C.S. Muncy is a freelance photojournalist based out of New York City with a client list that includes The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, The New York Daily News and The Village Voice. As a freelancer, he’s covered such subjects as the BP Oil Spill, the fight for same-sex civil rights, the takeover of the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin and Occupy Wall Street. A graduate of the Defense Information School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2002 and is currently a photographer with the New York Air National Guard.

Lately I’ve found myself checking and rechecking my camera bag, making sure everything’s ready to pick up and go. For the most part, this means making sure I’ve got all my batteries charged, memory cards emptied, that I’ve got my press pass and that I’m carrying at least three lenses. All this seems obvious, but you’d be surprised at how much of my bag is filled with non-photographic equipment. Out of context, much of these items may seem innocuous, but the truth is that Id be hard pressed to work a night without any of it. Every photographer has his or her own particular way of shooting, but I highly recommend considering at least some of this gear if you intend on taking photos for a living.

1) POLICE SCANNER / EMERGENCY RADIO

I was part of a small group of photographers working the city during Hurricane Sandy, and without a police scanner we would have been seriously lost. Or at the very least, we would have been fishing for shots rather than listening in to emergency and first responders as the storm came in. Likewise, when covering the NATO/G8 protests in Chicago and the Occupy protests in New York, the police scanner proved itself a powerful tool in determining where I needed to be. For photographers working in big cities or those who regularly work spot news or emergency scenes, nothing beats having one of these hanging off your hip.

There are also a few iOS and Android apps that connect to police and fire frequencies, but I’ve found these to be a bit spotty. They work by connecting to websites that stream emergency channels, which can change or go down with little warning, and can also eat up your phone’s battery life (more on that later.)

2) KNEEPADS

When covering the Democratic National Convention earlier this year, I was going through the security line when one of the guards made a snide comment about my kneepads. “Going tactical, eh?” he asked with a smirk. And yeah, while it looked silly and absurd, those kneepads ended up the most valuable bit of gear I carried that day. I ended up spending almost eight hours on my knees on an incredibly uncomfortable two by two foot metal step next to the stage. The first night I hadn’t brought the pad and ended up wrecking my knee. I’ll never make that mistake again. You never know how long you’re going to be covering a story, and the very last thing you want to do is end up with a busted limb half-way through.

Also, nothing in the world’s quite as embarrassing as tearing your pants from knee to groin when climbing over a chain-link fence. Trust me on this.

3) PORTABLE POWER PACK

My apartment (and really almost every building south of 36th street) went without power for quite a while in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Nothing is more frustrating than having a ton of great photos, but not having enough power in your phone or laptop to transmit them to your editors. Thankfully, I carry a couple of portable power packs that allow me to keep charged for days. I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping your phone powered- aside from the fact that it keeps you connected to your editors and loved ones, it also keeps you plugged in with social media, shows maps and directions and can, in a pinch, even be used as a flashlight when you’re taking photos knee deep in a flooded basement apartment. You can find great ones fairly cheap online, and some even come with hand-cranks that allow you to charge your batteries, even when the power pack is dead.

4) TRASH BAGS AND ELECTRICAL TAPE

Few things get my heart pounding harder than shooting in a torrential downpour without the means to cover my gear. Once, I literally dumped a trash can in the street trying to find a plastic shopping bag to give me camera at least a basic level of protection (earning me a mean stink-eye from the police detective next to me, and a jacket covered in day-old rice and white sauce.) Now most professional level cameras (like the Nikon D3 or Canon 5D Mark III) have a fairly robust level of weather sealing, but do you really want to put it to the test necessarily? I own a couple of rain-bags, but the best protection I’ve ever had has come from a combination of plastic-bag sections and water-proof electrical tape. This comes with some down-sides (such as the inability to change lenses and making it a bit more difficult to adjust your in-camera settings,) but I find the trade-off to be worth it.

5) BANDANA / HANKERCHIEF

Bandanas are to photojournalists as towels are to intergalactic hitchhikers: there’s literally nothing they’re not good for. It’s great if you’re covering a police scene where there’s lots of pepper spray in the air, or maybe a large fire with lots of smoke. In a rough spot, you can use it to wipe dust and grime off your filter (I wouldn’t wipe down bare lens elements with this. You could end up permanently abrading the glass or damaging the coating.) It’s also great to staunch a bleeding head wound, keep sweat off your camera and the sun off your neck. Be aware though, that when worn incorrectly or with abandon, you will be expected to know how to play an acoustic guitar.

Following an impromptu poll among my photographer friends, I’ve included some of their suggestions below:

Multi-tool/pocket knife
Water
Granola Bars / food
Cash
Lighter
Notepad
Pens
Boots
Headlamp
Hand sanitizer
First Aid Kit
Pepper Spray

Preston Mack is a professional photographer based in Orlando, Florida.
He is a graduate of the University of Miami’s School of Architecture. He shoots for advertising agencies such as Yellow Shoes Creative, The Meyocks Group, Mullen, GSD&M, Carol H Williams Agency, PUSH and Fry Hammond Barr. His corporate clients include Walt Disney World, Southwest Airlines, Pillsbury, GM, Kraft, Hy-Vee, Tupperware and Major League Baseball.
He shoots editorial assignments for magazines such as Reader’s Digest, The Sporting News, ESPN The Magazine and Forbes Magazine. His work has been recognized by the Best of Photojournalism, Atlanta Photojournalism Seminar, Southern Short Course, and the National Press Photographer’s Association. Preston is a board member of the Central Florida ASMP.

Over the past few years, the coolest “techie” thing that I do on set is to shoot wirelessly from my Nikon camera to the iPad. It really is a simple thing, but it really draws in the client and art directors. Allowing the creatives to see the images in real time is a great way to communicate your visual ideas. You know if you are on the same page and can immediately  make changes if necessary.

Since I shoot both the Nikon D4 and D800, I use the Nikon WT-4 wireless transmitter. (The new WT-5 transmitter only works with the D4). I know that the settings are confusing, but I will try to explain it as simply as possible. You can even just copy down my settings if you want!

For my setup, you will need:

- Nikon D4 (or similar Nikon body)
-Nikon WT-4 transmitter, USB cable to camera
-iPad (I am using the Retina display iPad 4)
-Shutter Snitch (available in the App Store)

Step 1:
When the WT-4 is attached to the Nikon camera, you can create and edit the settings for the transmitter under the SETUP MENU / NETWORK.

Network/MODE/Transfer Mode

Autosend: ON
Delete after send: OFF
Send file as: JPG
(Of course, you can change these as you need. This is what I generally use)

Make sure to click OK when done – If you don’t, the settings will not be saved.

iPad wifi setup screen

Step 2:
Now, on your iPad, you will connect to the “nikon” wireless network that you just set up. The iPad’s IP address for “nikon” should be : 192.168.3.101.

Step 3:
Open Shutter Snitch on the iPad. Make sure that you have the correct Username and Port number as you set in the D4 setup menu. (when you first opened Shutter Snitch, it asked you to set a username/password. If you forgot it, delete the app and reinstall. This time, write down what you set!

