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Home → Essays and Inspiration

How to Photograph Wildlife in Extreme Weather and Cold

By Massimo Vignoli 20 Comments
Published On May 20, 2024

Photographers mostly look for good light, including beautiful sunrises and sunsets on a pleasant day. But what about inverting that perspective and seeking strong winds, snow, and storms in the deep of the winter? This article shows the different results you can get by photographing wildlife in extreme weather conditions, all while keeping yourself safe from the elements.

MV-Z9-20220225-6916
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S @ 120mm, ISO 64, 1/1600, f/13.0

Why might extreme weather be good for taking wildlife photos? There are a few reasons:

  • Gives more context on the environment that your subject lives in
  • Tells a story about the resilient character of the wildlife
  • Conveys the feeling of adventure in your photos

All of these are good reasons to take wildlife pictures in difficult conditions. But it isn’t easy to do so.

MV-D4-20160225-7394
NIKON D4 + 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 400mm, ISO 125, 1/500, f/8.0

First, safety is paramount. Photographers must honestly assess their experience and knowledge of the location, seeking guidance from experts when they feel unprepared. It’s challenging to be outside in extreme conditions far from a secure place.

Sharing an adventure with a buddy or two can help manage any problems. It might be hard to convince a non-photographer friend to join you on a trip where bad weather is expected, but if you’re friends with other wildlife photographers, they will usually be willing!

The bottom line here is that it is foolish to risk your life, or the lives of rescue teams. Talking to experts beforehand and doing your due diligence – then going with at least one other person – can make a big difference.

MV-D4-20160225-7220
NIKON D4 + 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 400mm, ISO 280, 1/800, f/8.0
MV-Z9-20220221-4360-New
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S @ 185mm, ISO 400, 1/640, f/8.0

Then, you need the right gear. In the far North, they say that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear. It starts with wearing the right clothing, which is not just a matter of surviving the cold, but also avoiding being miserable while trying to create your pictures.

Wool is considered one of the best materials for clothing in weather like this, because it doesn’t get very cold when wet. Consider a warm wool hat and socks. Usually, two pairs of socks are better than one, providing you have the right boot size.

The trick is dressing in layers. In extremely cold weather, I prefer to wear double-layered and long johns with a netted layer on the inside and wool on the outside. The net helps the skin to breathe and creates a warm micro-climate (such as Aclima DoubleWool or Brynje Arctic).

MV-Z6-20191201-7816
NIKON Z 6 + NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S @ 44mm, ISO 100, 1/60, f/11.0

Then I add one or two fleeces, depending on the temperature, and top them with an insulated jacket and/or a Goretex shell (I use mountaineering and high-altitude clothing made by brands like Patagonia, Arc’teryx, Rab, and TNF). The layers could be combined depending on wind, rain, snow, and how intense the effort is.

I use either goose down or synthetic fiber for the insulated jacket. On average, goose down is lighter, warmer, and packs smaller. However, it is more expensive, and its warming power is reduced by humidity. Synthetic fibers are better at keeping you warm in very wet conditions, but on average they are heavier, less warm, and less packable.

MV-D5-20170902-5644
NIKON D5 + 500mm f/4 @ 700mm, ISO 400, 1/800, f/5.6

Photographers face a specific challenge to protect their hands while keeping enough dexterity to use the camera. My advice is, one more time, to use layers, wearing a thin glove under a thick mitten. If the mitten is designed to be opened so you can use your fingers when needed, that works well.

That said, fingers and toes get cold sooner than other parts of your body. I recommend carrying heat packs with you that can slide into your boots or your gloves if you start to feel your extremities freezing up. They are cheap, light, and effective. If you’re using the layer system, you can put one of these packs inside the mitten and not have to worry about frostbite. (Some gloves and mittens even have dedicated pockets for hand warmers.)

