It’s again that time of year. The time for cheer. The time for gear. … Well, the time for a gear guide, anyway.
Below we present our 2021 Holiday Gift Guide. This guide is a yearlong endeavor. It’s true. We’ve been compiling ideas for it since last November—since literally the day after we released our 2019 gift guide. All through last December and in the 11 months since, we’ve kept our eyes on the prizes of the photography market, as well as on the world of the national parks. The result is this collection of over 40 products and services that we believe the photographer in your world will love. From cameras to lenses to software to books and more, these are gifts we believe in, gifts we would love to give.
Our gift to you is to help with your gifts to others. Your gift to us? You’ve already given it. This community is more than we could have wished for. So … thank you.
In addition to the blog post below, we’re also providing this gift guide as a free downloadable PDF e-book, so you can read it and reference it on any device, anytime, anywhere. Inside you’ll find products from major brands such as B&H Photo, BenQ, Bay Photo and Nikon, along with great little finds from smaller companies and startups.
In addition to the product information, the e-book version includes a lot more photos, as well as special discount codes and offers.
Download your copy today by clicking here:
Note: If you decide to purchase any of the items in this gift guide, please consider using the links included, as many generate a small commission that helps us improve the National Parks at Night workshop program.
Acratech
GXP with Lever Clamp
We absolutely love the Acratech series of ball heads and highly recommend the GXP as the workhorse to carry anything. It supports 50 pounds and will perfectly marry with any full-size tripod. For a travel tripod, choose the GP-ss with its smaller-diameter base. It has the same build and same reliability, and holds 25 pounds. For either, opt for the lever clamp over the knob for a super-secure connection.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
Amber Share Design
Subpar Parks 8x10 Print
Subpar Parks took off this year, offering a humorous take at the naïve cynicism of travelers who gave national parks bad reviews online. Choose an 8x10 Print of a favorite park with a glorious quote of negative feedback. Perhaps Acadia’s “The Water is Cold,” or Arches’ “Looks Nothing Like the License Plate,” or Everglades’ “Miles and Miles of Nothing.”
B&H Photo
Gift Cards
If you have a photographer in your life and are not quite sure what’s needed in their kit, it’s impossible to go wrong with a B&H Photo Gift Card. With over 600,000 items to choose from, you could be forgiven for not knowing what to get for that special someone. The gift card comes in both electronic and physical formats, and is available in denominations ranging from $25 to $250. They never expire, so if the recipient can’t decide what to get either, there’s no pressure to use it in a hurry.
Babak Tafreshi
The World at Night
Babak Tafreshi, founder of the international organization The World at Night, has curated this collection of images of the night sky by more than 40 photographers from locations in 25 different countries. The World at Night is grouped according to six themes, including celestial phenomena and events, dark sky locations, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and astro-tourism destinations such as ancient astronomical monuments and modern observatories. There is also commentary on the science and astronomy involved in each of the photographs. The book will provide inspiration, as well as motivation to get out and explore The World at Night.
Bay Photo Lab
Xpozer Wall Display
Photographers love celebrating their wonderful night (and day) images by printing and hanging them on the wall. And the bigger, the better! Bay Photo’s Xpozer prints allow you to print bigger at smaller prices than more traditional media. Moreover, the Xpozer’s patented hanging system allows for easily swapping in new prints, and rolling and storing those not currently on the wall.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
BenQ
SW2700PT Photographer IPS Monitor
Using a good computer monitor is critical to making images look their best. It really is the most important piece of equipment on the desktop. Without it, a photographer has no idea what their images actually look like. In the not-so-distant past, monitors that met the needs of demanding photographers were very expensive. BenQ has changed that by creating extremely high-quality monitors at a moderate price. You deserve a monitor that was built just for you. The SW2700PT.
Books
NPAN bookshelf
Does the photographer in your life relish great photography books? In addition to the few specific tomes and monographs mentioned in this guide, the National Parks at Night Bookshelf webpage catalogs over 100 of our instructors’ favorite volumes. Explore titles related to instruction, travel, photography history, photography collections and more. You’re sure to find a book for anyone who loves the art.