Shutter Snitch option screen

Now, create a “collection”. You need to be inside a collection in order for the images to transfer to the iPad. The IP address and the port number will flash briefly when you are inside a collection. Make sure they match up with your camera settings

Step 4: 
Verify that you are connected. Check the SETUP MENU / NETWORK on the Nikon body. If the “nikon ad hoc” is highlighted in GREEN, you are connected! Hooray. Shoot your photos!

Accessories:

Wallee connect system

Another question I get is how to connect the iPad to the C-stand. I use the Tether Tools Wallee system. You will need to buy the Wallee Case, Wallee Connect and a Matthews F830. The cases are specific for each generation of iPad, so make sure to buy the right one.

I hope that this helps. Feel free to email me if you have any questions. I know that the new Nikon D600 comes with a $50 transmitter. That sounds awesome, but I do not have that camera yet. Maybe it’ll be easier to set up than the WT-4. Unless Nikon makes a very inexpensive wireless transmitter for the professional bodies, I will continue to use this set up.

It’s that time of the year again! Time to make your photographic gift list in hopes that Santa will bring you everything your camera bag desires. Also, it’s a great time to get your last-minute shopping in before the end of the year so you can deduct the purchases on your taxes!

We decided to ask a handful of our photo-industry colleagues what products they recommend and/or have on their gift list this holiday season. They came back to us with some great recommendations from cameras, lenses, computers, accessories, and subscriptions. Feel free to share some of your gift ideas in the comment section below!

Fujifilm X100

This little digital rangefinder has reinvigorated my personal work. If you are a street photographer, travel photographer, or simply wish you could be a little more discreet, this is a great solution in a fun little retro package.

Luigi’s Premium Cases

These sweet little hand-made cases would be a perfect coupling to the Fujifilm X100 or for the Leica enthusiast. Order early though to insure on-time arrival. Disclaimer: Not sure about the customer service, but it’s still on my list.

MediaStorm Field Guide

Whether you are a student or a seasoned professional still photographer transitioning into video, this guide is a great condensed aggregate of concepts, tips, and examples to use as a foundation for building great multimedia.

Think Tank Photo Bags

Think Tank bags are literally made by working photographers for working photographers. They have consistently developed new bags, cases, backpacks, and rain covers that are smartly designed and take abuse year after year. For a shoot where I’m on my feet shooting all day long, I use the modular beltpack system and add on pieces as I need them. For carrying expensive gear onto an airplane, there is no better set of bags then the rolling “Airport” series. And when I’m falling asleep in the terminal after a long shoot, I use the built-in locking system to attach the bag to my seat.

SanDisk Extreme 64GB CF card

Who can’t use more storage space? With new cameras pumping out bigger and bigger image files, I constantly need more cards. I love the Sandisk cards and the “Extreme” series, while one step below their fastest model, is a good combination of speed and value. It’ll have no problem keeping up with you and 64GB should last you quite a while. If buying this as a gift, make sure you get the correct card since some cameras shoot CF and others are SD.

Lensbaby Muse

For the photographer who has everything, the Lensbaby is a fun addition to their camera bag. They have a series of models now, but the general idea is to create cool effects like an expensive tilt-shift lens or cheap plastic camera. Kind of like Instagram, but for real! I like the original “Muse” model, which is the most challenging and unpredictable. Make sure you buy the correct one for your camera brand.

Fuji Instax 210 Instant Camera

I’ve always enjoyed shooting with instant film, whether it’s expired or new. This camera is a lot of fun to play with and the quality of this film is remarkable. The color and detail is so crisp, it’ll surprise you.

Litepanels On-Camera Series Chroma

I love shooting with natural light and am not big on using artificial light unless I have to. This small, very portable light, however, isn’t cumbersome and adds a soft light when just a touch is needed for portrait shoots.

Kelly Moore Bag

I love these cameras bags. They are made by a photographer and there are bags that look like purses or messenger bags and are great if you want to bring along a flash and extra lens or two. I have the Hobo bag and use it when I want to look a little more professional and classy, instead of a photographer that often sits in the dirt or climbs a tree to get the photo.

Belkin Mini Surge Protector Dual USB Charger

I travel a fair amount and whether I’m at a hotel or my parents home, my wife and I are always looking for plugs to power our laptops and phones. I’ve found this to be a great portable power strip that gives 3 outlets as well as two usb ports to charge up to 5 devices. It’s also a surge protector!

Tripp Lite Power Strip

I’ve been to big venues that have commercial power strips like this and always thought how much I wanted one. Well, I finally ordered it and it’s really made for a much more organized cable situation behind my desk. If you’re into woodworking and power tools, this is great for the garage!

Travel Power Inverter & Charger w/ USB Port

Handy power inverter for your car so you can charge your phone and a camera battery at the same time….or a even a blender!

Best Business Practices for Photographers

Don’t be a great photographer who fails simply because you’re not business savvy. Tips about negotiating contracts, licensing, making the career change from a staff photographer to a freelancer,  surviving an IRS audit,  and more. A must read!

PhotoShelter 30 Day Trial

Listen up… if you’re serious about your photography, you MUST start building your archives through PhotoShelter. Not only is it a wonderfully manageable place to store and make your archives searchable to photo buyers worldwide, but it’s an amazing image delivery tool for your clients whether it be for a corporate gig, a wedding, you name it! PhotoShelter makes it super simple to sell prints and even make a slick portfolio website. My entire business is built around this product. PhotoShelter has been so kind to offer our readers a 30-day trial for FREE… You have no excuse now!

Lensbaby Pro Effects Kit

Lensbaby makes some really nice and inexpensive alternative to the expensive tilt/shift lenses made by Nikon and Canon. This kit gives you two multiple lenses, focal lengths, and a nice bag to carry them all in. Check out some of the reviews here.

ONA Bowery Bag

I’ve had my eye on ONA for a while now because of their stylish designs and hoping they’d make a bag small enough for my Leica kit. Finally they have and it’s definitely on my wish list!

Amazon Prime

I order nearly everything online…and there’s one place I know I can find EVERYTHING from camera gear to toilet paper: Amazon.com. Amazon Prime is really a great value if you order a lot of items online as it gives you FREE 2nd-day shipping on most items…and often items come next day too. Additionally you get access to thousands of movies and TV shows to stream through the website and additionally 1 free book to “borrow” from the Kindle Lending Library. Also, you can give 5 friends the benefit of free 2nd day shipping with your membership!

Lightscoop

This little device looks like a must-have for all the prosumer-camera-toting brothers and sisters-in-law out there. I got one for my own brother to put on top of his Digital Rebel. I can’t vouch for its actual performance, but the design should indicate to anyone with a basic knowledge of how light works that it’s likely to be a vast improvement over direct on-camera pop-up flash for all your kid and pet photography needs.

MacBook Air

I’m beyond tired of hauling my beast of a MacBook Pro around with me when I travel. I’ve been eyeing a conversion to the light side for a while now, and the 13” MacBook Air with the storage, processor, and memory maxed out should suit my road needs beautifully.

