holidays

Winter Wishes: Our 2024 Holiday Gift Guide

It’s a jolly holiday here at National Parks at Night, as we once again bring you our annual gift guide. Cameras and tripods, bags and swag, coffee and mugs, and other this’s and thats. We spend all year looking for gear that you and your photographer loved ones might delight in finding wrapped with a ribbon and a bow. Delivering the list is our gift to you.

Of course holidays, particularly the end-of-year ones, are about more than gifts. They’re about spending time with others, enjoying precious moments of life together. We wish you many of those.

We hope you enjoy perusing these pages, as you dream about winter wishes for long, quiet nights filled with stars and photography, and with good books and memorable fireside chats.

You can view the gift guide in two ways: you can read it in the blog post below, or you can download the full-experience Gift Guide e-book. We encourage the latter, as the e-book version:

  • is more graphical

  • has lots more pictures

  • contains some deals, discounts and specials

Acratech

Leveling Base

A leveling base that goes between a ball head and its tripod has been the top support-kit accessory for the team at National Parks at Night. We use it to create seamless stitched panoramas as well as to easily level a shot without adjusting a tripod leg. The Acratech Leveling Base is now a permanent fixture on our tripods.

Aeropress

Coffee Maker Premium

Most night photographers are coffee freaks (us included!), and Aeropress is our go-to method for ensuring we get our prescribed caffeine smooth and without bitterness while on the go. The latest model, the AeroPress Coffee Maker Premium, levels up this amazing product from simple and down-to-earth to fancy and elite. Handmade from double-wall borosilicate glass, stainless steel and anodized aluminum, it’s a work of art—a showstopper that turns the kitchen counter into an elegant coffee station. You won’t find another method this compact and reliable to make coffee … anywhere.

Asterisk*

National Park Watches

Five parks are uniquely featured in the National Park Inspired Collection of Asterisk* Watches, and three of them embrace the night. With these timepieces, auroras are in constant motion at Gates of the Arctic, Arches has a cool day/night feature that rotates around Delicate Arch, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes is a beautiful night scene with flowing lava to showcase the passing of time, Channel Islands depicts a sea lion diving among the kelp, and Olympic is a stunning daytime celebration of a gushing waterfall. Keep time and stay tuned in to nature.

B&H Photo

Gift Card

Giving a gift is never stressful when you have a photographer in your life, because a B&H Gift Card is always the perfect present. Always. It’s the gift of choice. Let your photographer (or videographer, musician or gamer) pick any camera, lens, computer or whatever new doodad, thingamabob or doohickey they may need. Of course B&H will have it—they are the world’s biggest and best resource for all photo, video and image-making needs.

Bay Photo Lab

Wall Display Print

A photograph isn’t truly finished until it’s printed, and our favorite place to print is at Bay Photo Lab. A great photo always looks greater when printed large, and Bay shines with those big sizes, from 16x24 to 45x80. Choose a Wall Display archival print, available in various mounts on various surfaces for a custom feel and maximum impact.

BenQ

PhotoVue SW272Q HDR Monitor

BenQ’s outstanding 27" PhotoVue SW272Q monitor is an ideal size for editing photographs. The 2560x1440 native resolution helps keep our digital imaging tools the right size (as opposed to 4K displays that can make them too small). Via a single USB-C cable, this monitor provides 90-watt power to a laptop, plus a fine-coated reduced glare panel and 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color gamut in a sleek bezel design.

Benro

Rhino Tripod with VX30 Head

For a steady, rock-solid tripod kit, look no further. Boasting a 44-pound load capacity, the Rhino Carbon Fiber Three Series Tripod with VX30 Head combo from Benro can hold long lenses and heavy bodies—yet it weighs only 4.5 pounds. The dial panoramic head allows for panning from the base—a simple solution for single-row panos. The stylish carbon fiber legs fold up travel-style and have three positions with an auto-hold trigger. Or combine one of the tripod legs with the center column to form a full-featured monopod.

Bookshelf

Various Authors

In a world where we carry the entire knowledge of humankind in our pockets, in many ways books are still king. We are big fans of national park and photography tomes, and here are a few of our recent favorites:

Calibrite

Photo Kit

Take control of color, from capture to edit. This new Photo Kit from Calibrite includes both the ColorChecker Passport Photo 2 target and the Display Pro HL colorimeter. The former helps a photographer create profiles and custom white balance settings for all their cameras (astro-modified included!), and the latter helps with keeping a monitor’s brightness and color consistent. Both are essential tools for getting to the good part—applying creative vision.

Cameras

Canon, Nikon & Sony

This past year we saw some of our favorite and most popular cameras get some serious upgrades. All of them are a gift well worth giving.

  • The 45-megapixel Canon EOS R5 Mark II upgraded to a back-illuminated sensor that significantly reduces noise at higher ISOs.

  • Nikon made a major revamp with the Z6III by adding a partially stacked sensor to improve their class-leading high ISOs. A new grip and articulating LCD also give the camera a much better ergonomic experience.

  • Sony’s flagship Alpha 1 II powerhouse improved ergonomics with a deeper grip and a four-axis multi-angle high-resolution LCD. Key features for a night photographer are focus bracketing, pre-release capture and three stops of improved image stabilization.

Chimani

Chimani Pro Subscription

One of our favorite scouting apps! Chimani provides access to loads of information about all 63 national parks and more, all written by local experts. With the Pro Subscription, get the lowdown about photo opportunities, maps, trails, services, lodging and more, all without needing a data connection in the field.

Copper Moon Coffee

Dark Sky Blend

Every night photographer needs a morning pickup, and Indiana-based Copper Moon Coffee offers a dark-sky lover’s dark drink of choice. In particular, check out the Dark Sky Blend, with its touch of sweetness without the acidity. It’s a medium-dark, full-bodied coffee containing notes of lightly charred cocoa, blueberry, plum and nuts. Available whole-bean or ground. (Also check out their Stargazer blend.)

DXO

Nik Collection 7

This famed plugin package has long helped photographers solve picture problems and curate creativity. The latest release, Nik Collection 7, features improved local adjustment technology with new elliptical and polygonal tools for more accurate selections, as well as new luminosity range masks that offer higher levels of precision. Add to that a new plugin switcher that lets you seamlessly transition between apps, as well as tons of other additions and tweaks, and this may well be the most robust upgrade Nik has ever gotten.

HangTime Gear

Koala Smartphone Harness

The 1.2-ounce Koala 2.0 Super-Grip Smartphone Harness can save you from disaster when out in the field, or at home. Clip or clamp it to a belt, backpack or any other place to help protect your phone from falling to the ground. Compatible with most phones with or without cases. Eight cool colors available. Comes with both clip and clamp attachments. The 50-pound capacity wildly exceeds any phone’s weight.

Irix

15mm f/2.4 Lens

Irix lenses are well known as a classic choice for astro-landscape photography due to their sharpness and minimal coma, and their 15mm f/2.4 is perfect for photographing big starry skies over nighttime landscapes. Irix lenses are weather-sealed and feature a fully manual focus with a stiff, confidence-assuring focus ring. The Blackstone version features an infinity detent and focus lock. The Dragonfly version has a clicked or smooth adjusting aperture ring. Available in Sony E, Nikon F, Canon EF and Pentax K mounts.

Junlit

Night Light

Traveling for night photography often means sleeping in new, unfamiliar places, and the last thing a night photographer needs during the few hours they can sleep is to bang a knee on a hotel dresser on the way to the bathroom. Junlit Night Lights are perfect for travel. They’re small and lightweight, so this four-pack is easy to stow in luggage. The lights have three brightness settings, which allows you to see while not ruining your night vision, and they have three white balance settings so you can avoid cool light disturbing your alpha waves.

KabukiGlasses

KabukiGlasses 4x13 HD

The hands-free and autofocus KabukiGlasses 4x13 HD are a great new twist on our old binoculars, useful for anything from birding to night skies. These universal and slightly steampunk binocular glasses come in three varieties: normal vision, slight nearsightedness and strong nearsightedness.

Ledlenser

P6R Work

The Ledlenser P6R Work has just the right combination of qualities for light painting. It has six modes, but the unique feature is that it is programmable, allowing the user to select their two favorite modes and then cycle between just those most frequently used settings. It also has a “last used setting” recall, so if you turn it off at low power, it comes back on at low power. With an industry-leading color rendering index (CRI) of 90 and a color temperature of 4000 K, it’s nearly the perfect light painting tool.

LifeStraw

Steel Filter Straw

The further a photographer travels from home, the less sure they might be about the water they drink—especially in the wilderness. The LifeStraw Sip Reusable Steel Filter Straw provides an easy solution for hydrating with confidence from almost any water source. Whether the concern is contaminated water from a foreign city or forest stream, this filtered straw will remove microplastics, bacteria and parasites before the sip hits the lips. The straw is reusable and lasts for up to 1,000 liters of drinking. Slim, lightweight and comes in a sleek case that’s easy to pack in a camera bag.

McIntosh Mugs

Starry Night Mug

One of the ultimate night sky images ever created wasn’t even a photograph (gasp!) but rather a painting. Painted on canvas in 1889, Van Gogh’s masterpiece is now available on this hardy 19.5-ounce fine bone china mug. With the Van Gogh Starry Night Grande Mug, enjoy beautiful art in the morning while drinking coffee and dreaming of the night.

MODL Outdoors

Infinity Tool Straps

The stretchy, colorful Infinity Tool 2.0 Modular Straps are so versatile, there are uses for them everywhere. We’ve added the glow-in-the-dark version to our backpacks and tripods to hold water bottles, intervalometers, light stands and more. Link multiple straps together to form a longer strap, and the grippy, 70-pound weight capacity keeps even heavyish gear from slipping. (Hint: Order extras, because friends and family will steal them.)

National Park Service

Annual Pass

National parks (as well as national monuments, national scenic byways, national preserves, national seashores, et al.) offer some of the best places for night photography. Not all have entrance fees, but many do. The National Park Service’s America the Beautiful Annual Pass gets you into all of them and more. Better yet, buying a pass supports the parks, as 100 percent of the proceeds go directly toward improving and enhancing visitor services.

National Parks at Night

Night Photography Adventure Workshops

Photographers love little more than being out in the world making photographs, and it’s all the better when we can do it with friends, both old and new. That’s where our Night Photography Adventure Workshops come in. Send someone on what may well be the trip of a lifetime, photographing stars in some of the world’s wondrous places. Tickets are currently available for the following adventures.

  • Photograph auroras during the solar maximum under the unparalleled night skies of Iceland’s North Coast (April 11-19, 2025).

  • Come to the Aloha State for 6 nights of shooting dramatic coastline, bamboo forests, volcanic landscapes and more in Haleakala National Park (June 9-15, 2025).

  • Head to Alabama to explore a remnant of the U.S. Industrial Age, with 3 nights of private access to Birmingham’s Sloss Furnaces (September 25-28, 2025).

  • Learn the ins and outs of Lightroom and Photoshop at our Post-Processing Intensive workshop in Chicago (October 26-31, 2025).

Instructor Books

For national park and night photography knowledge, browse the books written by members of the NPAN team.

Night Photo Summit

Virtual Conference Ticket

Over the winter weekend of January 24-26, 2025, over 300 photographers from across the United States and around the world gather virtually for the Night Photo Summit, three days of night photography education and inspiration. Over 30 speakers will engage with a passionate and dedicated audience with presentations that range from fundamentals to mid- and high-level post-processing, specialties such as auroras and light painting, and general topics such as dark sky preservation, astronomy, national parks and more. Attendees banter in chats and converse in networking rooms, and can win any of over $10,000 of giveaways during virtual parties. Tickets go on sale December 14.

Novoflex

KOPF2-Basic Geared Head

Ideal for exacting work, the KOPF2-Basic Modular Geared Head from Novoflex allows for micro-adjustments via a geared mechanism on two axes. The German engineering astounds—it is lightweight, strong and gosh it looks great on a tripod. The base features a locking panoramic motion and the top includes a quick-release clamp. This is certainly one the most drool-worthy tripod heads we have ever used. Also excellent for single-row panoramas and macro photography.

Palmly

Cosmic Orb

Bring home the cosmos with a laser-engraved crystal Cosmic Orb ball that can be used as a nightlight or lamp. Choose from the celestial scenes of Saturn, Galaxy, Solar System, Earth, Moon or Universe. The illumination comes from the base light, which can be run on AA batteries or plugged in via USB (power brick not included). Once turned on, the stars will shine brightly in the comforts of home.

PhotoPills

Danger Clouds! T-Shirt

We’ve all been there: ready for a great night of shooting stars, and we get outside to see the dreaded cloud cover. Show a healthy wariness of bad weather with a PhotoPills Danger Clouds! T-Shirt, comfy to wear indoors while waiting for the perfect night skies to appear—tomorrow!

ProGrade Digital

CFexpress Gold Memory Card

Night photographers who shoot loads of captures for time-lapses and star trails are sure to benefit from the 512 GB CFexpress 4.0 Type B Gold Memory Card from ProGrade Digital. This card provides read speeds of up to 3400 MB/s (which helps to quickly offload celestial sky image files to a computer) and write speeds of up to 3000 MB/s. ProGrade is our go-to memory card for reliability and speed. Their Gold cards have a minimum sustained write speed that is guaranteed not to drop below 850 MB/s.

Robert Decker

National Park Posters

Artist Robert Decker designed a massive and stunning collection of fine art National Park Posters that echo the WPA (Works Progress Administration) era of the 1930s and 40s. He has all the printed posters in Colorado with soy-based inks on “Conservation,” a recycled, domestically produced paper stock. Choose from among the 98 posters that Robert created to celebrate America’s greatest idea.

Shimoda

Carry-On Roller V2

Ideal for fitting into overhead luggage bins on an airplane, the Carry-On Roller V2 from Shimoda is a traveler’s best friend. If you want to get the gear off your back while traversing the airport, pull the internal camera unit out from the backpack and drop it right into this rolling bag. Or, pack that way from the get-go and stow the empty backpack in a suitcase to use once on location. Or just use it like any other rolling bag! The massive wheels are nearly indestructible, sure to get any photographer and their gear from Point A to Point B and beyond.

Spencer’s Camera

Astro Modification

To make images that have the “true” colors of bright reds and magentas in the night sky, consider getting a camera “astro modified.” This Astro Modification process can be confusing, and perhaps daunting, but the staff at Spencer’s Camera takes all the anxiety away and makes the process simple. They also provide advice and guidance, plus accessories for using the newly modified gear.

Tahr Equipment

Cap Strap

This goes under the category of “How did no one think of this before?” The Cap Strap is a strong metal ring that threads onto a Nalgene bottle so you can carry or hang it without stressing (and eventually breaking) the plastic cap tether that came with the bottle. Use your own carabiner or purchase one with the Cap Strap to connect it to a backpack strap, belt, tent and more. Stop stressing, hydrate more.

Uncommon Goods

National Park Explorer’s Fanny Pack

It might be hard to believe, but fanny packs are back! Whether they are worn across the shoulder like a sling or in their intended fanny spot, they make carrying essential hiking gear such as water and snacks super easy. Join the rejuvenation and celebrate your love of public lands with Uncommon Goods’ National Park Explorer’s Fanny Packs. They come in eight bright and bold national park designs for Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Tetons, Joshua Tree, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion.

Venus Optics

20mm f/4 Shift Lens

When we’re photographing a night sky, we’re always looking up—because, ya know, that’s where the sky is! The downside of looking up is that it creates perspective distortion in an image. Oftentimes that’s irrelevant, but it can be disruptive when photographing buildings, lighthouses, tall trees, giant cactuses, etc. The fix is to shoot with a shift lens, such as the Laowa 20mm f/4, which offers crystal-clear images free of perspective distortion with nearly nonexistent comatic aberration. Level up by shifting up!

Wander Club

National Park Tokens

Admittedly we stamp, sticker and collect lots of ephemera from the places we visit. The Wander Club U.S. National Park Tokens give us another fun way to celebrate and showcase the parks we’ve been to. These beautiful color pieces look wonderful on the company’s new Wanderchain, which can hold 35 tokens. You can also roll into a park with extra tokens and give them away to first-time park visitors. A great gift for kids to start getting excited about visiting more of our national wonders.

Wondery Outdoors

Bucket List Bottle

The Parks of the USA Bucket List Bottle holds 32 ounces and comes in a variety of colors to keep our water cold on all the hikes. But the real fun is stickering. All 63 national parks are etched around the bottle. Once you’ve visited a park, place the color sticker over the etching. It’s a super-fun way to stay hydrated while checking off those parks.

