Photography wise and other wise?

Photography = Combination Birthday / Christmas gift from my daughter back in October; a new iMac to replace my 7 1/2 year old laptop that died Jan 2nd. (parts not available - power supply they think)

Otherwise - Son gave me the Steve Jobs book that just came out recently. Wife gave me some shirts and a Boar's hair shaving brush with some Col Conk Shaving Bay Rum shaving soap. (I used to use a brush and recently decided to pick it back up).

Best gift - having my elderly father in law, my wife, son, and daughter all together for the weekend and gathered for a meal and just general fun time together.

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Nothing photography related (except for doing a Christmas morning portrait session for some friends of my wife).

iPhone - very nice!

My usual sweater.

Mick
www.mickklassphoto.com
or
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I got a real nice surprize ;

Photo Plus x5 !!! ,and it seems to have a nice 'painting-filter'.

Day with friends , Tues.with my daughters.

Larry

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I got a rather nice portfolio, capable of holding 11x14's. (I guess I'll have to make some 11x14's now!)

There were a bunch of archival print storage boxes under the tree too. They had my name on them, but I think my wife is getting more value out of them!

_____
Brian... a bicoastal Nikonian and Team Member

My gallery is online. Comments and critique welcomed any time!

Hope everyone had a good one! Spent the day with The wife and my 2 boys. They got me a Nikon SU-800. No battery , so I have not played yet. Also got a small blind to hide in to get some bird pictures back in our woods. Again didn't play yet . And My whole family together for the week!
Erv

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Think Tank large lens drop in
(3) BS-2 accessory shoe covers
Op/Tech double lens cap
Mad Bomber hat (for cold weather shooting )
Apple magic mouse

of course my 13" i7 MacBook Pro, which I've been using sooner that I should have.

Scott Chapin
Powder Springs, GA, USA
Nikonians Team Member

Hey Scott - if that's the brand name Mad Bomber with real rabbit liner, you are going to declare that hat the warmest thing you've ever put on your head.

I've had one for about 4 years now and it's great for our Ohio winter weather (which always includes ridiculous wind speeds and wind chill).

Dave

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My first Nikon - a D3100 with the 18-55mm kit lens. I was previously using a Canon S3 IS and I'm looking forward learning how to use this new camera.

~ Todd N8TJG

Photo-wise I received a great gift; a spectacular sunset! I was grateful to receive such a fantastic gift, however I decided to enjoy the moment instead of messing around with a camera trying to capture it.

Also, I got to spend a few minutes at home with my kids when they woke up Christmas morning. I had to get back to work, but those few minutes were priceless.

On the other end, there was a new, inexpensive espresso machine under the tree to replace my old broken one.

Overall, it was a fantastic Christmas!

A 60mm nikon G lens, the macro one.
We were all together; all the family ups and downs. Some great blessings there.
A neat, interesting, porcelain coffee mug.
It snowed all day long.
Two books.: my daughter picked out one on the great, 19th century photographers of the American west, along with Ansel Adams added in. It talks about the perception of the American west as contrasted with Europe. It is about the effect of photography on the self image of a nation. The wild west and Indians was something Europe didn't have...
And the other book is all old Beatles pictures, mostly B&W, with their story behind each song.

So it seems, landscape, large-format styles, and that very poignant stuff of the Beatles' pictures, often so dated and amazing, sort of street or snapshot photos.
My wife and I together have the agreement to go into food pictures next year.
I always just photograph on the holiday morning in exisiting light, not too much visible effort. And I used simple 24mm d prime. Set on manual.
Thanks for asking. This list has been a great blessing.

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My wife gave me a Nikon-branded windbreaker. No new photographic toys otherwise, which was just fine for me, thanks. My 10 year-old niece recorded the gift exchange with her new Nikon L24, though.

If you want to photograph a man spinning, give some thought to why he spins. Understanding for a photographer is as important as the equipment he uses. - Margaret Bourke-White

Nikon 1 V1

ISO3200, very low light, mixed lighting, auto WB, no nR, handheld.

