At least it is in the midwest (though, honestly, it could be worse), and at least it is for camera batteries. That’s right, batteries, the most essential of all digital camera accessories, the little electric hearts pumping currents of life through those EOS Rebels and Nikon Coolpix cameras you’re all out there swinging around like photographic uzis. Camera batteries, which might hate the cold more than I do and will certainly quit working out in it even faster than I would. Camera batteries, which for the rest of this article we shall refer to as “the weakest link.”

Now, you may or may not be aware, but if you can find the environment specs for your camera, it’s almost guaranteed to be more robust than you. My E-3 Olympus digital camera lists its operating range of 32 – 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and it’ll happily clack along well below 32 while I’m using choice words to, ah, “complain” about the weather. If it hits a hundred and four degrees I’m probably more concerned with where my next cocktail is coming from than going out and shooting. So, cameras are pretty laissez-faire about the weather. It’s those darned weakest links.

So, here’s my tip for all y’all out there in cold weather: keep some batteries close to you. No, closer. Let your body keep them warm. Put them in the internal pockets on jackets, in your jeans so they’ll be next to your leg, something. And, then, every so often if there’s a break in shooting, swap the one in your camera for a spare. Yes, it’s a hassel swapping them in and out a lot, but if you can keep them happy and warmer then you won’t have to deal with the frustration and heartache of one dying on you prematurely.

Now, speak of cocktails, I’m going to go wrap some things up and then have myself a good New Year’s celebration, and I wish the same for the rest of you. I’ll see you all in the harsh light of dayand sobriety come Friday.