Our Perfect Vesper, In the Gloaming

Our twist on the martini's bigger, bolder cousin

Sponsored content: For the summer season, a Vesper cocktail—kin to the classic martini—provides enough potent refreshment to keep the dog days away. Born of the imagination that brought James Bond into the world, the Vesper pairs vodka with gin. Both blend well while embracing the light wine aperitivo. Although the gin plays the dominant hand, the other alcohols and the lemon peel carry the experience …

Manfrotto Befree Tripod

A lightweight, packable tripod for traveling photographers

No longer does traveling fast and light also have to mean leaving your camera gear behind. Case in point: the Befree Tripod from Manfrotto. Weighing just over three pounds and standing under 16 inches when folded, we found the portable tripod to be more than manageable on a few recent excursions. Central to the experience is the time-saving quick release switch at the base, which …

Lumu iPhone Light Meter

An essential tool for budding shutterbugs

Considering that the light meter is one of the most essential tools for photographers—film and digital alike—it’s quite a surprise there aren’t better options available for the amateur shutterbug. Lumu, launched on Kickstarter today, promises to be an extremely powerful and useful device for photographers looking for a light meter that can be used with a smartphone. Designed to interface with the iPhone, Lumu seems …