Chicago Winter Quest
Winter Photography Outing & Learning Adventure

Photography Outing Requirements

NOTE: These outings are planned several months in advance based on the best available knowledge and history, but there is no way to tell what the conditions will actually be like. So, we’ll be going and the making the most of it!

If you have questions about your experience level, please email us or phone 630-852-8448.

BASIC COURSE PREREQUISITES

You should be fairly comfortable with your camera’s operations and controls. If you’ve taken a class with us before, you probably qualify. However, this outing is not for people who are using their cameras for the first time. Instead, we offer very nice fundamental photography classes designed for your needs like Get to Know Your Camera.

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

• DIGITAL SLR or EVF (mirrorless) Camera with:
  • LENSES that may anything between wide-angle, macro, and telephotos.
    • Wide-angle or super wide-angle lens for scenes and landscapes
    • Macro lens for ice sculptures, ice bubbles, snowflakes, etc.
    • Zooms ranging from 24mm to 200mm (effective focal length) for intimate scenes or close-ups.
  • A GOOD TRIPOD & HEAD to ensure sharp images, more precise compositions, and ability to stack images. I cannot emphasize enough that a cheap tripod or tripod head will make your day miserable.
    • TRIPOD STRAP flung over your shoulder is the easiest way to carry a tripod. A good photo backpack should also allow you to attached a tripod.
    • ELECTRONIC SHUTTER RELEASE (OPTIONAL) to reduce camera shake
  • BACKUP BATTERIES
  • FILTERS: Circular Polarizer has its advantages for reducing glare, improving color, and slowing motion.
• PHOTO VEST or BACKPACK: Where do you put all of your equipment? Well, I love photo vests with the possible addition of a fanny pack. But a lot of photographers carry backpacks. If you bring a photo backpack, I’m going to be on your case to be careful where you set it down so that you don’t harm the plants, which are always very closely spaced.
• HYPERFOCAL DISTANCE FOCUSING GUIDE & STEEL TAPE MEASURE if you plan on shooting the landscape and want sharp images. If you don’t have a focusing guide of your own, one is available from Mike for $10 at the meet-up location.

WHAT TO WEAR, ETC.

You need to be ready for the cold weather conditions to protect yourself and your equipment. As with any outdoor situation, it is highly recommended that no cotton clothing of any sort be worn. Here’s what I wear:

ABOVE 15°F:

• High Boots made for cold weather. There’s a lot of standing around, so the boots need to be extra warm.
• Socks (1 pair). If your boots are loose, then use 2 pairs. But, you don’t want to constrict blood flow.
• Long Underwear Bottoms: 1 or 2 layers of medium weight polypropylene
• Fleece Lined Pants with wind barrier (you could wear ski pants)
• Long Underwear Tops: 1 thin layer covered by 1 or 2 heavier weight layers of polypropylene,
• Fleece Vest
• Rain Jacket with Hood as a wind barrier.
• Photo Vest worn over Rain Jacket
• Hat (that covers the ears)
• Head Band to cover the ears (under the hat)
• Extra Head Band keep around your neck so you can use it to cover your mouth and nose
• Glove Liners: Thin, but with a grip material on fingers and palm
• Thinsulate Mittens (the kind where you can choose to expose your fingers and thumb)
• Yaktrax Ice Cleats because it can get very slippery and these cleats make walking on ice feel like a dry sidewalk. In addition to Amazon, you can get them at Costco, REI, and Gander Mountain Sports.

BELOW 15°F:

• High Boots made for cold weather. There’s a lot of standing around, so the boots need to be extra warm.
• Socks (1 or 2 pair). If your boots are loose, then use 2 pairs. But, you don’t want to constrict blood flow.
• Long Underwear Bottoms: 2 layers of medium weight polypropylene
• Fleece Lined Pants with wind barrier (you could wear ski pants)
• Long Underwear Tops: 1 thin layer covered by 1 heavy weight layer of polypropylene,
• Expedition Parka with Hood
• Photo Vest over Parka
• Balaclava or
  • Hat (that covers the ears) & Head Band to cover the ears (under the hat)
  • Extra Head Band so you can use it to cover your mouth and nose
  • Thick Glove Liners wth grip material on fingers and palm
• Thinsulate Mittens (the kind where you can choose to expose your fingers and thumb)
• Yaktrax Ice Cleats because it can get very slippery and these cleats make walking on ice feel like a dry sidewalk. In addition to Amazon, you can get them at Costco, REI, and Gander Mountain Sports.

Some people like to use chemical hand and foot warmers, too.

IN THE FIELD

It’s going to be cold, so be prepared. Also, have extra batteries available. It will be harder to handle your equipment and it’s not uncommon to drop things no matter how hard you try not to. Also, the ground is slippery and there are hidden dangers under the snow like branches and holes. So you need to be extra careful.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

For this outing, there’s no such thing as inclement weather. If there’s a “real” blizzard and it gets called off, then the field session will automatically be rescheduled for following week at the exact same time. So keep that day open, as well.

If you have further questions about Mike MacDonald workshops just email or phone 630-852-8448.