Yep, it's cold outside.

Get out and shoot something. Here's a look at a day that I had planned to shoot down by the lake that turned out to be one of the coldest days of the year. One great thing about the extreme cold is that most people will be inside keeping warm, this leave parks, lakes and beaches mostly abandoned.

So as the temps drop, plan on getting out and shooting locations that are normally busy and filled with people.

A couple of quick tips for shooting in the cold.
•Lenses need time to acclimate to the cold, so don't keep moving your camera from warm to cold as you shoot. leave your camera outside, the cold will not hurt your equipment.

•Bring a small tarp and an old blanket with you, especially if there is snow or ice on the ground. The Tarp and blanket are for you to stand on and to keep your gear dry. Put the tarp down first then the blanket. You'll thank me later for this one!

• Carry Extra Batteries, if your unaccustomed to shooting in the cold then you will not realize that batteries and the cold are not friends. (Think car batteries and winter).

Final Thoughts - Don't let the cold weather get in the way of shooting outdoors. Plan for it! Dress warm, bring hot chocolate and be creative!

Thanks for looking.

Stephen