Choosing the Ideal Gift for Shutterbugs
It’s Christmas and there you stand, the resident amateur photographer who all year long has been at the beck and call of everyone who thinks this picture or that picture would make a cute addition to the photo album.
It is the perfect time to let your friends or relatives know just what kind of addition you would like to make to your photo bag.
For example, when asked to shoot a picture of the Christmas tree, say, “Well, this sure would turn out better if I had one of those new ABC flashes. It only costs $100 at Joe’s Camera.”
OK, so it’s not subtle, but it might work. So, in hopes of making your hinting easier, here is the second annual Orange County Life Photo Column Christmas Gift List.
$2,400: Nikon F4 camera. This camera has just been released and has limited availability, so you could be the first person on the block to own one. It represents state-of-the-art technology by Nikon. As you would imagine from the price, it’s not for the weekend shooter. It features a fast 5.7-frames-per-second motor drive, a top shutter speed of 1/8,000 and a 1/250th flash sync. If you don’t succeed this year, start the hints early for next year, when the price could even come down.
$1,300: Two-light strobe system. This lighting outfit includes a Syspec 1,000 watt-second power pack, two Norman flash heads, two umbrella reflector heads, two white umbrellas and two stands. If you are tired of the look of your small straight-on or bounce flash shoots, this may be the gift for you. With this setup, there is definitely enough power for those portraits, fashion, still lifes or small products. Available at the Pro Photo Connection in Irvine.
$1,200: Osaka Commercial 8-by-10 view camera, handcrafted in Japan of rosewood and brass. It is the perfect collector item to set in the corner of your living room. Add an antique wood camera stand and brass lens to it, and you’ve got an extraordinarily beautiful and functional conversation piece. It is available at the Pro Photo Connection in Irvine
$450: “Suburban Soft Drinks,” a photograph by Mark Chamberlain. This striking full-color Cibachrome photograph is definitely a gift for someone who has everything. It is from a series of work called “Future Fossils” and is on display at B.C. Space gallery in Laguna Beach. It depicts a scene from a Santa Ana service station and contrasts the brilliant colors of a red sign that advertises tires and the lavender color of a Suburban soft drink machine.
$239: Fuji DL 400 camera, a completely automatic 35-millimeter featuring drop-in loading, pre-winding, automatic focus and exposure, and a 35- and 70-mm lens. Also included are a battery and roll of film. This camera is great for those who want a simple, easy-to-carry camera that takes quality snapshots. It is available at Cal’s Camera in Costa Mesa.
$85: “Scenes of Wonder & Curiosity,” a photograph by T. Orland. If you can’t afford a photograph by one of the masters, this image may be the perfect compromise. Taken in 1969 at Pt. Lobos, Calif., the photo captured Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham and Jerry Uelsmann in a snapshot-like pose. A framed print is available at the Susan Spiritus Gallery in Costa Mesa.
$49.50: “Trout River” by Larry Madison. This seems to be a good book for those curious as to what a fish looks like before it is breaded and fried. It boasts picturesque shots of trout streams and captures the feeling of the changing seasons. It is available at Rizzoli International Bookstore at South Coast Plaza.
$24.95: “Gorilla, Struggle for Survival in the Virungas,” by Michael Nichols.” This book is also available at Rizzoli Bookstore. The timing of this book is nearly perfect, considering the recent success of the movie “Gorillas in the Mist.” You won’t find Sigourney Weaver in the book, but what you will find is an eerie and tender look at a group of mountain gorillas of the Virunga Volcanoes and their quest for survival.
$24.95: “Which Filter Should I Use?” a videotape by the makers of the Tiffen filter company. This VHS tape is available at the Pro Photo Connection in Irvine. The gift is perfect for any shooter, from beginning to advanced, and presents a simple way to learn. Just sit back and relax as the tape takes you on a journey from A to Z on filters. From polarizing to multiple image, it is all there.
$7.89: Photo/Graphic Collage Frame made by the Gemline Frame Co. This 16-by-20-inch frame holds 20 different sizes and shapes of your photographs and is a great method of displaying those pictures that are just lying around in shoe boxes in the closet. It is available at the Price Club.
$6.95: “Separated at Birth,” by the editors of SPY. This is a perfect stocking stuffer and guaranteed to amuse even the biggest grump in the family. As the title implies, it purports to show famous people who look alike--such as Secretary of State George Shultz and the Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz? Or, Mary Tyler Moore and the Joker from the Batman show. Or, Mick Jagger and Don Knotts. The book is available at most bookstores.
$4.19: Photo album by Pioneer Photo Albums Inc. This 100-page album is a simple and effective way to display all your pictures. It uses self-adhesive pages with photochemically safe (says the manufacturer) plastic pages to protect the photos. It will handle photos up to 8-by-10-inch. Available everywhere.