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Ah, the SU-800. Something I've wanted for years, but would never have actually bought for myself and have always been able to convince myself I don't need. Now that I have it - I can't imagine photographic life without it!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

>Ah, the SU-800. Something I've wanted for years, but would
>never have actually bought for myself and have always been
>able to convince myself I don't need. Now that I have it - I
>can't imagine photographic life without it!
>
>Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
I have wanted one for a long time too. Something else always comes up to turn my head. This year it was the 300 f2.8. I guess the family got tired of tripping over all my wires, ha. My two boys asked what I wanted, and all be darned if they didn't get it. Both are out of school and doing really good. proud of them both. Erv

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I was hoping for two lenses but I got two sweaters.
Nice looking though, even on me

Plus Dreamweaver CS5.5 and PhotoShop CS5 Extended
Oh, and I got a Canon lensmug from a very distracted friend! Oh well....

Like you, my best gift was having my wife and my kids and grandchildren with me for Christmas dinner (even when we do have lunch once a week)

I was so joyous watching them opening their presents that I completely forgot to photograph them then and there, even when four SB-800 speedlights were setup strategically.

Have a great time
JRP (Founder & Administrator. Nikonian at the north-eastern Mexican desert) Gallery, Brief Love Story, The Team
Join the Silver, Gold and Platinum members that help this happen; upgrade. Join your personal web site to the Nikonians WebRing
Make sure you check our workshops at The Nikonians Academy

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Great looking family JRP!
Peter

Besides enjoying the grand kids opening up their presents,
I got one of my dream lens, a 85mm 1.4g and a Sekonics L758.
(actually, these were slightly early presents so I could take pictures of the kidlets over the holidays). Very enjoyable and fun with vast quantities of food.

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a great picture, and the best Christmas present anyone could want. A new camera for Christmas is no substitute for having all your children with you.

David.

Cardiff,Britain.

BE A BLOOD + BONE MARROW DONOR TO FIGHT CANCER, YOU MAY SAVE A LIFE.
http://www.nikonians-images.com/galleries/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=16427

I got a Ninja food processor/blender. Lots of fruit smoothies to come in the spring!

I was also treated to a White Christmas in the Texas panhandle. Woke up Christmas morning and looked out the hotel window to a real treat for someone who live too far south to see snow often. Spent a week in the Palo Duro Canyon with my wife and my D700 and D300. Could not have asked for a better gift.

Ernesto Santos

esartprints.com Ernesto Santos Photography
Now offering fine art print services and ICC printer profiling.
Great service - at a great price!

We indulged in Photo books...
Each child (grown-up) got the Venice trip we all made together to see the New Year in this marvelous city. I made a B&W book mixing the wonderful moments we had!
They were very happy as even if they are in a computerized world, the hard cover book was much better (they said) then the classical picture album !!!
My wife got the book on our daughter's wedding and I got mine on my trip to Mongolia...

I understood that I had to work more and prepare new books, as my family (as most of yours, I suppose) just keep on saying "Where are those pictures you always take and that we never see..."

Happy New Year to all...

Jacques

"Un photographe, finalement, c'est quelqu'un comme les autres, mais qui prend des photos." - Man Ray
My Gallery...

I treated myself to a D700, a little over a month before Christmas.

Wife and I celebrated our 20-year wedding anniversary just before, so we really didn't feel the need to exchange gifts. (I got her a pair of shoes that she wanted for work, and she got me a few ebooks to read.)

My son made off like a bandit...more video games than he can play, and more books for him to read.


Anthony

The Moderator Page and My Gallery
The important things in life are simple; the simple things are hard.

I got a new tripod.
In spite of our gloomy economy, I have resolved to follow Nikonians advises and start "profesionalising" my equipment. I started by the tripod. As I couldn't afford a Magica or Gitzo, I took a Benro, but a really sturdy one. I'm quite happy with it's contraction and features so far. Main tubes are 32 mm carbon fibre, and I believe one day will be enough for the D 800 and 70-200 2.8....I only hope not waiting too much.
But real gift were the meals we shared with all family, specially my wife and three young girls. And forthcoming ones, again with family and friends, for Year End and Ephiphany......

Regards
Jordi
Barcelona

Jordi
-Barcelonian-

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Photography-related I got the Nikon 1 V1, 10-30 and 30-110 zooms, and the SB-N5 flash - great little kit. I also received a really cool winter-camo lens coat for my lens, can't wait to give it a trial run!