Canon 600EX-RT Speedlite and ST-E3-RT Speedlite Transmitter

I bought two of Canon’s new speedlites along with the radio transmitter a few months ago and I want more. As a Canon shooter, it is hands-down the best speedlite system I’ve ever worked with. ILOVEITSOMUCH.

Subscription to PDN

It’s the classiest pan-photo industry magazine.  Unlike some of the other trade mags out there, you won’t be ashamed to display the issues on your coffee table- or in your bathroom.  That’s where all the best reading gets done, after all.

Karsh Book

Yousuf Karsh is the grandmaster of 20th century portrait photography.  I will fight anyone who disagrees.  This book, which features his portraits of the most important people of the century paired with his behind the scenes stories would be a wonderful present for the thoughtful portraitist in your life.  Or me.  Buy me one.

Mophie Juice Pack Powerstation Duo

With photographers traveling with many power-hungry portable devices, don’t be left with a dead battery out in the field. The Mophie Powerstation can recharge two devices at the same time, and is perfect for topping up your iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Bluetooth Speaker, GoPro, mobile WiFi hotspot eor any other USB device. Relatively cheap insurance to keep in the bag at all times.
 

Capture One Pro 7

I rely on Capture One whenever working tethered to Canon or Nikon SLRs, or any number of medium format digi backs. Image quality is outstanding, and it’s a one-stop-shop. Set a look for an image and add a crop, and all subsequent captures will show up with the same adjustments. It can also be used in conjunction with Capture Pilot on an iPad to show images on the tablet just seconds after they’re captured, keeping a client in the loop.
 
LaCie Rugged USB3 and Thunderbolt

This drive is smoking fast. Make a quick backup of images on the spot after a shoot. Move files quickly. If you’ve got USB3 and/or a Thunderbolt port, you’re in for a treat. It’ll eat your FW800 drive for breakfast. Time is money!

Leica D-Lux 6

For a compact camera with pro-level features I’d recommend the Leica D-Lux 6. With a 24-90mm lens that has a maximum aperture of f/1.4 at the wide end, this camera is perfect for low-light shooting. Featuring RAW capture, full manual control with a real aperture ring, HD video, and a built-in 3 stop neutral density filter this little powerhouse delivers where it counts, but maintains a small, sleek form factor.

Leica X2

A true, made-in-Germany Leica, the X2 has an APS-C sized sensor, with a 1.5x crop factor. In fact, it’s the same sensor featured in the well-loved Nikon D7000. The lens is equivalent to a 36mm f/2.8 and is perfect for the travel or street photographer. The Leica X2 comes in black or silver and is simple, elegant, with a no-frills design that emphasizes quick access to aperture and shutter speed controls.

Ninety Nine Years Book

Every photography enthusiast is familiar with the legendary Leica brand, and this new book chronicles Leica’s cultural impact over the past 99 years. Limited to less than 1500 copies in North America, Ninety Nine Years Leica has a collection of photographs and original artwork and makes a perfect gift for a book shelf or coffee table.

Leica Ultravid 10×25 Ostrich Leather Edition

OK I threw this one in just for fun, but it is hard to deny the cool factor of the new Ostrich Edition of Leica’s superb Ultravid 10×25 binoculars. The binoculars come with a matching leather case with the same (simulated) ostrich leather design. They are compact enough to fit in your pockets or the front section of most camera bags. Only 750 of these sets will be made available worldwide!

GoPro HD Hero 3 Silver Edition

Last year my fiance bought me the GoPro HD Hero 2 for my birthday, and it turned out to be one of the most useful tools I’ve ever picked up. Whenever I cover a story where’s there’s the possibility of trouble, I wear it with the chest rig; though it feels like I’m wearing a training bra, does make for some pretty awesome videos. For photographers who shoot in extreme environments, the Hero 3 is perfect. Smaller than the previous models, the camera shoots 1080p30 / 960p48 / 720p60fps video, and 11 megapixel stills in 10 frame bursts. It also has built in WiFi, and can be used with the free GoPro iPod app.

Nikon 50mm 1.8 AF-S

Every photographer should have a 50mm prime lens in their kit. I know of several professional news shooters who often carry nothing more than a couple of primes who consistently put out solid work. The focus is fast and tack-sharp, and the build is surprisingly solid. While the 1.4 version might work better in lower light, for beginners and shooters on a budget, you can’t go wrong with this lens.

Newswear Chest Vest

I picked this item up two years ago, and it’s turned out to be one of the best investments I’ve ever made. Weather resistant and tough as nails, the Chest Vest carries multiple professional lenses and bodies, depending on your setup. I’ve even modified mine to prominently display my press pass. Traditional camera and lens bags tend to get in the way when you shoot with a sling-style strap. Not so with the Chest Vest; and while it may look cumbersome, nothing quite beats having everything you need right in front of you.

Manfrotto 562B-1 Video Monopod

Shooting video on the go, even with the small DSLR’s that are now on the market, can be incredibly difficult. Holding even the lightest camera for more than a few minutes can be incredibly tiring, so I always carry a monopod with me for support. The great thing about this particular model, aside from how insanely sturdy it is, are the feet that unfold at the bottom. They provide enough resistance to keep the camera in place while giving just enough slack to allow you to move and pivot it when you need to.

Eye-Fi Pro 16GB SD Card

Shooting a news scene is only half the battle when it comes to being a good photojournalist; the other half come from being able to file your images faster than the competition. In comes the Eye-Fi SD card. With this card, you can select and upload your images to your phone and instantly send them to your editors. I still carry my netbook with me whenever I go on assignment, but for every day shooting (or the unexpected spot news scene) nothing beats being able to file on the spot.

Spinlight 360

I like the idea of being able to essentially carry a studio’s worth of light-modifiers in your camera bag.
it’s modular nature and rigid body makes it more adaptable to multiple applications than say, the Gary Fong-type attachments.

Leatherman Skeletool

I’ve tried nearly every variation of pocketknife and multi-tool and this is my favorite. It functions as well as any full-size multitool but adds the convenience of one-handed blade opening and is the size and weight of a normal pocketknife. They were standard issue for C-17 crew members.

 
Surfire L4 Lumamax Flashlight

In the 8 years since I bought this light, I dropped it 25′ onto concrete, ran it over with an airplane, and dropped it in 10 feet of water for several hours. It has never failed me. It’s rather expensive for a flashlight but the durability and practicality justifies the expense.

DeFeet Duraglove (WOOL, not coolmax)

American made, durable, warm gloves that you can easily shoot with while wearing and use a touchscreen. They are light and tough and offer just enough warmth to keep feeling in your fingers on most days. The palms and fingers have rubber grippers and there are no seams for added comfort. They run large so I recommend buying a size down.

Petzl E-Light

It’s small, light and comes with a super-convenient carrying case. I wouldn’t climb Mt Everest with it but it’s bright enough for most applications. It’s a perfect light to keep in your bag for general use. The multiple options (bright, half bright, flash, red, red-flash) are incredibly useful and the selector is just big enough to operate with gloves on.

