3 Things every photographer should do in winter:
- When you go out... Call a friend to check on you in an hour if you haven't called them. Tell them where you are going.
- Do lots of pull ups
- Trust your instincts



- Quote from my best friend

So this morning, I wake up, gorgeous weather, it's snowy, first snow of the season! I get on long underwear, snow pants, coat, I layer to stay warm, grab my camera, and head out. Everything is great. I get to my door and think to myself it would be a good idea to call a friend given that it is 19º Fahrenheit... I decide that it isn't necessary as I would be back soon and it was still early.

Anyway, I get out, gorgeous weather, my lens fogs up, I clear it, take off the UV protector as it kept fogging on the inside (Anyone have a fix for this?), and keep going. In the back of my house there is this wonderful stream. About a foot deep almost everywhere. Freezes early. All that jazz... So I get to it, photograph a bit, everything is wonderful.... I am staying on a large rock, maybe 4 feet tall next to the water lying down with my camera. Missed the shot I wanted but, well that's life. Anywa.... Then I realize that the shot I REALLY want is about a 1/4 of the way in on the ice....

I took one step out.... It was solid. I put the other foot down, and BAM I am in the water. [Now before you say I am an idiot. It has been freezing all week. It is 19º out. The ice seems Solid.... Now 99% of people wouldn't expect to fall in.] Now this one section of the stream, it's not 1 foot deep. It's more then waste deep... I am holding my camera, camera bag on my back. and Water has already penetrated all three layers of clothing, into my boots... Everything.

I Immediately realize that I have to get out of there fast because 19º weather will not let me stay like that for long...

Now remember that rock I was next to? Well, I was still there... So I am now in water that puts me above my head to the nearest landform... I put my camera down, and become so grateful that I can do a sh** load of pulls ups. I pull my entire body up, camera and soaking wet everything included.

I run home. My legs are already starting to become hard to move.

I was luckily not very far out so got home fine...

Luckily, my camera gear also stayed dry because of my awesome new bag.... It is just about water proof on its own.

Anyway... Lesson learned.

Call a friend
Do pull ups - A LOT OF THEM EVERY DAY
Trust your instincts....
Stay off the ice.


Generally, a person can survive in 41-degree F (5-degree C) water for 10, 15 or 20 minutes before the muscles get weak, you lose coordination and strength, which happens because the blood moves away from the extremities and toward the center, or core, of the body.

This was half that temperature.... So... 5, 10 minutes at most.