ZWO

Seestar S50 Telescope

One of the coolest things we saw at the 2024 Nightscaper Photo Conference was the Seestar S50 All-in-One Smart Telescope. Tell the app which celestial object you want to capture and it sends the celestial coordinates to the telescope. Easy to set up, effortless to use.

Note: Remember, this gift guide is also available as a free downloadable e-book, with lots more photos and a ton of discount codes. Download yours today by clicking the image below.

Chris Nicholson is a partner and director of content with National Parks at Night, and author of Photographing National Parks (Sidelight Books, 2015) and Photographing Lighthouses (Sidelight Books, 2025). Learn more about national parks as photography destinations, subscribe to Chris' free e-newsletter, and more at www.PhotographingNationalParks.com.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS FROM NATIONAL PARKS AT NIGHT

JOIN US IN THESE MAJESTIC DESTINATIONS …
Rust & Ruinism 2025
Mar 9
Rust & Ruinism 2025
Iceland: North Coast 2025
Apr 11
Iceland: North Coast 2025
Haleakala National Park 2025
Jun 9
Haleakala National Park 2025
Chicago Post-Processing Intensive 2025
Oct 26
Chicago Post-Processing Intensive 2025

Toys and Tinsel: Our 2022 Holiday Gift Guide

Here we are again. Another year almost over, another season of thanks and joy upon us.

Along with the season of greetings comes the season of giving, and as we have every year since 2016, we’re here to help with ideas for the night photographer in your life.

We try to mix and match—some things photography, some things national parks; some things serious, some things fun; some things lofty, some things modest. Over 35 products carefully curated for you and yours. There should be something here for every night photographer on your list.

This is our gift to you: to help you find something special for someone special. Your gift to us? You’ve already given it. Thank you for being you, and for being here.

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 Vallerret, 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

Panoramic Head

Love shooting Milky Way panos? Acratech is here to help! Their Panoramic Head facilitates shooting single- or multi-row panos. It has large-numbered degree scales on both the base and the tilt axis so you can make precise movements between panels. Moreover, the head weighs less than 1 pound and supports over 25 pounds of a camera-lens combo.

Special offer: 10 percent off all Acratech Panoramic Head variants at B&H Photo with promo code “NPANGIFT22.” Valid through December 19, 2022.

Adonit

PD-3A2C Universal World Travel Adapter

We learned about the compact and lightweight PD-3A2C Universal World Travel Adapter from a workshop attendee, and now we always carry one. It’s an ideal all-in-one replacement for most of your individual chargers, featuring two USB-C and three USB-A ports, plus pass-through AC for your laptop. Pairs perfectly with modern multi-voltage power supplies in over 150 countries.

Apple

AirTag

Did the airlines lose your luggage on your last trip? Regrettably this became a common refrain among travelers this year. Several of us at National Parks have been using the Apple AirTags to keep track of our bags during recent flights, and we love them. Using a unique network of connected Bluetooth devices, AirTags can help you locate your luggage when the airlines can’t or won’t. Buy a four pack and use the extras for your keys, backpacks, etc.

B&H Photo

Gift Card

If you don’t know what to give the photographer in your life, then give the gift of choice from the world’s best camera store, B&H Photo. With a gift card they can pick any camera, lens, computer or whatever they desire, and will have you to hug and thank for it.

Bay Photo

Wall Display

A photograph isn’t truly complete until it’s been printed, and we love the prints from Bay Photo Lab. Get the photographer in your life their favorite image printed for their wall. Choose from a plethora of wall display print surfaces, including metal, canvas, acrylic, wood, paper and more.

Special offer: 20 percent off one order of select wall display prints from Bay Photo Lab with promo code “NPAN22.” Valid until December 13, 2022.

BenQ

SW321C

For a real Wow Factor in the home office or editing studio, not to mention a super-resolution display for viewing hard-won images, the BenQ SW321C can’t be beat. Its 32-inch size gives lots of real estate for examining and editing photos, and it comes complete with all the advantages of all BenQ photo monitors: 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color gamut, 10-bit support for 1.07 billion colors, crystal-clear rendering of image pixels and more.

Special offer: $100 off the BenQ SW321C at B&H Photo with promo code “NPANGIFT22.” Valid through December 19, 2022.

Big & Little Parks

Night Stickers

Sticker culture is alive and well, as is astro-tourism, and Big & Little Parks is celebrating the junction of the two with a variety of night-sky national park stickers. Decorate your water bottle, your laptop, your whatever with a beautiful sticker of Canyonlands, Death Valley, Joshua Tree or others.

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 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.

Bug Bite Thing

Venom Extractor

Traveling to natural spaces is an amazing experience, but has a notable downside: potential bug bites and stings. To treat them, we’re loving this new product: the Bug Bite Thing! Brought to our attention by one of our regular workshop attendees, it’s become a staple in our bags. Bit by a mosquito? Stung by a bee? This lightweight, easily stowable gadget uses suction to remove the venom from the skin, reducing itchiness and quickening the healing process.

Calibrite

ColorChecker Passport Duo

For those who shoot both video and photography, night and day, Calibrite offers the new ColorChecker Passport Duo. This awesome protective clamshell houses four panels for photographers capturing on-site camera calibration profiles, white balance, proper exposure and color for video. For landscape photographers, these tools can ensure a consistent and neutral workflow that leaves room for more creativity and less frustration.

Coast Portland

G20 Inspection Beam

Night photographers need good flashlights, and not just high-powered ones for light painting. We also need gentler tools for looking into our bag and seeing or way in the dark without ruining our night vision or washing out a neighboring photographer’s long exposure. Enter Coast Portland’s G20 flashlight, which focuses a relatively dim and cool light that’s perfectly discreet.

Duduho

Galaxy Apron

For the night photographer who’s also an artist in the kitchen, what better way to keep clothes clean than an apron donned with the Milky Way? The unisex Galaxy Apron is made of high-quality waterproof fabric with adjustable neck and waist straps. It’s a necessity for making a dinner that’s out of this world.

DxO

PureRAW

Night photography is all about pushing the limits of our cameras, and one of the side effects is high ISO noise. While some post-processing techniques can reduce the effect, none eliminate it. But PureRAW is different. This software from DxO employs what they call “pre-processing” raw files to remove noise before working on photos in Lightroom, Photoshop or other editing solutions. This technology is nothing short of disruptive—it will change how night photographers approach noise, allowing for highly improved night images.

Everglades Seasoning

Dry Rub

We found this Everglades Seasoning right outside one of our favorite national parks: aptly, Everglades, during a workshop no less. The Cactus Dust flavor has found a regular spot on our homemade chicken wings, but all of them are worth a rub onto any chicken, steak or fish. Taste the unique flavors while dreaming of long winter nights in the swamps and marshes of Florida’s famous park.

Getaway

Cabin Adventures

Getaway maintains a network of natural-space cabins around the U.S., all within 2 hours of major cities, but far out into dark-sky areas. The Cabin Adventures cabins feature all you need to get by, plus outdoor amenities such as a fire pit. But the coolest feature of all? The to-the-ceiling plate glass bedroom windows that allow you to gaze at nature and the stars as you fall asleep.

Irix

45mm f/1.4 Dragonfly

Irix keeps delivering the innovation we’ve come to expect. One of the more recent additions to their lineup of lenses is the supersharp 45mm f/1.4 Dragonfly. Its near-normal focal length is perfect for filling the background with the Milky Way, and the lens is almost coma-free even when shot wide open.

Special offer: $115 off the Irix 45mm f/1.4 Dragonfly at B&H Photo through November 28, 2022.

Ken Lee

Music Album

Ken Lee is an amazing night photographer based in California, and the author of two (and counting) night photography books. He also writes and records music—“trippy otherworldly music,” in his words— under the artist name Eleven Shadows and The Mercury Seven. His music has been featured on various MTV programs, the BBC, NPR, XM Radio and more. Eleven Shadows’ most recent release is The Seahorse in the Center of Your Mind, available for purchase and download. Perfect background music for night photography and editing.

LaCie

Rugged SSD PRO

For the hardcore approach to a sturdy travel hard drive, look at the Rugged SSD Pro. Holding from .5 to 4 TB, this Thunderbolt 3 External SSD offers data transfer speeds of up to 2800 MB/s. It features a durable exterior with 2 tons of crush resistance and resistance to dust and water. Serious speed, serious capacity, for the serious road-warrior photographer.