Camera Cufflinks

These camera cufflinks may be a little nerdy, but they’re a fun gift for the male photographer. If you’re a wedding photographer or often have to dress up for formal photo shoots, why not add a geeky touch?

PhotoFlashDrive/Pexagon Custom Flash Drive

There have been times when I’ve had to deliver files to a client on a USB flash drive and I wish I had thought of something like this. I saw the PhotoFlashDrive/Pexagon booth at Photo Plus Expo and I thought their custom packaging and flash drives were the coolest thing. They offer a wide variety of products, from simple custom metal flash drives to wood boxes for flash drives and prints, and more. Their products are high quality and make for a great presentation.

Camerahead Hoodie

Looking for a fun t-shirt that’ll make your friends smile? Try one of the Camerahead tees in the Photo Brigade Store. You can get the graphic printed on tees, hoodies & tote bags! Also check out the women’s version here.

Holga Lens for Canon DSLR Camera

I’ve always been a big fan of capturing images with a decidedly unique look. After all, you’re talking about the Guy (see what I did, there?) who drew odd looks at the Indianapolis 500 walking around with a lensless Canon DSLR, complete with a piece of pin-holed Blackwrap taped where the lens should have been. Finally, manufactures are starting to take notice of such home brew creativity, giving us actual products to produce off-beat images with professional gear. The Holga Lens for Canon DSLR cameras (there is a NIkon version as well) is already on my Christmas list, and with its price of $24.99, it’s more than within the price range of non-photographers to surprise their shutterbug friends!

Life Pixel Digital Infrared Conversion

Keeping in line with my lust for images outside of the norm, infrared conversion services for DSLR’s from Life Pixel make my creative palate salivate! I have an old Canon 10D sitting around that I have long considered having modified. After checking out Life Pixel’s process (along with the sample images presented with their thorough explanation of the process), I just might take the plunge and have my old camera converted as a Christmas present to myself! Choose this gift wisely, however, for depending upon which conversion you choose, your camera will be infrared-only for the rest of its life.

American Cinematographer Magazine (ASC) Subscription – PRINT EDITION

There was once a time where I could head over to my local Borders Bookstore and pick up an American Cinematographer Magazine in person. Alas, Borders is no more, and a fantastic resource for lighting insights has started to slip from my reach. Luckily, Filmtools offers various subscriptions (from six months on up to four years) for a great publication that should be required reading for any photographer or filmmaker, student or professional.

Setwear Combo Tool Pouch

For those who assist photographers or do a lot of hands-on lighting work, a tool pouch is essential. I’ve owned a Setwear pouch for the past six years, and in my role as a theater electrician, it has become a part of my day-to-day operations. I can keep my flashlight, C-wrench, tape measurer, Leatherman, and even my iPhone all within easy reach (critical when you’re high in a lift trying to reach a fixture). Photo assistants will appreciate keeping many of the same tools at the ready, and there’s room to be creative with the various pockets! I often use the tape measurer pocket to store extra tapes / cards and batteries when I’m in the field shooting video.

iTunes Gift Cards

Chalk it up to 17 years of classical piano lessons and my intense love for music, but there aren’t many moments during my workday where music isn’t part of the atmosphere. If you’ve ever seen any of my work (photo or otherwise), chances are I was listening to music during the design or editing process. Music also comes in handy on those long drives to and from distant shoots or shows, making the miles fly by and providing inspiration for creativity.

Bay Photo Metal Ornaments

We love these metal photo ornaments from our friends at Bay Photo. Your images are infused on to high gloss aluminum, choose from seven different shapes (including two seasonal ones).

Woodsnap (wood panel image presentation)

Saw this booth at PPE and stopped in our tracks. Any of your images printed on wood, really striking presentation. They’re archival and for each one ordered, they plant a tree. Yay!

Blurb Books

We love Blurb. super smooth software to put the books together, high quality materials that go into the making of each book, and so many styles and types of books to choose from, you can make something different for each person on your list and still get all the gifts from Blurb.

HyperJuice External Battery for Macbook

The most common denominator amongst photographers alike, is the lousy battery life in our laptops. (PC and Macs are both to blame). Apple took a step back in terms of design when it made the batteries on the MacBooks non-removable. So why not carry a small to medium external battery pack that will keep your laptop charged while you transmit from the field? The external battery comes in four sizes, so pick one that suits your needs. The best part? It also charges your other apple devices via USB, so if you’re looking to be on the road without access to power over span of hours while transmitting, this is a good solution.

LaCie Cool Key 32GB

I know of photographers who carry at least 10-20 gigabytes of their select “Life’s Work” or “Most sellable Projects” around with them on their computer. They store them in their computers and clog up the hard drives and that eventually leads to whining about their computers not having enough memory space. OR photographers who carry valuable and critical documents (i.e. bank account numbers, credit card numbers, identifications, money trail, real personal pictures) on their computers who risk the information leaking out IF their laptops are stolen. Well, why not carry it in a secure thumb drive that looks like a key and made durable enough to withstand a photographer’s swashbuckling body movements?There are so many applications for it especially since it comes with an encryption software – that allows ONLY you to access the files and keep your stuff private. AND you could have a few of these on your key chains. Do the right thing, compartmentalize (and keep private) your most important files.

Xrite EODIS3 i1Display Pro

One of my biggest pet peeve is keeping my monitors calibrated. Sometimes a great picture can be had if a slight tinge in the red channel was removed. If you haven’t quite figured it out yet, this is a MUST HAVE purchase this holiday season. X-Rite is a great company and calibrating your monitor is simple process thanks to their included software.

APC BE550G Backup UPS

If you live in an old post WWII building in Manhattan like I do, then you would be familiar with power surges and flicks going on and off. From first hand experience, this is what ruins hard-drives and corrupts data. This Backup UPS is highly recommended if you’re running network attached storages (or hard drives) and a server computer. It’s not the most fancy UPS you can get, but for the price, it’s a great price per performance if you’re just trying to protect what’s in your home office.  The included software is great for monitoring your UPS battery and setting up a contingency course of action (i.e. shutting your systems down automatically) for when power goes complete out.

Rycote Hotshoe Extender

Who wants more hotshoe real estate when it comes to shooting video? I do. This 6 inch hotshot extender is a great accessory – for mounting wireless mic receivers, shotgun microphones, an audio recorder, etc, etc…. While 6 inches isn’t much, it does open room for options. Extremely handy considering the low price.

Light Craft Workshop Fader MKII ND

Shooting video in broad daylight and getting that shallow depth of field has always been tricky. Enter the Lightcraft Workshop Fader MKII neutral density filter. Not only does this Variable ND filter have applications in video, it’s great for photo work too. (especially if you use lighting in broad daylight and trying to sync with the lights) There are plenty of more established and EXPENSIVE brands out there, like the Singh Ray and B+W, but at the price point (It’s 1/3 cheaper!) the Lightcraft Workshop Fader MKII ND is a great entry level for those who want to experiment with variable ND without breaking the bank account.

