Warm clothes for comfort

Chenega GlacierPrince William Sound, Alaska

Several light layers as opposed to one heavy layer will allow you to remove or add layers as temperature change. Clothing should be able to wick away moisture from your body, such as wool or synthetic fabrics. Wearing a lightweight pair of gloves for operating camera controls with a second heavier pair to keep your hands warm while moving is ideal. Foot protection is imperative, especially in snowy or wet conditions. Socks should also be wool or synthetic to keep your feet dry and warm. Waterproof and/or insulted boots will help as well. If you have snowshoes, they can make walking through the snow easier and keep your feet dry. 

Hand and feet warmers to keep you functioning

Mount McKinley, Aerial viewDenali National Park, Alaska

Hand and feet warmers are delightful when you are out for an extended period of time. They are inexpensive, light weight, small, and most last for hours. I typically keep a back stock of these in my vehicle to make cold weather shooting more comfortable. 

Spare batteries to recharge

Animal tracks, Yosemite NPYosemite National Park, California

Batteries drain more quickly as the temperature drops. Carry at least one extra battery in a warm pocket that you can change out when needed. As batteries warm back up, they will typically regain power. 

Correct exposure for the scene

Since our camera meters are set to read neural gray as the proper exposure, unless you compensate, your photos will be under exposed. Snow scenes need to be exposed at 1+ or 2+ for proper exposure. Its always best to take test shots to be sure and you can always bracket is you really want some insurance. 

Using a flash can help brighten subjects if you are shooting in shaded areas as well. 

The best filters for winter conditions

El CapitanYosemite National Park, California
There are two filters I always carry: a polarizer and a Graduated Neutral Density (ND)  filter. The polarizer will help deepen blue skies that contrast nicely with snow scenes. You can take this a bit to far and turn the sky nearly black, so keep an eye on it as you are adjusting the filter. The Graduated ND filter is useful when you need to balance the foreground and sky. Remember you can use this with the dark side on the top (for the sky) or on the bottom (for snowy foregrounds) is needed. 

Obtaining focus for each situation

Giant ForestSequoia National Park, California

Auto focus may have difficulty when snow or rain is falling. In these cases, it is best to move to manual focusing so you will have more control over the final image. 

Using shutter speed to create optimal results

Merced RiverYosemite National Park, California

The shutter speed you use is entirely dependent on the look you are going for. You can freeze motion with a fast shutter speed, such as 1/250 second or you can create motion blur with something closer to 1/7 second. 

Avoiding moisture accumulation in your gear

Snow moundsYosemite National Park, California

When a cold camera enters a warm environment, condensation can occur on the interior components of the camera, causing damage. You can place your camera in sealed freezer bag or inside your camera bag until it reaches room temperature. Don't be tempted to force quick drying with a hair dryer or other device as that can promote damage.