Another year has come and gone and with it a new list of favorite things. It tends to sneak up on you and I had honestly forgotten about it. The ADHD related object permanence problems are a bit of a struggle these days.
Nevertheless I was made aware by none other than Adam Savage, when he posted his own version of his favorite things of 2022 and realized that thankfully, I did keep (pun intended as I tend to use google keep for such things) a list of my favorite things throughout the year so that I might now write this article.
Tools of the trade and other (un)related tangibles.
Fujifilm XF 50 F/1.0
This lens, without question, creates some of the most beautiful images I have ever had the pleasure of capturing. I used it on my shoot with Vicky, amongst other things.
It’s just beautiful, hefty, snappy. Plenty sharp, renders absolutely beautiful bokeh backgrounds and depth of field. It’s also great to know that this lens will be seeing its full potential on the new Fujifilm lineup. If ever I’ve wondered whether or not I should have gotten the then older and still cheaper 56 f/1.2 then that simple fact definitely settled it.
Asus ProArt Monitor
For years I’ve struggled with color and color accuracy. It’s actually how I fell in love with monochrome photography. Part of it was simply not having to deal with the hassle of quintuple checking my colors across all devices within my reach because my cheap, worn out monitor was not even remotely accurate. Gone are the days of having to quintuple check, upload then take something down only to re-upload again because i’d seen my image somewhere else and wasn’t pleased with the color.
The asus pro-art line is a budget friendly alternative to more expensive color accurate monitors and they surely get the job done for me. It has a wide gamut, is calman verified and comes calibrated from the factory. Of course you may want to double check with your own calibration tools as every setup is different (It’s always important to regularly check and maintain your gear and calibrate anyway, especially as light and seasons change.)
If you’re a creative in any field and depend on color accuracy then I urge you to do yourself a favor and buy a good monitor. Give the ProArt line a look.
Logitech Mx Master 3
Great mouse, purchased it when my last gaming branded product died. Again. You probably know what brand so there’s no need to name them but it’s safe to say I will never be buying one of their mice again. Added bonus is that this mouse is not only ergonomic but wireless as well, allowing me to easily use it on all my devices where applicable. It also puts less strain on my already strained hands.
Sidenote, I love the fact that it’s rechargeable and can be plugged in from the FRONT of the mouse, so I can keep using it while it’s charging.
Shimoda Explore V2 Camera Bag
I’ve already touched on this in my “what’s in my bag” article, so I won’t be saying too much. But my love for my shimoda bag has only grown since it’s no longer brand new and I’m no longer babying it. Best bag you can possibly get if you’re on the go or outdoorsy. Go visit their site, if you’re a photographer look no further.
As much as I want to intelligently recommend you a whole list of books to read, the fact of the matter is that I am quite honestly a bit of an uncultured swine at times and have not read nearly as much as I wanted to this year. I have however purchased a few books. And I did manage to read a couple. And I mean couple in the literal sense of the word.
As much as I want to intelligently recommend you a whole list of books to read, the fact of the matter is that I am quite honestly a bit of an uncultured swine at times and have not read nearly as much as I wanted to this year. I have however purchased a few books. And I did manage to read a couple. And I mean couple in the literal sense of the word.
Star Trek: Picard
I’ve always loved science fiction, but in the past decade especially I’ve grown to be quite the trekkie. There’s just something about the franchise that I can appreciate more as a more seasoned adult. I absolutely love Picard and what it brings to the franchise. It’s great seeing familiar faces and characters and the storylines that show what happened to them after their respective series.
Jean-Luc Picard will always be one of my favorite characters across the franchise and seeing Stewart reprise the role is a privilege. Can’t wait to see what the third and supposedly final season has in store for us this february. To quote Q: “Two down, one to go.”
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Star Wars. Ewan Mcgregor. ‘Nuff said.
All joking aside, glad they showed the post-mustafar story surrounding Obi-Wan and Anakin. Especially Obi-Wan’s struggle with (in his eyes) failing his former apprentice. Thankfully they didn’t milk it trying to turn it into multiple seasons. So far my favorite of the Star Wars series, perhaps… even dethroning the mandalorian?
Adam Savage’s Tested
Honorary mention. If you’re a mythbusters fan, this is Adam’s channel. As a you’re a maker of any sort, you will enjoy this. If you’re a creative, you will learn from it. If you’re a geek, you will love what he has to share. Regular releases, always something fun and relevant to watch. Has a wonderful community built around it. Adam’s joyful personality and positivity are truly contagious. There is nothing as wholesome as seeing him react to something that he’s unboxing or getting shown. He is genuine, positive and in awe of the things people create. He is definitely a role model worth having.
There are not enough positive things that I could possibly say. So I will leave you with this, pay them a visit. Have a look around. If you enjoy what they create, like the content that you watch and subscribe to their channel. It helps a ton.
If you can afford to, consider supporting them. They have some wonderful things for sale in their store.
Happy holidays everyone, I hope you’ve had a wonderful year and I will see you in the next one.