Wish List

Christmas is around the corner. With that in mind, I thought I'd share with you a few of the things I've been lusting after. Most of these are under the $50 mark, but not all of them. Sorry. Wishes are free. Fulfilling them isn't always.

Any book by David duChemin. Don't worry, there are only two. I haven't read either one, but I really want to. Within the Frame (about $26 from Amazon), his first book, talks about the process of composing images, and shooting thoughtfully. What should be included in the frame, and what should be left out? How do you find your own photographic vision? I think almost any photographer thinks about this, no matter how long they've been shooting.

VisionMongers, also $27 from Amazon, his second, profiles some professional photographers who have successfully marketed and stayed true to their vision. Zach Arias, Chase Jarvis, Gavin Gough . . . you can't go wrong.

Commercial Photography Handbook: Business Techniques for Professional Digital Photographers by Kirk Tuck ($23 from Amazon). This looks to be a practical and fairly thorough resource for anyone looking to get into the photography business, or maybe someone who's just starting out.

The new fisheye optic from Lensbaby. $149. Lensbaby is not only about the blur now, and I have a feeling that this optic would fit into my Composer perfectly!

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens $989 from Amazon. A little spendy (or A LOT!) but I would just love to be able to walk around town at night and capture some street shots that are not at 50mm and f/1.8. Hey, this is a wish list, right? Nothing wrong with a little wishing.

And, last but not least, almost anything from Photojojo. Most of their products I find a tad overpriced, but they are also brilliant. I have been salivating over the Super Secret Spy Lens ($50-$55) for ages, and the magnetic photo rope ($12) would work well in my new open-space-challenged apartment, perfect for showing off all those prints that I can't afford frames for.

Anyway, the holidays shouldn't just be about shopping. But if you absolutely must shop for a friend who's caught the photography bug, you might just want to spring for one of these.