Cold Weather

[jeroldharter]

I am taking a trip soon where I will be wandering around for a week by myself taking pictures in the cold with 4x5 and 8x10 gear. I did a search and did not find anything dealing with cold weather tips and techniques. I did find some threads about keeping oneself warm but I would appreciate any tips about handling gear and film in the cold, dealing with condensation, etc. Thanks.

[Richard Wasserman]

Don't breathe on the ground glass....

I've photographed in temperatures down to about -15F and have always worried much more about me than my equipment. I've never had a problem(other than getting cold).

[bobwysiwyg]

No expert here, but based on some recent outings here, dressing warm is easy, hand warmth is another matter. So much LF work has to be done barehanded, keeping them warm can be an issue. Stop frequently to stuff your hands in your pockets when setting up a shot helps a good deal. Don't let them get too cold before doing this. Oh, and the gloves you've taken off, stuff them under you coat to keep them warm.

I've always withdrawn and inserted the dark slides slowly in cold weather. As for condensation, I usually keep the lens and boards in Ziplock bags between uses. Warm them up to room temp after you get home leaving them in the bag. Once warm, I remove them for a period of time. No problems so far. I'll keep my eye on this for the suggestions of others since we have a few more months of cold to go. ;)

[uhner]

In my experience you will avoid most condensation problems by letting your gear warm up slowly. Let your lenses, film holders et al stay in the bag you carried it for a few hours when you get inside after a day in the field.

[vinny]

breath through a short piece of large diameter surgical tubing while looking at the gg, that'll keep it from fogging. I always tap the film holder on the tripod (in any weather) to get the film to settle in the holder.

[percepts]

breath through a short piece of large diameter surgical tubing while looking at the gg, that'll keep it from fogging. I always tap the film holder on the tripod (in any weather) to get the film to settle in the holder.

Don't forget to put a clothes peg on your nose. And just pray no one sees you looking like that unless you want a trip in a white van.

[MIke Sherck]

Cold weather is often dry weather, which promotes static build-up and discharge. Like a previous poster said, remove and insert dark slides slowly to keep tiny little lighting storms from dancing all over your film!

Also, static-ey materials for gloves at least (I avoid wool, for example.) For the same reason, of course.

[Sal Santamaura]

...I did a search and did not find anything dealing with cold weather tips and techniques. I did find some threads about keeping oneself warm but I would appreciate any tips about handling gear and film in the cold, dealing with condensation, etc. Thanks.
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=55545
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=56663
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=3004
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=11799
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=11799
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=44077
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=44007
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=23042
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=7939

From just the first 150 of 7,500 matches doing a Google advanced search under largeformatphotography.info for "cold."

[jeroldharter]

http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=55545
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=56663
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=3004
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=11799
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=11799
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=44077
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=44007
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=23042
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=7939

From just the first 150 of 7,500 matches doing a Google advanced search under largeformatphotography.info for "cold."

Obviously you are a better searcher than I am. I searched "cold" in titles in the advanced search and did not get many relevant hits. Thanks for doing that.

[Jim Michael]

Go to your local sporting goods store and pick up a few packs of those disposable handwarmers. It's a little pack of sawdust and activated charcoal that when exposed to air reacts to emit heat for a couple of hours. Really handy.

[Robert Hughes]

Don't breathe on the ground glass....

... and for sure don't stick your tongue on it! :p

As for handwarmers, you can also buy reusable ones. Each pouch has a clicker thingy inside which you click and the liquid solution turns to solid, releasing heat for about 15 minutes. After you're back inside, you boil the pouch in water for five minutes and it returns to a liquid state again, ready for use.

[ki6mf]

Large zip lock bags to put gear in side when you bring cold gear in side. Any condensation should condense on the bag and not in your equipment. I was shooting today in Boston in 4 Degree F weather. Avoid wearing any cotton clothes. Cotton if it gets wet spreads the liquid over a large area and when the cold and wind hits that area lowers your body temperature and allowing hypothermia and frost byte. Layers of poly clothes will keep you warm. Look for Poly balaclava to cover your head. Also you may want to pick up insulated boots from a manufacturer like Sorel.

