Chris McFerran admits he may be in a very small minority when it comes to wishing for forecasts of sub-zero temperatures and thick fog.



The weather photographer, based at Warwick in southern Queensland, was all smiles this week when the region was blanketed in its first major frost of the year, and he was able to capture an image that went viral online.



Chris McFerran says he sometimes packs four coats when heading out to capture frost photos near Warwick. ( ABC Southern Qld: Peter Gunders )

The life of a frost photographer is not for the faint of heart.



"I'll know around 4am if it's going to be worth it," he said.



"I'll contact friends on farms and they'll let me know if frosts are forming that morning."



The first two items Mr McFerran packs for his winter-morning photo missions are "a really good pair of fingerless gloves and coffee".

"I wear thermals, lots of warm clothes, two or three pairs of socks and three jackets," he said.

"Sometimes I'll take a fourth jacket if it's going to be really cold.



"All that for one shot!"

Chris McFerran says his favourite winter photos are taken as the sun rises. ( Supplied: Chris McFerran )

Mr McFerran said he sometimes wondered why he didn't have a hobby that could be done in front of a warm fire.



"I like to shoot low because the frost is part of the foreground of the photo, so I've ended up with lots of wet knees from getting down on the ground. And then the knees freeze as well!



"Driving back after a shoot my fingers are numb, and it can be painful.



"But it's absolutely worth it when I see the photos, and see that people love them."

Chris McFerran said the ice in this photo was due to an irrigation device being left on overnight. ( Supplied: Chris McFerran )

This week, Mr McFerran's photo of a frozen barbed-wire fence went viral on social media.



A mild start to winter with dry air has meant the frosts have not been as severe. But Mr McFerran said he was lucky to find an irrigation device left on overnight to provide some extra moisture.



"Because the temperatures dropped down to -3 degrees Celsius, everything around the irrigator had frozen, including the irrigator itself," he said.

"The farmer was there knocking ice off it when I arrived.



"It was pitch black when I left home. Then right on dawn, I had just enough light to see a huge paddock of white. I knew straight away there'd be icicles hanging off the fence."



By the time the photo was getting thousands of likes, he was at home with a hot coffee, reading the comments.



"People do think I'm a little bit crazy. Someone wrote on Facebook, 'You're mad, but thanks for the wonderful photos'," he said.

Chris McFerran says a fence, tree or windmill will add to the beauty of a midwinter frosty photo. ( Supplied: Chris McFerran )

After the sun has risen and the frosts have melted, Mr McFerran continues his photography mission.



"I'm always looking for locations around Warwick," he said.



"A great set of cattle yards, a windmill or an old Pepperina tree.



"I'll already have a photo in my mind. It's just a case of waiting for a frost."



So when you sigh at the next forecast of below-freezing temperatures, think of Mr McFerran.



"I'm looking forward to the next burst of cold air from the south, and hopefully some snow with it!" he said.



"But I'd like a bit more fog. It adds another mysterious element, and when you have the rays of golden light from the sun behind it, it's spectacular."