What to pack for a winter wildlife shoot in the Alps

Wildlife photography in winter is mostly standing still. You walk to a position, you get warm on the way up, and then you wait, sometimes for hours, in wind and sub-zero air. What you wear and carry decides whether you are still concentrating when the animal finally appears.

This is the list we recommend for a winter tour.

Clothing: dress for standing, not for walking

The mistake nearly everyone makes is dressing for the walk. Dress for the wait, and carry the warm layers on the way up so you do not arrive soaked in sweat.

• Base layer. Merino or synthetic, never cotton.
• Mid layer. A fleece or light insulated jacket.
• Insulation. A proper down or synthetic jacket that goes on as soon as you stop.
• Shell. Windproof and waterproof, jacket and trousers.
• Legs. Thermal leggings under walking trousers; insulated trousers on the coldest days.
• Boots. Insulated, waterproof, with a stiff sole and good grip. Go half a size up to leave room for thick socks and air.
• Hat and neck gaiter. Small, light, and they make a large difference.

Hands

Hands are the hard part, because you need to work the camera.

• A thin liner glove you can operate every button in.
• A warm mitten or thick glove over the top, ideally one with a fold-back finger flap.
• Chemical hand warmers in your pockets.

Camera gear

• Telephoto lens. 400mm or longer for birds; a 100–400mm zoom is a versatile choice for mammals.
• A second, wider lens. For animals in the landscape.
• Spare batteries, at least two. Cold cuts battery life sharply. Keep spares in an inside pocket against your body and rotate them.
• Plenty of memory cards.
• Lens hood. Keeps falling snow off the front element and cuts glare.
• Rain cover or a simple plastic sleeve for wet snow.
• Microfibre cloths, several, in a dry pocket.
• Tripod or monopod, optional. Useful for long waits with a heavy lens. Foam leg wraps make cold metal bearable.

Condensation: the one that catches people out

Bring a cold camera into a warm room and moisture condenses on and inside it within seconds. Before you go indoors, seal the camera and lens in a zip bag or leave them closed inside your camera bag, and let them warm up slowly for an hour or two.

The same applies in reverse to your breath: try not to breathe on the viewfinder or front element in the cold. It freezes.

Food, drink and sun

• A flask of something hot. Worth its weight.
• High-energy snacks you can eat with gloves on.
• Water. You dehydrate in cold, dry air without noticing.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen. Snow reflects most of the sunlight that hits it, and sunburn at altitude in January is common.

Small things that save a day

• Head torch, for early starts and late finishes.
• A sit mat or a small foam pad. Sitting or kneeling on snow drains heat fast.
• Phone, charged, kept warm.
• A dry bag or liner inside your rucksack.
• Personal travel insurance that covers mountain activities and your camera equipment.

What to leave behind

Every extra lens is weight you carry uphill and then never use. One long lens, one wider one, and the discipline to work with them will serve you better than a full bag.

If you are joining one of our tours and are unsure about any of this, ask us. We would much rather answer a question beforehand than see you cold on the day.