Holiday Gift Ideas for Photographers from David Marx at TheLightroomLab.com
The season of gift giving is here again! I decided to come up with some gift ideas that would make me happy for this year’s list. Over the past year, I have grown very interested in star trails, night time, and time-lapse photography. Here’s a short sample from one of my recent star trail time-lapse experiment. I hope you like it. I sure had fun shooting it.
Lake Alva Montana Star Trail Time-Lapse Photography from David Marx on Vimeo.
So this year I made two gifts lists. The first set are all useful gadgets for time-lapse and night photography. The second set of gift ideas are just general items related to my love for digital photography. I hope these list help you find the perfect gift for your loved ones this holiday season.
Time-Lapse Photography Related Gifts
Black Diamond Gizmo Headlamp
Stumbling around in the dark is dangerous. Put one of these tiny lightweight flashlights on your head instead! A good simple headlamp is a wonderful gift for anyone, but its mandatory equipment for anyone who wants to photograph at night.
Kaiser Hot Shoe Bubble Level
I have been needing a bubble level that attaches to my camera for a long time. These little gizmos are super handy when you are photographing landscape images where the horizon needs to be straight. For star trails and night photography, when its too dark to see the actual horizon, these things are absolutely essential.
Canon TC80N3 Timer Remote Control
A programmable remote timer, and a sturdy tripod, are the essential tools for any type of time-lapse imagery. I picked this intervoltameter since I am a Canon user, but there are equivalent products for all the major camera brands. Basically, you teach the timer to shoot frame after frame for you. One of these gizmos sure beats staying up all night just to click the camera’s shutter button every thirty-seconds.
Other Photography Related Gifts
B&H Gift Card
B&H has everything a photographer could ever want. Their online store is incredibly huge. I know that gift cards are not super personal, but this is a guaranteed winner for any photographer on your list. Gift cards are available in denominations ranging from $20 to $1000.
Botanical Dreaming: Using Photoshop, Your Camera, and Your Heart to Create Inspiring Images
Mark S. Johnson’s images always inspire me. We often promote Mark’s Photoshop e-books on this site. Scott and I agree that his books and classes are a fantastic way to learn Adobe Photoshop, but an e-book is hard to gift wrap and put under a tree. This physical book, though, is a gorgeous gift for anyone with an interest in macro photography and the creative side of Photoshop. Everyone I have ever shown this book to loved it.
The Blackberry Farm Cookbook: Four Seasons of Great Food and the Good Life
Yes, a cookbook is on my gift list for photographers this year. The pictures of farm, garden, kitchen, and table in this book are the work of my good friend Heather Anne Thomas and they are spectacular! Eating and relaxing at the Blackberry Farm resort is truly a unique luxury experience. Flipping through the pages, and the recipes, in this book brings back warm memories of my amazing visits to this one of a kind resort. If you love photography, food, wine, and the beauty of the Tennessee and the Smoky Mountains please check this book out. By the way, Heather Anne and I will be teaching a Behind the Lens: Photography Weekend at Blackberry in early March 2010. Space is limited. Come experience the good life with us!
Rocky Mountain School of Photography Workshop Gift Certificates
Is someone on your list interested in mastering Adobe Photoshop Lightroom or interested in learning some advanced Photoshop techniques? Gift certificates for my workshops at the Rocky Mountain School of Photography in Missoula, Montana are now available online. I’ll be leading weeklong workshops on Adobe Photoshop Lightroom v3 in April, August and October. I am also leading an Advanced Photoshop for Photographers workshop in April where we will cover sophisticated techniques like time-lapse photography, creating three-dimensional imagery, and some of the amazing uses for smart objects. Visit RMSP.com for more details.
So far this list has been pretty self-centered. It’s been all about my material wishes, but this year it seems more important than ever to think of others. Personally, I feel good when I give to community improvement charities like The United Way, The American Red Cross, and to environmental groups like The Nature Conservancy, and the Natural Resources Defense Council. There are lots of good causes out there though. In closing, I encourage you to visit CharityNavigator.org, to do your own research, and to give what you can to those who need it most this holiday season.
Best Wishes,
David Marx
Filed Under: Just for Fun • Reviews
About the Author: David’s sports and landscape images are often used on the web and in outdoor sports publications. He has an extensive knowledge of digital photography and is an Adobe Certified Expert in Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom. David is a talented instructor and his entertaining teaching style works for students of all skill levels.
In 2009, David Marx led digital photography programs for the 
One thing you might be interested to know for the headlamp is that some brands and models can have filters fitted to them.
I have a Petzl headlamp fitted with a red filter. From last minute reading in bed through to long sessions with the camera and/or telescope outside in the dark a red filter won’t kill your night vision. Before you buy one, check to see if they can have filters. Makes a huge difference.
Dear Parkylondon,
Excellent point about the red filter protecting your night vision. I believe that you have some version of the Petzl E49P TacTikka Plus 4-LED Headlamp
with the built-in red filter that snaps on and off.
Thanks for the excellent suggestion.
David Marx
Dave,
DEFINITELY interested in the workshop with you and Heather in March. Please forward info. (the link just went to the inn…).
I’m interested in your March 2010 Blackberry Farm workshop David. Please email information. I know space is limited, but would it be possible to bring a companion who won’t be part of the workshop? Happy Holidays…btw, your time lapse of Lake Alva is absolutely gorgeous!