My “Best of 2009” Picks
Hi everybody—-welcome to 2010. I’m back after a wild weekend shooting a College Bowl game and an NFL game (more on those tomorrow), but to kick off the New Year, I present my first ever “Best of 2009 Awards.”
It’s important to note right up front that I didn’t say “Best photography gear” or “Best Photoshop stuff” (though both of those are represented). Instead, this is just my favorite “bestest” stuff from 2009, (including things like songs, movies, travel stuff, food, etc.) presented in no particular order. Hope it starts off your New Year right! (By the way; make sure you read my disclaimers at the end of the list).
Best Photoshop plug-in update of 2009: Nik Software’s Viveza 2
My most-used plug-in of 2009: Topaz Adjust
My most-used plug-in on landscapes: Nik Software’s Color FX Pro
My Biggest goof of 2009: leaving all my camera gear in my hotel room in New York, the day I left for Italy
Biggest surprise of 2009: That the Nikon D5000 is a pretty darn good camera
Best new lens of 2009: Nikon 50mm f/1.4
Best candidate for replacement in 2010: Nikon 85mm 1/4
The Best five photographers you might not have heard of (not in any particular order):
- Patrik Giardino (link) Note: I want to be him when I grow up.
- Robert Seale (link)
- Manuel Libres Librodo Jr. (link);
- Costas Stergiou (link)
- Stephan Cooper (link)
Best photo App for iPhone: Best Camera
Best iPhone App for working photographers: Photo Assist
…and it keeps getting better.
Best iPhone News App: USA Today. They did it right!
My favorite iPhone game of 2009: Flight Control
It’ll get you hooked!
Best travel App for iPhone: TripIt
If you do a decent amount of travel, you will fall deeply in love with TripIt.
Best coach seats in the sky: United’s Economy Plus
Would be best if they flew more routes: JetBlue
Roomy seats, but their in-seat TV and service put them over the top—they just need more routes.
Best reason to fly Delta: Go-Go high-speed Wi-fi Internet
Now that they’ve merged with Northwest, if they can just get the Northwest jets to have Go-Go, we’d be set!
Best way I’ve found to keep on top of everything happening in our Industry: Alltop.com
It’s better than any RSS reader.
Best all-around blog: Seth Godin’s Blog (link).
He’s my favorite writer of business books, and his blog rocks! Best Football blog: ProFootballTalk.com (link).
I love Mike Florio. Lots of folks hate them, and are terribly mean to him, but they go there everyday just the same.
Best deal on a printer: The Epson 1900
Best printer for serious black and white: Epson 2880
Best HDR software: It’s still Photomatix.
Best Apple thingy I really love besides my iPhone: AppleTV
Ask anyone who has one.
Best thing I can’t believe is free: Google Earth
Best steak of 2009: Keens steakhouse, New York City (link)
The steaks are awesome, but the “old New York” atmosphere puts it over the top
Best gift idea of 2009: 16×22” framed prints shipped direct from MPIX.com
Best iPhone Movie Theater App: OneTap Movies
Best iPhone App to use during the Movie: Run Pee
It tells you when you can go to the restroom during a movie, and not miss any important parts. It’s does more than just that, too!
Best way to send large files: YouSendIt.com (link)
Best way to not be in the moment: Tweet what you’re doing
Best business book of 2009: Tribes by Seth Godin
Another that comes really close: “What would Google Do,” by Jeff Jarvis
Best real quality lighting deal: Elinchrom’s BXRI strobes
Best thing to put in front of your flash: A Lastolite EZBox Hot Shoe softbox
Best romantic comedy I saw in 2009: Love Actually
Or maybe it was this one: Maid of Honor
I know it came out in 2008, but I didn’t see it until 2009.
Best guy movie of 2009: Tropic Thunder
The Hangover was great, too, but Topic Thunder actually had good acting. Kinda.
Best song I used to not like, but bought after hearing it in the movie “I love you man” and now I actually really like it: Limelight by Rush (iTunes link)
Best old song I added to my iPod: Ebony Eyes by Bob Welch
I know—I can’t explain it, but I heard it in a store in the mall one day, and I was like, “Hey, that song wasn’t all that bad.” (Come on, sing with me: “Have you see that girl in the corner…I want to break her out of her chains…”). See, it kind of gets under your skin, doesn’t it? Here’s the link to it on iTunes (this is the best version–from his album “French Kiss.” Ooh La La! Best really old song I added to my iPod: Tossin’ and Turnin’ by Bobby Lewis (iTunes Link)
Best old soul song I added: Work to Do by the Isley Brothers (iTunes Link)
Best classic rock song I added: Mississippi Queen by Mountain (iTunes Link)
Best new song: Rock That Body by Black Eyed Peas (iTunes Link)
F to the E-R, G-I-E! Best new song I love that I would never have guessed was sung by her: Mercy, Mercy, Mercy by Queen Latifah (iTunes Link)
Best song I bought after hearing it on my son’s iPod: Go Figure by Everlife (iTunes Link)
Best song that I have no idea who turned me onto it: Welcome Home by Coheed & Cambria (iTunes Link)
Best inexpensive gift for the guitar player in your life: Custom guitar picks from claytoncustom.com Best shoot thru umbrella: David Ziser’s Zumbrella
Best paper for printing: Epson’s Exhibition Fiber
Best new restaurant: Ocean Prime (link)
They’re popping up all over. Best thing Apple did for their MacBook Pro: Giving us the option to have a non-glossy screen
Yes I ordered with a non-glossy screen. I got it—I love it.
Best new fangled way to print your images: Printing on aluminum for a high-definition look (from ImageWizards). Link.
Most under-rated photographer of 2009: Dan Steinhardt
Best way to start a fight since the whole Mac vs. PC thing: Mention HDR
IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS:
(1) I could be totally wrong about any of these—they’re just my opinions
(2) Some of these things could have actually come out in 2008, or even 2007. I’m old and lose track of time easily.
(3) If you disagree with any of my picks, that’s OK.
(4) If some of my picks make you seething mad, and you want to post mean comments to me, remember, you can start your own blog today, for free, and by this afternoon you can post your own list (don’t worry—everybody will be agree with all your picks). Here’s a good place to start (link). Well, that’s it gang. I’m always on the lookout for great anything (songs, movies photo gears, iPhone Apps, restaurants, etc.), so if you have something I missed on my list, just let me know. 