MV-D5-20171125-9884
NIKON D5 + 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 400mm, ISO 100, 1/100, f/5.6
MV-D5-20171125-0053
NIKON D5 + 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 80mm, ISO 640, 1/1000, f/8.0
MV-Z9-20240210-1577
NIKON Z 9 + NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S @ 180mm, ISO 450, 1/1000, f/8.0

I always add to my kit:

  • A GPS to help me find the way easier (but you must know how to use it before starting the trip). In tricky conditions, adding a compass and a map is a good idea (again, you must know how to use it, before starting the trip).
  • Spikes for my boots (and/or snowshoes, depending on the ice and steep terrain).
  • A baseball cap to put over the wool hat, because I wear glasses and it helps to shelter them from the snow. If stronger winds are forecasted, I add snow goggles.
  • A thermos of hot beverages: a cup of hot tea or coffee at hand helps a lot in warding off the cold.
  • If the walk is strenuous, I add a water bottle because hydration is critical in environments like this. If you’re in sub-freezing temperatures, pouring warm water into an insulated thermos before the trip ensures that it will not freeze during a one-day hike.
  • Something to eat, which should be rich in calories and easy on your stomach. I advise energy bars, nuts, and dried fruits. I avoid fatty food and alcohol.
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NIKON D5 + 500mm f/4 @ 500mm, ISO 9000, 1/1600, f/5.0
MV-D5-20180130-9709_DxO
NIKON D5 + 500mm f/4 @ 500mm, ISO 400, 1/2500, f/4.0

Coming to the camera stuff, modern batteries don’t suffer as much from the cold these days. I still prefer to stay on the safe side and keep a spare one in a pocket near my body if I’m on an expedition. But it depends on the camera. I took most of the photos in this article using various Nikon flagship cameras, and their big batteries mean that I haven’t had to use my spare in years (as long as I remember to recharge the battery each night).

If it’s cold enough that it’s snowing rather than raining, I don’t bother with rain covers. Since snow doesn’t contain much water, I just use a microfiber towel, and that has always been enough.

MV-Z6II-20220430-1951
NIKON Z 6_2 + AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR @ 500mm, ISO 1600, 1/1000, f/5.6

One challenge with taking wildlife photos in the snow is that autofocus doesn’t always work perfectly. In particular, if you use a camera without a subject-recognition autofocus system, it may end up focusing on snowflakes in the air rather than the subject itself. So, don’t be afraid of focusing manually! Especially if the wildlife is standing around, careful manual focus is just as accurate as the best autofocus systems. You can also make good use of the focus save/recall function on your lens if available.

My final tip about taking pictures in extreme weather conditions is about the exposure. Ice and snow are white. Often, it takes +0.7EV (at least using Nikon Matrix exposure mode) to avoid underexposure.

MV-D5-20171208-2996
NIKON D5 + 500mm f/4 @ 500mm, ISO 1100, 1/60, f/4.0

I took the photos in this article in winter in the Italian Alps, Norway, Finland, Canada, and Svalbard, with temperatures as low as -25°C (-13F). Winds were up to 20m/s (45 MPH), and being above the tree line, I was quite exposed. Yet by following the tips in this article, I stayed warm and returned with sharp photos from each of these trips.

I hope you enjoyed this article on how to capture wildlife in extreme weather conditions. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to let me know in the comments section below.

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Filed Under: Essays and Inspiration Tagged With: Howto, Photography Tips, Wildlife Photography

About Massimo Vignoli

Massimo Vignoli is a passionate Italian wildlife photographer and outdoor adventurer. He began his photography journey more than 20 years ago, to relax and balance his career in the finance industry. Since then, his love for nature has grown more and more. By showing his photos, he hopes to help people gain a better understanding of wildlife, of how strong and delicate it is, to increase their respect for nature. You can see more of Massimo's photos on his website.

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florin
florin
May 23, 2024 1:47 pm

Super photos and weather

1
Reply
Dionigi Colombo
Dionigi Colombo
May 23, 2024 12:04 am

Ciao Massimo
Heartfelt congratulations on the beautiful photos. As I always tell friends bad weather=good photos in the sense that you have different or special conditions than usual.
Very interesting also your tips.

