Snow

The temperatures have dipped below freezing, there's a foot of snow on the ground, and most of the wild animals have either headed south or gone into hiding--which is exactly what a lot of photographers do. They crawl under the covers, turn up the heat, set a cup of hot chocolate by their side, and go through their images.

Precisely because so many photographers like to stay inside during the winter months (unless they head to Florida to photograph the migrating birds), you should head out shortly after the first snowfall and continue going out until the final snows melt. The opportunities you can come across are boundless, no matter where you’re located in the northern climes. If you like to be by yourself when you shoot, you'll be delighted. The tranquility will make each trip even better. Besides being one with nature, you’ll have plenty of time to reflect on everything around you. However, the real reason you’ll venture into the snow will be to capture images of it.

OAnother subject you can search for is one that you’re used to seeking out in the fall—the view through the trunks of a group of trees. This time, however, instead of highlighting the barrenness of the trunks after the leaves have fallen or the shapes of the trunks with color in the background, you're looking for trunks with fresh blown snow piled on and around them. Fresh snow or frost on the branches can be contrasted nicely with a crisp blue sky as a background.

Snow-lined streams also offer interesting subjects. Some of the best shots you can catch using water in the winter, though, happen when it freezes into ice. Here, a whole other world is opened up to you. Icicles hanging off of trees and the reflections inside of them invite you to bring out your macro equipment for close-ups. If you can find a small waterfall in the woods, you can incorporate the running water with ice-covered objects around it.

When you go to an area where the large mammals don't migrate or go into hibernation, you’ll find another category of great subjects. Large animals in the snow offer a new dimension to the work you might do with them at other times of the year. However, make sure when you're working them not to stress them too much. They are much more vulnerable during the winter than at any other time because of the cold and lack of food.

As you can see, there are plenty of subjects to choose from when you’re heading out to do winter work. In fact, there are far more than we’ve suggested here, but these should keep you going for a while.

GETTING AROUND

Moving around when you’re shooting snow-filled scenes can pose problems. Although the road crews do a good job of keeping most roads clear so you can usually use a car to reach shooting locations, you might want to think of other modes of transportation that work well in the snow. For example, you can pilot a 4-wheel drive to reach some spots. Sport utility vehicles that have a lot of ground clearance will take you down some (but not all) forest roads, depending on how much snow there is on the ground. However, when you climb out of your vehicle, you need other ways to explore the places where you eventually want to do your shooting.

The easiest way to trudge through the cold and snow is with a pair of pack-type boots such as those made by Sorel. They can keep your feet warm and they’re tall enough on your ankle to allow you to walk through up to six inches of snow without a problem. Next up the ladder is a pair of snowshoes. These are good for short walks in the woods. From first-hand experience, I would advise you to watch your balance while trudging around in snowshoes if you’re carrying a back or fanny pack filled with camera gear. The same holds true when you step up to using cross-country skis to venture even farther into the wilderness. Your center of balance changes from the situation you face when you cross-country ski without a backpack to when you ski with a backpack strapped on. You have to compensate. Before getting too far into your journey with a backpack, spend time finding your center point and getting used to it.

CONDENSATION

As anyone who wears glasses knows, bringing a cold object into a warm area causes immediate condensation. The same principle holds true for cameras, but the consequences can be deadly--especially for electronic cameras. So, when you bring your camera back into your home, be sure to warm it slowly by keeping it in a case. Also, keeping your equipment in airtight bags will greatly reduce condensation. . (Note: Always carry extra batteries with you in your pocket to keep them warm, as you will need to switch back and forth on really cold days.)

The condensation caused by taking a warm camera into cold air is not as significant. However, the same rules apply. Cool the equipment as slowly as is feasible. If possible, leave the equipment in a cold place long before you need to use it, but remove any batteries to preserve their power

On a similar note, if you're like me, you have a problem with fogging your viewfinder with your breath. The only way I have found to prevent this from happening is to hold my breath. When I have to breathe, I exhale away from the camera. Anti-fogging solutions help but don't seem to work totally. If you try one of these, be sure not to use it on your camera lenses. Likewise, never blow snow off of a cold camera or lens. The ice that forms instantly will prove to you it was a bad idea.