Special offer: $30 to $350 off the LaCie Rugged SSD Pro at B&H Photo through the end of 2022.

Ledlenser

P2R Work Flashlight

Ledlenser’s Work series of flashlights are uniquely suited for night photography due to their high CRI (color rendering index) and relatively warm white balance. Several of us have made the P2R Work our go-to light both for lighting and navigation due to its versatility and compact size. It is rechargeable, has three power settings, and conveniently comes on at a 15-lumen Low setting that is perfect for astro-landscape environments.

Light Painting Brushes

Holographic Sword

At 2 feet long, the Holographic Sword enables a light-writing photographer to create unlimited effects in the background or foreground. Blacked out on the side, and capable of showing all the colors of the rainbow from the front, the sword gives complete creative control to its wielder. Paired with the Universal Connector, it can be used with hundreds of different flashlights on the market.

Luxli

Fiddle Pocket LED 2-Light Kit

Since the day they were launched in 2017, we’ve been among the biggest fans and supporters of Luxli’s unparalleled line of LED panels, and we use them even more than we preach them. So we worked with B&H Photo to create a kit of the tools that we most often use together, dubbed the Fiddle Pocket LED 2-Light Kit. It includes two each of the Luxli Fiddle, magnetic honeycomb grid, Manfrotto Carbon Fiber Nanopole Stand and Oben BD-02 Mini Ball Head, and one magnetic diffuser hood. Everything you need to begin and master Low-level Landscape Lighting.

Special offer: 10 percent off the Fiddle Pocket LED 2-Light Kit at B&H Photo with promo code “NPANGIFT22.” Valid through December 19, 2022.

Manfrotto

ProCUBE Professional Twin Charger

Double-charge your batteries! Manfrotto’s ProCube will get a photographer out shooting again faster, charging two batteries simultaneously. An LCD shows how much each battery has been replenished, as well as a battery health check. The unit can also power up rechargeable AA batteries, and has a USB output for charging phones and tablets. Options available to recharge various models of Nikon, Canon and Sony batteries.

Special offer: 10 percent off the Manfrotto ProCube at B&H Photo with promo code “NPANGIFT22.” Valid through December 19, 2022.

Move-Shoot-Move

MAK 90 Telescope

For the photographer who wants to study or shoot celestial objects, Move-Shoot-Move’s MAK 90 telescope is a great beginner’s tool. Its 1250mm focal length with a compact body is achieved with catadioptric mirrors and allows for narrow field observation at a fraction of the cost, length and weight of refractor (glass-lens) telescopes.

National Park Service

America the Beautiful Pass

National parks are the backbone of what we do, and are among the very best places in the U.S. for night photography. For only $80 you can purchase the America the Beautiful annual park pass, which grants access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by five federal agencies. Moreover, the proceeds are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services at these sites all across the country.

National Parks at Night

Night Photography Adventure Tours

Send the photographer in your life on the adventure of a lifetime, crafting images under the night skies of some amazing destinations. Tickets are available for several National Parks at Night adventures:

Or if none of those sound like the perfect gift, then how about Online Tutoring?

Books by Our Instructors

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.

Nightscaper Photo Conference

Conference Ticket

What more could a night photographer want than to spend a few days under the beautifully dark night skies of Kanab, Utah, rubbing elbows with and shooting alongside like-minded individuals? A ticket to the Nightscaper Photo Conference is a ticket to coming together with some of the most passionate minds in the niche. Four days and nights together, learning and shooting among the stars. May 18-21, 2023.

Special offer: Limited number of early-bird tickets remain.

Noso Patches

Nylon Repair Patches

We love our national parks! And getting out and playing in them sometimes takes a toll on our nylon clothing. The folks over at Noso have created a solution: a line of waterproof, durable, lightweight and flexible no-sew Nylon Repair Patches. Simply peel off the backing, cover the damaged area and hit the patch with a blast from a hair dryer. Voila, the repair is done! Best of all they have a whole line of national park patches in addition to their standard and artist series versions.

Novoflex

TrioBalance 4-Section Carbon Fiber Compact Tripod

Nice and tall at 50.2 inches, the TrioBalance is an ideal travel tripod. The built-in leveling ball makes setup a breeze for panorama and tracking, and can even be used in place of a ball head. The kit includes mini legs, which can be used for tabletop photography, for macro or even for setting up against a wall when space is tight. Holding up to 22 pounds, it’s ready for nearly anything you carry.

Special offer: 5 percent off the Novoflex Triobalance at B&H Photo with promo code “NPANGIFT22.” Valid November 28 to December 19, 2022.

Outdoor Exposure

TK8 Photoshop Plugin

Most photographers have heard of a luminosity mask, and many know the power of it. But few wield that power because … well, it’s just a tad tedious. Until you start using the TK8 Photoshop Plugin, which automates much of the process. Instead of spending a lot of time isolating channels to make selections, just click a button, refine a little, and you’re on your way to those powerful edits.

Special offer: 25 percent off the TK8 Photoshop Plugin at Outdoor Exposure through November 28, 2022.

Paka

The Hoodie

Yep, those long nights can sometimes get cold, but we have so many options to keep us warm. Near the top of that pile is The Hoodie from Paka. Sourced from women artisans in Peru, this comfortable sweater is as warm as it is stylish. Soft, durable and flexible, it’s made from a weave of alpaca fibers, organic cotton and recycled nylon. Available in seven sizes and three colors.

Parks Project

Insulated Water Bottle

Parks Project has all sorts of cool stuff, but one thing we love is their All Our National Parks insulated water bottle. It has a slick, eye-catching design indicative of the company’s free-spirit sentimentality. Made of professional grade stainless steel, the bottle’s double-wall vacuum insulation keeps 32 ounces of liquid either hot or cold for up to 24 hours. The company donates a portion of their profit to projects in the parks—to date, over $2.5 million—so your gift purchase gives in more ways than one.

PhotoPills

Scouting App

Give your photographer loved one the sun and the moon and the stars—all exactly where they want them. PhotoPills enables locating any visible objects in the heavens and determining exactly where and when they’ll be in the sky in any location on the globe. It does more too, from helping determine star-point exposures to calculating hyperfocal distance to figuring overlap angles for panos and more.

Pure Zen Tea

Travel Tumbler

Tea is a refined, millennia-old beverage that will keep a photographer both warm and awake under the stars. But if one is the type who prefers loose leaf to bags, making a good cup on the road can be a challenge. The Pure Zen Tea Tumbler overcomes that challenge brilliantly. The screw-on steel infuser allows ample room for quality brewing, and the BPA-free double-wall glass combined with the neoprene sleeve will keep that tea hot for an hour.

Shimoda

Explore v2 35 Backpack Photo Starter Kit

The super-rugged Explore v2 35 backpack is laid out smartly for the traveling photographer and it boasts the most comfortable harness system we’ve encountered for heavy loads and long hikes. Its adjustable shoulder harness straps make it fit perfectly for folks of different heights, and the accessory straps do the same for different body types. This kit includes a Medium DSLR Core Unit Version 2 insert, but you can also choose among the many accessory options to match load-outs. Carry-on compatible for both U.S. and international flights.

Special offer: 5 percent off all Shimoda Explore V2 variants at B&H Photo with promo code “NPANGIFT22.” Valid November 28 to December 19, 2022.

Space Art Travel Bureau

Half the Park is After Dark Posters

Tyler Nordgren is an astronomer, night photographer and astronomy artist based in upstate New York. One of his claims to fame is the famous “Half the Park is After Dark” series of promotions for the National Park Service. The fantastical posters from that series are available on Nordgren’s website. Options range far and wide, from posters for Acadia, Badlands, Carlsbad Caverns, Everglades and much, much more.

Syrp

Magic Carpet Carbon Slider

For those who want to level up their time-lapses of the night sky, a slider is one of the first items to add to the kit. Syrp weighs in with the Magic Carpet Carbon Slider. Its lightweight construction and design make it a pro-level option that’s easy to travel with, and its seamless joints allow for silky-smooth and stable movements.

Special offer: $170 off the Syrp Magic Carpet Carbon Slider at B&H Photo for a limited time.

Tether Tools

ONsite USB-C 30W Battery Pack

Stay powered up while traveling! Weighing in at 4.2 ounces and boasting full TSA compliance, the ONsite USB-C 30W Battery Pack is the perfect companion for the globetrotting photographer who needs to recharge phones, tablets, flashlights, etc., on long wanders.

