The Frozen Lense - Tips for Surviving Shooting Outdoors

At 3PennyFilms we strive to capture what we call 'moments' - moments unique to people,

moments unique to places, moments that will ultimately resonate in the stories that we tell. I am Madison Murr, a filmmaker in my fifth year with 3 Penny Films, and the photo of me shooting in Fenway Park captured a unique moment in my own life.  It was my second day of shooting inside the historic stadium, the ground crews were feverishly shoveling to clear the latest snowfall, and I was pushing through drifts, navigating ice patches and battling wind to get the last scenics needed before the Frozen Fenway event. I am smiling in the photo, joyous that I had finally gathered shots of which I was proud, because initially the cold of that outdoor hockey shoot had presented some serious setbacks. I most often shoot in Miami, FL, overseeing our content for The U, and the chill of South Bend & Boston that week bluntly emphasized the challenges of filmmaking in the cold.

These are the 5 Cold Weather Shooting Facts now 'frozen' in my mind:

1. Clothing gear - not camera gear - comes first. - If you're shivering - your camera is shivering - and that will detract from your shot. I've taken a couple of trips where I was so cold I eventually put on everything I packed in my suitcase all at once, and I'm over that approach! Search what boots the mail delivery workers wear in the snow, ask the outerwear store cashier which hats block out the wind, and when in doubt - add more layers!

2. Shot clarity is challenged. - My viewfinder would fog with the warmth from my face, then that condensation would freeze, inhibiting my vision through the camera… this happened multiple times a minute so I spent a lot of time wiping my viewfinder clear. Also, lenses fog extensively when entering & exiting buildings, then snow harasses your lens which is of course crucial to keep clean… all of this combines to extend the time needed to execute each shot well.

3. Batteries die absurdly fast. - I calculated some of mine at 1/12th of the usual performance. I use camera batteries for my Canon & GoPro, plus 9 Volts & AAs for audio, so my outside pockets were stocked with extras! I also had a stash nearby in a warmer place to preserve their power from draining in the harsh temperatures.

2. Focusing your lens & especially rack focusing is hard.  -  Despite my research I still haven't been able to fully keep my hands heated, sacrificing some glove warmth for dexterity. Navigating the lens with layered, numb fingers isn't as fluid and automatic as in warmer temperatures. I was often over or under-compensating when rotating the lens and so I had to often try multiple takes to get the shot right.

5. Suck it up. - Realize everyone else is cold too, whether you're from Boston or Miami you still feel that chill! It's best to embrace the challenge as an opportunity to prove your shots can stand out regardless, you can execute in diverse environments, and then happily realize you'll never again take for granted how effortlessly you can work your camera in South Florida!

- Madison