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This is The Digital Story Podcast #548, Sept. 6, 2016. Today's theme is "And Then It's Over." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I recently learned of the passing of Scott Sheppard, who helped me in the earliest days of The Digital Story podcast. This show is a bit about Scott, digital content in general, and how it all can just disappear in the blink of an eye.

podcast-setup.jpg

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #547, August 30, 2016. Today's theme is "WiFi and GPS." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I must admit that in the beginning, cameras that added WiFi and GPS felt more like novelties than real tools. But that was because the initial supporting software, and the implementations themselves, were a bit crude. But we've come a long way since those early days, and those radio technologies are very important to my work now. I explain why in today's show.

WiFi and GPS

I'll start with WiFi because it has had such an impact on my mobile photography and the speed at which I can share images. I tend to shoot in RAW+Jpeg then move the Jpegs to either my iPhone or iPad wirelessly.

I know some photographers would like to be able to make this transfer to their computers also. Well, all they have to do is use Macs and Photos for OS X. Images that are transferred to the mobile device's Camera Roll, automatically show up in the Photos application on the computer. You don't really have to do anything.

gps-photos.jpg

As for GPS, Photos, Lightroom, and Capture One Pro all take advantage of this data. Photos 2.0 that ships with macOS Sierra will be the most unique because it integrates the location data into its overall organizational scheme.

Because I've found so many ways to use location data: my dairy entries into Day One, Memories organization in Photos 2.0, and even Google Maps pins via Capture One Pro, I find myself shooting more and more with cameras that record this information.

My current GPS favorites are the iPhone 6S, Olympus TG-4, and the DxO ONE when connected to the iPhone. If I'm shooting analog, then I always capture a digital version too with one of these devices. It's nice that they all fit in my pocket.

And I'm getting to the point where if I shoot with the E-M5 Mark II or the E-M10 Mark II, I record a couple frames with a GPS camera too, just so I can have those coordinates available in the same collection.

In the News

Canon 5D Mark IV Includes Built-In GPS - For news photographers capturing hundreds or even thousands of images while moving around throughout the day, landscape photographers on location and even photographers on vacation, GPS has become an indispensable part of a daily workflow.

The EOS 5D Mark IV camera's built-in GPS helps photographers and filmmakers both tag their images with critical location data, and also adjust the time and timestamp on the camera automatically. Featuring both built-in GPS and Wi-Fi technology, the EOS 5D Mark IV can use GPS and WFT (Wireless File Transfer) together, making it easy to upload numerous images and movies both quickly and from increasingly distant locales. Compatible with American GPS satellites, Russian GLONASS satellites and Japanese quasi-zenith satellites Michibiki, the EOS 5D Mark IV's GPS information stays reliably accurate in many locations.

The camera has two GPS modes to help manage battery life. One keeps the GPS on, even when the camera is off, and the other turns off the GPS radio when the camera is off.

Hedge at IBC in Amsterdam Sept. 9-13

Hedge is teaming up with LaCie at the show to give away a LaCie 12Big array - (48TB, 72TB, 96TB) comes with Enterprise Class Drives (24/7 operations) and 5-year warranty and 25 Hedge Pro licenses. You can enter to win even if you're not attending the event. Just go to hedgeformac.com/ibc and click on the Create It Big link.

Keep these three things in mind...

  • Hedge is the fastest app for importing and backing up media on macOS.
  • Import multiple sources to multiple destinations, at the same time.
  • Every file copied by Hedge is cross-verified with the original.

There's a free version and a premium version. Use this URL, hedgeformac.com/tds and save 20 percent off the price of the pro version that provides the full Hedge experience with Fast Lane copies, unlimited simultaneous transfers, plus NAS and RAID support.

Drobo Diaries

Speaking of massive storage, I've just unpacked a Drobo 5Dt five bay storage device that can manage up to 64TB with Thunderbolt 2 or USB 3.0 connectivity.

"Drobo 5D Turbo builds on the fully automated functionality of previous Drobo arrays by adding blazingfast performance. Leveraging cutting-edge Thunderbolt TM 2 and USB 3.0 connectivity Drobo 5Dt is the highest performing personal storage array on the planet."

I have 2 6TB drives and 3 2TB drives to start out with. "The Turbo Edition supports 4k Thunderbolt connected displays, includes an mSATA card for increased performance of up to 30 percent on streaming video and 3x read performance via Drobo's Hot Data Cache. Three years of DroboCare support is included on every 5Dt sold to ensure the best storage experience ever."

