While winter can be one of the most beautiful, rewarding seasons for photography, it can also prove to be the most challenging. There is extreme temperatures and weather to consider in order to safely and effectively operate your camera gear. However, if you come prepared, winter can provide you with beautiful images. To help prepare you for your next winter photography adventure this season, we’ve compiled a list of essential accessories for cold weather photography, along with tips for shooting in cold weather. So bundle up, fill your thermos with something warm, and let’s get started.
Essential Accessories for Cold Weather Photography
3Pod Wander Aluminum Travel Tripod
The 3Pod Wander Aluminum Travel Tripod with 3POD AB1 AB Series Aluminum Ball Head is one of the most travel-friendly aluminum camera tripods on the market today. Its lightweight, portable size, and compact design allow it to fold to the size less than a one-liter bottle. Its design features — like seamless telescoping legs with flip-clamp wear-resistant sure-locks — allow for easy deployment and set up in cold weather, even with gloves.
Gitzo GT1545T Traveler Series 1 4-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod
The Gitzo GT1545T Traveler Series 1 4-Section Carbon Fiber Tripod is a fantastic, lightweight four-section carbon tripod that was designed for jet-setters and photographers on the move. Its quick and effective Traveler G-Lock” leg locks and Series 1 Traveler Center Ball Head provide uncompromising ball smoothness and independent pan locking. This allows for easy operation, even in the coldest weather conditions.
Hoya NXT Plus 82mm 10-Layer HMC Multi-Coated UV Lens Filter
UV filters protect the front of your lens from scratches, dirt, dust, and — in the winter — rain, sleet, and snow. The Hoya NXT Plus 10-Layer HMC Multi-Coated UV Lens Filter provides that protection with a waterproof top coat and uses ten layers of Hoya’s patented anti-reflection (AR) multi-coating, for improved contrast, color, and sharpness.
NiSi 77mm Swift True Color VND Kit
If you’re shooting in the wintertime, using variable neutral density filters are important. They provide greater control over your exposure when shooting in bright, snowy conditions. The NiSi Swift True Color VND Kit is an innovative VND system that provides a base 1-5 VND. This allows the user to stack an additional four-stop ND on top for a total 1-9 additional stops and maximum exposure control when shooting throughout the day.
NiSi 77mm Special Edition ND Circular Filter Kit
If you’re looking for a neutral density filter kit for this winter season, the NiSi 77mm Special Edition ND Circular Filter Kit has everything you need. It includes an ND8 Filter, ND64 filter, ND1000 filter, and UV filter — fit perfectly into a compact, stylish filter case. No matter the time of day or how bright the conditions may be, you can confidently shoot with this ND filter kit from NiSi.
ProOPTIC Complete Optics Care and Cleaning Kit
It’s important to keep your lenses clean when shooting in cold weather and winter conditions, and the ProOPTIC Complete Optics Care and Cleaning Kit is a great option for doing just that. It comes with an air blower, lens cleaning spray, lens cleaning wipes, retractable fine cleaning brush, and microfiber cleaning cloth. All of which neatly packs away into a carrying case. You’ll have everything you need to clean and protect your lenses in the winter.
SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-II Memory Card
Cold weather photography requires memory cards that are built to withstand extreme weather and cold temperatures. The SanDisk 128GB Extreme PRO UHS-II Memory Card, as its name states, is built for extremes. It is designed to be shockproof, waterproof, X-ray proof, and withstand temperatures as cold as -13 F. This is all while performing at blazing maximum 300MB/s read speed/maximum 260MB/s write speed.
Pelican 1535TP Air Wheeled Carry-On Case
Needing a perfect hard-shell, carry-on case to protect your gear during transit, travel, or in the field this winter? Look no further than the Pelican 1535TP Air Wheeled Carry-On Case. Its super-light proprietary HPX2 Polymer build makes it 40 percent lighter than other polymer cases. Yet it still maintains its incredible strength and weatherproofing with plenty of Trekpak, customizable storage for your camera gear.
Pelican 1615TP Air Wheeled Check-In Case
If you need even more weatherproof, crushproof, storage, the Pelican 1615TP Air Wheeled Check-In Case is the perfect solution. It provides ample customizable Trekpak storage, surrounded by Pelican’s lightweight proprietary HPX2 Polymer build that protects from all the cold weather elements.
Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover for Gripped or Standard Camera Bodies, Medium
One of the most important accessories you can buy for your camera when shooting in colder weather is a camera rain cover. It drapes over your camera and lens for additional weatherproof protection in inclement cold weather. The Think Tank Emergency Rain Cover is a fantastic rain cover option this winter. It’s seam-sealed for extreme weather protection and designed with smart features like an oversized window to view your LCD and controls that won’t impede camera operation.
RucPac Extreme Tech Gloves for Photographers, Medium, Black
When you’re shooting in the outdoors in cold weather, you don’t just need to protect your gear, you need to protect yourself from the elements. Investing in a warm pair of gloves, designed for operating camera equipment, is a great move and the RucPac Extreme Tech Gloves are one of the best options out there for photographers. With magnet-secured, retractable top thumb and mitt pieces, you can switch from protecting to operating in a matter of seconds.
Hoodman H32MB HoodLoupe Outdoor Loupe
If you’re spending hours outdoors in cold weather, you want to protect your rear LCD screen from the elements. But this doesn’t mean you can eliminate your ability to see the screen clearly. This is when the Hoodman H32MB HoodLoupe Outdoor Loupe comes in handy. This outdoor loupe attaches to back camera LCD screens up to 3.2 inches in width. It also provides protection and glare-free view of your screen’s important information, with diopter adjustments up to +/- 3 for those with less-than-perfect vision.
Extra Batteries and Charger
Cold weather and batteries are like oil and water: they don’t mix well. If you plan to photograph in cold weather conditions, it’s always important to bring extra batteries to combat your camera batteries dying quicker. Adorama offers several battery and charger bundles that provide better peace of mind when photographing this winter.
Lens Hood
One of the most simple yet effective camera accessories you can invest in this winter for cold weather photography is a lens hood. Not only do they keep unwanted glare out of your camera view, but they provide extra weather protection for your front lens element.
Tips for Shooting in Cold Weather
Layer up and dress for the cold
If you plan to photograph in cold weather, always layer up and protect yourself from the elements and dangers like hypothermia. There’s a major difference between taking a quick photo in the cold versus standing for several hours in freezing or below-freezing temperatures — sometimes without the warmth of the sun. Do your body a favor and protect yourself by wearing appropriate winter layers (base layer, mid layer, and outer layer), a warm hat or beanie, and gloves that not only protect your fingers and hands but operate camera equipment effectively.
Bring extra batteries
As we mentioned above, batteries and cold weather don’t play nicely together. Regardless of the battery type, battery life suffers in cold temperatures. It’s important to play it safe and bring extra batteries, so you never miss out on a moment.
Keep your camera and batteries warm
It’s not enough to bring extra batteries. Keep them and your camera warm as much as possible so they don’t drain power while sitting in the cold.
You can do this by keeping extra batteries in your coat pockets and towing your camera inside your outside jacket layer so it isn’t directly exposed to the cold.
Carry your gear in a backpack or hardshell case
One of the safest ways to protect your gear in cold weather is by carrying your gear in a weatherproof camera backpack or hardshell case that keeps your gear stowed and protected from the temperatures and cold weather elements.
Bring airtight plastic bags
If you spend an extended time outside in cold, winter conditions, moisture can build and freeze on your camera and lenses. When you head back inside, that moisture can melt, creating condensation on the inside and outside of your gear, and cause damage. To avoid that, bring airtight plastic bags to wrap around your cameras and lenses when not in use. This way, the moisture stays on the bags and off your camera gear.
Shoot with durable memory cards
If you are constantly photographing in cold weather, you need durable memory cards that are weatherproof and built to handle extreme temperatures. If you bring memory cards that aren’t built for cold temperatures, they can easily stop functioning and become damaged. Do yourself a favor and invest in higher-grade, durable memory cards for cold weather photography.
Pack additional lens protection
Protecting your lenses should always be a priority, but especially in cold weather. Your front lens element is the most susceptible to damage. Be sure to bring small accessories like a UV filter or lens hood, that can provide additional protection against the winter elements and temperature changes.
Conclusion
We hope this article helped in providing essential cold weather tips and accessories that educate and encourage you to get out and create no matter what. Just make sure you (and your gear) stay warm, protected, and ready to create incredible images and memories this winter season.
