There was a chill to the air when I stepped out of my office this afternoon, that faint tang that smells of winter. Days are shorter, nights are colder, and winter proper will be here soon. And with the cold weather, I notice that a lot of people stop carrying their cameras with them outside – which is unfortunate, since winter is particularly lovely. Think new-fallen snow, think twigs and grasses encased in ice, think moonlight on a blanketed field.

Fact is, most people aren’t uninterested in photographing winter scenes, they’re just worried about using their cameras in harsh conditions. I posted a more detailed article on my blog that covers this, but here’s the quick version: using your camera outside in winter won’t hurt it, if you take a few simple precautions.

Cameras – and electronics in general – don’t mind cold temperatures. What they do mind is sudden changes in air temperature, which cause condensation to form outside – and inside – of electronics. Condensation is simply water, and we all know that water and electronics don’t mix well. Fortunately, the solution is very simple.

The danger lies in taking a cold-soaked camera indoors with you after being outside (going from inside to out isn’t an issue in winter). Condensation from the warm indoor air forms on the cold camera. To prevent this, just take some cold air in with you! Ziplock bags are my personal choice; just before you come inside, take a ziplock out of your pocket, shake it out, and seal you camera inside. Unlike storing food, you don’t want to squeeze all the air out before sealing the bag – that air is what will keep your gear safe.

Now take your sealed ziplock inside and let it sit on the table for an hour or two before opening it and removing the camera. That gives the air – and camera – inside the bag time to come up to room temperature. And any condensation that forms will form on the outside of the bag, keeping your gear safe and dry. Alternately, if you forget your ziplock, place the camera inside a camera bag or a outer coat pocket that zips closed – leave it zippered up for an hour or two and it should be fine.

Winter is no reason to keep the camera locked up indoors – take it outside and use it! Don’t miss out on photographs like these: