I personally think the best gifts are things that can help the recipient with whatever they’re passionate about.
With photographers though, people sometimes think that it's a new camera or lens that will satisfy, or are only options they have to make their friends happy.
Fret not, my somber, thoughtful reader, for here is a list to help you in your Christmas quest for that techie photographer in your life.
A quality camera bag
Thoughtful gifts for photographers can also mean providing care for their precious investment.
Made from water repellent canvas with leather accents, the Gouache Harvey stands out with its low price-point while also blending in with its urban-vintage design that doesn’t scream “camera bag.”
It can fit one full-frame DSLR and a prime lens, a wallet and a few more small things.
Gouache Harvey Bag - P1,900 ($40) from Henry’s Professional
Handstraps!
Henri Cartier-Bresson said that the first 10,000 photographs are the worst, so what better way to get them through that slump than with a handstrap?
It makes you shoot more because the camera will always be on hand (pardon the pun) even during idle times. Another advantage is that, when you're in a crowded locale, you can be certain that the camera will stay with you, instead of hanging on your neck, banging against other people (or other things).
If you want to have a little freedom but still keep the camera at bay, the wrist strap is the best choice.
Blackrapid Wrist Strap - Php1,090 ($23) from Filters-Exchange (excluding the FastenR)
Ciesta Leather Hand Strap - Php1,890 ($40) from Henry’s Professional
A memory card case
Your photographer friend might put his memory card in a separate pocket in his camera bag or in the plastic packaging it came with, leaving it open to damage or wear and tear from the elements or the effects of a bad fall.
Card cases, such as the JJC memory card case, will protect the card – and those precious photos – from impact and water damage, ensuring that shoots go as planned, without any untoward loss of data.
JJC Waterproof Memory Card Case – P550 ($12) from Filters-Exchange
Inspire with some Photography books
National Geographic photographers are heralded as some of the best in the world. Getting Your Shot gives a glimpse of their mindset when they take some of their amazing shots, with some some tips and other lessons for photographers of all levels.
That said, newcomers to photography and intermediate-level photographers may prefer more instruction to improve their craft. Bryan Dilg’s 30 Second Photography is a great gift. He explains the 50 most important aspects of the art form, providing sample images to support the base ideas.
Getting Your Shot– P898 ($19), Fully Booked
30 Second Photography– P745 ($16), Powerbooks
Grab an On-The-Go (OTG) USB drive
If you don't have enough space on your smartphone for your portfolio when a potential client comes, there's a nifty solution for the tech-minded: An on-the-go USB flash drive).
The OTG flash drive from Transcend removes the hassle of deleting files and replacing them with our quality shots by simply attaching to your Android smartphone, providing access to your photos at a much better resolution.
Transcend Jetflash 16GB OTG USB– Php750 ($16), EchoPhoto
With these gifts in mind, here's to hoping your photographer friend can spare a moment to capture an epic shot of their new gear and of you, the friend who remembered their passion. Enjoy the holidays! – Rappler.com