Think Tank STUFF IT! Pouch

This has to be the most important pouch in the Think Tank Photo modular belt system. It helps me keep everything (i.e. chapsticks, batteries, credentials, gum, leatherman tool, handwarmers, flashlight, memory cards) in there. It even has a separate zippered compartment that allows easy access to a small moleskine notebook and a pen, so that you can be a zealot with the name-taking during assignments. It keeps everything out of the lens pouches and if you’re a forgetful person, at least it’s all centralized in one pouch. The zipper closure system is great for accessing these items because you don’t have to keep opening a flap or making funny noises with velcro.  It’s definitely a must have.

MindShift Gear is a group of committed professional photographers and product designers who support conservation and protection of our natural resources and planet. Founded by the creators of Think Tank Photo and conservation photographer Daniel Beltra, MindShift is dedicated to building carrying solutions for those who are passionate about experiencing the natural world. Their slogan, “Engage with nature,” challenges people to not only become involved in outdoor activities, but to create a conversation about nature and our relationship to the environment.

The rotation180º professional features something that no other backpack does – an integrated waist pack that rotates out of the lower section to the front of the body, allowing full access to your gear. With the aid of a magnetic buckle, releasing and rotating the waist pack can be done in a few seconds, letting you quickly change lenses, filters, or other accessories.

Traditional backpacks have to be taken off and placed on the ground to fully access your gear. For photographers this is a significant problem since you are taking the backpack on and off repeatedly during a shoot. At some point this process becomes tiresome and inhibits your ability to stay in the creative “zone.”

The rotation180º professional lets photographers maintain their creative momentum when working in the field. Since the backpack does not have to be taken off, the photographer can continue walking, hiking, or climbing, focusing on taking pictures, as opposed to taking the pack on and off. In addition, sensitive camera equipment is less likely to come in contact with destructive dust, mud, water and sand.

Learn more about MindShift on http://mindshiftgear.com

A la carte X2

David Farkas over at Red Dot Forum gives his thoughts on the Leica X2, D-Lux 6 and V-Lux 4 from his visit to Photokina.

Leica is really firing on all cylinders this show. The new M is probably the biggest hit of the show. The S camera has some really solid updates and three new S lenses were introduced. But, these weren’t the only introductions from Leica. There is plenty of compact camera news, too. You, know, for when you don’t want to carry your full kit and just want something to take out to dinner with a group of friends.

Leica introduced the X2 back in May at their Das Wesentliche event in Berlin alongside the M Monochrom (see my full M Monochrom review). The camera was a significant update to the X1 and has been extremely well received (see my full X2 review). Personally, I use it as my everyday camera. All my photos of various Leica staff members were shot with the X2. Unfortunately, it doesn’t focus as close as I’d like sometimes, so I used a D-Lux 5 for all my product close-ups.

Obviously, with the camera just introduced a few months ago, the X2 isn’t due for any major updates. Instead, the X2 is getting some special style treatment for Photokina. First up is the Paul Smith Edition X2. Limited to 1500 pieces and designed by British fashion designer Paul Smith, this X2 is quite boldly styled. With an orange top plate, lime green bottom plate and British racing green leather in between, the look isn’t for everyone, but it is unmistakable for sure. Combined with a handsome tan leather half case, I’m sure this limited edition, being sold only through Leica Stores and Boutiques, will go very quickly.

Continue reading and see more photos on the Red Dot Forum website.

Paul Smith Edition Leica X2

Different leather options

Silver, titanium and black

New 3″ 920K pixel LCD with virtual horizon and exposure info displayed

Leica expert David Farkas of Dale Photo & Digital talks about the first day at Photokina 2012, the world’s largest trade fair for the photographic and imaging industries.

Last night I read every piece of available information in the press kit I was handed on my way out of the Das Wesentliche event, on the Leica website and in dealer releases to get a better handle on the new products before seeing them today at the show. I figured I had a pretty thorough understanding of the new products from a technical perspective, but you never really know a camera until you get your hands on it. How will it feel? Will it perform up to expectations? Well, I got most of those answers today at the Leica booth.

Truth be told, last night was a very late one, with me seeing the sunrise out my window before I could even think of getting into bed for a few hours. So, getting to the show late, I reasoned that it only made sense to look at one product and really understand it, instead of flitting from product to product or booth to booth. I decided with all the interest, I’d focus on the new Leica M.

Coming in the South Entrance to the Koelnmesse, I headed straight to Hall 1 for the Leica stand. Hall 1 isn’t in the flow of traffic like Leica’s regular spot of the past in 2.1. In fact, you have to walk through Halls 3 and 2 to get to Hall 1 and there is no other hall connected. In other words, you wouldn’t end up there by accident – you’d have to mean to go see Leica, not just happen upon it meandering through exhibits. Did this keep visitors down? Not from what I saw. The Leica booth was hopping with activity, but avoided feeling crowded due to the sheer scale of it. Different demo tables were set up around the room with letter designations for the different systems.

Continue reading and see many more photos on the Red Dot Forum website.

Everyone wanted to check out new M

Focus peaking button is in easy reach of middle finger

GPS in an M camera? Yes, please.

Live view on the LCD

Why yes Virginia, there is an optical rangefinder on the M

Nice to have true macro, and the 100 APO really isn’t that big on the M.

C.S. Muncy is a freelance photojournalist based out of New York City with a client list that includes The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, The New York Daily News and The Village Voice. As a freelancer, he’s covered such subjects as the BP Oil Spill, the fight for same-sex civil rights, the takeover of the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin and Occupy Wall Street. A graduate of the Defense Information School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2002 and is currently a photographer with the New York Air National Guard.

Horizon Kompakt

It’s no secret that I’m an unapologetic fan of analogue photography. While digital images can be manipulated to emulate film stock, I don’t believe they perfectly recreate the effect. Likewise with slide film- there’s an intangible element to photographs created on film that I enjoy far more than digital. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking digital- film is just another tool I like to keep in my belt.

So whenever I cover a story, I try to keep a film camera on me in addition to my digital. Usually it’s my Nikon F5 or N90s (or when I want a camera that’ll stop a bullet, my F4s) but lately I’ve started carrying panoramic cameras. With so many news shooters out there I have to do my best to stand out from the rest of the pack.

Horizon Kompakt

I have two panoramic cameras, each with its own characteristics and quirks. The first was a gift from my fiancé, the Russian-made Horizon Kompakt. A modified, simplified version of the Horizon 202, the Kompakt has a rotating 28mm lens with a fixed f8 aperture and two shutter speeds (1/60 and ½. of a second.) Like most Russian cameras, build quality varies from camera to camera. The Horizon Perfekt (a rebranded version of the Horizon 203) is a modernized, ergonomic version with variable aperture and shutter speeds.