"The Drobo 5Dt doesn't just protect from drive failures, it also includes a battery backup system that protects all data in memory or cache. That's right, Enterprise grade data protection for you on your Drobo 5Dt! If power spontaneously goes away, the Drobo stays alive long enough for the data to be written to disk, ensuring your important information is always safe. The onboard battery recharges itself and is designed to last for the life of the product."

Over the next few shows, I'll be reporting on how I integrate this new drive into my workflow. Stay tuned. This is going to be fun.

Updates and Such

B&H and Amazon tiles on www.thedigitalstory. If you click on them first, you're helping to support this podcast. And speaking of supporting this show, and big thanks to our Patreon Inner Circle members.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #546, August 13, 2016. Today's theme is "The Black & White Project." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Over the past few days, I've been seeing the world in Black & White. "How?" you may ask. It's been through the viewfinder of my Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, set in monochrome mode. And as a result, I saw the rugged landscape of Pt. Reyes in a whole new way. What I discovered is the subject of today's podcast.

The Black & White Project

I had toyed with this idea before. But after spending an entire day scouting for the TDS Pt. Reyes Photography Workshop, it dawned on me that the foggy mornings, hillsides covered in tall grasses, and charismatic trees were perfect elements for monochrome work. So that night, I pitched the idea to my workshop group.

P8214005-BW-Pt-Reyes.jpg

The key elements go like this...

  • The project works best for those who have mirrorless cameras with electronic viewfinders that let photographers compose the scene in monochrome.
  • Shooting in RAW+Jpeg allows for the Jpegs to be B&W, while still having a full color RAW of the scene.
  • With the absence of color, I found it easier to work with the main element of the composition.
  • I also slowed down, carefully zooming in and out looking for just the right arrangement of elements.
  • Then, on the computer, I found it interesting to see which shots looked better in B&W, and which ones in color, And shots were clearly one or the other.

I've published a small gallery of photos from this project so you can see what I was seeing through the viewfinder all weekend. I have to tell you, it was a blast.

In the News

How to Figure out what to charge for your next portrait assignment via The Phoblographer.

This is a challenge for freelancers and emerging pros alike. How much do you charge for a portrait shoot? The key is to analyze all the steps involved in the project, and the time that it takes to accomplish them, then attach a dollar amount to the endeavor.

I break my shoots into 3 categories: preparation, actual shoot time, and post production. All of those have to be accounted for. But also, you need to consider consultation, travel costs, and gear investment. This article helps put all of these things, and more, into an equation that will hopefully lead to to determining how much to charge.

Hedge Free License

Not sure if Hedge will improve your workflow speed drastically? Go to hedgeformac.com/tds, download the app, and you'll receive a free 10-day pass to give it a thorough test run. If you like, there's a link to a 20 percent discount there for you too."

And if you're a Lightroom user, try the free trial and think about how this could help your Lightroom import experience. Next week I'm going to discuss how Hedge can better integrate with Lightroom, and we want to hear your thoughts.

Keep these three things in mind...

  • Hedge is the fastest app for importing and backing up media on macOS.
  • Import multiple sources to multiple destinations, at the same time.
  • Every file copied by Hedge is cross-verified with the original.

There's a free version and a premium version. Use this URL, hedgeformac.com/tds and save 20 percent off the price of the pro version that provides the full Hedge experience with Fast Lane copies, unlimited simultaneous transfers, plus NAS and RAID support.

SmugMug is Helping Save 200 Million Photos Lost when Picturelife Died

When photo storage site Picturelife shut down, users were left high and dry without a way to access and/or download the images they had stored there. This didn't sit well with SmugMug, who reached out to Picturelife and, today, is helping reunite those photographers with their lost images.

In all, some 200 million files were lost into the ones and zeroes of Internet history when Picturelife went under--but out of this sad tale came 200 million opportunities for SmugMug to be both altruistic, and maybe snag a customer or two for themselves.

It's important to note that it will cost you nothing to take advantage of this offer from SmugMug. It's something SmugMug was adamant about.

You can read more about this and get the link to begin retrieving your images in this Petapixel article.

Updates and Such

The fourth episode of The Nimble Photographer Podcast is not posted for our Patreon supporters. If you wish to join the inner circle to support this show, click on the Patreon tile that's on all the pages of The Digital Story.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

I'm currently working on an article that will show you the easiest way to print fine art greeting cards with Capture One Pro and Red River Fine Art Card Stock. I think C1 users are going to dig this. And I'll let you know as soon as it's live.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #545, August 16, 2016. Today's theme is "Conservation Photography." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Most of us probably think that we're ethical photographers. But what does that really mean? Is it a common sense thing, or are there real guidelines to help us act responsibility when photographing landscapes, wildlife, and indigenous cultures? I explore this topic today with Alexandra Garcia, executive director of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Conservation Photography

I met Alexandra Garcia at the MindShift Gear Headquarters in Santa Rosa, CA. She was working with them on a project, and agreed to take time out with me to talk about conservation photography.

alex-garcia-mindshift.jpg

And you get to listen in thanks to MindShift Gear, who is sponsoring this portion of the podcast, as part of their goal to help outdoor photographers engage with nature and to support the conservation of our environment.

