Hope you were able to snag all of the great deals on Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, which seems to be extending out this week.

The things that are not part of those door busters are the things that will probably last the longest: books.
It has been an interesting year in the photo book market, and some of the most respected organizations in the space have put together their own book gift guide for 2022
Here are the links:
MOMA

and Aperture.

Admittedly, I did go to MOMA to see all of the books in person.
Some great ones, although I didn’t leave with any. Will probably be going back as I’ve had my eye on a few.

However, my favorite book this year has been:
Gordon Parks: The New Tide: Early Work 1940–1950

This book is published by one of the finest book publishers in the world, Steidl. High quality, great writing. Regulation size book, and book you’d be proud to give, are add to your own library.

I’m sure you know of the breadth of work of this master photographer, writer, musician, director and social historian. Here is an exploration of the early work, with many images not seen before.

If you are not familiar with his legacy, Gordon Parks (November 30, 1912 – March 7, 2006) was the first African American to be a staff photographer for Life magazine. He is best remembered for his iconic photos of poor Americans during the 1940s (taken for a federal government project), and for his other many photographic essays for Life magazine, and as the director of the 1971 film Shaft. As the first African American to produce and direct major motion pictures—developing films relating the experience of slaves and struggling black Americans, and creating the “blaxploitation” genre.

and check out the Gordon Parks Foundation for more info as well.
A documentary on him has just been released on HBO – Choice of Weapons

Of course, I always feel that the Family Of Man, which has influenced photographer for decades, should be in everyone’s library. A photo book about the human condition form birth to death, told by over 250 photographers from all over the world, with prose interspersed by Carl Sandburg. A classic

Honestly, I usually have a few copies about to give as gifts. As I looked it up on Amazon, it let me know I’ve ordered this book 18 times!!

At a $17 price for the paperback, you can’t go wrong.

Next up is The Photographer’s Playbook: 307 Assignments and Ideas 

This is a great book of thought starters to help you get your creative juices flowing from some of the best practitioners around. About 1 page per “assignment” this will def get you thinking

One note is that many photo books are not large production runs, so as a result they go out of print. Sometimes a fave photo book in a first edition is a special gift for someone one you know will appreciate it.
I actually did that this year, and can’t wait to see the reaction!

A fast listing, and I know there are sooo many more, and you will find the photo books ones that speak to you fro giving, or getting.

Ok, let’s talk about audio.
You know that it’s 50% of your content, unless it’s bad. Then it’s 80%

First recco is this beautiful audio recorder, called Tula

The form factor alone should be enough to convince you to carry with you.

You can set the mic to omni for a conversation or even add a lavalier mic to hone in on one or the other participant.
This small footprint unit comes with a pedigree. The creators of the Soyuz line of mics and mic capsules have made this mic/recorder to top level specifications.

Tula mic/recorder goes for about $230.

When you want to go more mobile, and connect directly into your camera , the Rode Wireless Go II. With a receiver and 2 wireless mics, you can quickly hook up your subjects for an interview situation. In NYC, I’ve seen the local news station using these as they cover the local beat.

Another solid choice is the Deity Duo,

looking like many mini mics on the market, but this one has another trick up it’s sleeve: you can either have it just forward facing, OR have it pick up from behind as well, so you can capture the interviewers questions as well.
About $100 ON SALE TODAY, 11/26 FOR $68 at BH!

Let’s go more pro, if you want to get some of the best
Sennheiser receiver/ transmitter system has been in my kit for years,

For lav mic I prefer the Tram tr50

,
or the Sanken COS 11-D

It’s funny, as i think the Tram is more popular on the west coast, and the Sanken on the east coast.
If you live in a major metropolitan city, like AL, Chicago or NYC, I would suggest going into a local vendor to actually hear the mics to make your best choices

If you are going into podcasting world, a perfect mic is the
Shure SM7B

Couple it with the best headphones Sony MD 7506, around $90
Yep, that good for the best price. Nice and flat so you can mix as you like.

what do you plug into for your podcast?
If you are going to be stationary, I’m partial to the Rodecaster Pro,


which mixes, records, and exports to my fave podcasting platform, Anchor. Once you export to this , it will send your podcast to all the majors.

If you are on the move, and really only have need for no more than 3 mics, the MixPre 3II is a great choice, with a small form factor and high end pre-amps,

plus support with upgrades to the firmware when needed.

Pack all of that into an Orca bag , that you can get from 16×9 suppliers. Your size needs will vary, so choose the bag based on the gear you’ll transport and use.

More guides coming!!

Before continuing down listing of the selected items for the gift guide, figured I’d share a list of links to some of the better companies with great Black Friday deals, to give you a head start before things run out!
Many of the items have been called out in the first 3 Holiday Gift Guides!