Horizon Kompakt

The thing I love about my Horizon is that it’s a simple, fun camera. Essentially, it’s a point and shoot. The viewfinder gives you a good idea of what you’re capturing and it’s light and easy to carry. The glass quality’s fantastic, and produces sharp, contrasty shots. The downside is that it’s not as tough as it could be. After a while my camera began developing some banding issues- streaks of dark and light on the negative where the rotating lens moved inconsistently. It’s at the far edge of the negative, and I can easily crop It out without losing anything; but I like printing full frame, so it’s a little annoying. With no light meter, you’re going to have to guess when you’ve got enough light to shoot (though with two shutter speeds, your options are pretty limited.) I find it produces the best images on overcast days. Another issue (though not necessarily a problem) is that the image can appear warped. This happens if you’re shooting a subject that’s too close, or if you’re camera isn’t perfectly leveled. Sometimes I find this to be a desirable effect, like when I’m shooting a protest. Other times, not so much.

A more recent acquisition is my Hasselblad XPan. This is a 35mm rangefinder, and it can shoot in a standard 24×36 format, or in a panoramic 24×65 format. Unlike the Horizon, this is a professional camera. It’s tough as hell, can mount a variety of lenses (90mm, 45mm, or 30mm) and has a perfect built-in meter. Think of it as a Leica on growth hormones. Similar to Leica’s lenses, the glass quality on the XPan is superb and the images are needle-sharp.

Hasselblad XPan

Released in 1998 and built by Fuji, the XPan soon developed something of a cult status amongst photographers. I love it because it’s small, unobtrusive, and can take great photos in any lighting condition. Also unlike the Horizon, it’s easy enough to mount filters, and there’s no danger of banding issues since it fires with a standard curtain shutter. Because the lens doesn’t move, there’s not nearly so much warping of the image. The only serious issue I have with this camera is the lack of a high speed lens. Each lens starts at f4. So far this hasn’t presented me with any problems, though I do have some concern that it might be a problem when I shoot the DNC later this year.

Hasselblad XPan

A big factor for photographers trying to decide between these two cameras is going to be the price. Hasselblad stopped selling the XPan under its own name(though it was rebranded and sold for a time as the Fuji TX-1 and TX-2) before eventually going out of production. Those still available on the market tend to sell from $1,500 and up. The Horizon series starts at $299 with the Kompakt, and $428 for the Perfekt. For anyone seeking a compromise between the two, you may want to consider the Widelux, a Japanese made panoramic camera similar to the Horizon. I’ve found Widelux cameras available for less than $1000 at Adorama. Because of the rotating lens and accompanying banding issues that can pop up, I opted to spend a little more on the XPan. That’s your call. If you take care of it, the Widelux is a fine, beautifully built camera.

Hasselblad XPan

If you’re thinking of buying a panoramic for work, there’s one thing I’d recommend: know your audience. Because of the time involved in developing, processing and scanning your film, it’s all but useless for day-to-day spot news. Likewise, the image can be awkward to place due to its unusual size. Give your editors a heads up that you intend to shoot in this format.

C.S. Muncy is a freelance photojournalist based out of New York City with a client list that includes The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Newsday, The New York Daily News and The Village Voice. As a freelancer, he’s covered such subjects as the BP Oil Spill, the fight for same-sex civil rights, the takeover of the state capitol in Madison, Wisconsin and Occupy Wall Street. A graduate of the Defense Information School, he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2002 and is currently a photographer with the New York Air National Guard.

I’ve been covering protests and political rallies off and on for almost ten years, starting back in 2003 when I traveled to San Francisco to shoot one of the big rallies against the upcoming invasion of Iraq. As I’ve worked through the years and acquired more gear I’ve learned the value of having everything you need right in front of you. It used to be I carried all my lenses in a National Geographic camera/laptop bag, but in the middle of a rally, with protesters and police yelling and pushing all around you it can be difficult to twist around to grab a new lens. With that in mind, three years ago I picked up the Newswear all weather Chestvest. It sometimes gets me odd looks on the subway, but it’s been one of the best investments I’ve ever made. It has enough pockets right in front of my that I can safely carry multiple lenses and a third body, as well as a half dozen mini pockets that I can carry around extra cards and batteries.

While covering the Occupy Wall Street scene in New York, I’ve had several incidents where people (protesters and police) have grabbed at my press pass, so I recently had my Chestvest modified with an ID card holder and some extra velcro. If I had one suggestion to Newswear, it’d be to add something like this to their regular models.

In my vest, I typically carry:

- Nikon D3
- Nikon D700
- Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 VR
- Nikon 28-70mm 2.8
- Tokina 16-28mm 2.8
- SB-900
- Netbook
- iPhone4
- Respirator or gas mask
- Goggles
- Rain bag (not pictured)
- GoPro Hero2 with chest rig.

It’s that time of the year again! Time to make your photographic gift list in hopes that Santa will bring you everything your camera bag desires. Also, it’s a great time to get your last-minute shopping in before the end of the year so you can deduct the purchases on your taxes!

We decided to ask a handful of our photo-industry colleagues what products they recommend and/or have on their gift list this holiday season. They came back to us with some great recommendations… many from our sponsors like PhotoShelter, ThinkTank, Dale Photo, and AdoramaPix who are all offering some special deals to our readers! Feel free to share some of your gift ideas in the comment section below!

• Robert Caplin

• Robert Caplin is a full-time freelance editorial, corporate, and portrait photographer based in New York City and is founder and co-editor of Photo Brigade.

 

• Thumbs Up for Leica – $126

• I recently got myself my first ever Leica, an M9. Is great, but the camera body itself is rather boxy and doesn’t have great grippage… I opted to purchase this Thumbs Up accessory that slides into the hot shoe of your camera and mimics a film advance lever. It’s super simple and gives your thumb a nice spot to grip the body… I highly recommend if you own the M8 or M9!

• Artisan & Artist Leather Neck Strap for Leica – $129

• One of the things I hate about buying nice cameras is that they never provide you with a quality camera strap… even Leica gives you a cheap one! One of my friends showed me his preferred camera strap for his Leica and now I definitely want one for Christmas! It’s a one size fits all, so none of those awkward adjustable plastic devices…and best yet, it’s leather, so it ages and gets nice and soft!

• Canon S100 – $429.95

• My wife an I have been looking for a simple point-and-shoot and have decided that we’re asking Santa for the Canon S100, the successor to the popular S95, which is a great point and shoot itself. The s100 has a slightly larger sensor, a wider angle lens (24mm vs 28mm), higher quality video (1080HD vs 720HD), and is slightly smaller, among numerous other improvements over it’s predecessor.

• Apple 11″ MacBook Air -$1,139

• I’ve been doing a lot of traveling lately and thought the iPad would be the perfect fix for all my long flights, that was until I saw my first 11″ MacBook Air… I couldn’t believe how small the laptop was… ultra thin, but with the versatility of a computer vs the one-app-at-a-time nature of the iPad and iPhone. It’ll also be perfect for assignments in which I need to transmit on site… No more lugging around the bulky MacBook Pro! I’ve already got one of these suckers on order and cant wait to put it to good use.

• Kindle Fire – $199

• I’m a sucker for murder mystery novels, but I can’t stand lugging books everywhere… I feel it’s a time to go the eBook route. Now with the Kindle Fire not only can you do the eBook thing, you can also watch movies, listen to music… and much more!

