It's been a long time since we have had a winter like this. Snow and ice pictures can be very challenging. Here are a few hints to get better shots.

In general, be the early bird as far as snow disturbance. Many a great shot has been lost after someone has trudged through that virgin snowfall.

Choose your film wisely. First, maybe it is time to try some black & white as a much of the landscape is void of color. Secondly, choose a slower speed film for increased sharpness and less chance of running into overexposure problems.

Remember the cold may render your camera inoperative if it is not running on lithium batteries. You may want to keep your batteries in your pocket if you will be out for an extended time.

This is no news to glasses wearers, but trips between outdoors and indoors in this cold weather can often lead to your lenses fogging. This is also true with camera lenses, mirrors and viewfinders. A quick check of each before resuming your photography could head-off some unwanted results. This is especially true if you use a non-SLR camera. (This means you Karlene.)

For those of you using manual advance cameras, the cold could give you some advancing problems. Don't force it!!! Plastic parts have been used in cameras for over 20 years and the right amount of pressure, combined with age and cold could relegate your favorite piece to being a paperweight.

Now is a good time to use that polarizer. In addition to reducing unwanted glare, a polarizer will make the sky a deeper blue and will provide you with several stops of exposure to use.

Exposure can be at its trickiest in the snow and this is especially true should you use a slide film. Bright snow will cause your camera to underexpose any other subject in the picture. Make sure you meter from your particular subject or use an 18% reflective gray card. Your subject is too far away or you don't have a gray card handy? Spot meter if possible or use the Dan Kneller method which is as close as your hand. That is, meter from the back of your hand with the light hitting it at the same angle as your subject.

Good luck, get out there and enjoy that global warming.

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