Metering for low winter light
Last winter half of my rolls came back thin. The meter was not broken; it was doing exactly what it was designed to do with scenes full of snow and bright grey sky.
Meter the shadows
With negative film, detail lost in the shadows never comes back, while highlights are forgiving. I now meter the darkest area where I still want texture and close down two stops from that reading.
Give it more time
On overcast days I rate ISO 400 film at 320 and develop normally. The negatives are a little denser and print without fighting. Push processing is tempting in the dark months, but the grain and the contrast it brings rarely suit soft winter light.
Keep the camera warm
Cold batteries and brittle film are the other winter problems. The camera rides inside the coat between shots, and I advance the film slowly — static marks on a cold, dry day look like lightning across the frame.