Wintry weather
Take precautions during winter storms – for both your equipment and yourself – but don’t let the harsh conditions prevent you from heading out and about with your camera
1 PROTECT YOUR KIT
Most modern cameras are well weather sealed and will easily withstand wintry weather, but if you intend to shoot while it’s snowing, consider using a rain cover and attach a lens hood to protect the front element. Be aware of condensation. If you take an ice-cold camera into a heated space, moisture will condense onto your gear. To avoid this, leave your camera in your backpack so kit can acclimatize gradually. Photography bags are well padded and will insulate your kit, protecting it from abrupt changes to the temperature. If you suffer with condensation on your camera, don’t attempt to change or wipe the lens – just leave it to acclimatize and allow the condensation to dissipate.
2 STORM CHASING
The winter months are best for shooting stormy skies and rough seas. The coast is undoubtedly the best place to be during high winds, with huge waves crashing against cliffs or breakwaters. Use a telephoto lens to exaggerate the size of waves and to ensure you can shoot from a safe distance. Spray can be a problem, so attach a lens hood and keep a clean lens cloth or lens wipes close to hand. You may be best off shooting handheld in strong winds as tripods can be blown over. Select a higher ISO to generate enough shutter speed to freeze motion and eliminate your own movement.
3 ALL HAIL BAD WEATHER
Although it is not much fun being caught out in torrential rain, sleet, or hail, inclement weather can produce some brief moments of outstanding beauty and mood. If you intend to head out in bad weather, it is important to be wearing good water and windproof clothing and you should also carry energy bars, water and a fully charged phone. It is also useful to have a camera with good weather resistance, like the Nikon Z 7II, which is considered one of the best sealed full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market. Be prepared to shoot in rough conditions to capture the best drama, as a wave of hail, sleet or snow passes over the landscape. If practical, attach a lens hood or rain sleeve to protect the front of the lens – and wipe the lens regularly to ensure your shots aren’t ruined. Experiment with shutter speeds to record falling rain or sleet differently – a slow speed will blur the motion, while a faster shutter will suspend it. Contrast will be low, and visibility limited, so photograph subjects with bold, recognizable shapes.
Be prepared to shoot in rough conditions to capture the best drama as snow or hail passes