Special offer: 20 percent off the ONsite USB-C 30w Battery Pack at B&H Photo through November 28, 2022.

Unemployed Philosophers Guild

Constellation Mug

This fun and nifty 10-ounce mug features a bunch of stars when cold, then reveals constellations when filled with a hot beverage. See Cassiopeia, Perseus, Sagittarius and more appear before your eyes while you drink a morning (or overnight?) coffee.

Vallerret

Merino Wool Zip Jersey

We’ve long loved Vallerret for keeping our hands warm on cold nights with their photography gloves. Now they’re keeping our cores warm too, in the form of their Merino Wool Zip Jersey. Warm, soft, flexible, odor-resistant and durable, it will keep a photographer out longer, making more art well into the night. Comes in one color: the perfect Midnight Black.

Wotobeus

Car Charger Adapter

If you travel with a hefty-battery laptop like the MacBook Pro, you sometimes need to charge on the go—and that sometimes means in the car. Not all adapters can handle the high wattage needed, so we found one that can, via USB-C: the Wotobeus Car Charger Adapter. Works with other devices too, including many PC laptops, tablets and more.

YES Watch

WorldWatch V7

An elegant timepiece with a photographer’s needs at heart. The WorldWatch V7 keeps its wearer in sync with the daily, monthly and seasonal cycles of the sun and the moon, including solstices and equinoxes, sunsets and sunrises, moonrises and moonsets, moon phases and illumination percentages, and more. The case and bracelet are made from titanium and fitted with a sapphire crystal, and the watch is water resistant to a depth of 100 meters.

Special offer: 20 percent off the WorldWatch V7 at YES Watch with promo code “NOW.” Valid through the 2022 holiday season.

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 by clicking the image above.

Chris Nicholson is a partner and workshop leader with National Parks at Night, and author of Photographing National Parks (Sidelight Books, 2015). Learn more about national parks as photography destinations, subscribe to Chris' free e-newsletter, and more at www.PhotographingNationalParks.com.

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A Few Favorite Things: Our 2021 Night Photography Holiday Gift Guide

Yes, it’s that time of year. Time for early nightfalls, time for northern lights, and time for thinking of the photographer in your life who’s looking for a little new cheer from a little new gear.

To help, for the sixth year in a row we bring you our National Parks at Night Holiday Gift Guide. It’s full of products that may or may not fit in stockings—or even, for that matter, might not even fit nicely in boxes and bows—but that are, regardless, sure to put a smile on any night photographer’s face.

The products we selected might help make that someone special’s photography better, or perhaps improve the experience of being outdoors at night. Or maybe one of these gifts will remind them of the amazing places they go, or help them showcase the images they made while there.

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 Luxli, along with great little finds from smaller companies and even non-profits.

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.

1Zpresso

Q2 Travel Coffee Grinder

We are big fans of traveling with our portable Aeropress espresso maker. For the ultimate in freshness, it’s best to get those beans whole and grind them when you are ready. It might seem like a lot of work but the 1Zpresso Q2 makes it easy and fun! This incredibly compact burr grinder fits inside your Aeropress and is solidly built. The wooden handle makes for quick and comfortable grinding—typically in 20 to 30 seconds. So step up your coffee game and impress your local barista with your grinding skills!

Acratech

GPSS Ball Head

Tripod heads are one of the most important pieces of equipment a photographer can buy. The best of the best operate smoothly and with precision, as well as being comfortable to use and strong enough to withstand repeated use with quality cameras on top. The Acratech GPSS is certainly one that stands heads and shoulders above the crowd. Made in the USA, by photographers, its travel-tripod-friendly minimalist design weighs less than 1 pound but is rated to support up to 25 pounds! The GPSS also has gimbal and pano-base capability, as well as an Arca-Swiss quick-release clamp.

Adventure Responsibly

National Park Stickers

We love our national parks and public lands. So do the folks at Adventure Responsibly. They love them so much that they donate 5 percent of their proceeds to the National Park Foundation, and they also donate to, organize and assist in local and national litter cleanup efforts. Among lots of cool stuff, check out their line of retro-design National Park Stickers for awesome places such as Acadia, Arches, Grand Teton and more. You’ll be helping support a company whose mission it is to promote outdoor awareness and stewardship. Plus you get to sport the cool merch. It’s a win-win.

B&H Photo

Gift Card

Struggling with what to get the photographer friend in your life? There’s one thing that’s guaranteed to make them smile: anything at B&H! As in, the gift that gives more, a B&H gift card. The gift card comes in both electronic and physical formats, and is available in denominations ranging from $20 to $1,000. They never expire, so if the recipient also can’t decide what to get, there’s no pressure to use it in a hurry.

Bay Photo Lab

Face Mounted Acrylic Prints

We recently received some acrylic test prints from Bay Photo and were very impressed! Acrylic images are printed on metal or LexJet FineArt metallic (our favorite) or Lustre surfaces. Better resolution is achieved with LexJet’s FineArt Paper versus printing on metal. You can choose the thickness of the acrylic, and you’ll be amazed at the extra depth and clarity it gives an image. Acrylic blocks are a fun way to make a family tabletop display of loved ones, but the Face Mounted Acrylic prints are a great way to celebrate night images. Choose from sizes 4x4 inches to 43x96, and opt for the sturdier Dibond backing.

Special offer: 20 percent off one order of select wall display prints from Bay Photo Lab with promo code “NPAN21.” Valid until December 13, 2021.

BenQ

SW270c Monitor

What you see is what you get. Or at least it should be. The computer monitor is that all-important interface between what we see in the field and our final images. And with so many options out there, deciding on the right monitor can be a frustrating experience—until you see a BenQ. With 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space covered and ample controls for calibrating the screen, their SW monitors are perfectly engineered for the discerning photographer. For a perfect balance between price and quality, we love the SW270C.

Special offer: $80 off the SW270C, $160 off the SW271C and $200 off the SW321C at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid until December 3, 2021.

Benro

Arcasmart Sidearm

Let’s agree that smartphones are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Given that, why not make it easier during a night photo shoot to use app-based software and mount it right alongside your camera? The Benro Arcasmart Sidearm has a fold-out, adjustable phone holder so you can operate PhotoPills, Stellarium or your camera’s control app right next to your camera.

Black Friday deal: 25 percent off at B&H Photo through November 29, 2021.

Bookshelf

Photography & Night Books

If there’s one thing we can never get enough of, it’s books. There have been some great releases this year for lovers of night photography and our national parks and monuments. From the legendary Art Wolfe to National Parks at Night’s good friend Ken Lee to renowned parks photographer QT Luong, here’s a sampling with a little something for all tastes.

Coast Portland

XP6R Flashlight

The Coast XP6R is a beast in miniature. At less than 4 inches long and only 2.6 ounces, the XP6R flashlight delivers brightest-in-class light and travels anywhere. With three output modes and Coast’s patented slide focus, this tiny giant is powered by a Zithion-X rechargeable battery (charging cable included) but can also run on a CR123 lithium battery. Big things do come in small packages!

Special offer: 35 percent off at Coast Portland with promo code “PARKSATNIGHT.”

Coffeify

Starry Night Coffee & Tea Cup

A beautiful, elegant, handmade mug ready for sipping a hot coffee or tea before a night out photographing the sky, or perhaps as a wake-up on the morning after. Made of fine ceramic, the Starry Night Coffee & Tea Cup is delicate but strong, gilded with vibrant gold details, and sits on a carved wooden saucer.

Cognitive Surplus

Night Sky Wine Glasses

For wine as dark as a night sky, what better way to indulge than with a glass full of stars? Night Sky Wine Glasses are designed with stars and constellations, and even the Milky Way stretching across the heavens, all above a landscape of shoreline and hills and trees. Available with or without stems, depicting either Northern or Southern Hemisphere.

Field Made Co

Lens & Camera Indicators

One of the problems with working in the dark is that it’s … well, dark. So when you’re poking around your bag to find a piece of gear, any assistance is welcome. Enter Lens & Camera Indicators—labels for body caps and lens caps that sleekly identify what’s what in a camera bag. Available individually for a wide range of gear, or in cost-saving combination packs of common, brand-specific lenses.

