Landscapes and wildlife are among the most challenging subject matter to capture well with a camera. Wildlife is unpredictable and despite your best efforts, will not respond to posing instructions. Landscapes are stationary but at the mercy of available light and weather conditions. All that being said, it is the unpredictable nature of landscape and wildlife photography that has earned these genres a very large, very dedicated, and very passionate following. The dedication of these photographers can make finding the right gift all the more challenging. After all, what gear don’t they have! Fear not, for we have put together this carefully curated list of product recommendations and gift ideas that are sure to please even the most finicky of nature enthusiasts.
Field Guides and References
Physical field guides are essential to identifying plants and animals out in the field. While a smartphone is nice to reference here and there, you going to want to keep it charged for other purposes. For bird photographers, there’s no better guide than a Sibley guide. David Allen Sibley is ornithologist, author, and artists known for his illustrated birding and flora guides. He's an icon in the world of birding to say the least, and any book with his name should be at the top of your favorite birder’s wish list. For an introduction to the study of birds, consider Sibley’s Birding Basics, which covers behavior, and anatomy, taxonomy, among many other topics in an easy-to-understand manner.
There’s no such thing as too many guides. The Sibley Guide to Birds will serve as a handy reference for identifying North American birds anywhere you go in the U.S. and Canada. For a condensed version focused on species east of the Rocky Mountains, grab Sibley Birds East or Birds of North America: Eastern Region.
For photo-specific information, Backyard Bird Photography, by Mathew Tekulsky and Mastering Bird Photography, by Marie Read are accessible guides for beginners. In addition to providing tips on composition and technique, Tekulsky also discusses how to best design a garden with birds and ultimately bird photography in mind.
For the landscape photographers, books like Scott Kelby’s The Landscape Photography Book are great tools for beginners covering every step from scouting to final exposure. Glenn Randall's Dusk to Dawn: A Guide to Landscape Photography at Night is another exceptional guide to niche subgenre of landscape photography. Trail maps can make for great gifts and/or stocking stuffers. Pick a park or preserve frequented by the recipient, and if you’re not familiar with specifics, you can get maps that cover entire regions. And if you were wondering, David Allen Sibley has a guide for trees as well!
Bird Feeder and Trail Cameras
Making compelling photographs of birds is all about being in the right place at the right time. One way to keep track of which types of wildlife are in your area is by setting up a trail camera. There are many choices available, spanning price points depending on the quality of image, video features, power source, and other options incorporated into your setup. While trail cameras are unlikely to get you into the pages of National Geographic, they do provide an extra set of "eyes" to keep tabs on the types of birds in an area. Smart bird feeders have been trendy as of late, as they allow the owner to see what birds are visiting their yard even when they’re away from home. Some are solar powered by panels on their roofs, for ease of use.
Photo Gloves, Vests, and Harnesses
If your photographer lives in a climate where the temperature gets cold, photo gloves are a gift that keeps giving. There is nothing worse than losing feeling in your extremities—and missing a shot because your fingers have turned into icicles. The key feature to look for is the ability to flip the tips of the gloves back for greater dexterity and easier control of the camera. Hand warmers provide an alternative (or supplementary) means of maintaining sensation in your fingertips in cold weather. Keep these in jacket pockets for use in down time. Just don’t store extra batteries in the same pockets!
Another way to layer up and stay warm, with the added benefit of keeping your gear in arm’s reach is with a photo vest. While they are not typically insulated themselves, the added fabric and weight of all that gear they can hold can do wonders. There are many vests to choose from with different options for pockets, D-rings, and interior padding.
For quick access to gear without the extra layers, a camera harness system allows you to attach pouches and bags for quick and easy access to gear. This can be a total system like that provided by Cotton Carrier, or you can opt for a smaller attachment like the Peak Design Capture Clip to turn any backpack strap or belt into a photography harness.
