Taking hot pictures in cold weather

With the Winter Olympics under way, pictures of winter sports are likely to be flashing through the mind of every television viewer. Whether you're one of the few who are actually at Lake Placid or are merely inspired to do some winter sports and ski photography of your own, here are some tips for cold-weather shooting. They are offered by Eastman Kodak, which will handle the great mass of newsfilm processing at Lake Placid.

To conserve space in your parka or vest, take film out of the carton but keep it in its vapor-tight package until you load it. Make sure each package can be identified for film type.

Carry cameras, film, lenses, spare batteries -- as much as you can -- inside outerwear, where they will be warmed by body heat. Be prepared for condensation -- even frost -- if a cold camera comes in contact with anything warm and moist, including you. Try to limit the time that cameras are exposed to extreme cold.

Load and unload film outdoors (but within the protection of outerwear). If film is loaded indoors at 70 degrees F. and taken into subzero temperatures, it can become tacky.

Advance film from one exposure to another with a slow, steady motion. Rewind it very slowly. Rapid rewinding is the major cause of static marks on 35-mm films.

Snow scenes can mislead light meters tremendously. Bracket exposures whenever you can. Depending on your subject, its distance from a camera, and light conditions, suitable exposure settings can vary as much as a full stop more or less than meter readings.