Firefly Books

Astronomy References

Most night photographers aren’t astronomers, but they sure rely a lot on astronomy. So a little astronomical knowledge can go a long way toward helping to make better images, or to at least know a little more about what we’re shooting. Firefly Books has two references to help: the Backyard Astronomer’s Guide, a 400-plus-page hardcover that details all the things we can see at night and how to see them best, and the 2022 Night Sky Almanac, a guide to what we can expect all year from the moon, the stars, auroras and more.

Focus on Stars

Focusing Filter

Achieving critical focus is the most persistent problem for many night photographers, and for those who are still struggling with it, the Focus on Stars filter is the best aid we’ve found for doing just what the name says: focusing on stars. It’s a specialized version of a Bahtinov mask, which was originally developed as a focusing aid for telescopes, but has been modified and enhanced for use with wide-angle lenses. Designed by Hungarian photographer Gábor Tákacs, Focus on Stars makes it easy to nail your focus—on stars or on any point light source—every time.

Special offer: 15 percent off at Focus on Stars with promo code “FOS_NPAN.” Valid until December 15, 2021.

Good & Well Supply Co

National Park Candles

We love taking pictures of all the national parks, but one thing we could never bring back was the scent of the park. Until now! Good & Well Supply Co’s National Park Candles collection features over 40 parks. Their well-crafted scents will take you from Acadia to Zion and all the wonderful places in between. Candles are available in pint or half-pint sizes, and will easily transport you back to those wild and pristine lands!

Hog Island Press

Adventure Map

This land is our land, and what better way to seek out your next trip than with the Hog Island Press Adventure Map? It features not only the major national parks but also Great Trails and State Peaks. Use pins to mark off the ones you’ve been to and keep track of the wonderful places to go!

ID My Stuff

Identification Labels

Camera gear is precious. Not to mention expensive. We never want to lose a piece, but things happen. Increase the chances of seeing a lost piece again by providing the finder with your contact info! ID My Stuff makes the perfect custom Identification Labels for camera equipment. They’re durable and weather-resistant, come in various sizes for discreet or in-your-face exposure, and are available in seven colors so you can color-code gear.

Image3D

RetroViewer

If you want to celebrate a trip or an anniversary—or just enjoy your photos in a crazy-unique format—then the RetroViewer could be the funnest way! Who among us older folks didn’t have a View-Master in the 1970s? Everyone had the “Seven Wonders of the World” reel, right? Now you can make your own wonders and nostalgically wow your family and friends. Easy to upload your photos and edit the result.

International Dark-Sky Association

Membership

Chances are that light pollution has some sort of impact on your life. As the world’s population grows, our access to dark, star-filled night skies shrinks. The International Dark-Sky Association is dedicated to increasing awareness and providing information, education and resources to combat this global creep of illumination. You can help the IDA and your favorite night photographer by giving the gift of membership. Includes standing in the giftee’s local chapter; timely, relevant news and updates about nighttime protection efforts nearby and around the world; and access to special member resources.

Irix

30mm f/1.4 Dragonfly

For anyone looking for a new point of view, Irix’s fast 30mm f/1.4 Dragonfly lens could be the ticket to monster photos of the galactic core, not to mention sweet, sweet pano stitches. Featuring ultralow distortion, electronic diaphragm control and the hallmark Irix focus locking mechanism. Available for full-frame cameras in Canon EF, Nikon F and Pentax K mounts.

Joshua Tree Coffee

Bali Kintamani

This limited-edition single-origin roast was carefully crafted to be enjoyed by a wide range of coffee drinkers. Grown in the Kintamani region of Bali at around 5,000 feet above sea level in volcanic loam soil, these beans have been naturally dry processed, lending to distinct earthy and fruity notes. Bali Kintamani is perfect for your Aeropress while on the road, or at home!

LaCie

D2 External Hard Drive

How many photos did we shoot this year? Do we all still have enough storage space to safely hold all those files? LaCie is one of the best hard drive companies out there and we feel confident storing our  hard-won images on their hard drives. Anyone looking to upgrade or add a backup external hard drive needs to look no further than the D2 Professional USB 3.2 Gen 2 Hard Drive that stores up to 18 TB.

Special offer: 10 percent off select LaCie Portable, Rugged and D2 external hard drives from B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid until December 3, 2021.

Ledlenser

P6R Work

Earlier this year we were introduced to Ledlenser’s impressive line of flashlights. We especially like the P6R Work, which features a rechargeable battery, a color temperature of 4000 K and a CRI of 90, and four brightness settings ranging from 15 to 850 lumens. Especially useful is the “last used setting” memory: If you turn the light off from the low setting, it will come back on at low power. It’s one-stop shopping for all of your light painting needs!

Light Painting Brushes

Color Fiber Optics, Set of 4 Colors

This set of four Color Fiber Optics brushes (in pink, purple, blue and green) will delight the light writer seeking soft, electric lines in their creations. A unique effect is that you can artfully combine fiber optic colors with different flashlight colors to create nifty color mixing options. Comes with a plastic carrying case. Universal Connector required for use.

Luxli

Red Fiddle

Last year Luxli came out with our favorite low-level LED light, the Fiddle. It’s super compact, has a built-in and long-lasting internal battery and quickly charges with USB-C. Its capability to power down to .1 percent helps bring realistic lighting to night images. Originally released in black, a sharp-looking red Fiddle is now available. Use it in combination with a black Fiddle to quickly identify which is a main light and which is fill, or just use the red to be more festive!

Special offer: Special price of $199 at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid through December 3, 2021.

Manfrotto

Befree GT XPRO

For anyone in need of an entry-level or second tripod that is super stable and won’t break the bank, the Manfrotto Befree GT XPRO is a perfect answer. Available in aluminum and the half-pound-lighter carbon fiber versions. Both feature a maximum load capacity of 26.5 pounds with a maximum height of 64.6 inches and folded length of 16.9 inches, as well as a built-in 90-degree column mechanism that’s great for tabletop or macro photography.

Special offer: 10 percent off at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid through December 3, 2021.

Merrell

Night Sky Trail Shoes

A stellar shoe for the trailblazing stargazer—which is pretty much every night photographer. These trekkers are designed with us in mind. Night-sky pattern on the uppers, glow-in-the-dark outsole, and all the features you’d expect out of a quality trail shoe from a stand-up brand like Merrell. Night Sky Trail Shoes are available for only a limited time.

Midnight Society

Fake Park Patches

When we next ask you what your dream destination is, imagine … anyplace. And get an iron-on patch, sticker or pin to prove you’ve been there (even if it’s only in your imagination). Introducing Fake Park Patches! Tongue-in-cheek designs available for Tatooine National Park, Arrakis National Park, Fire Swamp National Park. Anyone presenting a Mordor National Park patch gets a free coffee from Matt on their next workshop with him.

My Bucket Journals

National Park Bucket Journal

Your friends love the national parks. You probably do too. To record adventures to the parks, or to make shooting notes about the photos being made or scouting notes for photos to be made in the future, the perfect travel companion is the National Park Bucket Journal. Each of the 63 U.S. national parks has its own two-page spread with info about the park, including geographical data, statistics and highlights to check out. Available in digital and 8.5x11-inch paper versions.

National Park Service

America the Beautiful Pass

In 1983 Wallace Stegner said, “National parks are the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.” The establishment of the national parks and the recognition of their importance are as meaningful today as the day they occurred. For only $80 you can purchase the America the Beautiful annual park pass to begin or continue an exploration of America’s greatest idea. The annual pass provides access to more than 2,000 recreation areas managed by five federal agencies, and the proceeds are used to improve and enhance visitor recreation services.

National Parks at Night

Instructor Books & e-Books

Looking for some national park and night photography inspiration and education that you can always have at your fingertips? Choose from one of the several written by members of the National Parks at Night team, available in both paperback and electronic formats.

2022 Wall Calendar

National Parks at Night’s sixth annual wall calendar, titled Night Light, will help the photographer stay inspired by and for night photography throughout 2022. The

12x12-inch calendar is printed on heavy-stock photographic paper, and is coil-bound for easy flipping from month to month.

In addition to 14 photos by the National Parks at Night instructors, the calendar includes dates for:

  • National Park Service events and holidays

  • astronomy holidays (yes, they exist)

  • equinoxes and solstices

  • new and full moons

  • meteor showers

  • supermoons

  • eclipses

Night Photography and Post-Processing Workshops

Send the photographer in your life on the adventure of a lifetime, crafting images under the night skies of some amazing destinations. Or get them online to learn how to better process their images. Tickets are available for several National Parks at Night courses and adventures:

Or if none of those sound like the perfect gift, then how about Online Tutoring?