We cover a lot of ground in this 30 minute interview. And I think you'll learn much and enjoy the conversation along the way.

mindshift-gear-logo-1024.jpg This interview with Alexandra Garcia is sponsored by MindShift Gear, supplier of innovative outdoor backpacks for adventure photographers.

In the News

The Top 10 DSLRs and Lenses Canon is Loaning Out at the Rio Olympics via PetaPixel.

Here's how the Canon loans went the first week of the Olympics...

  • EOS 1D X Mark II | Loaned 285 Times
  • EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4X | Loaned 231 Times
  • EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM | Loaned 211 Times
  • EF 400mm f/2.8L IS II USM | Loaned 131 Times
  • EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM | Loaned 130 Times
  • EF 600mm f/4L IS II USM | Loaned 126 Times
  • EOS 1D X | Loaned 123 Times
  • EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM | Loaned 105 Times
  • EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II USM | Loaned 84 Times
  • EOS 1D X Mark II VIP and EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM | Both Loaned 77 Times

Hedge Free License

Not sure if Hedge will improve your workflow speed drastically? Go to hedgeformac.com/tds, download the app, and you'll receive a free 10-day pass to give it a thorough test run. If you like, there's a link to a 20 percent discount there for you too.

Keep these three things in mind...

  • Hedge is the fastest app for importing and backing up media on macOS.
  • Import multiple sources to multiple destinations, at the same time.
  • Every file copied by Hedge is cross-verified with the original.

There's a free version and a premium version. Use this URL, hedgeformac.com/tds and save 20 percent off the price of the pro version that provides the full Hedge experience with Fast Lane copies, unlimited simultaneous transfers, plus NAS and RAID support.

Updates and Such

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

I'm currently working on an article that will show you the easiest way to print fine art greeting cards with Capture One Pro and Red River Fine Art Card Stock. I think C1 users are going to dig this. And I'll let you know as soon as it's live.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #544, August 9, 2016. Today's theme is "Optical Threesome." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Since I embraced the philosophy of nimbleosity, I've pared down my lens combinations to groups of three. And unless I'm on a paying gig, that's all I carry. In today's show I share the contents of my five favorite camera kits, featuring a trio of lenses for each. For me, they're the perfect balance of effective photography and traveling light.

Optical Threesome

When I walk out the door prepared for a shoot, I typically have my iPhone, a camera body and three lenses. Now I've thought long and hard about the optics that I pack in my bag. And I've tested many combinations over the years. So I thought you might be interested in the upshot of this research.

lens-groupings-web.jpg

  • Everyday Kit: Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II - 14-42mm EZ zoom, 17mm f/1.8, and 45mm f/1.8
  • Portrait Assignment Kit: Canon 5D Mark II - 24-105mm f/4 L zoom, 70-200 f/2.8 L zoom, 85mm f/1.8 prime.
  • Super Nimble Travel Kit: Panasonic GM5 - Lumix 12-32mm zoom, Lumix 35-100mm zoom, and Lumix 20mm f/1.7 prime.
  • SLR Film Kit: Pentax ZX-5 - 35-80mm Pentax-F zoom, 70-200mm Pentax-F zoom, and 50mm f/1.7 Pentax-F prime.
  • Rangefinder Film Kit: Contax G1 - Zeiss 28mm f/2.8 and Zeiss 45mm f/2.0 prime lenses./li>

So here's my bottom line: Each of these kits provide me with the tools that I need for the job at hand. Yet, they allow me to move as lightly as possible through the world while I work.

In the News

Robbed Olympics Photographer Spots Thief Posing as Him in Venue via PetaPixel.

News Corp photographer Brett Costello was robbed of $40,000 in camera gear at a cafe in Rio a few days ago. Then yesterday, while covering an event at the Olympics yesterday, Costello spotted the thief pretending to be him..

While at the cafe on Thursday, Costello was approached by a woman who began speaking to him in Portuguese. As he was distracted, her accomplice grabbed his rolling case filled with high-end camera gear and took off in a getaway car.

Fast forward a few days. Yahoo Sports reports that while Costello was entering Sambodromo stadium yesterday for the men's archery competition, he noticed another man entering behind him wearing an official photo vest. But not just any vest: Costello's stolen photo vest.

