By Bill Spiegel, Byline Editor
Ahh, the holidays. Eggnog and Mistle Toe; Trees and Menorahs. A Charlie Brown Christmas and those weird Animagic tv programs that used to freak me out as a kid. Traditions, all. And, the question that becomes more difficult to answer with every passing year: what do you want for Christmas?
Well, the elves at the ACN division of Santa’s Workshop asked several members what they think makes a great gift. Take a look and see if you want to find one of these under your tree.
1. If you haven’t updated your copy of the AP Stylebook lately, think about it. There are a couple options; the hard copy still has the spiral binding and is easy to flip open to any page. It is $34.95 and you can opt-in to regular emails and Stylebook updates. The online version is $30, and you can add on a subscription to Merriam-Webster Online. You’ll be surprised at how much things have changed from that old Stylebook sitting on your desk, including new chapters on Artificial Intelligence, criminal justice and more.
2. Dispatches from Farm Country, by Jim Patrico. $18.99. If you need a great read from one of our fellow editors during the winter months, “Dispatches” has you covered. We wrote about it in the November Byline, but since then I’ve obtained a copy and man. What a great book. Patrico revisits some of his favorite stories from his stellar career, with updates on what has happened since they first appeared in the pages of The New Ulm Journal, Missouri Ruralist, Farm Journal or Progressive Farmer. Each chapter is filled with the award-winning writer’s vivid imagery, mixed with the emotion and personality that, as journalists, we aren’t often afforded the opportunity to convey in stories. From a professional standpoint, “Dispatches” will influence the way I write and tell stories. From a personal standpoint, I am leaving the last chapter unread because I don’t want the book to end.
3. H4essential 4 Track Handy Recorder. $199.99. More and more, ag communicators are being asked to gather audio during our interviews. The H4 essential is an ideal companion for grabbing on-the-scene audio for podcast recordings, or audio to embed in video stories. It’s expensive, but makes for far better audio for these story-telling formats, says Nate Werner, art director at The Furrow and producer of The Furrow’s “On Life and Land” podcast. The 32 bit float means audio clipping is all but impossible.The unit records in WAV format and is battery powered, giving 2 hours of life with 4-track recording and 8 hours of recording time with 2-track recording. There are outputs for headphones and inputs for external microphones, although it does have built-in microphones. “It just removes the drama while still letting you just use a built-in microphone and carrying a relatively small device.”
4. Studio Panel Lighting Kit by LumeCube. $279.99 (first time buyers may get an coupon code). Have you ever wished you had an all-in-one kit for on-the-go portraits? Lume Cube has you covered with this unit, which features two rechargeable panel lights, tripod stands, power cords and a remote. It sets up quickly and easily, and users can adjust brightness and color temperature on each panel. Choose cordless power or plug it into wall outlets if you wish. The unit comes in a handy carrying bag, and here’s a pro-tip: I toss a black backdrop and a few 99 cent spring clamps from a hardware store to obtain quick-and-easy portraits at meetings or field days.
5. Brevite Camera Bag: Prairie Farmer’s Holly Spangler bought this bag in the large size based on recommendations from Betty Haynes, Sarah McNaughton and Allison Lynch. “I absolutely love it. It’s the perfect size for what we do, fits a camera body, three lenses, a small lav microphone kit and a gimbal, plus laptop and notepad and all the usual small stuff you need on the road. Two thumbs up.”
6. Cabela’s Carryall: This is a great bag for a quick overnight trip. Nothing fancy, does the job. Good for corralling random photo and video equipment too.
7. Logitech Keyboard: Great for writing all day long, this keyboard is wireless and the keys feel just like your laptop. Makes it 3-4 weeks between charging.
8. Apple Air Tags: Steve Werblow says it best: There’s nothing better than knowing where your suitcase is…especially when the folks at the airline don’t. And $29 is cheaper than therapy or 6 consolation drinks while waiting for word on your bag. (I hid one in my camera bag, too, in case it ever goes for a walk….) Katie Knapp enthusiastically agrees: “I heard that soon you will be able to share them with luggage staff so they can find your lost bag in the stack. (Violet also wears one and I share it with whomever is watching her, which is a new feature with a recent software update).” They’re $29 each at Apple, or $99 for a pack of 4. And here’s an article about other ways photographers can use Air Tags.
9. TSA Global Entry: Werblow says this is the best $100 he ever spent on anything. It saves hours in airport lines, includes TSA Pre for domestic travel, and it actually goes faster and smoother every time I use it. When I enrolled early in the program’s development, it took a couple of months to get it all squared away. My daughter did it in a couple of weeks, and my niece apparently got hers in about 24 hours, so the process is also getting simpler. (That one’s a bit more of a specialty item because the big payoff is for international travel, but there it is.)
10. Duex Max D2 Portable Dual Monitor. Editors who spend time working in coffee shops, public libraries or hotel rooms on the road may miss the convenience and, dare we say, luxury of having a second monitor. Freelance Member Laura Temple says having a portable second screen or laptop screen extender is “a game changer. Totally worth it.” Which model to get? The Duex was highly rated, and reasonably affordable at $160. Want to splurge and have two portable external monitors? Consider this Xebec Tri-Screen 2, for $449. It’s a lot, but aren’t we worth it?
11. Call me old-fashioned, but I still use the camera strap hooked to my Canon camera. But the older I get, the less comfortable it is. ACN Board Member Katie Knapp swears by this camera harness from Black Rapid, available for $179.95 from B&H Photo. It comes in different sizes and configurations and can hold two cameras. Camera harnesses distribute weight evenly across the upper body, helping relieve neck strain and keeping cameras more secure. And this is the harness I use. They come in various sizes and configurations. Game changer for me.
Stocking Stuffers
Some of my most memorable gifts growing up were in my stocking–proof that bigger is not always better. Here are some great ideas crowd-sourced from ACN members Holly Spangler, Martha MIntz and Lorne McClinton, and Steve Werblow.
Charlotte’s Web: If you haven’t read Charlotte’s Web this side of fourth grade, pick it up and marvel at the prose. So few words, such vivid storytelling. It’s Strunk and White’s Elements of Style in action. Maybe more of a stocking stuffer but any editor will love it, even if it makes ’em cry a little. – HS
Christmas Ornament: Ok, this is specific but if you write about farmers and you are part of a farm family, you may know someone who needs this. We’ll leave it at that. 😉 – HS
Earplugs: Recommended by Lorne, I’ll add my own anecdote. A few weeks ago I stayed in a hotel where the next room’s television set was on the other side of the wall as my head. That occupant kept his television on all. Night. Long. And the Wal-mart in the small town I was staying in didn’t have ear plugs. Think ahead. Order these. Sleep well.
Samsung Portable Hard Drives: Maybe not inexpensive, but small, the Samsung 2TB T7 comes recommended from B&H Photo as a great portable solution for photos and video from Macs, PCs, iPhones or Android devices. Available in blue or grey, the unit is solid state, so no moving parts to break down. – MM
UV or Skylight Lens Filters: Filters, sure. But these will protect your camera lens. You can find these at B&H Photo, your local camera shop or on Amazon. Make sure you drop an important hint to the gift-giver: the diameter of the lenses in your camera bag. Click the link to learn more about prices and function of a whole host of filters.
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