Skins and Blinds
Lens skins offer a great way to protect gear from scuffs and scratches, as well as to help cameras blend into their environment. Skittish subjects may be deterred by unusual objects in their midst, so camouflaging yourself and your gear can be essential. Long lenses are either black or off-white. Most photographers aren’t shooting much at night nor are many heading out in a blizzard, so these colors stand out quite a bit. Take a peek in your birder's bag and see what lenses are in there. Grab a custom-fitted camouflage lens skin to give him or her the extra advantage of blending in with the environment. If you really want to help your gift recipient fit in, a photo blind takes this desire to the extreme. This versatile accessory is also great for hiding from in-laws, scaring neighborhood kids, and wearing to fashion shows.
Protective Gear
Unless they’re a full-time kitchen window birder, the photographer you’re shopping for likely spends a good deal of their time shooting outdoors—which means they’re often at the mercy of Mother Nature and her elements. To help safeguard their equipment, consider gifting them a handy piece of protective gear.
For any outdoor photographers, water damage is a constant and potentially costly threat, which is why reliable rain protection is so important. Almost any form of rain protection will be a welcome gift, including waterproof camera covers, rain shields, rain sleeves, mountable umbrellas, and more.
Another useful but oft-forgotten accessory is a dry cabinet. This is a good, specialized piece of equipment, but a good gift idea for nature photographers living in humid parts of the world. The cabinet is designed to protect cameras, lenses, and other small electronics from excessive moisture that causes fungus growth and corrosion. A good cleaning kit can suffice for a less adventurous photographer.
Of course, if you don’t want to overthink it, you can always play it safe with the more obvious and arguably most useful piece of protective equipment: the camera backpack. Find one that’s weatherproof, easily accessible, and has the appropriate amount of space for the recipient. It’s best to assume that this will include a mirrorless camera or two and a few lenses including a wide-angle lens, and a telephoto zoom.
A bag with waist and sternal support is especially useful for any photographer covering any sort of distance by foot. These added supports take the weight off the users’ shoulders for a more comfortable hike. The comfier they are, the longer they’ll be out shooting.
Batteries and Memory Cards
No photographer ever complained of having too many batteries or too many memory cards. These are the easiest gifts you can give to any photographer—but especially those who spend a lot of time outside away from electricity and computers. Many current cameras can take image after image at super-fast frame rates, meaning faster, higher capacity memory cards are needed more and more. Extra batteries are also a must, as each photo drains more power.
First, find out your photographer's camera model, then search B&H's site for the correct battery and type of memory storage. If you are feeling extra generous, you might consider a battery grip, which can double battery capacity, give the user a more sturdy grip, and in some cases boost performance.
L-brackets
An L-bracket is an invaluable tool for landscape photographers as they allow the user to quickly change the orientation of their camera on a tripod from horizontal to vertical. Check the camera make and model of the recipient and also see what tripod they have. Not all tripods are compatible with L-brackets as they use a common but not standard Arca-Type plate. There are a few universal options, but a bracket designed to fit a specific camera model will always be more secure.
Portable Power Banks
A power bank allows photographers to keep their smartphones, batteries, and even laptops charged in a pinch. Just make sure you get a unit with the proper power for the photographer in your life’s gear/devices. The Omnicharge Omni 20+ Portable Charger can quickly jolt a rechargeable camera battery back to life and features a full sized wall outlet alongside USB-A and USB-C ports for flexible charging.
There are plenty of gift options for the wildlife photographer in your life. If your gift recipient is a backyard birder, check out these tips for attracting wildlife close to home. Also, The B&H Photography Podcast has touched on the subject in this episode. Finally, some of the best gifts are memories that last well beyond the holiday season. Consider planning a getaway to a birding hotspot. Explora has guides for the eastern, central, and western United States. A rundown of winter hot spots can be read here. If you’re still not sure what gift to get, B&H gift cards are always available and let the photographers in your life get the gear they want and need.
