Lester Returns and the 2024 Gift Guide
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Eye of a mosquito - a reminder of warmer times
Well it is definitely that time of year again. I woke up this morning to find the ground covered in a mysterious white substance, very cold to the touch (I have been told), and not uncommon enough in this part of Middle Earth. So, one of the ways the people of Illinois survive this insult to the senses is by planning for the coming winter holiday season. In the south, our planning was usually put off until Christmas Eve, or earlier if a cold snap forced the temperatures down into the low 60s, reminding us of the coming festivities. But here we are, covered in deadly snow and still weeks to go before families once again gather at the dining table to scream at each other. With the excitement and anticipation at a fever pitch in all the local drugstores, where Christmas music started just before Easter, I feel like I would be remiss were I not to do my holiday macro gift guide livestreams early this year.
Winter
In trying to think up a way to make the guides a little more fun this year I have decided to split them into two distinctly different offerings. On Tuesday, in Macro Talk, I will be focusing on a comprehensive list of all the really practical and useful things that every macro photographer could use and should have in their kit bag or studio. It makes for a long and interesting list of really cool ideas. I will go through the list and explain why I think these are items that should be on your list for 2024. Spoiler alert - I have included links to every one of these items below - if you don’t want to know what I am going to be suggesting, don’t read the rest of this post! The link to the stream is here - https://youtube.com/live/_3iZvU8qO8k?feature=share
Thursday’s list is a completely different matter - it is a list of all the stuff we really want to get for Christmas, but know there is no real chance that we will. But it will still be fun to talk about the gift guide for the macro photographer who already has everything they could ever need. Think of it as the ultimate macro wish list for 2024. Here is a link to the Livestream, Macro Talk Too - https://youtube.com/live/IXj8a-lZWtE?feature=share
Tomorrow I will also be releasing the second half of the Lester Lefkowitz interview, in which Lester goes over the high points of the second volume of his “Guide to Close-up and Macro Photography”. Here is the link to the video, which will not be posted until 10AM on Tuesday 12/3/24. https://youtu.be/UGfMHtmxyuU
To order a copy of Lester’s books, go to Lester’s website, https://www.macrophotographer.net, and follow the instructions. The video is a long one but it is worth watching as it is packed full of fun and interesting information and Lester is in excellent form - don’t miss it!
Also released today was episode 11 of the AfterStack series in which we talked all abut the custom brush tool in Photoshop - loads of good information in this one! The video link is - https://youtu.be/gj6Mb0HMZkA?si=oMIkNFCQRTD0H3SK
This is a Pzoom weekend so on Saturday I will be hosting a discussion for my Patreon supporters - I am still working on the agenda, but it promises to be another entertaining and educational macro photography feast. Your invitation to this event is posted on the Allan Walls Photography Patreon page. I will see at 10AM this Saturday. There is no Tangent this week.
I was disappointed to miss my livestream on Thursday, but it was for a good reason - I was in Indianapolis for Thanksgiving with my eldest daughter, Lauren, and I had a lovely time with her. Unfortunately, it is starting to look like the Christmas week is also going to see a schedule disruption as I will be in rural Tennessee for that holiday. I just learned that internet is provided by some kind of satellite link, which probably means a download speed of <1.0MBPD (mega bites per day) and an upload speed considerably slower. That would be no fun for you or me, so unless I can find a way around it, I may have to take that week off completely. I will let you know if I come up with a better plan.
I am still trying to get the competition plan tied up for this month - I want to find a way to split the prizes between experienced photographers and relative newcomers The problem is that all the handicap[ping ides that I have had would require that I know who has placed in the top ten in previous competitions, but that would take me going back through every competition video I have done in the last 3 or 4 years, and I don’t know when I will be able to do that but I think I will have no other choice. The way things stand now, there are going to be two groups - Group I - those who have ever made it to one of the the top three places at least once and everyone who has placed in the final 10 two or more times , and 2) everyone else.
As promised here is a list of every prize that has been donated for this giant 2-month competition, along with the names of the donors, so far - I will contuse to accept donations right up to the last week of December - so if you have a new or gently used piece of kit that you no longer need, and think would make an attractive prize, please let me know right away. You can also go ahead and send the prize to my studio as soon as you can, so that I can get your name on the list of donors without delay. My address is:
Allan Walls Photography
2417 West Wagner Lane
Peoria, Illinois 61615
Here are the prizes and donors we currently have:
1) Volume I and II of Lester Lefkowitz’s excellent book “Guide to Closeup and Macro Photography:”, signed by the author - donor - Lester Lefkowitz
2) Volume I of Lester Lefkowitz’s excellent book “Guide to Closeup and Macro Photography:”, signed by the author - donor - Lester Lefkowitz
3) Volume II of Lester Lefkowitz’s excellent book “Guide to Closeup and Macro Photography:”, signed by the author - donor - Lester Lefkowitz
4) Datacolor’s Spider X Studio color calibration suite - donor - anonymous
5) 360° Flex Tilt & Pan Head - Z&V Mount Designed with Alyn Wallace, from Move Shoot Move - donor - Paul Maschak
6) Two, 5-day macro photography getaways to the Buffalo National River area of Arkansas with full accommodations - donor - Mr and Mrs. George Simpkins
7) A 3-hour private macro photography lesson package - with me - you set the agenda
8) A Sigma 105mm f/2.8 macro lens (F-mount) - donor - Alan Recktenwald
I think there will be a couple of additional prizes - stay tuned!
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WARNING - do not read any further unless you want to see the entire holiday gift guide! Listed below are links to every item discussed in the gift guide livestreams scheduled for Tuesday and Thursday of this week. Some of these links, though not all, are affiliate links, which means I may make a small fee when you complete a purchase using one of these links. Now you know!
