7 Cold-Weather Tips That Will Keep Any Photographer Warm Outdoors
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Staying warm during long winter outdoor shoots starts with giving your body the fuel it needs in terms of calories. Although you don’t want to overeat, you still want to eat a hearty breakfast (or any meal before spending considerable time in wintertime temperatures) and drink plenty of hot beverages. -
While you’re outdoors, you also want to drink plenty of liquids because temperatures below freezing will cause you to become dehydrated. Alcoholic beverages are actually counter-productive, as they dehydrate you whenever you drink them.
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Clothe yourself in layers, with long johns, a long-sleeve T-shirt and then a sweater, if needed. Outerwear should be a nylon fabric that repels rain and snow and stops the cold of the wind from reaching your skin.
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Designed and manufactured specifically for photographers, Stealth Gear’s Extreme Range clothing line will give you that protection. The Extreme Urban Photographer’s Jacket/Vest and Extreme Urban Photographers Trousers 2 have an outer shell that is 100% polyester micro-suede, DuPont Teflon-treated to repel dirt, water and unwanted stains, with TPU lamination in more than 8033mm waterproofing and 5826g/m2/24hrs breathability.
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Your comfort and protection from the elements isn’t complete without wearing a pair of Stealth Gear Extreme Urban Photographers Trousers 2.
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As important as it is to keep your body warm and comfortable when shooting outdoors, you must also protect your hands and still be able to operate your equipment effectively.
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Your outdoor shooting apparel should always include a hat, since much body heat will escape through your head. The all-weather peaked hood on the Extreme Urban Photographers Jacket/Vest will serve this purpose well, but you may also want a hat with a thicker covering for your ears.
Sports and nature photographers and photojournalists prefer the Extreme Urban Jacket/Vest and Trousers 2 for long shoots, standing, kneeling or sitting in cold and wet situations.
Whenever the weather changes for the better, it’s easy to unzip the arms of the Stealth Gear Jacket/Vest to create a vest, so some of the captured hot air can escape, but your core is still warm and toasty. You can also open the under-arm vents for more circulation, and then secure them with zippers and Velcro if nasty weather returns.
The Extreme Urban Photographers Jacket/Vest includes two detachable hoods. The all-weather peaked hood keeps rain or snow from soaking your head. Use the large waterproof sunshade hood, so there is less light striking your camera’s screen, which makes it easier to check your results.
Stealth Gear has also designed a full complement of pockets in the Extreme Urban Jacket/Vest, so you can leave the photo equipment bag at home. When you do need to bring the bag, you can attach the removable shoulder pads that add more cushioning. Carrying a camera by its strap is also more convenient and secure with the Extreme Urban Jacket/Vest’s corduroy collar and the anti-slip camera strap grips on both shoulders. Stealth Gear reinforced the back of the Jacket along the spine, so less wear occurs when carrying a backpack.
Other useful features of the Extreme Urban Photographers Jacket/Vest are its side zippers that will give you more freedom of movement. You can also open the side zippers to reach your trouser pockets without the need to unzip the front of the jacket.
Stealth Gear’s Extreme Urban Photographers Jacket/Vest retails for $395.
Your comfort is served with adjustable waist straps, so the Extreme Urban Photographers Trousers 2 remain snug, but fit you perfectly. Again, if the weather improves, you can unzip the ventilation slits to regulate airflow. A pair of Stealth Gear trousers also has a high back to keep moisture from reaching the insides and taped seams to guarantee its waterproof specs.
What many photographers like the most about the Extreme Urban Photographers Trousers 2 are its many pockets. Add these to those in the Extreme Urban Jacket/Vest and you are unlikely to need to lug a bag with you. There are 4x accessory pockets for carrying valuables, 1x dual CF memory card holder, 2x press-stud expandable lens/accessory side pockets and 2x bellowed press-stud accessory rear pockets.
The 2x accessory loops on the sides of the trousers are also very convenient for carrying lens pouches or similar small bags.
The Stealth Gear Extreme Urban Photographers Trousers 2 come in small, medium, large, extra large and extra-extra large with legs lengths of 30 and 32 inches. The trousers retails for $189.
The outer shell of Stealth Gear Photographers Gloves is also made from waterproof and breathable materials. Stealth Gear knows the palm and the thumb and index fingers are particularly areas of a pair of gloves that must be carefully designed; so its gloves’ palm area is 100% polyester micro-fiber with a waterproof liner and treated with silicone to make it easier to hold any piece of equipment.
The thumb and index fingers’ material can be opened to give you precise fingertip control of your camera and lens. Plus, the material used for the thumb and index fingers has been carefully chosen and manufactured, so your fingers remain warm when inside the gloves.
Stealth Gear Photographers Gloves are available in small, medium and large sizes and a pair retails for $45.
Photo copyright PhotographyTalk member JayLee
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