NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Hi all,

Now into month 2 of solid cold in the northeast with temps staying in the teens and windchills of 0'-10'(you know it's bad when the dogs refuse to go out.) But there are some great shots to be had especially with the snow and frozen rivers and lakes we have.

My concern is the best way(s) to get the camera ready for these photo excursions. I'm thinking of how best to avoid lens fog and should I keep the battery in my pocket until ready to use, etc. I like to carry my camera in a case (Lowepro Pro 70) whenever I bring it outside to keep the camera and extra lens protected from the elements and then set up when I get to a place where there is interesting stuff. Since my equipment is stored in the house and the case also retains both temp and humidity, I'd welcome any suggestions you have based on personal experience.

As always, thanks!

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

From House to shooting area, the camera bag goes in the trunk to adjust to outside temp. Coming back, it goes in a plastic sealed bag and stays like that from trunk to in the house until it reaches same temperature. I use 2 hours as a guideline.

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Thanks for the advice. Curious why you put your gear into a plastic bag? Is this to avoid additional condensate for the both the camera and lens?

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Thanks for the advice. Curious why you put your gear into a plastic bag? Is this to avoid additional condensate for the both the camera and lens?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Ignore them all.
Pick up phone, call travel agency buy tickets for tropical cruise or to visit cousin in Florida, So Cal or Australia. Then take all the pictures you want.

markngolf Loc: Bridgewater, NJ

That was in my mind too! I was going to say, "don't take any until May"! You have more courage than me.
Mark

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Last time I was in the Everglades, I almost became an appetizer for a hungry alligator (guide said "oops" as we swung the airboat around and jammed the throttle to the wall). Would like to try Australia or NZ someday, but for now, staying local for the foreseeable future. According to Punxsutawney Phil, there's 6 more wks of this to face so just have to tough it out.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

I was out in 15 degree weather for 4 hours. I did nothing special - other than wearing a lot of clothing and keeping chemical hand warmers in my gloves and in my pockets, and foot bed warmers in my boots. Other than the battery not lasting as long, shooting was no different than on a summer day - at least as far as the camera was concerned. I did have an extra battery in my pocket, but never got to use it. I still had 3 bars at the end of 4 hours. See attached images.

FYI - wind chill is meaningless to dry, cold metal and plastic. If it is 15 degrees out with a -5 wind chill, the camera only "feels" the 15 degrees. Wind chill is the action of air movement to accelerate the loss of temperature. In a human or animal, the response is to try and produce more heat to counteract the heat loss, so you will "feel" colder. In the -5 wind chill example the camera will never get to be -5, but if it is warmer than 15 degrees, it will get to 15 much faster in a stiff wind than if there was no wind. The -5 wind chill number has more meaning to a human, who will feel just as uncomfortable at 15 degrees with a -5 wind chill breeze, as he/she would at -5 actual degrees without any wind.

Just be careful when you bring the camera back into the car, or if you put it in the trunk, and you bring the camera from a cold trunk into a warm house. You will get condensation on stuff. Putting your gear - I do the entire camera bag - in a large garbage bag - before you come into the house, will ensure that any moisture will condense on the bag and not in your gear. Once the gear is warm, condensation is no longer an issue.

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PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

Correct!

Keith S Loc: Federal Way, Wa

Very helpful information.
Thank you

NJphotodoc Loc: Now in the First State

Thanks for the idea of putting the camera bag into a plastic bag and let everything warm up. Supposedly the Lowepro bag is watertight but why take a chance?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

Yes, I keep the battery/batteries under my jacket or in my pocket while shooting, that way they never get cold and loose oomph. The only time I'm concerned about moisture is, when I get back into the warmth, but I always have a zip lock bag handy that I place it in, before entering the building!

Rolk Loc: South Central PA

Beautiful images! I have yet to be able to capture a flowing water scene like you have, but I will keep trying. Have to remember to stop the lens down and lengthen the exposure, right?

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

Forty years ago I went wading through deep snows in temperatures near zero - and we all survived. I remember this because the snow was higher than my boots at one point, and I came home with ice water in my boots. The important line is "we all survived".

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Thanks!

I used an ND32 neutral density filter and ISO 100 to get exposures that ranged from .4 secs to 6 secs. The ND32 will require that you increase your exposure by 5 stops.