Family-wise I am thankful my youngest daughter made the high school to first year University transition very well this fall and the oldest is just graduated and out working in her field now.

Best regards, SteveK

'A camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.' -- Dorothea Lange
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My husband just oredred me the Nikon 50mm f/1.2 to use with my D200 to take pictures of my new grandbaby. It is a combination Christmas/Birthday gift. I also have the F6 so I can't wait to use it on that camera as well.

The joy of worship and spending time with my family.

Photographically, my parents bought me a variable ND filter for one of my favorite lenses. While I don't shoot ND a lot, it's a great idea to test out the possibilities. Variable = works something like a polarizing filter - twist to increase/decrease the density.

I also got a small table top tripod for my video camera.

Otherwise, some great KEEN socks (awesome stuff), Armani Mania cologne and iTunes card.

I hope that all of you had a great Christmas and wishing you a Happy New Year!

Dave

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Got a D300! Am going digital after 40 years shooting film. I said I wouldn't go over until I could get something that felt as good in my hand as my FM. Found it.

Gratz Jim. Welcome to Nikonians!

Scott Chapin
Powder Springs, GA, USA
Nikonians Team Member

Thank you, Scott!

A little feedback on my gifts.
- The iMac is fabulous, have the store swap at no cost the mouse for the trackpad.
- The Steve Jobs book is fascinating. Revealing on his business philosophy.
- As to the Boars hair shaving brush and shaving soap (Col Conk's Bay rum Glycerine) - You really have to try it, doubt I will ever go back to aerosol shaving cream. And don't get the brush down at the drug store, get a good one. The new one is much better than the previous one from the drug store.

Nikonians is the Smithsonian of Nikon knowledge. If there is a question they can't answer, I want to see the question.

My Gallery: www.HLDPhotos.com
My Blog : www.HLDPhotos.blogspot.com

Yep, badger hair brushes are fantastic too. I am disappointed that I cannot find the Old Spice soap anywhere, so I use the dinky Williams bars iny Old Spice mug. I keep threatening to get the lipstick style retractable badger brush for travel.

Scott Chapin
Powder Springs, GA, USA
Nikonians Team Member

Yeah, I mess the Old Spice soap too. I had some Old Spice Hand Cream I found in Germany but again, not made anymore. Anyway, "should old be love things be forgot ...."

Nikonians is the Smithsonian of Nikon knowledge. If there is a question they can't answer, I want to see the question.

My Gallery: www.HLDPhotos.com
My Blog : www.HLDPhotos.blogspot.com

Slightly different here: I was given a Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 android tablet. My boys with I pads think I'm nuts for asking for such a small screen, but it is the perfect size to
Use at school. Love it.

Note to the shavers above: no new equipment here. I first grew my beard in 1974 and it hasn't been off since. It is a little more gray than it used to be but that just gives it character.

Happy New Year to all.
Lee

From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse, the going up was worth the coming down

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I understand, I'd have kept my beard, if I had though my occupation would allow it. I've had my mustache since January 1976 and I just cannot bring myself to shave it...LOL.

Scott Chapin
Powder Springs, GA, USA
Nikonians Team Member

You can see by my avatar that I still have my mustache and goatee.

Nikonians is the Smithsonian of Nikon knowledge. If there is a question they can't answer, I want to see the question.

My Gallery: www.HLDPhotos.com
My Blog : www.HLDPhotos.blogspot.com

I occasionally try to count how many people I know and work with who have never seen me without my beard. I try not to think about the fact that none of my traditional age students are as old as my beard, and only rarely do I have any student older.


From the rocking of the cradle to the rolling of the hearse, the going up was worth the coming down

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An Avenger c-stand with removable base, Nikon ME-1 microphone, and an LED video light. Cool stuff.

As an after Christmas present I bought myself the Nikon V1!

--------------------------
Rick Paul
The Photo Professors

Saguaro Shadows Photography
Tucson, Arizona

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Christmas 2001 photo related gift was a copy of Light Room 3.5 (from my wife) and SB-700 from myslef

On New Year I got a Gitzo GM5561T monopod as the only gift (I requested only one).

Best regards,
Vlad

Combination Christmas and 74th Birthday gift - Nikonians Academy Workshop with Steve Simons in San Francisco Area, Master the D300. Can't wait!

Ron