose track of your position relative to the sled. Remember that most kids cannot steer the sled well, so don't put yourself in a position where they're going to crash into you!