These are not strictly in the order presented in the livestreams - but close. They should all be in here though.
1) the Laowa 100mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro lens - the one that started it all! https://amzn.to/41eZuo5
2) Laowa 90mm f/2.8 2:1 Macro Lens - the one that I fell for this year. https://amzn.to/3ZjfD9h
3) The wonderful Nikon Z-8 - if you have to ask… https://amzn.to/3CXRYnC
4) Raynox DCR 250 - you already have the DCR 150 - isn’t it time you tried short focus with this bargain beauty? https://bhpho.to/3VjmiPV
5) Godox MF12 macro flashes - nothing more to be said - https://bhpho.to/3OCkLk7 or. https://bhpho.to/3OCkLk7
6) Aputure Amaran AL-M9 mini LED - tiny and powerful - a great little light! - $72 - https://amzn.to/4gaE5Aw
7) SmallRig RM01 mini lighting kit - you need to check this one out - very handy https://bhpho.to/3OCkLk7
8) Manfrotto BeFree tripod - light and compact - https://amzn.to/49l4xoR
9) Platypod Extreme - I want one of these! - https://bhpho.to/4fU0Zwx
10) Novoflex Magic Ball- the best of the best - https://bhpho.to/4ff72Lw
11) K&F Concept - variable ND filter - a very useful tool - https://amzn.to/4gjboSl
12) Lowepro Slingshot Edge 250AW - a great sling bag when you don’t need the whole backpack - https://amzn.to/3VmlcCN
13) Think Tank Pixel Pocket Rocket - the best memory card holder - https://amzn.to/3ZAeziM
14) An awesome bubble level for your macro rig - https://amzn.to/3ZkPhUm
15) Manfrotto Still Life Table - a clever way to shoot indoors - https://amzn.to/4eZSRZW
16) WeMacro Rail - the best bargain in macro-land - Still only $300 - https://www.wemacro.com/?product=wemacro-rail
17) Mitutoyo M-Plan infinity corrected mic cryoscope objectives - the best high end optics for photography - https://www.edmundoptics.com/p/5x-mitutoyo-plan-apo-infinity-corrected-long-wd-objective/6621/?srsltid=AfmBOorjXv4tSqGxZjXGmsWWMkaczq6hh78eVCi1yHeHMMs4cRU8duw_
18) Zerene Stacker - the best Focus Stacking program on the planet - https://www.zerenesystems.com/cms/stacker
19) Godox SL60W continuous light - a powerful addition to the studio - https://amzn.to/49gEejG
20) Swift SW380T Microscope - A reliable entry level scope for photographers - https://amzn.to/4iiFAP5
21) Hoya polarizing filters - a must for birefringent crystal photography - https://amzn.to/3ZxqwG4
22) B&W close up filter set - a great option for macro beginners - https://bhpho.to/3Zw3jUG
23) Fotodiox Reversing Adapter - you don’t have one?!?! https://amzn.to/3OWGPpX
24) Lensbaby OpticSwap macro kit - https://amzn.to/3COWOTV
25) Prusa mark 4S ($729) - https://www.prusa3d.com/product/original-prusa-mk4s-3d-printer-kit/. or Prusa core one kit ($949) https://www.prusa3d.com/product/prusa-core-one-kit/
26) Datacolor SpyderX2 - my calibrator - https://bhpho.to/3B7TEua
27) Lensalign Focus Calibration System - https://amzn.to/3VmrylD
28) Pelican 1510 - indestructible - https://amzn.to/3CW2WKg
28) Dehumidifiers - mine are still going after 10 years from Wisesorb - https://amzn.to/3B9KOMm
29) Smartphone microscope mount from Tridaptor ($47) - https://amzn.to/3OIFoLj
30) Insect Display case - https://amzn.to/4fVk6pN
31) Micropipette - awesome buy - https://amzn.to/4f6QULC
32) Fog Machine - handheld from Ulanzi - https://amzn.to/419xxhw
33) Water Drop Kit - Miops splash - https://amzn.to/3ZxKIY9
34) Books - separate video topic - macro texts, field guides, insect books, general photography
35) Memberships - entomologic society, local or online photography club, etc.
36) Courses and workshops - Bugshot, Paul Williams, Stewart Wood, Macro workshop in Costa Rica (Macro Wild Photo).
37) Trips galore - links in livestream
Camera Bag Essentials
1) a really good flashlight - Surefire EDC-2 - Dual Fuel - $200 - https://amzn.to/3VlgEwJ
2) the best multitool - Leatherman ARC $229 - https://amzn.to/4gjj4nz
3) Water holder - Lowepro $37 - https://amzn.to/3OAbVmL
4) Power bank - Anker 27,650mAhr - $129 - https://amzn.to/4ggjo6l
5) Batteries - the best 18650s you can buy - Molicel P28B - https://www.18650batterystore.com/products/molicel-p28b-18650-2800mah-40a-battery
6) UV light - fox fury Rook NDT UV - https://bhpho.to/3OBLNbh
7) Koala microfiber cloths - https://amzn.to/3OAwTSz
8) Sophia Rose poncho - the best - https://amzn.to/4eYaqJV
9) Lens pen - from LensPen - https://amzn.to/3Vk4rbu
10) - Kiwiphoto 18650 box - https://amzn.to/41l5D2h
11) Fenix HM 65R headlamp - https://amzn.to/3BlXMql
There may be more, but we shall have to wait for tomorrow’s stream to see - this has been a long 14 hours of work and I am going cross-eyed. Hope to see you tomorrow evening!
Allan