• iKlear Cleaning Kit – $18.95

• If you’re anything like me your electronics, especially my monitors and keyboards, get covered in crap… iKlear makes quality cleanser for all your electronics. I was turned onto this product by the Apple Geniuses after a recent trip to the Apple Store.

• PhotoShelter 30 Day Trial – Free

• Listen up… if you’re serious about your photography, you MUST start building your archives through PhotoShelter. Not only is it a wonderfully manageable place to store and make your archives searchable to photo buyers worldwide, but it’s an amazing image delivery tool for your clients whether it be for a corporate gig, a wedding, you name it! PhotoShelter makes it super simple to sell prints and even make a slick portfolio website. My entire business is built around this product. PhotoShelter has been so kind to offer our readers a 30-day trial for FREE… You have no excuse now!

• Think Tank Airport Airstream – $299.75

• I’m a lover of Think Tank products and highly recommend this bag if you’re in the market for a roller bag. It’s the smallest of their Airport Series Rollers line and perfect for a camera kit with a couple of cameras and various lenses, or a small light kit that can carry numerous small-system lighting strobes and up to a smaller ProFoto kits. Check out a recent review I wrote about the Airport Airstream.

• AdoramaPix Photo Book – $14.95 and up

• Gift your friends or relatives a custom photo book of your work, make a photo album from your latest vacation for your loved one, or finally put together a high-end portfolio to send out to clients by using AdoramaPix!

• Mike Isler

• Mike Isler is based in NYC and provides consulting services on photo and video productions. He is also an aerial coordinator and technician for helicopter-based photo and video projects. He’s played an integral role on projects for National Geographic, Goldman Sachs, Cosmopolitan, Accenture, Wired, Condé Nast, the band Evanescence, and many others.

• Eye-Fi Pro X2 – $89.95

• Cut the cord between your camera and laptop or iPad! Using WiFi, the Eye-Fi Pro X2 will quickly transfer images as you shoot so you can instantly share them with others. An iPad serves as a much better display than the back of a camera when others need to see what you’re shooting. The newest Eye-Fi, the Pro X2, can send photos directly to your favorite social media website directly from your camera. To top it off, it can also geotag your location in the pictures automatically!

• Singh-Ray Vari-ND – $390

This seemingly expensive filter is invaluable for video as well as landscape photography. Neutral density filters let one use a wider aperture or slower shutter speed without having to affect other parts of the exposure. Normally, one would have to carry a whole set of various filters for different lighting conditions. The Singh-Ray Vari-ND filter lets you dial in precisely how much neutral density you want, from 2 stops all the way to 8 stops of light blocked. No need to carry a whole wallet of filters any more.

• PocketWizard MultiMAX – $295 each

• These highly advanced PocketWizards give you incredible flexibility and control when working with multiple strobes or remote cameras. Its advanced timing functions enable you to synchronize multiple cameras (to the millisecond), shoot time lapses, do a multi-pop strobe effect, and more…all from over a quarter mile away. Each channel has four zones, letting you decide which group of lights or cameras you want to fire. No more running around to test each flash’s output individually. The MultiMAX lets you decide right from the camera what will fire.

• TetherTools Wallee – $119

• With iPads becoming ubiquitous on photo shoots, it’s important to have a good way to keep them close at hand. The Wallee is a mounting system consisting of an iPad case as well as mounts that attach to tripod heads, C-Stands, SuperClamps, wall mounts, and more. Combine this with the Eye-Fi Pro X2 card (they’re actually offered as a bundle from TetherTools), and you’ve got a fantastic iPad-based photo review tool. The Wallee case’s versatility and smart design make it a great tool for any iPad-owning photographer.

• NewerTech Guardian MAXimus – $249 and up

• Many photographers rely on external hard drives, but aren’t always protected in case of hard drive failure. The Guardian MAXimus from NewerTech is a RAID-1 external drive system, which writes your data to two identical drives at the same time. This protects you from hard drive failure, and also gives incredibly high disk read speeds. It’s equipped with Firewire 400, 800, eSATA and USB3 ports. Prevent data loss, enjoy high speed.

• X-Rite ColorChecker Passport – $99

• Get accurate color every time. Warm or cool your images in camera in a controlled manner. Create a color profile for your camera so it’s always spot-on, and the Passport will slip into a small camera bag pocket so it’s always with you. This color checker is an industry standard for ensuring what you photograph is what gets printed.

• Manfrotto 175F Justin Clamp – $53.90

• Get that flash off of your hotshoe and end the deer-in-the-headlights look. With Bogen’s “Justin” clamp, you can mount your flash anywhere. On top of a lightstand or tripod, to a SuperClamp, or clamped onto almost anything you can imagine. It will also support your flash in a variety of positions on a tabletop or any other flat surface. In addition to mounting cameras, with the right adapters it can be used for GoPro cameras for behind the scenes footage of your shoots.

• idMyStuff and Custom Labels, from Maverick Labels - $9.95 and up

• Nobody wants to lose something, but when we do we hold out hope that we’ll be reunited with it soon. Labels on everything can increase the chances you’ll see it again. Maverick Label makes two great products for marking your gear: the ready-made idMyStuff labels, as well as fully custom labels. Starting at $9.95 + shipping, the idMyStuff labels are a cinch to order and are perfect for labeling a few items. For a bit more customizability, Maverick also offers fully custom labels (http://www.mavericklabel.com/quoter.html) where you can specify the size, colors printed, background, material, and even supply the artwork or logo for the label.

• Josh Lehrer

• Josh Lehrer is a Leica Specialist  at Dale Photo & Digital who works with consumers and professionals alike to make sure that all photographic needs are filled and is also the editor of Red Dot Forum.

 

• Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium – $1,195

• The Leica D-Lux 5 Titanium is a limited edition kit that includes possibly the best compact camera out there today, the Leica D-Lux 5, in a titanium-color finished, and a special leather case. The D-Lux 5 is the perfect camera for the photo enthusiast, combining RAW image capture, full manual control, and a fast, 24-90mm lens that is f/2.0 at the wide end. Only 1,500 of these sets will make their way to the US. The D-Lux 5 excels where most compact cameras fail, especially in low-light situations.

• Leica M9 – $6,995

• The Leica M9 represents the ultimate in 35mm digital photography. It brings together 60 years of Leica M camera design with a full frame, 18 megapixel Kodak CCD sensor and the ability to use just about any of Leica’s legendary M lenses. The M9’s sensor has no blurring, anti-aliasing filter of the sensor and thus delivers image quality previously reserved for the rarified air of medium format cameras. Leica classic design meets modern technology, and it brings us the smallest full frame digital camera ever made.

• Leica Ultravid Binoculars – $2,199

• Do you remember the first time you watched HDTV after years of standard definition? That is the same feeling you will get when you first look through Leica’s Ultravid Binoculars. Fully weather sealed, the Ultravid series from Leica will change the way you see the world. Leica optics have never been better. Every photo-gear head enjoys good lenses and these do not disappoint.

