We’d like to thank everyone who sent in an entry for this contest.
It’s always hard to figure out a best and fair way to do these things.
Honestly, we thought about having prints submitted but you would want to have the prize already to make the best print possible.
This way, we get to find out what you like here, and we can let manufacturers and publishers know you like it here.
That way they want to be here, too. And sometimes donate some excellent photographic products for you. Win-Win-Win, we think.

And now here are the 5 finalists for the ColorMunki Pack including a Color Munki Calibration device, A copy of the DVD “Blow Up” and a copy of one of our favorite books-Family Of Man. They all seemed to embody the essence of the site.

A.
“I like how you are very humble about your own personal abilities. Most other blogs are: “….look at what I shot!!” Yours is purely educational and informational. I like your product reviews because I feel like your reviewing products you would use not just products you want us to buy.

Even though I have never won anything I keep coming back.”

B.
“Visiting photoinduced.com means
– high signal to noise ratio
– information
– video infotutorials
– humour
– nice pics
– weekly giveaways :-)
– broad sphere of interest”

C.
“I like Photoinduced because you introduce me to photographers that, as a beginner, I am not aware of. You show us examples of their work and quite often I find that inspiring. I also like that you visit the shows and exhibitions and report on those as I haven’t the time to attend. In general I find the newsletter inspires me to go out and take pictures.”

D.
“I love visiting your site because it puts my mind in a world where my imagination is stretched to it’s limits and beyond and my own photographic potential is increased.”

E.
“This site keeps me coming back for the tips, news and inspiration to
keep me exploring with my camera. It’s a real treat to get the email
and be inspired by the work on the site. Keeps me centered in
photography.”

Vote for your favorite by leaving a comment here on this article, with the letter (A,B,C,D,E) of the entry that is your favorite, OR sending us an email at info@photoinduced.com and putting “Munkiwin” in the subject and adding the preferred letter in the body.

Then on Jan.1, while lots of folks are watching the Rose Bowl or the Rose Parade , nursing a hangover, we’ll be tallying the votes and sending a winning email out to one lucky reader.
Sorry, there will be no van driving up to your house with a majorly oversized check, or a huge gift box with a bow, ringing your doorbell and embarrassing you.
But then again, none of us will have to get dressed up. Or put on real shoes.

The packages are bro-wrapped ( defined as a best attempt by a dude to wrap a gift) and ready to go.
A few last meals with friends before everyone runs off to a break.

[photopress:balls.jpg,full,centered]outside Tiffany in BH
The cameras are ready, batteries charged and media cards cleared.
These are some of the most emotionally charged, global consciousness, human drama, simultaneous events (except for the old time zone deal) in the days in our lives. Every year.
How will you interpret it with photography?

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In Beverly Hills this week, they had their crystal street decorations, up and down each street. This snap was done on Rodeo Drive.

But check the detail: seems they like to protect those little ornaments. How warm.

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Please be kinder and gentler to each other this holiday season. The global economic funk affects a lot of folks, and this season gives it special emphasis. If you have something extra to give, donate it to the proper places. Or give your time. Or maybe use you photographic services as a gift.
And when you see how good that feels, what the heck, might as keep doing it for the rest of the year.

This is one heck of an end of year gift pack.
Everyone has been running around this holiday and got very busy. And a ton of you have asked for a coupla more days to enter.
Done!
Check the article for contest requirements, and send in your entries to info@photoinduced.com.
Just put “Munki” in the subject line, by 12:01 AM, Dec. 25th, and while Santa and Hanukkah Harry go do their thing, we’ll be logging in your entries.
The 5 top entries will be posted on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th). You will be able to vote by email and comments on-line.

[photopress:munki2.jpg,full,centered] The top vote getter will get the goods.

OK, the sun has come out in LA and have to get some of the light on the face. Looks like rain for the next 2 days.

Been spending a lot of time catching up with friends and have been checking into some other possible gifts which are still possible to get a hold of.[photopress:580401.jpg,full,alignright]
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The Lensbaby Composer with the additional lenses, has been rocking my world for about a week now, with the pinhole camera attachment being the highlight. I know, it seems like I’ve been kicking it old school a bit with the polaroid, and now pinhole with digital but, another creative tool is always a good thing. You or your giftee will totally dig this.
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A gift subscription to Aperture magazine ($20 in the US) will tell that special person you get them, 4 times a year. Beats Harry & David. Seriously, it does.

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A mini tripod for the point and shoot: either the bendy kind or the Giottos, everyone has a point & shoot, and you will need this at some point. when we saw famed photographer Eikoh Hosoe in Paris, he had one always attached to his camera. Under $20.
You can go Gorillapod, but it will be a bulkier situation,. Depends what you are carrying around.

You know how much I dig the 3D world. Well, maybe check out this Loreo Splitter Lens for your favorite DSLR. [photopress:lenscap_3d_1_800.jpg,thumb,alignright]They just came out with special viewers for the computer screen so you can send your faves a viewer and post 3D images anytime. Or order up some mailable viewers. Those became holiday cards from us this season. A little something different. About $100. USD

We’re going to keep sending you some gifting ideas till the end. We know what you like because it’s what we like. I guess that’s why we’re all here.

Even Andre 3000 couldn’t stop it. (you’ll get it at about 3:45 but it still is a great song.) even if shaking it like a Polaroid picture, didn’t really help the development, just the dancing.
In a matter of days, Polaroid instant film will be history. Honestly, it has been unavailable at your local photo store for awhile, but the official end is near.
Original Polaroid SX-70 intro film:( a little long, but what the heck.)

It really hit home last week.
Whenever you do a shoot, the contracts or releases for talent or anyone appearing in the shots, you should have an identifying photo attached to the paper. Polaroid was the solution, FOREVER!.
I took my Spectra camera and realized I could not find the film. Anywhere.
I did invent a solution but it added multiple steps and printing.
And then there was a word. And it was good.
Fuji has come out with a series of instant cameras and film that are now available.
In a matter of days, I’ll be fully loaded and instant print shooting again.

You may be asking yourself: Why the heck do you want to do that when high quality digital is at your fingertips? Well, the relatively short lived reign of Polaroid film, 1948 to kind of the present, garnished a legion of devotees that are still clamoring for the film. I have photographed Masai warriors standing in front of Mt. Kilimanjaro, holding Polaroid pictures of themselves. The ability to hand out an instant print to your subject will go a long way. Farther than showing a digital LCD.
But the instant print has fallen out of favor with the masses. So, keep those cameras if you must, but you’re not going to be getting the film to use them. Not going to happen. Not from the Polaroid corp anyway.
Fuji to the rescue!!!!

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There are 2 different size formats of cameras and film. Whether you need the instant peel apart snaps for IDs or the faux SX-70. Black & White or Color.
So step up to the plate and fear not. Long Live The New Instant King.
We Hope.
And we’ll be posting the real world review of this pup, once it’s in our hands. And perfect timing, what with the holidays and all.

Check out B&H for the best prices on the cameras and film. That was our research anyway. Urban Outfitters has them but about 2.5 times the B&H price. I’m just saying.

I will admit that I stockpiled 2 cases of film to fit my Polaroid 110B, but when that goes out of date, one of my favorite cameras of all time becomes a display model only.

For those who may care, and for a bit of history, meet the Swinger, Polaroid Swinger.

and here is the holiday commercial from the 80’s:

There is a site dedicated to saving Polaroid , and they even point you to another site that has some limited quantities of Polaroid film for sale. Tres expensive, but it’s there. for now. They even tell you the expiration date. Save some for me, though.