2
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Dionigi Colombo
May 23, 2024 9:07 am

Dionigi, thanks a ton!

0
Reply
PRG Lagarde
PRG Lagarde
May 22, 2024 2:26 am

Thank you to share your wonderful pictures and adventure :D

1
Reply
bg5931
bg5931
May 21, 2024 2:49 pm

Beautiful photos. Not sure if I want to follow your footsteps in terms of weather preference, but I like the results. ;)

1
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  bg5931
May 22, 2024 12:08 pm

I’m happy you like my photos, and I like the sun too!

0
Reply
Tibor
Tibor
May 21, 2024 10:21 am

Great pictures and good advice. Thank you Massimo.

2
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Tibor
May 21, 2024 12:12 pm

Thanks Tibor

0
Reply
Dave Conlin
Dave Conlin
May 21, 2024 7:32 am

I live in Canada so experience these conditions frequently! This advice is spot on. One other thing probably worth mentioning is to protect your gear from condensation on your return to a warm inside place. Either leave your gear outside (after taking the batteries and cards) or, if taking inside, place in a dry bag or bin bag, or leave in your sealed camera bag to bring to room temperature.

3
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Dave Conlin
May 21, 2024 12:18 pm

Dave, as an expert Canadian, I’m happy you agree with my advice.
You are right about the condensation, a topic I forgot in my article. In severe cold in the Arctic, I also experienced something the opposite: moving a lens from a warm place to a very cold outside makes a lens not sharp for a while. Maybe a matter of different dilatation of its components/lenses.

1
Reply
Dave Conlin
Dave Conlin
Reply to  Massimo Vignoli
May 22, 2024 2:18 pm

Steve Perry did a great you tube video on this. He put it down to thermal distortion inside the hood, similar that to when shooting from a warm car into the cold.
Link here; www.youtube.com/watch…42nXgYUwyo

1
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Dave Conlin
May 23, 2024 9:13 am

Thanks Dave, a very informative video.
It is something to be aware of but, in my experience, it isn’t just a matter of warm air in the hood. Also, the overall temperature of the lens plays a role if you are moving for example from +18°C inside an icebreaker to -25°C outside of it, on the deck. It needs a long time to regain the lens’s sharpness you are used to.

1
Reply
Berlandina
Berlandina
May 21, 2024 5:46 am

Well, these are great pictures! I’m an owl fan, so I particularly like the owl images. I really admire your courage and stamina to get out in these conditions to take them. I wouldn’t, for sure :-)

1
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Berlandina
May 21, 2024 12:21 pm

Thank you for your kind words!
The Snowy Owl is from Canada. It is an amazing bird to portray, I like it so much too.

1
Reply
colorAZeta.it
colorAZeta.it
May 21, 2024 3:11 am

Thank you Massimo for this very informative guide to face the extremes of Winter. For all the amazing chances you got, you have to be there, whatever gear you bring. Very nice indeed for you to have a pool of friends to bring with you in such nice adventures! Great all!
Please continue to give us your field perspective, thank you.

0
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  colorAZeta.it
May 21, 2024 12:26 pm

Thanks!
Yes, I’m lucky to have friends who share my projects and expeditions. Nature is where I would love to live. Unfortunately, I have to work in an office, but it could be a lot worse.

1
Reply
Pieter Kers
Pieter Kers
May 21, 2024 2:19 am

Excellent photographs capturing the extreme weather very well as much as the animals.
and many thanks for the interesting article!

0
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Pieter Kers
May 21, 2024 12:27 pm

Thank you Pieter.

0
Reply
Marco.A.
Marco.A.
May 20, 2024 3:26 pm

Very helpful article, Massimo. It is always a pleasure to read about your advice supported by amazing photos.

3
Reply
Massimo Vignoli
Massimo Vignoli
Author
Reply to  Marco.A.
May 21, 2024 12:27 pm

Thanks Marco!

0
Reply

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