• Gitzo Traveler Kit – $999.99

• Travelling with a tripod can be a pain. Not only are they heavy, but nearly impossible to bring with your carryon luggage. That changes today. The Gitzo Traveler series of tripods fold up small enough to fit in a standard rolling bag, and is sturdy enough to hold over 15 pounds of weight. Super-strong carbon fiber means the Gitzo 2-series traveler weighs only 3.8 pounds but expands to over 5 feet in height. The best tripod is the one you have with you, and you will not leave this one at home.

• Schneider Filter Holder - $160

• Nearly all photographers are familiar with HDR done in post processing, but what if you could do it all in camera? With Schneider graduated neutral density filters attached to a Lee filter holder, you can. With 3 stops or more of graduated neutral density available, the filter holder allows the glass filter to slide up and down to allow for precise adjustment of the affected area. The Landscape Control Kit includes both a holder and a 2 stop soft edge graduated neutral density filter.

• Artisan & Artist Laptop / Photo Bag – $379

• Why does a camera bag need to look like one? Artisan & Artist camera bags are handmade in Japan, and look like traditional messenger bags. The outside is treated canvas, designed to resist the elements, and the inside is well padded to protect your gear. There are plenty of pockets available to store your extras, and a wide, comfy shoulder strap. Their bags come in a wide variety of styles, but for SLR and laptop storage, the ACAM-8000N is ideal.

Charles Ludeke

Charles Ludeke, a recent graduate of the University of Missouri, is a New York-based freelance photographer whose work focuses on storytelling and relationships.
 
 

• Memory cards – $15 and up

• As camera megapixels grow larger, the amount of our memory cards needs to grow as quickly. Especially with DSLR video. Show your photographer how much you love them with a high-performance memory card.

• Rode Video Shotgun Microphone – $229

• Like the video cliche goes, an audience will look at bad images, but they don’t listen to bad audio. Help out your burgeoning video-making photographer with a Rode shotgun mic from B&H.

• LomoKino & LomoKinoscope – $110

• Two words: 35mm movies. Photographers love toy cameras. Photographers love analog. What will photographers really love? This new Lomography movie camera that uses 35mm film!

• Think Tank Photo Gift Certificate

• Don’t know exactly what your photographer wants in a bag? Want to surprise them without asking exactly what they want?
  Get a gift certificate from Think Tank Photo and let them have the pick of the bunch!

• Printer/Scanner - $99 and up
  

• The administrative parts of photography are not our favorite. But getting a printer/scanner and knowing she didn’t blow her last gig’s paycheck to get it? Any photographer would be happy.

• Gloves (Men’s: $21.95 - Women’s: $17.95)
  

• No one likes photographing in the cold. And we certainly don’t want to lose our dexterity.
  Get some gripped gloves so his fingers stay warm!

• LaCie 2TB Hard Disk – $129,95

• B&H is offering this 2TB Lacie hard drive

• I Photo NY Tote Bag – $25

• Everyone loves a great tote. Surprise your loved one with a photographer’s take on Milton Glasser’s classic “I Heart NY” logo.

• Peter Taylor

• Peter Taylor is a commercial photographer based in North Carolina specializing in People, Food, and The Outdoors.

 
 

• Manfrotto ML360H Midi-36 Hybrid LED Panel – $169.89

• Not sure why I want this light, but I do! I can see a ton of different uses for this light. I can’t wait to get it and play around with it.

• 5×5 tri folded promos from Paper Chase – 250 for $311

• Everyone needs promo pieces and leave behinds. These have a much larger impact than a single postcard and the quality is excellent.

• Domke Gripper Camera Strap – $19.89

• I HATE the camera straps that come with the new cameras. No one needs to know which model I have around my neck and Canon isn’t paying me to advertise. Make the thieves work harder to know which model they are trying to grab! I’ve been using these straps and at least one of the ones I use now since 1990!

• Manfrotto 327RC2 Lightweight Magnesium Body Joystick Head – $154.95

• I finally replaced my old tripod after 20 years with a nice set of carbon fiber legs and figured the old 3-arm head could use updating too! I love the ease of using this head.

• Leatherman New Wave Mutli-Tool – 84.95

• Every photographer should have a tool like this. It has saved my ass  more than a few times. Tighten a bolt on the tripod, tighten a screw, cut open a package, clean the dirt out from under your nails, trim a gobo or reflector, fix your car? This can do it all.

• Singh-Ray LB Warming Polarizer, thin mount – $240 and up
  

• Since I started shooting more outdoor sporting activities, this filter has been indispensable! It is on my camera for almost every outdoor shoot I do, esp. when I am around water.

• Professional Organization memberships

• Every one of you should be a member of at least one professional organization. We need groups to lobby on our behalf and on our businesses behalf. If you don’t belong, they won’t exist and we won’t have anyone to be our voice. They all have additional benefits and professional discounts. Sign up today!

• APA – http://www.apanational.com/
• ASMP – http://asmp.org/
• NPPA – http://www.nppa.org/

Jared Wickerham

Jared Wickerham is a freelance sports photographer based in Pittsburgh covering college and pro sporting events for numerous clients ranging from magazines, newspapers, and wires.

 

• Foliobook Photo Portfolio App – $9.99

• Most of us by now own an iPad or iPhone. Instead of sitting awkwardly next to someone (i.e. and editor) while you show them your images on a slow loading computer, hand them your iPad with high res versions of your images ready. No waiting for your images to load and it’s a much more personal and engaging way of showing off your portfolio to anyone! Foliobook is also by far the most professional and customizable portfolio app out there.

• Manfrotto Magic Arm ($95.97) + Super Clamp ($19.95)

• These can come in handy for almost anything from a backboard remote camera to an extra hand when shooting your own family portrait. Make sure to pick up some safety cables at your local hardware store along the way as well if you plan on setting up your camera in high places!

• 1.4x Teleconverter (Nikon: $489.95 – Canon: $309.00)

• Great for sports or news! Keep the local authorities happy while on the scene of a fire without losing a picture. And for sports such as football, you’ll start seeing little moments from a play that you might’ve otherwise missed because you didn’t have the reach.

• Think Tank Modular Component Set – $142.75

• The ThinkTank Modular Component Set is perfect for anyone constantly changing lenses! For those of you who don’t have the money to spend on an extra camera body, this is definitely for you as well. It’s semi-hard case allows for protection of your gear while also staying lightweight.

• Think Tank Pro Speed Belt – $39.75

The pro speed belt allows you to easily adjust and customize the location of your lenses around your waist. And the best part? The pouches are weather sealed and come with a built in rain cover!

• Your Logo – on anything! – $60 (approximately)

• Your local embroidery store can digitize your logo (approximately $50) on a CD. Once you have that file, you can email it to family members or friends and they can have it printed anywhere on things like t-shirts, hats, or your camera bag for around $10 each. So instead of wearing that vintage Metallica t-shirt to cover your local high school basketball game, you can wear a nice collared shirt with your company name on it. It’s much more professional looking than screen printing and will last much longer.