Rick's List: Top 10 Gift Picks for Photographers

Looking for a holiday gift for the photographer in your life? Here's my top ten gift picks.

1) Plug-ins. Plug-ins help photographer's awaken the artist within, as well as helping them make the cleanest possible picture with maximum detail in shadow and highlight areas. The opening image for this post was created with Nik's HDR Efex Pro and Topaz Adjust. Save on plug-ins on my Plug-ins page.

2) My Light Controller and Tote. If you take people pictures, my Westcott Light Controller and Tote will help you control the light with a reflector, diffuser and an flash diffuser - all in a handy tote. Check it out here.

For examples of how I use it, see my Kelby Training class: Light - the main element in every photograph.

3) BlackRapid Straps. These rugged camera straps provide the fastest and most secure way to shoot. Yes, it does take a while (about a minute) to get used to seeing your camera hang upside down, but once you use this strap, you'll never go back to a conventional camera strap.

My two favorite BlackRapid straps: BlackRapid Metro Sling Camera Strap and BlackRapid RS DR-2 Double Strap.

4) ColorMunki. Hey, you spent a few bucks on your camera system and printer, so you must be serious about getting good color - your color or accurate color.

The ColorMunki helps you do just that.

The ColorMunki helps you calibrate your monitor, laptop, printer and even your projector - in a matter of minutes. Info here.

5) Tiffen 2-8 Stop ND Filter. An ND (neutral density) filter is THE most important filter for landscape photography. it reduces the amount of light entering the camera so you can use long shutter speeds to blur moving water, as I did for this waterfall picture that I took in Iceland. Here's a link to the one I use, but your filter diameter may be different.

My Tiffen 2-8 stop ND filter blurred the water beautifully in this scene.

6) Canon Pixma Pro10- Printer. If you want the ultimate in 13x19-inch prints, this printer is for you. It features a new 10-color LUCIA pigment ink system with three black inks for awesome color and black and white images.

For media support, the PIXMA PRO-10 features two paper trays. A rear tray for a variety of fine art and glossy photo papers, and a manual slot for thicker media to meet your printing needs.

Oh yes, the Pixma Pro-10 is wireless, too! Read more here.

7) Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ball Head. All I can say about this ball head is this: you've tried the rest, now try the best.

Combine this ball head with sturdy RRS tripods, and you're all set for super sharp shots at long exposures - such as the 30-second exposures I make at the Very Large Array during my recent Bosque Del Apache workshop with Juna Pons.

Info on the Really Right Stuff web site.

If you work with the folks at RRS, you'll find that they are passionate about photography - because they are passionate photographers themselves.

8) Canon Pancake Lens. No kidding, this is what it's called. This 40mm lens is a must-have for Canon shooters.

It's relatively flat, like a pancake. At f.2.8, it's great for low light shooting. It's design lets you shoot at close distances. With a circular aperture, it produces a soft background (if you want). At $149.00 it's a bargain.

9) Eye-Fi Pro X2 16 GB WiFi Card. I first saw this cool card this year at Photo Plus Expo in NYC.

You can instantly upload directly from your camera anywhere with the Eye-Fi Pro X2 16GB. Experience Class 10 read and write speeds coupled with built-in wireless transfer capabilities.

Order here for your New Year's Eve Party - or for your next shoot in your studio.

10) Photography workshop. Gear is great, and it can help you make better pictures. But for learning and growing, there is nothing like a workshop - where you get hands-on training and personal attention. I have about a dozen set for 2013. Check 'em out on my Workshops page.

Need some more gift ideas? See all the gear I use and recommend on my Gear Page.

Happy Holidays and Happy Shooting,
Rick

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Need an Awesome Digital Projector?

Need a projector (with two bulbs) for your camera club, home or office? I'm moving up to a new Canon digital projector and I'm selling my used Canon SX50.

Case and all cables included. Cost: $900 with shipping. Shoot me an email. US shipping only.

Whose Reality Are You Interested In Anyway?

“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.” – John Lennon

When I teach a workshop or give a seminar, I often ask the photo workshop or seminar participants, “Whose realty are you interested in anyway? Yours or another person's perception of reality?”

I go on. I ask, “Do you want to get the sharpest, most realistic image, or do you want to create your own reality in Photoshop, perhaps using plug-ins to produce a one-of-a-kind image?”

Most often, the photo workshop participants go for the strait shot. But I’m thrilled when someone wants to experiment and express his or her creative vision.

I created the image that opens this post in Photoshop. The image below is a straight shot. I took the images in Bosque Del Apache, New Mexico.

One method for creating a creative image is to remove some of the sharpness from a scene. When you remove some of the sharpness, you remove some of the reality, and when you remove some of the reality, you often get a more creative image.

I removed the sharpness from the image with the Midnight filter in Nik Color Efex Pro. (See my Save on Plug-ins page for info on all the plug-ins I use).

The opening image is a composite of three images: the sandhill cranes, the moon and the mountains are all from different files. Creating composites is another way to create your own realty.

Getting back to Nik, I used the Detail Enhancer filter in Color Efex Pro to bring out the detail in the moon.

Get this: I’m writing this post on an airplane at 30K feet. The guy sitting next to me looked the opening picture and said, “Wow, that does not look like a photograph, it looks like a painting.” I said thank you, and told him what someone said about a similar shot that I showed at a seminar. He said, “I don’t like that picture. It looks like a painting.”

