Cold Weather Photography

Sunrise over the Pelly River (10:21am; -43 ºC)

At long last, the much anticipated Arctic blast of frigid air has finally swept across the Yukon.   Given the balmy weather we've been enjoying as of late one would have thought Mother Nature had forgotten about our corner of the world.  This morning, she was back with vengeance as I discovered my thermometer had dropped twenty degrees Celsius since yesterday afternoon.  I could not believe my eyes when I read minus 45 degrees Celsius!!  By the time the ice fog lifted at sunrise,  which by the way was at 10:21am, the mercury had risen ever so slightly to a balmy minus 43 ºC (that's -45.5 ºF for my American friends).  Burrr!!! So much for my wishful thinking - spring is months away.

Keeping a digital camera in working order during cold weather requires some planning, preparation and care.  The most important points to remember are to slowly introduce the camera to the cold, and then to gradually warm-up the gear as you return indoors from a day's outing.

Prior to heading outdoors it is key to ensure that your camera and lenses 'cool down' slowly.  Place your gear into an insulated, and covered, cooler (a sealed garbage bag works just as well) and set it outdoors a half-hour or so before you snap the first image of the day.  Doing so will protect your camera (and lenses) from any sudden and extreme temperature change (by as much as 60 ºC in a matter of seconds).  Remember, cameras are nothing but metal, glass, plastic and electronics - all of which need a gentle cooling down period.  Simple physics apply - metal and glass contract at different rates in the cold and, as such, any great changes may result in pressure cracks on your lens.  Trust me, it's not a good feeling when you hear the glass crack while sitting out on the floe edge in the High Arctic waiting for Bowhead Whales to surface.

The reverse also applies when you return from a day of photographing winter scenes.  Moments before you enter your warm house place the cold camera, and its lenses, back into the insulated cooler (which you left outdoors).   Bring the cooler inside and leave it unopened for a few hours - the camera will slowly warm to room temperature.  Doing so will prevent condensation from developing inside your lenses and/or onto the digital sensor.  Condensation is notorious for glueing dust onto sensors and lenses (a challenge to clean).

I always carry my battery pack along with spare batteries and a cable release in my inner coat pocket.  The warmth from my body prevents the batteries from draining too quickly.  The frigid temperatures also play havoc with the plastic coating of the cable releases (I've had to replace my cable release at least once or twice each year because of the cold).  You may wish to store your battery pack inside your coat pocket when the camera is not in use.

Try not to breathe on your camera or onto the lenses - your warm breath will freeze onto the viewing screen or onto the lens itself.

Finally, dress warmly and in layers.  You may want to wear lite weight gloves inside your mitts so that you could fiddle with the camera settings without having to expose your fingers to the frigid temperatures.  Some may wish to bring along a thermos of tea or hot chocolate (I'll let you decide if both need a bit of something extra!)

I'd be interested in hearing any more tips you may have.

Enjoy the winter!!

Claus