Coast Portland
HX5R Flashlight
The HX5R is a compact light with Coast’s patented focusing mechanism that transitions from an even, wide beam to a narrow spot beam with no halo. It has two brightness settings: 75 and 340 lumens. Unlike other Coast lights, the switch is on the barrel, and the USB charging port is under the tail cap. The dual power system allows the light to run on Coast’s rechargeable battery or with a standard CR123 battery. Comes with a lifetime warranty.
Constellation Catskill
Cosmic Discs
Among many wonderful things at his shop Constellation, artist Derek James Smith of Catskill, New York, offers handmade wall-hanging Cosmic Discs using the Japanese method of Shou Sugi Ban wood charring and preservation. Each is a unique expression of his connection to the universe. A concurrence of color, texture and astral bodies drawn forth from wood. Born of fire, friction and vision, each piece is an object for hours of contemplation at home.
Field Notes
National Parks Series Field Note Books
Working on a long set of long exposures—perhaps during a long, long overnight—can require making a copious amount of notes. Use these beautiful National Parks Series field-note books that celebrate some of America’s most beautiful spaces, from Yosemite to Acadia, from Arches to Mount Rainier and beyond. 48 pages of 3.5-by-5.5-inch graph paper with a soft cover that fits comfortably in a back pocket. Available in sets of three, or even as a subscription.
Four Point Puzzles
The Moon 1000-Piece Circular Puzzle
Who doesn’t like a challenging puzzle? And what better way to get to know the bright side of the moon than by putting it together, piece by piece? When assembled, The Moon measures 26.5 inches in diameter and shows stunning clarity of the tiniest craters on our nocturnal friend.
Gitzo
GIGT2545T Traveler Series 2 Carbon Fiber Tripod
This lightweight option from the master tripod makers at Gitzo is perfect for the photographer who wants to keep the load down on a trip or who wants a smaller option for a second setup. The GIGT2545T Traveler Series 2 is made from strong, light, vibration-damping carbon fiber, and features reverse-folding legs that contribute to the tripod’s minimal 17.5-inch collapsed length. Extends to five feet high and can support up to 26 pounds, all without bogging down the backpack. Pairs perfectly with the Acratech GP-ss ball head.
Hello Ranger
Community App
For a place of inspiration and information, look no further than Hello Ranger—a website, podcast and Community App created for and by national park and public land enthusiasts. Grounded in a wonderful diversity of voices and expertise, Hello Ranger has lined up a talented and knowledgeable group of ambassadors (including our friend National Park Patch Lady) to facilitate and encourage park lovers of all ages and abilities. Have questions about the best trails in northeastern national parks or car camping in the southwest? There’s an expert for that on Hello Ranger.
Irix
45mm f/1.4 Dragonfly Lens
The newest lens from Irix is the gorgeous 45mm f/1.4 Dragonfly. Fully weather-sealed, it contains aspherical and extra-low dispersion elements to minimize spherical aberration, distortion and chromatic aberration. The fast f/1.4 aperture has nine rounded blades for pleasing bokeh. Like all Irix lenses, the 45mm is fully manual focus with a focus confirmation and locking mechanism, as well as hyperfocal and depth of field scales. It’s available in Canon, Nikon and Pentax mounts.
All Irix lenses are currently on sale at B&H Photo.
Ken Lee
Abandoned Southern California: The Slowing of Time
We’re big fans of Ken Lee’s photographs of abandoned sites in Southern California, and now Arcadia Publishing’s America Through Time imprint has published a monograph of the best of his work. The book is divided into sections according to subject, with accompanying text about the locations. Abandoned Southern California is available from Amazon, or directly from Ken’s website if you’d like a signed copy.
Lacie
2big Dock 2-Bay RAID Array
Looking for a better way to organize and hold an ever-growing Lightroom Catalog? Lacie’s 2big Dock 2-Bay RAID Array offers storage solutions from 8 to 32 TB with the blazing fast Thunderbolt 3 connection. SD and CompactFlash cards can also be downloaded directly via the dock in the front. Have a PC computer? The 2big also is available in black with a USB 3.1 Type-C connection. Get the home catalog organized and ready to roll for 2021!
