Every winter, plenty of articles appear suggesting cheap gifts for photographers. However, the best presents are those where the giver has carefully considered the wants or needs of the recipient. Furthermore, let’s be honest, they are also where the giver has spent a bit more money.

Those articles inevitably suggest Rocket Blowers and lens cleaning kits. Useful, though they are not that imaginative. However, I always say the best presents do come in small packages. So, whether it’s the upcoming holidays, a birthday, or any other cause for celebration, there are gifts that most of us photographers would like to receive instead of a lens cloth.

There is a problem, though. Good photography gear is something that most of our closest relatives, not being photographers themselves, wouldn’t have a clue about. Consequently, we would need to tell them directly, which spoils the surprise for us.

So, here’s a chance to give a subtle hint. Leave this webpage open on the item you would most like to receive. If it’s not listed, say what you would like in the comments and leave that visible for your loved ones to notice.

Here are a few small but not cheap things that I think many photographers would love.

The Datacolor Spyder X2 Ultra is a super tool that allows you to ensure accurate reproduction of your images. This, or one of the other models in the range, would be a perfect gift for photographers who want accuracy of colors and tones. If you are unsure which model would be best, then my recent article covers which would suit your needs the best.

2. Small Interchangeable Lens Camera

I always thought that it was a slightly ridiculous trend that many professional DSLRs became bigger and heavier when technology was shrinking. With that bulk came less versatility. With the improvements to sensor technology and the switch to mirrorless systems, full-frame camera bodies have shrunk but, thanks to the laws of physics, their lenses are still cumbersome.

The increasing age profile of the population has led to evermore photographers wanting to switch to something smaller and lighter, but still with great image quality and versatility. This has partially been the reason for the boom in sales of OM System cameras.  However, it’s not just the older generation that are seeking more compact system cameras. Younger photographers don’t want to be burdened with bulky gear, but something that they can slip into their pocket or purse. But they still have a viewfinder, advanced camera features, and the opportunity to change lenses.

The smallest and lightest contemporary body and lens system on the market that fits this description is the OM System OM-5. Couple it with its small and excellent range of professional f/4 lenses and it’s a great camera that can pull its weight. If I were buying a new camera for someone who wanted to get into photography, then this would be a superb option because of its ability to be used as a point-and-shoot through to an advanced interchangeable lens camera. Micro Four Thirds has a wealth of compatible lenses, and there are many features unique to the OM System range. Therefore, it’s a fabulous alternative to carry around instead of that cumbersome DSLR.

Although the OM-5 would be my choice, there are alternatives from other manufacturers. If you can find them, there were two cameras worth a look, although they have both been discontinued. First was Fujifilm’s excellent X-E4 rangefinder style of camera, as well as the  Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9.

3. A Lens for All Seasons

Does there ever come a point when you stop needing more lenses? I have every focal length, from 7mm upwards to 500mm (1,000mm equivalent on a full frame 35mm sensor camera) covered at least once.

There’s more to lenses than focal lengths, though. The system I use has a range of f/1.2 prime lenses that I don’t own yet, and I am certainly tempted by the M.Zuiko 45mm F1.2 PRO.

There are lenses that most photographers would want to add to their arsenal. If there’s one you are hankering after, tell me in the comments, scroll down, and leave that comment on your screen for your partner to see! You can make it even easier for them by adding a link to buying it on the B&H website.

If you have not used a professional-grade lens before, then that’s something worth getting. They make an enormous difference to the sharpness and clarity of your images.

There’s more to lenses than speed and sharpness, and I like to play with fast vintage lenses. Although softer than their modern equivalents, they give amazing results. If you enjoy the creative side of photography, then that is something worth hinting at. Many can be picked up for a song, although some rarities are sought after and attract a higher price. If you have an old film SLR hiding in the back of a cupboard, then there are plenty of lens adaptors on the market that will adapt them to most cameras.

There are other curiosities on the market. Lensbaby special effects lenses were all the rage 10 or more years ago, but I don’t hear so much about them as I once did. However, these fun, affordable special effects lenses and accessories can still produce uniquely interesting results.

4. The Difficulty With Giving Software

Software used to come on CDs, and those were great, physical things to wrap up as a small gift. Now, most rely on registration through a website, which means registering the recipient’s email address, which spoils the surprise. However, you can usually register to a different email address and change it later.

If you do this then standalone programs without a subscription are the best option, otherwise, you need to register and pay on the day of the gift. Great subscription-free options include ON1 Photo RAW 2024, ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate, and DxO Photolab 7.

5. A Photography Course to Boost Your Skills

At this time of year, I am inundated with people buying gift vouchers for my training courses. Many professional photographers deliver these either in person or online.

Spending time with a professional on a photoshoot workshop or over Zoom can make a big difference. Check the location of the professional. Most of my clients come to me from a 100-mile radius of where I am based. However, online they come from anywhere in the world, although mostly from Europe because of the time zones being close.

 Many such courses are general and suitable for all photographers. But, as things become more specialized, searching for a photographer who shoots a similar genre or uses the same equipment as you may be advantageous.

