Holiday

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The Official 2012 Photofocus Holiday Gift Guide – The Top 10 Gifts We Recommend For The Photographer In Your Life

Posted by scottbourne on November 28, 2012
Posted in: Opinion, Reviews, Technique & Tutorials. Tagged: , , , , , , .

If you have a photographer in your family, or if your significant other is a photographer then in many ways, you have it made when it comes to holiday gifts. There are so many cool products out there that photographers will love.

Everything on this list is something I myself have used or owned at one time and can highly recommend. Companies can’t pay to get on this list. I’m suggesting things I myself would like to receive – but don’t buy me any of these items because I already have them! :) (All prices approximate and subject to change.)

Without further ado, here are my picks – in no particular order:

LOW PRICE

1. Shooter: Combat from Behind the Camera

The one book every photographer you know should own. By one of my favorite photographers.

2. SpinLight 360 EXTREME Modular Flash Diffuser System

I’ve promoted and used many flash modifiers during  my tenure here at Photofocus but I am throwing the old ones away because I can’t think of anything that tops the Spinlight 360 System. It comes with 2 Full Domes, 1 Half Dome, Snoot, 4 Bounce Cards Also Includes 3 Gel Disks & 1 1/2 CTO Gels. It works better than anything I’ve tried and offers professional-quality solutions at a pro-sumer price.

3. A subscription to Kelby Training

This is the gift that keeps on giving all year long. A one-year subscription is $199 – use the code KTSBA12 to save $20 off that price – making it an absolute steel. This is the best photo education on the market at any price.

4. Lensbaby Spark for Canon

Lensbaby Spark for Nikon

I’ve owned every single Lensbaby product. But for some reason, their newest (and cheapest lens) is my favorite. It’s fun, it builds imagination, it improves your ability to get something cool in camera and it’s $80. Every photographer should have one of these.

5. Carry Speed FS-Pro Camera Sling Strap

I reviewed this strap here on Photofocus. It’s the best sling strap on the market period. For photographers who want to shoot from the hip there is nothing better.

$79

MEDIUM PRICE

6. Think Tank Airport International V 2.0

Hands-down my overall favorite camera bag. It’s tough, it’s small, it’s relatively light considering how much gear it can hold. In a pinch you can check it. It rolls so it saves your back. And it has the best zippers on the market. It’s the bag you’ll see me with 85% of the time.

$370

7. GoPro Hero3 Black Edition

This little camera does amazing video, stills, time-lapse, stop motion and 4k HDMI out. It’s for people who need a tiny camera they can install in places like surf boards, race cars, fighter jets, etc., and capture first person action. It has many other uses as well. The small size should not fool you. It provides pro-quality output and works with a broad variety of accessories.

EXPENSIVE PRICE

8. The LitePad Loop Pro Kit is an all-in-one ring light solution that will help portrait photographers achieve that Maxim Magazine look anywhere, indoors or out, with or without a nearby power source. It’s simple and flexible and my favorite ring-light solution ever.

$1099

9. 2013 Alaska Bald Eagle Workshop

Okay this one seems self-serving but seriously, if you want to go all out and give a photographer the kind of gift that will cause permanent joy, nothing could be better than getting them a seat on my last field workshop ever. It’s a trip to Alaska and I guarantee anyone who comes portfolio-quality images with nothing more than a 70-200*. We will get VERY close to the eagles and the workshop is located in one of the most beautiful places on earth. *Assuming the workshop participant knows how to properly operate their camera.

$3800 plus travel

10. Canon EOS 5D Mark III 22.3 MP Camera W/24-105mm Lens

This was our pick for Photofocus Camera of the Year. It’s one of the most amazing cameras I’ve ever used. With kit lens (a good one at that) it’s very expensive, but it’s a pro-quality body and it’s the kind of camera someone who’s thinking of going pro dreams about.

$3699

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Happy Holidays From the Staff at Photofocus

Posted by scottbourne on December 24, 2009
Posted in: Site Info. Tagged: .

We can’t believe another year has come and nearly gone. Photofocus got it’s re-birth just a few months ago, in April when we ported all the content from the old TWIPPHOTO.COM site to this location, re-branded and began adding new posts here. But what is new is actually old. Many of you might not realize we’ve been publishing photo information at this URL since 1998. It’s been a long journey and lots has changed since then. But one thing has remained the same, it’s still all about photography.

So far, there are more than 1050 posts on the site. Our traffic has nearly tripled since April and we’ve consistently had posts (as in nearly weekly) in Word Press’ Top 100.

The Photofocus podcast has continued to mature and grow. Our audience has grown significantly since our launch, and grown 25% in the last two months with the addition of rotating guest hosts.

We’ve sponsored or been involved with contests giving away tens of thousands of dollars worth of gear. We’ve instituted our Emerging Photographer of the Year Program in an attempt to gain exposure for up and coming photographers.

It’s all hard work and we are proud and lucky to have the help of many tremendous guest contributors. We’re also fortunate to have great sponsors who help defray the massive hosting and bandwidth costs we encounter serving such a large audience.

We’re also thankful for support from our past sponsors, industry leaders, manufacturers and even some of our competitors. We all seem to have similar goals – i.e., to help you become better photographers.

And that brings us to you. Of course we couldn’t and wouldn’t do it without you. We appreciate all the questions, the positive feedback and the degree of engagement we have with our audience as a result of this site, the podcast, our Flickr group and our Twitter stream.

We hope you all enjoy the holiday season and we look forward to a prosperous 2010. We will continue to do everything in our power to keep Photofocus valuable, fresh, informative, educational and every once in a while, entertaining.