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
Light Painting Brushes
Portrait Light
Looking for an easy way to make soft light for your night portraits? Light Painting Brushes’ new Portrait Light attachment is a thoughtfully designed directional light source that works with most flashlights. The attachment is also diffused, so making that softbox/window light look will be easy. It’s a perfect match with their Universal Connector (required!) and a Coast flashlight.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
Luxli
Fiddle Pocket RGBAW LED Kit
We were thrilled to help launch the Luxli Fiddle at this year’s OPTIC All-Stars Conference! Luxli took the same technology from the slightly bigger Viola and packed it into an even more compact body, and combined it with a built-in battery that will last 1 to 3 nights in the field for lots of low-level light painting. The Fiddle Pocket Kit comes with a magnet mount and upgraded mini ball head to accurately point and/or feather the light.
Save $40 off the Fiddle & Fiddle kits at B&H Photo through December 31.
Manfrotto
MS0490C Carbon Fiber Nanopole Stand
The Nanopole light stand is perfect for getting a Luxli Fiddle or other light elevated over the scene. But this taller and lighter stand offers even more versatility, because it can also be used as a boom arm! The carbon fiber center column simply clicks out to extend to 77 inches, allowing a photographer to extend their light more places. The carbon fiber version is lighter and has twist locks similar to most tripods; the aluminum version has standard light stand knob locks.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
Move-Shoot-Move
2-in-1 Star Tracker Rotator
Star Trackers have long been an enticing idea, allowing for long star-point exposures at low ISOs by moving the camera in sync with the stars. But star trackers were also bulky and complex to set up. No more! The Move-Shoot-Move Rotator is lightweight (1 pound), small (1.7 by 3.2 by 3.9 inches) and easy to get working. Use for single, low-ISO exposures or for time lapse.
Nanlite
Nanlite PavoTube II 6C 10in 6w RGBWW LED Tube
Light painters and light writers will want to add the Nanlite Pavotube II 6C to their arsenal. With a USB-C-charged internal battery, 2700 to 7200 K CCT, full RGB and Fx modes, this diffused 10-inch light source solves tons of problems. Lots of accessory mounting options or even fabric grids for light control are also available. Plus, the tube’s got magnets! Stick it to the hood of a car, a signpost or other metal surface for effects in places light stands can’t go.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
National Park Geek
Neck Gaiter
Has your love of national parks blossomed into nerdom? Based on the wildly popular Instagram account, National Park Geek is the go-to resource for T-shirts, stickers, patches and other park collectibles. Wear your geeky pride with this fun Neck Gaiter, while staying warm and comfortable in cool conditions.
Exclusive discount: 10 percent off with promo code “STARS” through December 11.
National Park Playing Cards
National Park Playing Cards
Gin Rummy, Texas Hold’em or even solitaire is even better when you see your favorite old haunts or locations from your bucket list as you play with National Park Playing Cards. Each card in this beautifully designed, high-quality deck features a scene from a different national park—illustrations that capture the unique beauty of each park with a modern look and feel. 56 cards, created for card-lovers and nature-lovers alike. Designed in Los Gatos, California.
National Parks at Night
2021 Wall Calendar
The annual National Parks at Night wall calendar is released for 2021! Explore 13 months’ worth of astronomy dates, such as full and new moons, eclipses and meteor shower peaks, as well as national park festivities and more. Includes 14 astro-landscape photographs from the National Parks at Night instructors.
25 percent off with discount code “BFGIFT25” through November 30.
Night Photography Adventure Workshop
We simply love being outdoors, teaching and helping people get great pictures. Many of our Season 6 workshops are full, but we do have a few slots open on some. Our Shenandoah National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway workshops are back-to-back—either or both will be an epic adventure in the Appalachian Mountains. Charleston and Barcelona offer historic and urban night photography experiences. Or delve into Lightroom and Photoshop with our summer Post-Processing Intensive in Seattle.
Books
Looking for some national park and night photography inspiration and education that you can always have at your fingertips? Choose from one of four books written by members of the NPAN team!
Photographing National Parks by Chris Nicholson is a portable and concise look at each of our national parks and how to best capture them. Includes best locations, times and great info on each park to help you plan your next adventure.
Have someone new to the night? Gabriel Biderman and Tim Cooper’s book Night Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots (now in its third printing) is an introduction to nocturnal photography, and it inspires you to get out there and seize the night!
