Shooting in the Elements
Since digital cameras are electronic devices, it isn't surprising that they don't always fare well when dealing with weather. There are things that can be done to protect cameras from the elements.Humidity
Dusty or sandy conditions can cause problems for any camera. Getting sand inside the camera can be disastrous, but even if the sand stays outside the camera, it can scratch the lens. When shooting in dusty or sandy areas, bring airtight bags to hold the camera when it is not in use. If sand gets on the outside of the camera, carefully blow it off of the lens to prevent scratches.Water is another dangerous condition. A few raindrops are not likely to cause a problem, but consider carrying drybags when using the camera in situations where the camera could be submerged, such as boating. For many digital cameras, special cases are available that allow the camera to be used underwater.
Another water-related issue is condensation, which occurs with high enough humidity or moving your camera between environments at different temperatures. The easiest way to avoid condensation is to place the camera in an airtight bag before changing environments. Leave the camera in the bag until it has adjusted to the new temperature. If a bag isn't handy, leave the camera turned off until it has had time to adjust.
Temperature
Extreme heat causes many digital cameras to shut down for their own protection. Keeping the camera in a dry cooler can help prevent the camera from overheating in extreme heat.While cold is less likely to damage a digital camera, there are issues with shooting in the cold. The most immediately noticeable problem is that cold tends to drain the batteries. Keeping the camera and any spare batteries in a warm place (such as an inside pocket) can help prolong battery life.
Another thing to keep in mind when shooting in snowy conditions is to adjust the exposure to compensate for the reflected light. Some digital cameras have special "Snow" scene modes that make this easier.
One of the more challenging aspects can be dealing with the effect of the weather on the photographer. Ice and snow make slipping more likely, so it can be a good idea to keep the camera on a neck strap - especially since the cold is likely to numb fingers as well. Since bulky gloves make operating a camera difficult, one way to deal with cold fingers is to wear two pairs of gloves. The outer pair should be heavy enough to keep hands very warm, but easy to remove when it's time to take a shot. The inner pair should have missing fingertips, which will allow the photographer to easily manipulate the camera.