Nisi

Soft Star Filter

Most night photographers have probably at least seen a “soft star” filter—one that makes bright stars and constellations more apparent in a night scene. We’ve always felt a little meh about them, but the new graduated Soft Star Filter by Nisi piqued our interest! Because it’s graduated, the effect can be kept away from the landscape and applied only to the stars. Definitely something a night photographer can have fun experimenting and getting creative with!

Special offer: 15 percent off select Nisi filters at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid through December 3, 2021.

Nomadix

National Parks Night Towels

“A towel … is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” — Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

These multipurpose towels pack small and light and make you wonder why you ever used any other towel. Seriously, it’s hard to go back to “normal towels,” so best to buy two. Micro terry cloth made from recycled materials. Soft, durable and sand-resistant. Comes in a wide range of national park designs, including four National Parks Night Towels: Sequoia, Rocky Mountain, Olympic, Yosemite.

Novoflex

VR-System Slim Panorama System

German-engineered and manufactured, precision VR-System Slim Panorama System rig will support any mirrorless system and smaller DSLRs. Create repeatable dusk blends with star fields by using the adjustable detents. Expand the field of view by making multirow or 360-degree spherical panos. Even better, it disassembles for easy travel.

Special offer: $50 off at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid until December 3, 2021.

Parks Project

Campfire Stories

We all love a great campfire story, and we all love a great national park. Parks Project brings those together in Campfire Stories: Tales from America's National Parks. Get immersed in tales from legendary voices such as John Muir, Bill Bryson and Terry Tempest Williams, as well as from pioneer and indigenous writers. Stories in this 224-page hardcover focus on Acadia, Great Smoky Mountains, Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Zion. And if you need something to wrap any of this guide’s gifts, pick up a few rolls of Iconic Parks Wrapping Paper!

PhotoPills

Lighthouse Shirt

Show your love for both lighthouses and the best scouting app in the photo world with a PhotoPills Lighthouse Shirt. It’s a classic-cut premium T-shirt available in eight sizes and four colors, cut separately for men and women. Double-stitched with reinforced seams at the shoulders, sleeves, collar and waist.

Rocky Talkie

Two-Way Radios

These are the radios we use on NPAN workshops to keep instructors and attendees all safe and in touch at night in vast natural spaces. Rocky Talkie radios were designed for skiers and climbers and anyone spending time in teams in the wilderness or in rugged environments. The specially designed lithium-ion battery lasts for 3 days, the LED display is shatterproof, the casing is weather-sealed, and despite being license-free, the radios have an effective range of 1 to 5 miles in rocky terrain.

Ruggard

EDC-80L Electronic Dry Cabinet

How do you care for your camera gear if your home is damp or humid? You could save all those desiccant packs from sneaker boxes, or you could get an EDC-80L Electronic Dry Cabinet. Avoid the awful consequences of mold growing in between lens elements, or even inside the camera. Store gear in a dry cabinet for both longevity and peace of mind.

She’s Birdie

Birdie Personal Safety Alarm

It’s designed by women, for women—but for anyone concerned about being out at night alone, a personal alarm can provide a touch of safety and security. Enter the Birdie, featuring a 130-decibel alarm and a flashing strobe light. The device doubles as a call for help and a deterrent from harm. Comes with a solid brass key chain and is available in 11 colors.

Shimoda 

Explore V2 Backpack 

Shimoda has revamped their popular compact backpack series with the Explore V2. Choose between a 25L, 30L or 35L version, as well as between a very nice army green or black. Shimoda is all about custom comfort, allowing the wearer to adjust their straps according to size, or even with a specialized women’s harness. Hike in comfort and still bring the core essentials!

Special offer: 10 percent off the full line of Shimoda Explore V2 bags at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid through December 3, 2021.

Starry Landscape Stacker

Stacking Software

While digital cameras have come a long way in reducing high ISO noise, we as night photographers still want to push that envelope. But high ISOs come at a cost: noisier images. Enter Starry Landscape Stacker. This piece of software allows you to shoot starry night sky images at higher ISO’s and then, through the software’s powerful magic, produce an image that exhibits substantially less noise. For those wanting the cleanest Milky Way images, this is must-have software. For Mac only.

Tether Tools

ONsite Relay C

Tether Tools has revamped the power game with the brand new ONsite Relay C. Now with a USB-C connection and a slimmer profile, a photographer can connect directly into USB-C-powered cameras such as the Z 6II (not the Z 6) or use a corresponding coupler to get enough power to keep clicking well into the night. Great way to avoid changing batteries for multihour time-lapses and long exposures.

Tiffen

Star Effect Filter

Like many of the things from the 1980s, Tiffen’s star effects are making a comeback! Available in sizes from 32mm to 105mm, a Star Effect Filter turns any direct and bright light source (such as streetlamps and planets) into dramatic stars. Choose a normal four-point star or get up to 14 spikes with the Hyper Star Filter, or get the North Star Effect, which creates the classic four large points in between eight smaller points.

Special offer: 10 percent off select Tiffen Star Filters at B&H Photo with promo code “BHNIGHT21.” Valid until December 3, 2021.

Vallerret

Markhof Pro V3

The Markhof Pro V3 is the next generation of Vallerret’s “take everywhere” photographer’s glove. The glove has some major improvements in its third iteration, with the most important being more insulation without compromising dexterity. The flip fingers have an improved design to keep the cold out, with better finishing at the openings and stronger magnets to hold them open. Two new sizes have been added for those with slim hands, while the original sizes have been updated to better align with other Vallerret gloves. And 1 percent of Vallerret’s global sales go directly to environmental nonprofits.

Special offer: 10 percent off at Vallerret with code “PARKSATNIGHT10.” Valid until December 31, 2021.

Wildcoat

Bear Coat

Why be afraid of bears when you can become one? These hip winter Bear Coat jackets repel water, and perhaps humans. They also have fun bear-faced hoods, soft claw mitts built in and tons of pockets. When you’re ready to shred a long exposure, don one of these fun jackets and do it in style. 

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 by clicking the image above.

Chris Nicholson is a partner and workshop leader with National Parks at Night, and author of Photographing National Parks (Sidelight Books, 2015). Learn more about national parks as photography destinations, subscribe to Chris' free e-newsletter, and more at www.PhotographingNationalParks.com.

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All That Glitters: Our 2020 Holiday Gift Guide

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!

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS FROM NATIONAL PARKS AT NIGHT

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Seizing the Season: How to Photograph Holiday Lights

The holiday festivities are in full swing, and everywhere you look—from the stores to the streets, from the houses to the parks—the world is sparkling with a celebration of lights.

All this holiday cheer warms the spirits and sends people out in throngs to experience festivals and homes adorned with sparkles and gleams. Including, of course, photographers!  And I’m one of them.

I recently braved the masses to experience one of the classic locations that brings in people from all over the world during the holidays—Rockefeller Center. It has the massive tree and skating rink on one side, and the spectacular Saks light show (Figure 1) on the other. Between both these sights runs a segmented water fountain and rows of angels.

Figure 1. An ethereal take on the Saks lights show. Nikon Z 6 with a Lensbaby Sol 45mm f/3.5 lens. 1/80, f/3.5, ISO 500, with a white balance of 5000 K.

Everyone was taking pictures with their phones, which do a decent job in such a well-lit space. But my goal was different. I wanted to get creative and make some photographs that might be worth hanging on the wall.

Would you like to get out and do the same, whether in a bustling place like Rockefeller Center or in the quiet of a suburban neighborhood? In this article I want to inspire you to level up to create something that goes beyond the snapshot. That’s right—we’re going to shoot some holiday lights!

Exposure Guidelines

Because you can experience a variety of conditions under the lights, the best exposures will vary from scene to scene.

Apertures play a big factor, whether you’re shooting wide open to turn the lights into a colorful blurred background or whether you’re stopping down to turn the direct light sources into star points.

Your shutter speeds will be dictated by whether you can use a tripod. Is there movement in the scene that will be amplified by a longer exposure? If you can’t use a tripod, choose a shutter speed above 1/60.

When shooting holiday lights, I let my ISOs fly and think about aperture and shutter speed first. Obviously, avoid any higher ISOs that add too much noise to the scene. The lower the ISO, the smoother and richer those colors will be. But today’s cameras tend to perform great up to 3200, 6400, and even 12800—so don’t be afraid to aim high if you need to!