Want an even deeper dive into the night? Lance Keimig’s book Night Photography and Light Painting: Finding Your Way in the Dark has long been the ultimate tome for those interested in immersing themselves in the genre. The latest edition has an amazing chapter on the history of light painting and does an excellent job of balancing theory, history and enthusiasm for taking your night visions to the next level.
Light painting is the most creative expression in night photography, and Tim Cooper’s ebook The Magic of Light Painting is a detailed exploration of all the illuminating possibilities that can happen when we practice the craft.
e-Books
Help your photographer friend or loved one level up on knowledge with one of NPAN’s two e-books. Three Legs to Stand On is an all-encompassing guide to buying, outfitting and using tripods. Great Balls of Fire offers everything one needs to know about scouting, planning, executing and processing a meteor shower shoot. Best of all, you can name your own price!
Nikon
D780 Camera
The Nikon D780 may be the last DSLR you ever buy. It might also be the last one you need. This long-awaited replacement for the venerable D750 does not disappoint, with outstanding ergonomics, weather sealing, overall build quality, improved image quality, better live view in low light, robust still and video features, and (finally!) extended shutter speeds down to 15 minutes plus Bulb. If you prefer the traditional DSLR form over mirrorless cameras, the D780 is our No. 1 pick.
Nomatic
McKinnon 35L Camera Backpack
There is a new bag company in town and their name is Nomatic. They have been making everyday bags for several years but early in 2020 teamed with Peter McKinnon to launch the ultimate 35L Backpack. Watch out for this one—you can pack the kitchen sink! It’s a 35L bag, but is expandable to 42L and has a host of organizational accessories to keep you in check. Our favorite accessory is the 21L Cube that expands to serve as an amazing lightweight daypack. This makes it easy to haul everything in the 35L with a versatile 2-in-1 bag combo!
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
Official Exclusive
Photography Pins
Decorate a camera bag, vest, jacket, hat or whatever with these fun Photography Pins. Covering both modern and retro, show off a love of cameras, film, tripods, drones and just about any other photography-related gear. Nearly a couple hundred to choose from!
Palette Gear
Monogram Studio Console
Work more efficiently and more intuitively in Lightroom and Photoshop with a Monogram console of creative controls such as buttons, sliders and dials. The Studio Console package is designed for photo-editing workflows—five modules to help speed up processing, organizing and more.
Parks Project
National Park Pennants
All the hip kids are wearing Parks Project gear, and for good reason. The company’s passion to promote, protect and preserve public lands has garnered collaborations with National Geographic, Rumpl and others in its collections of home goods, gifts and clothing. They have a lot of great products, and we’re partial to the old-school National Park Pennant—available for teams Yosemite, Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains and Joshua Tree. And if you need something to wrap any of this guide’s gifts, check out the Iconic Parks Wrapping Paper.
PHOTTIX
Aion Intervalometer
The one intervalometer to rule them all. The Aion is universal because it comes with all the cables you’ll need (Nikon, Canon or Sony) and can be used wired or wirelessly up to 200 feet away. Yes, you can set it to rip hours of meteor showers, but even nicer is that you can dial it down to one-tenth of a second for the ultimate in exposure accuracy, which is really important when using NPF-calculated shutter speeds for star points.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
PhotoPills
Photography Scouting App
By far the best phone app for photography. Period. PhotoPills is an all-in-one scouting tool that helps photographers plan and execute their images in a wide variety of situations. Individual apps (pills) track, calculate and illustrate the paths of the sun, moon and Milky Way, as well as list the different twilights and magic hours. Just in case that’s not enough, PhotoPills can help determine star-point exposures and hyperfocal distances, and can compute parameters needed to collect sequences of images to create time lapse videos. A truly dense app, this amazing tool is indispensable for any type of photographer.
50 percent off through November 30, 2020.
Rumpl
National Parks Collection Blankets
As we cuddle on the couch this holiday season and dream of the places we will go, why not avoid the chill with a National Parks Collection Blanket? Snuggle up to the Valley in Yosemite, Prismatic Spring in Yellowstone, very soft Joshua Trees under a dusky sunset, the tangerine and red spectrum of the Grandest Canyon of them all, or a bighorn sheep overlooking an alpine valley in Rocky Mountain. Puffy and warm, with full graphics on one side and a complimentary solid color on the reverse.
