I was always dreaming to shoot snow-white photos. Living in Hong Kong will never see snow, though. I visited Japan serval times in winter before, got the taste of snow, but I have not taken some really snowy photo, something like all-covered-with-white.
In this winter, I traveled to Hokkaido, the north area of Japan (and this is why I haven't updated the blog for quite some time). I entered the region of snow.
I am still organizing my photos of the trip but wanna have some quick sharing about some experience of equipment first. This is the north-est and coolest place I ever visited. Winter in Hong Kong is usually not lower than 8˚C, Hokkaido is general under zero. I have yet to be in the place this cool, neither to my camera equipment. In my bag, there was a 5Dmk4 with 24-105L, GoPro4 Silver, iPhone XR. I trusted as always, also GoPro, but I am not sure other electric accessories could hold up.
First, the battery, which all equipment use. The coldest day is around -10 - -15˚C. My 5Dmk4 perform as strong as usual. It took around the same amount of photos with a charge, no big difference at all. Very impressed. GoPro, on the other hand, surprised me. It seems only have half the battery life outside the cold weather. Maybe it is because the battery becomes aged? My new iPhone XR bought just before the trip was excellent as the Canon, perform with no difference. One more thing, my Apple watch (series 2) die faster than I expected. The watch usually gets 1.5 days of battery life and it could only stay live till around 5 pm. The watch was always on my hand and placed inside a pocket, which should be warm?
Second, the weather. For more than 10 years of my DSRL experience, I have never exposed my camera to rain, even my camera and lens said to be weather seal. I protect my camera with extreme care. This time, I could not help but take out my 5Dmk4 even it was heavy. The camera and lens are all over snow in a second. Every time after I shot, I went to a covered-place and broomed the snow out with my grove. There is no wet in the camera when I checked carefully when I have backed the hotel.
Using GoPro is another story. A transparent hard case was covering the GoPro, and a plastic handle is connected. I just take out in a blizzard without worry. And, this is what having a GoPro for, right? I also take out the XR most of the time when snowing, and the phone is as new as it first came next to my desk now.
Equipment nowadays is really amazing.
If you interested in the equipment I used, please check the links below:
- Shimoda Action X30 Backpack ----- https://amzn.to/2SJXdwC
- Shimoda Action Explore 40 Backpack ----- https://amzn.to/3k01oRf
- Peak Design Tripod ----- https://amzn.to/2IajlhD
- Peak Design Everyday Backpack Zip ----- https://amzn.to/33IEAQ1
- Canon 5D Mark IV ----- https://amzn.to/2SJXz6q
- DJI Mavic 2 Pro ----- https://amzn.to/33IKaC3
- GoPro Max ----- https://amzn.to/3nxqPvs
- Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod ----- https://amzn.to/2SECuKI