[sun of sand]

I used to wear $10 wool hunting mittens ..the kind where the fingers can be exposed
with a thin windproof $20 glove underneath them
Worked well

This year I've tried a basic $5 ebay columbia winter glove with a thin $5 ebay arm length knitted blended glove underneath

Seems to work better
the thumb on the wool mittens was always the problem ..too bothersome trying to get the thumb to flip back/pull over so just left it on and turning knobs with that big thumb was difficult

I can take off/ put on quickly the gloves
The simple cotton glove underneath works well down to 5 degrees for the 10 minutes or so you may be spending taking a photo
full dexterity
The only issue I have is I should have bought a larger outer glove


Just saying that anything you try should work well so long as you have a liner glove underneath
I was gonna spend $50 on a shell/liner thinking it would be a thinner setup providing equal warmth but

I wear Columbia pants with basic long johns if 10deg or below
Thick socks
Sorels
Seirus face mask
3/4 snorkel jacket with thermal shirt

I used to wear a liner sock as well but since buying the -40 rated Sorels don't even need to wear socks
I used to wear ankle high oxfords out in the deep snow down to -10 F with added windchills here without any problems!

Never had to use hand warmers cept for in those oxfords once when they got a little wet
No problems with fogged up GG, either

Let film sit there DS removed for a bit before taking photo

If you hike enough you'll be warm with the most basic of stuff
dont overdo your dress

[ki6mf]

One other thing I do is use lots of hand lotion on my hands and face prior to leaving. Also some kind of lip balm to protect your lips. If a sunny day you may also need sun block due!

[Frank Petronio]

Since your dexterity is limited because of cold and/or gloves, simplify your kit and leave your camera on the tripod between shots. If I had the kits some of your fellas have, I can't imagine flopping down the backpack and pondering over whether to use the 72/11.5 Ziess Gittingsotar or the 75/5.6 Schneider Super-Barkerogon XL and then assembling one of those fidgety wooden toy cameras with all their backwards folding and tiny knobs and other bullshit.

Don't you just love hearing your bellows make that noise when you unfold it in the cold?

Wear a shell coat with big pockets and have pockets in your fleece underlayer. That's double the usual. Fill them with holders, meter, an extra lens maybe. Wear the darkcloth around your neck and bring an ice scraper (credit card) for your ground glass. If you fog your ground glass, open the back or pull off the Graflock so it cools quicker. And just go shoot.

[J.Medlock]

Someone mentioned a "3/4 snorkel jacket", but I'd recommend a snorkel - like you use for diving - wear it under the dark cloth so you can breathe without fogging up your ground glass. It adds to the mystique of "what the heck is he doing"?

[Greg Miller]

I use these hunting gloves that are well insulated and waterproof yet retaina fair amount of finger dexterity: http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0009179920003a&navCount=3&podId=0009179&parentId=cat601367&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat470076-cat601367_TGP&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601367&hasJS=true

I have tried other thin gloves, but in truly cold weather just are not warm or wind proof enough to keep my fingers warm. The gloves above are thin enough to accommodate most fine controls, yet are well insulated and wind proof enough to keep my fingers from going painfully cold.

[Chuck Pere]

Anyone ever tried this hand-warmer: http://www.zippo.com/products/handWarmer.aspx?bhcp=1
I used to have a similar item years ago but always seemed to have trouble keeping it going. Wondering if they are better now.

[Ivan J. Eberle]

Shutters sticking can be a problem once your cameras cold-soak so dry-fire them a few times to get them moving.

Frank Petronio's advice of simplicity is a good one: one camera, one lens, preferably a folder that you don't have to remove the lens to set up rapidly. Easier to keep warm until the last minute. Inside the coat is a lousy place for a camera when you're active and sweating, however.
A big poncho to set everything on (my backpack, for instance) is very useful in the snow if not too windy.

But there are a bunch of tasks and techniques that are just going to be more difficult (nigh imposssible) in the cold and wind.

Quickloads can be a PITA in more than the lightest breeze (as are the two halves of the QL box, and the mylar bag inside, and the other QL sheets and "exposed" stickers when loose.). Removing a back after focusing to clip on a roll film back, is not any better (where are you going to set it down, with snow falling on everything, etc). Rangefinder focusing might be the best bet if you have a camera with one.

A tripod apron is something I've been considering for times when it's not too windy.

For me, in the worst conditions (sometimes also the best light), I'll forego the wide angle work on the 4x5 and use a MF Pentax instead. It just works better for me to handhold the camera while CC skiing and snowshoeing rather than digging down six feet to set the tripod legs as I'd have to with LF. Easier to keep camera warm in a fanny pack, faster to deploy even when schlepping a tripod.