The next time you are working on an image, think about the reality that you can create with that image – and create the reality you see in your mind’s eye.

I hope to see you on one of my photography workshops. I teach photography and Photoshop. I can help you create your own reality on your computer monitor. Of course, I can also help you get the sharpest possible images in the field.

Hey, that gives me an idea: Maybe I should run a “Create Your Own Reality” workshop. Or maybe I can talk my friends at Nik Software into a webinar on creating your own reality with Nik plug-ins. Interested? Shoot me an email.

And, I’d love to hear your thoughts on your photo reality. Post ‘em in the Comment here. If you want, include a link to a creative image. To post a comment, you need to go back to www.ricksammon.com - for now.

By the way, one “rule” in wildlife photography is to have some separation between the animals so that the animals stand out clearly in the frame, which is not the case in the opening image for this post. However, if you look closely, you’ll see that all the heads are separated.

In addition, the opening image tells the story of how close the birds fly to each other. 

It’s good to break the rules. These images of small heard of elephants that I photographed in Africa tells the story of how the adult elephants protect their young. Not much separation here.

I guess the message of this post is this: Follow your heart and create your own realty, maybe while listening to a John Lennon song on iTunes.

If you like stuff like this, you can subscribe to my blog here.

Explore the light,
Rick

This post sponsored by Adorama - great gear at great prices. Check out their awesome Holiday specials on Canon lenses and Speedlites. Click here for info.

2013 Photo Workshop Schedule Set

I just put the finishing touches on my 2013 photo workshop schedule. Lots of photo opportunities for you to make - rather than just take - meaningful photographs. And plenty of time to process your images in Lightroom and Photoshop.

To find a workshop for you, click Workshops on the left or click here.

Speaking of workshop, there is a big difference between a workshop and a photo tour.

- Workshops: Designed to get you the very best shots from dawn to dusk. Getting up at 3 AM is no prob.
- Photo Tours: Leave at 9 and set your day around meals.

- Workshops: If you are driving and see something good, stop and shoot.
- Photo Tours: Keep on driving.

- Workshops: Usually cars or 4W drive vehicles.
- Photo Tours: Bus tours.

- Workshops: Hands-on training - daily - by the instructor or instructors.
- Photo Tours: You are on your own.

- Workshops: Photo reviews almost daily.
- Photo Tours: No reviews.

- Workshops: Photoshop and Lightroom advice and help.
- Photo Tours: Computers are not even required.

- Workshops: Group slide show.
- Photo Tours: Only show is to show up for dinner.

- Workshops: Leave on-time for sunrise.
- Photo Tours: Who cares if you are late?

- Workshops: Briefing on each location as to lenses, settings, etc.
- Photo Tours: Very little suggestions by leaders.

- Workshops: Instructors ask you how you are doing.
- Photo Tours: Leaders are there only as tour guides.

- Workshops: If you find something really cool to photograph, the groups changes plans so all can get great pictures.
- Photo Tours: Get to the next stop.

- Workshops: Instructors share their shots on their camera's LCD monitors so others can see and learn.
- Photo Tours: Instructors are often first on the spot.

I hope to see you on one of my workshops someday. See this facebook page to see the work of some of my recent students.

If you like the stuff you see here on my blog, you can subscribe here.

I tell people that my specialty is not specializing, because I like to do it all. However, if you like to specialize in wildlife photography, I can help you with your photography. Please see my On Safari gallery for some of my favorite images.

If you like stuff like this, you can subscribe to my blog here.

Explore the light,
Rick

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This post sponsored by Adorama - great gear at great prices. 

Chasing the Light - Enhancing the Light

Getting up early to catch a sunrise is the norm on my photo workshops. Staying out late for sunset is also the norm. Sure, the photo workshop participants get a bit worn out by the end of the workshop, but they walk away with some spectacular images.

They ask me how I do it on all my photo workshops. I tell 'em, "I can sleep when I'm dead!"

At sunrise this morning on my Bosque del Apache, New Mexico workshop with Juna Pons, I was thinking about dedicated photographers, that we all chase the light, from morning until night. We'll do almost anything to be in the right spot at the right time to get the best light. It's kinda cool.

But dedicated photographers are also light enhancers. That's relatively easy to do in Photoshop and Lighroom, as well as with plug-ins.

For example, my original file for this image was good, here's how I enhanced it:
• increased the saturation in Camera RAW.
• increased clarity in Camera RAW.
• Used Shadows/Highlights in Photoshop to open up the highlights.
• Use the Detail Extractor in Nik Color Efex Pro to bring out more details.

I teach all this stuff on my workshops. I hope you can join one someday soon. Get some rest before you leave home :-)

On line, I talk about the importance of light in my Kelby Training class: Light - the main element in every photograph. Info on that class is on my On-line Training page. If you like that class, you'll like my class on Composition - the strongest way of seeing.

About the image: I took it with my all-time favorite Canon lens: Canon 24-105mm IS lens, which was mounted on my Canon 5D Mark III. All my gear is listed on my Gear page.

If you like stuff like this, you can subscribe to my blog here.

Explore the light,
Rick

This post sponsored by Adorama - great gear at great prices. 

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