Shackleton London
Frank Hurley Photographer’s Jacket
For those who are super-serious about photographing in extreme weather (down to -13 degrees F) comes the Frank Hurley Photographer’s Jacket, aptly named for the photographer from the famed Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, the first attempted land crossing of the most southern continent. Ergonomic construction enables free movement while maintaining warmth and dryness, keeping the wearer nestled in goose down surrounded by graphene lining. Ten internal-access pockets allow for storing small gear and accessories for secure but easy access. Not to mention—it’s stylin’!
Syrp
Genie Mini II Pan & Tilt Kit
If you want to take your time lapses from “cool” to “wow!” then check out this tripod topper. Offering three-axis motion control that can be programmed from a smartphone app, the Genie Mini II Pan & Tilt Kit will unlock Milky Way-chasing time lapse videos. It’s a motorized gimbal coupled with a motorized panning device small enough to pack in a camera bag.
On sale at B&H Photo.
Tenba
Roadie Hybrid Roller 21
Being on the go with gear can be a challenge, especially when you need to navigate through terrain as varied as airport terminals and boulder-strewn landscapes—on the same trip! Tenba is here to help, with one of the most versatile bags you could use to carry your cameras and lenses (and laptops, accessories and more). Roll the Roadie Hybrid Roller 21 on hard surfaces, and when that won’t do, pull out the fold-away straps to convert it to a backpack.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
Tether Tools
ONsite USB Type-C 87W PD Battery Pack
Keep gear and laptops powered with the new ONsite USB Type-C 87W PD Battery Pack. Match it to a Case Relay and have enough power to last for 2 to 3 nights of time lapses, or get two full charges into most laptops. The 26,800mAh battery has 1 USB Type-C port and 2 USB Type-A ports to keep multiple devices powered throughout many nights to come.
Free ONsite AC Wall Charger with purchase at B&H Photo.
Tim Cooper Photography
Photography Training Videos
Our very own Tim Cooper is one of the premier instructors in photography, and his passion and enthusiasm are available at home with his in-depth Training Videos. Brush up on your DSLR basics, understand the essentials of light or learn Lightroom efficiently with these must-have tutorials for every photographer. Enjoy learning at your own pace with Tim and maximize your image potential.
Universal Workshop
Zodiac Wavy Charts
See all the astronomical events of 2021 in one stunning graphical Zodiac Wavy Charts poster. Each month is depicted by a sine wave that follows the motion of the sun, moon and planets. At a glance, spot planet oppositions, eclipses and more, all while adding a unique and vibrant touch to decor.
Vallerret
Skadi Zipper Mitts
The Skadi Zipper Mitt from Vallerret is a mitten-glove combination designed for deep winter conditions. A waterproof zipper opens to allow the mitten to be folded back and held in place with magnets, revealing the touch-sensitive inner glove which is made from Merino wool. Long jersey cuffs keep the cold off your wrists, and there is ample room for a hand warmer when needed. There’s even a small storage compartment and wrist straps so you can take them off without putting them down for delicate work.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
Walkstool
Comfort 45 Large Folding Stool
We’ve been inspired by several of our astute workshop attendees who bring folding chairs to make their experience during long exposures under the stars a bit more comfortable. We’ve tested a bunch ourselves and found the Walkstool Comfort 45 Large to be the perfect balance to hold our weight yet be comfortable and collapse down into something incredibly lightweight and portable. Smartly designed in Sweden, the Walkstool 45 will hold up to 440 pounds through many star trails.
See PDF version of the gift guide for an exclusive offer.
Wander Club
Dated US National Park Tokens
When we visit national parks, we collect memories. We can also collect mementos—reminders of our time in beautiful places. The Wander Club can help with the latter part. Visit their website to create customized Dated US National Park Tokens with park names and years of visits, and collate them onto a necklace or keychain. A constant reminder of pursuing an outdoor passion.
Note: Remember, this gift guide is also available as a free downloadable PDF, with lots more photos and a ton of discount codes. Download yours today!
