Photography Tip Tuesdays: Christmas Gift Ideas for Photographers

Dec 09, 2008

I’m back from my shoot in New York and catching up.  I can’t wait to share some pictures from the trip!  I’ve had a bunch of requests to bring back Photography Tip Tuesdays and Photoshop Fridays, so I am going to do my best to have at least one of these every week!

This week is gift themed.  Photographers are difficult to buy for because we usually want things that start around the four figure mark.  :)

But I have a couple of items in my bag around $40 that I am love and odds are good that other photo-enthusiasts will, too!

1)  REI’s mittens/fingerless gloves

These are my cold weather staple!  There are a lot of mitten/gloves on the market right now, but these are by far my favorite because they have thumb holes.  Fingers are all well and good, but I can’t change lenses or even operate some controls on my camera wihout my bare thumb.  They also come in different sizes, which is awesome for girls with abnormally long fingers (like me)!  And best of all, this year they come with a little tab that snaps the left and right glove together so you won’t end up losing one (like me)!

2) Rapid-R Camera Strap

This is probably the most money you’ll ever spend on a camera strap.  But it’s comfortable and hugely functional.  I have a tendency to whack small children and dogs on the head with my camera/telephoto lens combo when I bend over, because with traditional camera straps, the camera swings out from your body when you bend down.  This one keeps it right by your hip and the movement is very minimal as you move around.  I was a skeptic, but I’m a huge fan now.  I was also worried that it would look dorky (they need someone young and cool in their videos–pronto), but it really doesn’t look any more stupid than your tradtional camera strap.  :)

3)  The Inner Game of Outdoor Photography

This isn’t your standard nature photography book.  It doesn’t even have that many pictures in it, and it’s not going to rehash the same old topics of gear and composition.  Instead, it’s a serious look at the cognitive processes involved in the taking and viewing of images.  It’s not a light nor easy read, but it’s a fascinating look at a more academic side of photography!

Posted in Photographer Tips