The best gifts for travel-loving photographers in 2019

For countless people all over the world, travel and photography go hand in hand. There’s nothing quite like focusing your attention on a new place, whether you’re capturing sun-kissed stretches of sandy beaches during golden hour or taking portraits of the smiling faces you meet while on an adventure far from home. With that in mind, here’s seven items any wandering enthusiast would appreciate.

A man wearing an Everyday backpack is going across a walkway with wooden rails. The ground either side of him is covered in gravel, mountains are in the near distance. — The Everyday Backpack has been designed to make life easier for the travelling photographer © Image courtesy of PeakDesign

1. Everyday Backpack by Peak Design

Countless hours of trial and error have gone into making these backpacks sturdy and reliable when it comes to keeping your camera gear safe. The patented MagLatch fastener provides security while on the go, while the bag has been thoughtfully laid out to give you quick side and top access, essential features when you are travelling. It’s also waterproof, has an integrated luggage carry slip, houses a dedicated laptop sleeve and comes in a variety of sleek colours and finishes. The Everyday Backpack is available in 20 litre and 30 litre sizes.

Peak Design 30L Everyday Backpack, $289.95, peakdesign.com

A small, black olloclip is attached to an orange phone. A phone with its screen visible is in front of it. — Olloclip has designed a range of lenses that transform the look of smartphone cameras © Image courtesy of Olloclip

2. Olloclip smartphone lenses

As the old adage goes, the best camera in the world is the one you have with you, and today’s travellers almost certainly always have their phones to hand. With that in mind, Olloclip has designed a range of clip-on lenses for devices of all brands that turn your run of the mill fixed-aspect camera into something special. The 4-in-1 photo lens for the iPhone SE provides a fisheye, wide-angle and two macro lenses all in one clip, while their telephoto lenses offer a 2x optical zoom with a circular polarizing lens that removes glare and brings out richer colours in photos. The pack of essential lenses are available for different brands, and offer dynamic looks for photographers hoping to travel light.

Olloclip Fisheye + Super-Wide + Macro Essential Lenses, $99.99, olloclip.com

A GoPro Camera is on a black surface, covered in globules of water. — GoPro cameras are a handy addition to any photographer's bag due to their size and durability © DedMityay

3. GoPro Hero Black 8

For years, GoPro have proven that their almost-indestructible, waterproof cameras are up to any challenge, whether you’re catching waves in Portugal or trekking the Swiss Alps. The company’s latest model includes HyperSmooth 2.0 stabilisation and built-in mounting, with four digital lenses for different looks. As well as sporting improved HDR, the Hero Black 8 has three microphones with reduced wind noise for video makers.

GoPro Hero Black 8 + SanDisk Extreme® 32GB microSDHC,$400, GoPro.com

A drawing of a camera on the cover of Lonely Planet Best Ever Photography Guide Book. Inside the camera lens, a real life photo of a woman squatting in front of Chinese lanterns is visible. — The book's small size makes it perfect for slipping into your backpack or carry on © Lonely Planet

4. Lonely Planet’s Guide to Travel Photography

What better way to inspire a photography enthusiast than to gift them with the necessary tools and knowledge for the job? This updated edition of Lonely Planet’s bestselling Best Ever Photography Tips features 45 practical tips and ten golden rules put together by award-winning travel photographer Richard I’Anson. It covers how to hone creative and technical skills, and serves as an indispensable guide to learning the basics, even if we do say so ourselves!

Lonely Planet’s Best Ever Photography Tips, $9, LonelyPlanet.com

A microfiber towel, a brush and an air blower. — A good camera maintenance kit is an essential when on the road © Iri-s

5. Lens cleaning kits

There’s nothing worse than being on location somewhere exotic only to discover that you have a speck of dust on your sensor. Photographers that do a lot of travelling should always have a camera maintenance kit to hand, because you won’t come away with great photos if your gear isn’t in good condition. Many companies have created handy little packs that contain microfiber cloths, air blowers, cleaning brushes, lens pens and alcohol wipes that are indispensable. Stocking up on extra ZEISS wipes is also recommended, as they can be used for glasses, phones and laptop screens.

TYCKA Lens Cleaning Kit, $16.99, Amazon.com

A man is sitting a worn-out table editing photos on a laptop. His camera is sitting next to the laptop on the desk. — Good knowledge of editing software can help bring travel images to another level © Matthew Leete

6. Editing software

Good, reliable editing software is another essential for someone who takes photography seriously. And while many programmes such as Photoshop and Lightroom are expensive to purchase outright, the Creative Cloud plan gives access to the programmes on a pay-by-the-month basis. The photography plan is especially good, and includes Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, Photoshop and Photoshop Express. Be sure to try the free trial first.

Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan, $9.99 per month, Adobe.com

The Polaroid Lab printer, to which a smartphone can be attached. — The newly released Polaroid Lab creates prints directly from your phone © Polaroid Originals

7. Polaroid Lab

Instant film has made a Lazarus-like comeback in the last few years, with one of the biggest names in the game, Polaroid being reborn as Polaroid Originals with help from the Impossible Project. Now, customers can choose between refurbished vintage cameras and the brand new One Step 2 and One Step +, the latter of which uses Bluetooth to pair with a dedicated mobile app for a 21^st Century take on one of the first forms of mass photography. Just on the market however is something entirely different and exciting; Polaroid Lab, a printing system that allows you to lay your smartphone on a dock and actually create a polaroid image from the picture displayed on the phone. While it takes some of the spontaneity away from instant film, it allows users to select images that they know are going to be eye-catching and good!

Polaroid Lab, $129.99, PolaroidOriginals.com

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