Have you got a photographer on your list and you’re stumped about what to get them?  Let me make a few suggestions, these are all things that I find very useful and I know they would get great use from any of these items!  I’ll go from the least expensive to the most!

The Hoodman Loupe 3.0   $79.99    A great way to see clearly what’s on your LCD screen!

http://hoodmanusa.com/products.asp?dept=1017

2.  The Visable Dust Sensor Loupe    (BriteVue Quasar Sensor Loupe 7X)  $88.15

http://www.visibledust.com/products3.php?pid=602

3. A Swiss Army Exploreer Knife  $49.95

http://www.swissarmy.com/us/content/search?searchterm=Explorer

4. An LED Flashlight  – My favorites are Smith & Wesson and SureFire)  prices vary from $35. to over $100.  A very good small one can be had for around $50. * This one is extra special, I’ll tell you at the end!  The one illustrated is the M&P Tactical MP5 ($59.99)

http://www.swflashlights.com/product-info.php?pid70.html

5.  Gerber Crucial Knife/Tool  $39.95 at REI *Link below

http://www.rei.com/product/794056/gerber-crucial-multi-tool,-green?preferredSku=7940560027?cm_mmc&mr:trackingCode=DDFE1A37-37BF-DE11-974B-0019B9C043EB&mr:referralID=NA&{copy:s_kwcid}=&mr:adType=pla&gclid=CIfg3NuZ4awCFQpV7AodKw6P3g

6.  Gerber Suspension Tool   $29.99  Walmart

7.  A Micro Fiber Cloth  (Vary from $10. to $15.)  My favorite are the Kinetronic Tiger Cloths link below

http://kinetronics.com/store/tiger.html

And now two little stories for your Christmas pleasure!

The Swiss Army knife above was a Christmas gift from my wife in a year that even a $49. pocket knife was a real stretch for us financially!  I loved the knife, had always wanted one, but loved it even more because Sherelene got it for me.  While on a trip to North Carolina to interview Richard Petty for a magazine article, I lost my knife.  I was heart broken, I look everywhere and couldn’t find it anywhere.  For months I hated that I had lost it!   The next year my friend Danny Lawson and I had to go back to North Carolina for another story, he had been with me on the first trip.  On the trip down I talked to Danny about hating loosing my knife.  He suggested we took a short hike up into the national forest and wondered if I might have dropped it there.  I said maybe but what  would be the chances be that it would still be there.  We parked the car and walked up the path, and there right on the trail was my weathered leather case and my spotless stainless steel treasure, it was my knife, one year later!  I have to admit I cried.  Every time I pick it up and use it I remember that little miracle and my wife’s love and generosity.

Now the LED flashlight.  A few weeks ago I got a package from a very dear friend, I wondered what on earth it might be?  The friend is Carl Turner one of my best photo buddies and a great Christian brother. When I opened the box I could hardly believe the contents, two Smith  & Wesson, M&P Tactical Flash lights,  the small one pictured above which now goes with me everywhere in my camera bag, and a larger one that I use all the time.  As much as I appreciate these wonderful gifts, and I really do appreciate them, even more I appreciate Carl’s friendship, Carl has brought incredible light into my life in more important ways than with a flashlight!!!!

Christmas is a time of giving, to show our love, and to enjoy the great blessing of being the giver!  Never forget the reason for the season is Jesus himself, who gave the most anyone can give for us,  His life!!

Merry Christmas,

the pilgrim