6. A Film Camera Is Not Just for the Twentieth Century

Film photography is becoming ever more popular and people are buying film cameras once again. Secondhand and charity shops, flea markets, and online auctions are all places where you can find vintage cameras. If you are lucky, they will come with a superb lens too.

7. A Peak Design Strap Makes All the Difference

Let’s face it, the strap that comes with your camera isn’t the best, especially if you are carrying a big lens or you want to use a tripod on a windy day. Peak Design came up with a fabulous system of using quick-release anchor links that enable you to attach and remove their straps in seconds. 

Apart from their innovative design that others are trying to copy, they are a genuinely environmentally conscious company and not just greenwashing like so many other companies in the photographic industry.

I reviewed the straps recently, and you can read those by clicking here. They are versatile, enabling you to either hand the camera around your neck, across your body, or over your shoulder.

Peak Design doesn’t just manufacture straps but high-quality tripods and backpacks too

8. An Urth Filter for the Earth

I’ve used a lot of filters in my time, but it is Urth that impresses me most. This is not only because they plant trees in rainforests with every purchase, but when I fit their UV filters to protect my lenses, you cannot notice that they are there.

The Plus+ range of filters are their best quality models and are outstanding quality.

9. A Carbon Fiber Travel Tripod

There’s an adage that says that a tripod has three factors and you should choose which two are important to you: stability, weight, and price. There are lots of good quality tripods out there that meet different needs of different types of photography. Because I am using mine to shoot seascapes and landscapes, and I have the camera at a low level.

I use a Benro Tortoise columnless tripod with the GX35 ball head. That allows you to level the camera, then there is an additional panning plate above the ball mount, so I can rotate the camera and the horizon remains level.

There are, of course, plenty of good quality tripods out there, including those from Peak Design.

10. Tell The Readers What You Would Like

All those things above are gear I own or have used and would happily recommend.

I do appreciate there is a cost of living crisis and the things here will be out of the financial reach of many of us; there are certainly things there that I wouldn’t ask my lovely wife to buy me right now. However, it is okay to dream and, at this time of year, make a wish.

You will have different things that you have bought or been given that you thought of as the perfect gift. So, are there small but not so cheap things that you found were good and would recommend to our readers? Are there any small gifts that you would like your loved ones to buy for you? Or something you would buy for yourself? Let’s hear about them in the comments. Remember to leave that comment visible on the screen as a hint to others.

The last five years have been a real whirlwind for the photo industry. What have been some of the biggest changes? This great video takes a look. 

Coming to you from Leigh & Raymond Photography, this interesting video examines five ways photography has changed in the last five years. One of the standout trends discussed is the mirrorless camera revolution. While DSLRs haven’t disappeared, the focus has clearly shifted towards mirrorless technology. This shift is not just about the reduced size and weight of these cameras; it’s about the technological advancements they bring. These cameras have brought revolutionary features like electronic viewfinders, which provide real-time image previews – a massive advantage for photographers aiming to nail their shots in-camera. The adaptability of mirrorless cameras is another notable aspect, allowing for a broad range of lens compatibility, from cutting-edge mirrorless lenses to classic DSLR and even vintage lenses. This versatility opens up creative possibilities and is a testament to the inclusive direction the photography industry is heading.

The video also touches on the resurgence of interest in film photography. Despite the convenience and advancements of digital technology, many photographers are revisiting film, driven by a desire for a more tactile, intentional photographic process. Leigh discusses acquiring film cameras like the Nikon F6 and FM3A, highlighting the distinct aesthetic and experiential qualities film photography offers. This trend suggests a nostalgia and appreciation for the craft’s roots, providing a counterbalance to the fast-paced, technology-driven modern photography landscape. We’ve also seen that in many of the retro-inspired mirrorless camera designs of late. 

Certainly, it’s been a wild few years. Check out the video above for more interesting insights. 

Article & Photography by Diane Fleischman

Fans of all ages surrounded the ringside for Ring Wars Friday night at Wind Creek Event Center. The evening started out with several categories before the main event, Light Heavyweights, Super Flyweights, Cruiserweights, and Super Featherweights.

The excitement continued to build as the Main Event began. In the first fight, the Welterweights, consisted of 6 rounds, Thanjhae Teasley of Allentown defeated Xavier Madrid of New Mexico. The next fight in the same category, Gustavo Morales, another Allentown favorite, clobbered Antonio Allen of Philadelphia.  Fans were ecstatic for this win.

The Super Welterweights fight challenged Travon Marshall against Roudly Lolo, and Marshall won the fight.

Shamara Woods, a crowd favorite from Allentown, battled Michaele Nogue, from Egg Harbor, NJ in the Super Lightweights category, the crowd was upset over Nogue’s win, as they booed the judges.

James Bernadin of Lancaster, PA,  pounded to victory over Osvaldo Morales in the Lightweight category.

In the Middleweights, Jarrett Hurd crushed opponent Tyi Edmonds.

It was a great night for boxing at Wind Creek Event Center, a well organized production by Kings Promotions we look forward to their return for another show.

