Every photographer has that little list of items that they intend to add to their equipment at some point. I thought I would share with you my Top Ten list of what I either already have or will be adding in the very near future.

10. The SAC: This handy bean bag has been with me for over a year now and I love it. It works well on my window mount or for shooting at eye level on the beach. It is sturdy and comes in Camo cordura fabric. The SAC measures about 12 inches square and is filled with five ponds of plastic pellets. You can purchase the SAC from Barb and Jerry Jividen at Images Unique for $38.95.

9. I always ask for my magazine subscriptions to be renewed at Christmas. It is hassle free for the gift giver and something that will be enjoyed throughout the year. My favorite bird magazines are WildBird, Birders World and Bird Watchers Digest. If you are looking for something related to photography then Outdoor Photographer is an excellent choice. Don't forget Moose Peterson's Wildlife Journal or George Lepp's Digital Image. Both of these are quarterly journals. Another to consider is a membership with Ducks Unlimited. Their publication is very nice and you will contribute to an organization that provides a great deal of habitat for our birds.

8. Adobe Photoshop 7.0 is a great product for photographers. This program will keep your images looking their best whether your goal is to show them online or to make prints. You can purchase Photoshop from Amazon.com

7. Check out Really Right Stuff for tons of great gift ideas. The tools section has a handy Hex Socket that is 5/32 inch, and it is up to you to furnish the proper tool to drive these screws. The appropriate 5/32 inch hex driver tool can be as simple as a 30¢ Allen hex key wrench, available individually from open stock at most hardware stores (not giant "home centers"). The hex tip (5/32 inch) $1.80, HDL-screwdriver-type handle 4.30 WRN-midget ratchet wrench $5.50. Another tempting item is the Macro Slider. This little gadget will allow the photographer to move the camera body toward or away from the subject to get the desired image size. There are many other handy items at Really Right Stuff, so look over their product line closely.

6. Software is always a great gift idea for the photographer. I started my database of images just last year. After reviewing several programs I found that Boyd Norton's NSCS Pro 3 fits my needs perfectly. The cost is $189.00. It is an easy to use, easy to back up software program that offers a multitude of options for creating your database. Two other programs that are certainly worth consideration are Proslide II ($139.00) and Photolibrary ($49.00). All three of the programs mentioned offer great features, are versatile and provide everything you need to get your images organized.

5. Calibrating your digital darkroom will save you time and money. ColorVisions' Spyder with Opti-cal and Profiler will make your web viewing and digital printing the best it can be. While this package is a little pricey at $499.00, I found it to be the perfect remedy to getting the prints I produce to match the colors I see on my monitor. If you would like to more info you can read my review at ColorVision Software and Spyder.

4. Beattie Intenscreens Bright Focusing Screens eliminates focusing problems by increasing image brightness by 1 to 1-1/2 stops for 35mm. These Plain or Grid screens come in Matte, Horizontal Split Image and Diagonal Split Image. Grid Screens are my preference. These screens retail around $80.00 per screen.

3. Those photographers still shooting film will appreciate pre-paid mailers from A & I Color Labs. A & I provides great processing and fast turn-around times. Using their pre-paid mailers saves time and money allowing me to be in the field instead of taking my film to the lab.

2. Arthur Morris is now offering Image Critiques of photographers' images. You can have your best images critiqued by one of the worlds most recognized photographers at a rate of 10 slides for $35, 20 slides for $60. There isn't a better way to get your photography on track for 2003.

1. Books are always at the top of my Christmas list. They provide nature photographers with information, in the form of both text and images, which will enhance their skills. Some books are also creatively inspirational. I certainly found this to be the case when I previewed Tom Vezo's soon to be released book while I was in South Texas a few weeks ago. "Birds of Prey in the American West" will get photographers creative juices flowing. Vezo has once again captured the essence of his subjects for this amazing book. I can't wait to add this book to my collection.

Another great book that any birder or bird photographer will enjoy is David Sibley's "The Sibley Guide to Birds". This book is essential for those who are serious about becoming proficient at identifying birds. I also enjoy the companion book, "The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior".

Jim Zuckerman has two books out that are just superb. "Capturing Drama in Nature Photography" and "Techniques of Natural Light Photography" are outstanding "how-to" books that will take your photography to a higher level.

Editor's Comment: Let us know what you think! Please email the Editor to let us know your thoughts.

Debbie is the Founder and Publisher of PhotoMigrations and would like to invite you to also visit her personal website located at Debbie Ferrell-Smith Nature Photography - you will be pleasantly surprised!.