[Steve Gledhill]

A real risk if you are doing any long exposures is that the film pops or moves slightly in the holder part way through the exposure so potentially giving you a double image as if you'd nudged the tripod. This is due to the sudden temperature change for the film. I saw the following advice a while back - I think it was in one of John Sexton's newsletters. I copied it as a reminder to myself. He said:

"First of all, whenever making an exposure of a second or more, I GENTLY tap the film holder on the palm of my hand to help ensure that the film is at the bottom of the holder. For a horizontal image the film holder would be held horizontally, as it would go into the camera, and be held vertically for a vertical image. Do not tap the holder vigorously, as this can dislodge dust. You're trying to get the film seated squarely in the bottom of the holder. That way, if the film tries to move in the holder it will not drop, as it will be positioned at the bottom of the holder, and gravity will keep it there. In addition, I try and always allow the film to “acclimate” to the interior of the view camera by pulling the dark slide (with the lens closed!) for two minutes before starting the exposure."
Very sound avice. I suffered the occasional popped negative in the cold and this procedure certainly addresses the problem.

I seem to recall adding the odd bit of punctuation to this - for example the "" around acclimate. I use acclimatise :)

[Robert Hughes]

Someone mentioned a "3/4 snorkel jacket", but I'd recommend a snorkel - like you use for diving - wear it under the dark cloth so you can breathe without fogging up your ground glass. It adds to the mystique of "what the heck is he doing"?
I like it. People walking up to me, seeing the snorkel sticking out from the dark cloth, me reeking of skin cream and lip balm, and grinning like a crazy man...

[jwaddison]

Go to your local sporting goods store and pick up a few packs of those disposable handwarmers. It's a little pack of sawdust and activated charcoal that when exposed to air reacts to emit heat for a couple of hours. Really handy.

And a pair of oversize mitts (not gloves) that will hold both your hands and the handwarmer.
I had frostbite years ago, and seem to be more susceptible to cold in my toes, fingers, and the tips of my ears. A toque works for the ears, and felt-lined boots for the toes (google Sorel). The boots should have enough room to wiggle your toes.

[ki6mf]

A microfiber cloth for when you drop your filters in the snow and need to wipe them off. I speak from experience on this!

[David Carson]

I use a facemask + scuba tank filled with nitrous oxide. Lower the dark cloth, giggle and tune out. Best photo session you will ever have.

:-)

[Frank Petronio]

Don't do this:

[jwaddison]

Replace the wheels on the jogging stroller with skiis. :D

[dyuhas]

I am taking a trip soon where I will be wandering around for a week by myself taking pictures in the cold with 4x5 and 8x10 gear.

There's cold and then there's COLD. I was in Bryce Canyon NP last December during the first big snow fall of the season. Twenty below before wind chill. No problems with camera, lenses or film (QL's), but anything plastic got very stiff. The holster for my light meter turned into a piece of wood. Batteries for light meters need to be kept warm. I covered the camera with a plastic trash bag to protect it from blowing snow.

[jeroldharter]

Thanks for the tips. I took my trip. It was cold. Zion, Bryce, Canyon de Chelley were covered in snow. Bryce was the coldest being the highest. But it felt warm compared to Wisconsin, especially with the sun out.

I wore a fleece hat and took silk-type glove liners worn under fleece gloves which worked well. Used one chemical hand warmer per day and it was a luxury but unnecessary. Synthetic long underwear were essential and worked well. Loved the jogging stroller although sometimes it was just as easy to carry the pack.

Unfortunately the Bisti Badlands were covered in snow and bad light. The road was in bad shape and walking impossible with gear. But I did bother to drive out there. Cut my trip short and now need to process the film.

[r.e.]

Around here, a Canada Goose parka (www.canada-goose.com) and a snowmobile come in real handy, and snowshoes where a snowmobile won't work. I also wear offshore sailing pants with suspenders (wind and moisture proof and comfortable), such as these: http://www.musto.com/fcp/product/Outdoor-Clothing/Ocean/Offshore-Sailing/MPX-TROUSERS/471?colour=black-dark+grey.

[jeroldharter]

Around here, a Canada Goose parka (www.canada-goose.com) and a snowmobile come in real handy, and snowshoes where a snowmobile won't work. I also wear offshore sailing pants with suspenders (wind and moisture proof and comfortable), such as these: http://www.musto.com/fcp/product/Outdoor-Clothing/Ocean/Offshore-Sailing/MPX-TROUSERS/471?colour=black-dark+grey.

Now that is gear. I have a parka like that, goretex plus down. I took some regular goretex hiking pants but not the heavy duty bibs. I would like to get some like that for my Boundary Waters trip this spring.

[r.e.]

Bibs rule :)

I have those bibs anyway because I live in Newfoundland and spend time on the ocean, but they are great for winter too.

I envy your trip. It has been a long time since I've been to the Boundary Waters.