2011 Stocking Stuffer Idea List
It’s that time of year again, the holidays are coming, and for most of us that means exchanging gifts. With that in mind, I present this list of great stocking stuffers for the photographer in your life. Like most things in photography, not everything is cheap, but they should fit in a stocking.
I’ve tried to avoid big ticket items, and things that aren’t somewhat self contained. I’ve also tried to keep this as platform agnostic as possible (at least within the big 2).
Most of the things on this are things I’ve either asked loved ones for or gifted to fellow photographers in the past. They’re all things that I find indispensable to have and use.
Indispensable Essentials
In the photographic world there are few things that are both inexpensive and indispensability useful. When you find something that is, it is.
Gaffers’ Tape
I can’t believe I’m listing this, it’s such a staple supply to me, but most of the amateur photographers I know don’t actually own a roll (or 20) of gaffer tape and it’s so damn useful. To be honest, I don’t know where I’d be without my gaffer tape. I get nervous when I don’t have a roll around somewhere.
What is gaffer tape? Think of it like temporary duct tape. However, unlike duct tape, gaffer tape is designed to be removed, and not leave residue when it is. It’s also designed to be easily torn to length, and wide pieces can be torn in half cleanly and easily.
I’ve tried a few verities of gaffer tape over the years, and my preference is definitely Suretape.
Suretape Gaffer Tape
Light stands
Does that special photographer do a lot of studio work? Tablet top shots? Do they simply not have enough arms? Maybe they just need more light stands.
When it comes to having an extra hand to hold a reflector or just support something in general, quantity has it’s own quality. More often than not, I find I can never have too many light stands.
Yes, more expensive stands will be air cushioned, hold more weight, work more smoothly, but when it comes to just holding a sheet of foam board, or a reflector cheap is just as good.
As an aside, a-clamps are cheap and hugely useful when you start needing to clamp to the light stands.
Really Right Stuff flash QR system
Every photographer worth their salt has a quick release system for their camera’s and lenses, but what about their flashes?
Really Right stuff is well known for their Arca-Swiss compatible quick release system for cameras, and lenses; in 2010 they introduced a new QR system aimed solely at flashes. The plates and clamps are considerably smaller and lighter and designed to be paired with off camera cords, or remote hot shoes. And with a touch of modification, they can be mounted to PocketWizard’s FlexTT5 units for easy mounting to light stands.
In the Bag
Think Tank Lens Drop In
Does the special Photographer in your life use a teleconverter frequently? Does he ever complain about how much of a pain putting it on and taking it off in the field is? (If he doesn’t he’s probably just sparing you the rage anyway.)
Enter the ThinkTank Lens Drop In.
Part of their modular belt system, the lens drop in is a small super soft lined pouch with an innovative closing system. The super soft inside allows one to drop a small lens or teleconverter in the bag without worrying about scratching the lens elements. Moreover, the elastic iris-style lid makes it easy to just drop the lens/converter into the pouch or reach in and remove it. Finally, the bag has built in rain cover to help keep the weather out.
For the Lens
Digital may have reduced the need for effects filters, but there are two I still consider useful, if not critical.
Circular Polarizer
Any photographer worth their salt knows that when it comes to getting beautiful skies and stopping horrible reflections a polarizer is a necessary tool. Circular polarizers provide the same contrast enhancing characteristics of a linear polarizer; however, they don’t interfere with autofocus.
Made from a layer of foil sandwiched between two layers of glass, circular polarizers are hard to make well. A good one, like B+Ws Kaeseman polarizers won’t harm image quality by introducing distortion. In short, you get what you pay for.
Singh-Ray Vari-ND Filter
A neutral density (ND) filter attenuates light, allowing a longer exposure during bright daylight hours. You can use them to remove moving obects (like people or cars) from a scene, or to shoot at wide (f/1.4 or f/2) apertures in bright sun while still having reasonable shutter speeds.
In the years since Singh-Ray introduced this, it’s been copied by many companies at varying price points. Though keep in mind, like circular polarizers, you get what you pay for with these vari-nd filters.
For the Camera
Cable Release (with or without intervalometer)
When shooting long exposures, like when using a vari-nd filter camera shake becomes more of a problem. Part of reducing camera shake is by not touching the camera while exposing the image. You could use the built-in timer mode most cameras have, but doing so causes you to lose control over when the exposure is started.
The solution is a cable release.
This handy bit of hardware puts the shutter release on the end of a cord that in turn plugs into the camera. This effectively isolates your movements while pressing the shutter release from the camera removing the little bit of camera shake it causes, while still giving full control over the shutter.
Add an intervalometer; you gain the ability to shoot time laps and long exposure images.
Think Tank Camera Support Straps
From a comfort standpoint, the biggest problem with carrying a heavy camera and lens is that often only the strap around your neck holds the weight.
ThinkTank again has a rather ingenious solution to this. The first part is their camera straps, but include a ring that can be clipped to. The second part is a set of quick release hooks that attach to both the strap’s ring and your backpack’s straps or a shoulder harness. In the end, your shoulders and not your neck, carry the load.
While ThinkTank would obviously prefer that you used their backpacks and shoulder harnesses, the camera support straps will attach to just about any backpack that has a D-ring or webbing loop that fits inside the clip.
Camera Support Straps V2
Books
The Photographers Eye
Photography is about more than just going out with a good camera and pushing the shutter release, and photographer worth his or her salt will tell you that. The trick is understanding what makes good images. For some people it comes naturally, for others it must be learned. Both of these books aim to teach the “graphic” design aspect of composition. That is how color, lines, and position of elements in the image influence the final result.
Michael Freeman’s The Photographer’s Eye is written very much like a textbook, which means it’s dense. However it does a good job of illistrating the concepts it covers, and explaining the principals behind them.
Within the Frame
Much in the fame vein as The Photographer’s Eye, David duChemin’s book Within the Frame, aims to enlighten readers on the finer points of developing and executing your artistic vision. However, unlike The Photographer’s Eye, it’s written in a slightly less dry style.