Tips for Working Outdoors

Figure 2. Vallerret’s Ipsoot photography gloves.

Figure 2. Vallerret’s Ipsoot photography gloves.

Layering up and arriving early are key factors to successfully seizing the multitude of outdoor lights.

Make sure you are warm and comfortable, and especially protect your extremities from the cooler winter temperatures. My favorite hand-insulating combo is produced by our friends at Vallerret: the Ipsoot gloves (Figure 2) with merino wool liners. Add a hand warmer to the zipper pocket on the Ipsoot and you’ll be able to keep on clicking until the wee hours!

As for your feet, Smartwool socks and full-foot insole warmers will guarantee you can keep trudging through cold or snowy parks and hills.

Getting to your location by sunset will guarantee that you can take advantage of the shorter blue hour that happens in the Northern Hemisphere’s winter months. Urban city lights perfectly coordinate with the cobalt color of the sky during civil twilight (Figure 3), and that’s the time when everything is likely to fall into the dynamic range of the camera. This is also helpful in rural areas when you want to combine the twilight sky with a well-decorated home.

Figure 3. Even though this was shot at twilight, I needed three frames to capture the tonal range of the bright lights and the darker shadows. Fujifilm X-T1 with Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 lens. f/8, ISO 800 and blended shutter speeds of 1, 4 and 8 seconds.

If you miss the 20-minute twilight, shooting with moonlight (not this year) or bracketing and blending the scenes with more contrast will help battle big swathes of dark negative space in your photographs (Figure 4).

Figure 4. The full moon definitely helped add drama (I love the tree shadow) and balance the exposure, but I still needed to blend two images to retain the highlights realistically in the luminarias. Fujifilm X-T1 and Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 lens. f/16, ISO 400, and blended shutter speeds of 30 and 60 seconds.

Creative Tricks

As always, you can get creative in many ways. Try different kinds of compositions, different angles and shooting from different heights. Below are more fun options I love to play around with.

Lensbaby

Most people are capturing a “straight” interpretation of the scene. But Lensbabies inspire you to create a magical and mysterious spectacle!

My favorites for creating a unique look to night lights at any time of year are the Sol, Composer Pro and Twist. Each of these lenses lets you place the selective focus anywhere in the frame, making any direct light sources turn into beautiful discs of bokeh.

Figure 5. From left to right, the Lensbaby Sol 45, Composer Pro II 35 and Twist 60.

With both of the images below, the idea was about finessing the composition and timing the exposure with the lights. The “straight” shot with the 24-70mm lens (Figure 6) allowed me to go wider and include the flowing water. Seeing that movement led me to choose a slower shutter speed of 1/8 and then put my camera into burst mode and hold down the trigger. This helped guarantee at least one sharp shot in the bunch while also highlighting the moving water.

Figure 6. Nikon Z 6 with a Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 lens. 1/8, f/8, ISO 640, with a white balance of 5000 K.

Figure 7. Nikon Z 6 with a Lensaby Sol 45mm f/3.5 lens. 1/15, f/3.5, ISO 100, with a white balance of 5000 K.

But I also love the look of the Lensbaby (Figure 7). The Sol is easy to use with a focal length of 45mm. It also has a fixed aperture of f/3.5. I wasn’t able to include the water fountain, but the selective focus made the scene seem like a dream!

Defocus

As photographers we’re trained to get everything sharp. But deliberately going soft can also be incredibly creative, and it can work especially well when dealing with light sources. Try manually focusing to turn the lights into big balls of color.

For the image in Figure 8, the beautiful out-of-focus highlights that the Lensbaby creates inspired me to try defocusing. The swirling bokeh of the Twist lens looked even better when all the lights from the tree were soft.

Figure 8. Nikon Z 6 with Lensbaby Twist 60. 1/60, f/3.5, ISO 250.

Zooming

One of my favorite techniques to employ with direct light sources is zooming during the exposure. In order to do this in a brightly lit area like Rockefeller Center, you’ll want to use your lowest ISO and stop down the aperture to f/16 or f/22. You could even use a 3- or 6-stop neutral density filter.

Why are we diminishing the light so much? So we can work with a longer shutter speed. The longer you can zoom, the more creative you can get.

For the image in Figure 9, I used the LCD on the back of the camera to compose and practice a few different compositions. The 24-70mm lens worked perfectly, as the star remained in the frame as I zoomed. With a longer lens (I also had the Nikon 28-300mm with me), I would have lost that important part of the composition at the longer focal lengths.

Figure 9. Nikon Z 6 with a 24-70mm f/4 lens. 6 seconds, at f/22, ISO 50.

The trick to the zoom technique is to hold your position at the beginning and end of the exposure so that you can freeze the subject in both spots. For example, this exposure was 6 seconds. I set the zoom to its widest position, triggered the exposure, counted to 2, then started to slowly zoom, timing the movement so there was another 2-count at the end. This helped balance the visual of the tree versus the effect of the zoom.

Black and White

When you’re shooting something that’s colorful by nature, it’s hard to think outside that color box. But that different take is exactly why a monochrome approach to shooting holiday lights can be so captivating.

I ended my night at Rockefeller Center by looking for a quieter scene (Figure 10). I loved the simplicity of the white lights covering the trees and knew it would look good in black and white. I wanted to embrace the people moving on the sidewalk, so I experimented with 1- to 15-second shutter speeds. The shorter exposures made the figures resemble ghosts walking through the scene.

Figure 10. Nikon Z 6 with a Nikon 24-70mm f/4 lens at 28mm. 1 second, f/9, ISO 640.

Indoor Opportunities

No need to layer up here! With your camera in hand (or on a tripod), you can celebrate your precious ornaments and indoor lighting arrangements in a variety of ways.

Ornaments

Every year our good friend and ranger at Biscayne National Park, Gary Bremen, shares his pictures and the stories behind each ornament on his Facebook page. My sister just started doing the same, and my wife Nancy can definitely spin a yarn about each one of her ornaments. Why not do the same? (Figures 11-14.)

Figure 11. Boots Ornament. Each shot with Nikon D750 with a Tamron 90mm macro lens. 1/8, f/8, ISO 800.

Figure 12. Teardrop Ornament. 1/125, f/3.5, ISO 800.

Figure 13. Light Bubble Ornament. After experimenting with shutter speeds from 1/125 to 1 second, I settled on 1/30 to best interpret the movement in the ornament. 1/30, f/3.8, ISO 100.

Figure 14. Beer Ornament. Don’t forget that holiday beers are decorative and taste great! 1/30, f/8, ISO 400.

Photographing ornaments is often best done using a macro lens. Because macros have extremely shallow depth of field, you’ll want to use a tripod to ensure you nail the focus and get a precise distinction between your main subject and the blur of the background (Figure 15).

Figure 15. Note the difference between the size and shape of the background lights when shooting at f/3.5 (left) and f/11 (right). Nikon D750 with a Tamron 90mm macro lens.

Portraits

The holidays are a time for many family photos. So get creative and use the lights as a symbolic background for your portraits.

The key to producing that colorful bokehliscious background is to compress the depth of field and have the tree lights out of focus. Use a portrait lens between 85mm and 135mm (a 70-200mm is a perfect lens), along with a flash.

For the portraits in Figure 16, I set up my camera and tripod about 15 feet from the tree. I then placed a chair about 6 feet from the lens and made sure it aligned nicely with the lights behind it. I used a Profoto A1 flash off-camera, mounted on a light stand and connected via a remote trigger. This created a pleasing light combination that helped separate the subject from the background.

Figure 16. Sandy, Brooks and Helen. All images shot with Nikon D750 with a Tamron 90mm macro lens and a Profoto A1 flash. 1/30, f/3, ISO 400.

Wrapping Up

These aren’t the only ways to be creative with holiday lights—the options are infinitely varied. We’d love to see what you come up with! Please share your photos in the comments section or on our Facebook page.

So don’t be a Scrooge this season. Get out there in the cold night air, and seize those holiday lights!

Gabriel Biderman is a partner and workshop leader with National Parks at Night. He is a Brooklyn-based fine art and travel photographer, and author of Night Photography: From Snapshots to Great Shots (Peachpit, 2014). During the daytime hours you'll often find Gabe at one of many photo events around the world working for B&H Photo’s road marketing team. See his portfolio and workshop lineup at www.ruinism.com.

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