So tomorrow as you spend 1/2 day at work, or flying to see folks, get a bunch of your gift purchases sorted

Twelve South
Lume Cube
Peak Design
SmallRig
Manfrotto 
Aperture- a great place for photobooks!
BH Photo
OWC
Adobe
Spider Holster
Atomos

More detailed list calling out some cool items coming tomorrow!

Every photographer I know has multiple bags, for multiple situations.
Or is it truly a Goldilocks and the 3 bears situation? What looks great, may not be best in practice .
And how do you buy one for someone as a gift?

Just got notice that Peak Design is having a 30% off sale!!

After trying out a TON of these for walk-around, the best bag out there is, hands down, the Peak Design Everyday Sling

Another great bag in their line-up that has added space, like for a laptop, with plenty of room for gear, is the Peak Design Everyday Messenger .
That is a great way to have your portable office with you to post as you shoot. Plus it seems to have more of an office look to it, than a gear bag.
About $220 BIG 11 hour limited time sale at BH! ends tonight!!
Like I said, different bags for different uses.
And easy call for anyone on your gift list is this Tech Pouch
This has all the right places to put your goods, and is always part of my travel pack. Put your wires, connectors, chargers, SSD drive, all the tech you need, into one organized pouch.  $60

Onto how you hold your camera. On your shoulder, in your hand, in a bag?
Peak Design strap and updated connectors.(they are on V4, all good, just get better)

Basically you easily attach the low profile anchor mounts to the camera, and securely clip in the strap. Another design feature is this easily adjustable clamp on the strap. Best I’ve seen, and it always locks securely to the chosen strap size.

And as i believe that I should have my camera in my hand at all times on the street, I depend on a wrist strap. Once again, many have been tried, and the best out there, and the only one I depend on, is
SpiderLight Hand Strap,  they have a Back Friday sale right now

Tripods
So many choices and how to decide. I have way too many, but like the bag choices, the right tool fro the right job, applies here as well.
Here are some great choices:
Peak Design Travel Tripod/carbon brilliant compact design, utilized every bit of space. I would still go for the carbon fiber model as you want to lighten your carry load a much as possible.

Sirui Monopod, with a fluid head is a great choice https://store.sirui.com/products/sirui-p-204sr-multifunction-einbeinstativ-alu-mit-va-5-videoneiger-psr-serie Also converts to a table top tripod.

$136, and add a fluid head if you are a run-and-gun videographer

Manfrotto also has a Black Friday sale starting now!

Manfrotto/BeFree has all you need in a short package Befree-Advanced. Perfect for the backpack

• High-performance photo/video kit in an ultracompact size
• Sony’s Alpha dedicated plate maximizes camera stability
• 3-Way Fluid Tripod Head, fully foldable handles, 13lbs payload
• Compatible with Arca-swiss and Manfrotto 501PL video plate
• Optimal combination of portability, solid footing, and easy set-up

Manfrotto quick release head, in their newly launched MOVE series of products. All designed for speed of operation. You can either connect the 2 parts and get 360º rotation, or pick a spot and lock it in. Fast movement between tripod, monopod, or gimbal.
You have seen the quick release flat connectors. This is a new take, and has a huge payload capacity at about 45LBs,

Platypod – a needed bit of kit for a fast, easy way to set your cameras, or speedlight.Basically, a solid plate with the right holes and tripod type mounting screws, with well designed slots to allow you to put your camera or speedlight where you need it.

Platypod is available in all kinda packages, depending on your needs.

More gifting ideas on the way!!

Black Friday Deals are in force, and I’ll try to do a separate post for all.

OK, I don’t usually share just one item on the gift guide series, but due to the time frame, here we go:
The Fuji Instax Wide printer, is one of the most fun and useful tools I have seen this season. What I love about this product is the personalized creativity you can add to it. Check out the short tutorial below.

It’s an instant printer that connects easily to your phone, via Bluetooth and a free app,  a great size to hand out, 2.4 x 3.9″ , Fuji has increased the peace with the addition of this very cool item to the Instax line-up!

As you gather with family and friends as we emerge from our pandemic cocoons this year, you may want to hand out an image IRL.

But wait there’s more!

Not only can you print out your faves from your phone, you can add a QR code that can link to a website,  an audio file, locations, custom sketches that you create!

While first working through this printer, I made a print with a QR code to my website.
As a test.
That evening, I ran into an old friend who asked what I was up to. I shared some of my recent and vintage work on my phone, and they let me know what a fan of Springsteen they were. I shoot a lot of rock and roll, so shared some of those mages.
I printed them a vintage image, below, with a QR code link to my website.

Go ahead! try it! Scan the code!

SOLD!!
Next up is recording a holiday message to my daughter on a pic of us from wayback.

So multi use, too much fun, too much usefulness, unique, custom handout.
Pick one up and make sure you get a bunch of film! You’ll be using it!

It comes with a stand, wrist strap, and the built in rechargeable battery last for about 100 prints.

About $150 USD!