But then there are the brave few. Those of us who are not content to sit inside and wait for the thaw. Those of us who know there are many opportunities for beauty and discovery in the snow and ice.

If you're one of us, if you have the inkling to dig out the thermal underwear, slip on a scarf and tromp out into the icy great wild, here are a few tips to prepare yourself, and your gear, and some thoughts on what sort of images can be made in this frosty time of year.

Preparing to freeze your thermals off
Winter photography requires a whole new way to prepare yourself and your gear to go out and shoot. For yourself, make sure that you layer your clothing. Thermals like silks or polypropylenes should be closest to your skin for your base under-layer.

Fleece is a great light weight warm mid-layer. And try to make sure your outer layer is wind proof. Even a slight breeze on a winter day can chill you to the bone! Keep your head covered because this will help you retain the most warmth.

Your feet and hands are probably the most important. Wear warm socks and warm boots that will allow you to either tromp through snow or stand on cold ground for longer periods of time. When your feet get cold, the day is over.

If you plan on waiting for light on a scene in one place, or feel you will be crouching on the ground in one position for a long time, a little trick I like to do is bring a piece of cardboard to stand or kneel on. It's an inexpensive, light-weight way to give you one extra layer of insulation from the cold ground.

Keeping your hands warm
We photographers have a bit harder time keeping our hands warm in winter conditions. That's usually because we like to use our bare fingers to adjust the buttons and settings on our camera. There are a few ways to combat this icy fingertip problem.

If you can find a great thin pair of gloves, having that thin layer is a step up from bare skin. Otherwise, make sure you don't let your bare hands hang out in the cold for too long. Keep a warm glove on your opposite hand.