LAC LA BICHE – Local wildlife photographer Donna Feledichuk is OK when it comes to waiting. She’s spent hours waiting for just the right moment, the right lighting and the right angle to snap what have become award-winning images. She’s sat in frozen grasslands waiting for frost-tipped moose to enter just the right sunbeam, and she’s crawled along riverbeds to capture feeding pelicans floating among the bull-rushes. So waiting to see if her latest submission will win her a Travel Photographer of the Year award is all part of the process.

If she does win, it will be the latest addition to a collection of accolades the Lac La Biche photographer has captured recently.

This past summer, Feledichuk was the winner of a nation-wide photo contest for the Journal of Wildlife Photography. She is the grand prize winner of this year’s Nature Canada’s photo contest, selected out of 7,300 entries, and she has also made it into the top five in the 2023 Nature Photographer of the Year award in the portfolio category, a contest that had more 21,000 entries.

The married mother of three, whose day-job is a senior administrator at Portage College, says her passion for photography is a passion for the environment, for nature and for wildlife.

She uses her images and her experiences to bring awareness to the various types of wildlife living in the Boreal forest, a place that holds a special significance for her.

“It is the last great forest on earth, and it is my home,” she tells Lakeland This Week, explaining that she is outdoors with her cameras as often as possible.

Before and after work on most days from springtime until late fall, Feledichuk can be found trekking through local forests and back-county, finding and photographing the various animals that have made this natural habitat their home. During the winter months, when sunlight is at a premium — and mostly used up during the workday — she usually only gets out on weekends.

Foxes and bears and Owls, oh my

Feledichuk has captured award winning images of bears, elk, foxes — enough foxes that she produces an annual calendar comprised entirely of the animals — birds, elk and just about everything in between. Some of her favourites are of the Great Grey Owls that she finds in the trees near her rural home. Not all of her photo locations are within the region. When the married mother of … goes on family trips, she brings the camera. On a recent trip to Jasper while she was on an excursion with other photographers, she captured a rare sighting when a pair of bull elk began clashing antlers. While it was a stunning encounter with nature, it quickly became a dangerous one as well. 

According to Feledichuk, the fight attracted three more large bull elk. Very quickly, the people she was travelling with found themselves caught between the two clashing animals and the others.

“We slowly backed our way out of that situation,” she said, explaining that how close she gets to an animal depends on the animal and the situation, but as a rule, she’s never too close as to disturb their behaviour.

The art of photography involves a lot of planning and thought, she says. Simply having the right equipment — she shoots with a Canon R5 that 90 per cent of the time has an RF 400mm f2.8 lens mounted to it — is only a portion of the craft.

Feledichuk usually visualizes what she is trying to capture in her mind before heading out into the wilderness. If she is looking for moose one day, she will have a “shot list” in mind of the type of photo she wants, as well as the setting. This, she says, is a significant part of the process and dictates where she goes to find those shots.

Feledichuk’s passion for photography was kindled when she picked up her first camera at age 19. At the time, she was primarily into travel photography and documenting her trips abroad with her family.  As her kids got older, she began going out more by herself to capture landscapes and sunsets.

It was during one of these nature photo shoots that a deer just happened to come close to where she was standing, causing her to focus her camera at the animal instead of the background. 

“I pretty much became hooked on wildlife photography after that,” she explained.

Sharing her skills with others

While Feledichuk still primarily does wildlife photography for her own enjoyment, the award-winning shooter has also turned her hobby into a business, not only selling photos, but also teaching her craft to others.

She offers both in-person and online workshops. There are one-on-one workshops where clients set the agenda on what they want to work on. She also offers the occasional group workshop.

“I have a steady uptake on the one-on-one workshops usually online and have worked with people across Canada and the US,” she said. “Usually, the people I work with enjoy being outdoors and taking wildlife photos but want to level-up their work and are just starting to consider angles, lighting and background.”

Feledichuk is continually improving her craft. She says some of the best photos she has ever taken have usually involved a great amount of patience along with extraordinary light. This includes a series of backlit fox kits she took this past spring as well as a grizzly at sunrise taken a few years ago during a trip to the mountains.

Her work has been featured in various publications in Canada and abroad, both in print and online, including Canadian Geographic, Nature Canada, Canadian Wildlife Federation, BBC Wildlife, the Sunday Times (London), and North American Nature Photographers Association Expression Magazine.

Feledichuk explained that most of the time, her photography finds its way onto the pages of magazines due to an entry in a photo contest that is featured. However, sometimes, editors find her work on social media and then reach out.

Another source is her work as part of the Canadian Conservation Photographers Collective. This group, she says, is comprised of Canadian wildlife photographers and videographers who use their work to highlight conservation efforts.

Feledichuk’s work has been featured as part of campaigns organized by this group.

After enjoying photography for almost all of her adult life, and as she now waits for the results of her latest contest submission, Feledichuk says her success in the industry is based on the same fundamentals she uses on each photo shoot.

“I have spent considerable hours sitting in one spot just waiting for the right moment. If you do not have patience, you will not be successful.”

Feledichuk’s images and more information about her photography are also featured on her own social media page.