Now Live! Photos for OS X: Extensions for Local Adjustments

Want to see how easy it is to apply local edits to your images using Editing Extensions? Take a look at my new lynda training, Photos for OS X: Extensions for Local Adjustments.

10 Reasons Why Wildlife Photographers Are Crazy

I enjoyed the article on F-Stoppers titled, 10 Reasons Why Wildlife Photographers Are Crazy. Thought I'd share the 10 reasons with you now, then let you jump over to the article as you have time.

  • It's been done.
  • Photo opportunities are rare.
  • No control over subject.
  • Wildlife can be dangerous.
  • The alone time.
  • The preparation.
  • Difficult to make a living.
  • Cost of equipment.
  • Cost of travel.
  • Cost of health.

And yet, people still do it...

Updates and Such

Welcome New Photographers to the TDS Inner Circle

I sent all of our Patreon supporters a note this last week. If you didn't see it, be sure to log into your Patreon account. And yes, the season finale of The Nimble Photographer Podcast airs this coming Friday. You can join the TDS Inner Circle by visiting our page at Patreon.com.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #543, August 2, 2016. Today's theme is "Make Mine Macro, Please." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I want more macro in my life. I love being able to close-focus on a subject without having to change lenses. In fact, changeing lenses, although very necessary at times, is a real buzz kill, especially when I have a shot before that's ready to be captured. So, in today's show, I'm going to talk about why you may want to add more macro to your life.

Make Mine Macro, Please

I did a search of standard zoom lenses for micro four thirds on B&H, and came up with one lens that included real close-up capability, the Olympus M.ZUIKO ED 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3. I thought this was interesting, and not in a good way.

Macro-Mode-podcast.jpg

The reason why this has suddenly jumped out at me is because many of my analog zooms, plus my new Olympus TG-4 have macro functionality built right in. For example, on the analog side, the Pentax-A 35-70mm, Pentax-A 28-80mm, Contax/Zeiss 35-70mm f/3.4, and Minolta MD 28-80mm zooms all have terrific macro functionality. And because that feature is right there on the lens I already have mounted, I find myself moving closer more often.

So why does this make a difference? Well, here are a few reasons why I want macro.

  • Macro images immediately look different than other shots. If I'm presenting a slideshow and I drop a killer macro image in the group, I can hear the gasps.
  • I learn more about the natural world. I thought lavender flowers looked one way. Then I take a macro shot of one and discover that they are far more intricate and beautiful that I ever realized.
  • Darn handy for photographing business cards, labels, tags, and all the other bits of information in life that I don't want to write down.

Part of the reason why I'm disappointed that more of my Olympus lenses don't have built-in macro is because my cameras have built-in IS, one of the most important features for handheld close up photography.

So here's my bottom line: If you're not shooting closeup shots regularly, then I recommend that you find an easy way to do so. Otherwise, you're missing so much of our wonderful world.

In the News

Your Photos Could Be Illegally for Sale on Amazon via PetaPixel.

The Internet has become the wild wild west of copyright infringement, and the fact that so many photos are illegally republished around without permission and/or attribution makes enforcement tough for the photographers behind them. If you've ever shared your images on the Web, there's one big-name place they could show up for sale without your permission: Amazon.com.

So instead of grabbing copyrighted photos from photographers' websites, it seems that some Amazon sellers, such as HDpicsnwall may have harvested photos from other websites that illegally offer copyrighted photos for free. The seller then described the photos as "public domain" and began selling prints and products on Amazon.

The Third Episode of Nimble Photographer Podcast is now Live

In the third episode, "Busted" that will soon be available for our Patreon members, I explore my untimely introduction to being a southpaw, and how that affected my nimbleosity.

Scott Kelby on the New Lightroom App for Apple TV

By now you may have heard that Adobe released a Lightroom viewing app for the 4th gen Apple TV. Scott Kelby has an informative and entertaining Q&A about it on his blog. I thought you might get a kick out of it.

  • Q. What will be the answer to every question in this Q&A? A. It will be "No."
  • Q. Will it work on older Apple TVs? A. No.
  • Q. Can you add background music to the slideshow? A. No
  • Q. Can you edit photos in it? A. No.
  • Q. Can you change the order of the images using it? A. No.
  • Q. Is there a version for Roku? A. No.
  • Q. Does it work with more than one catalog? A. No.
  • Q. Does it work on the Amazon Fire? A. No.
  • Q. Couldn't you just use Airplay from your iPhone or iPad and still see all your images on TV, and then do everything that Lightroom Mobile can do, but seeing it all on your TV screen, and wouldn't that also work on older Apple TVs as well? A. Yes, you could, and yes it would.
  • Q. I thought you said all the answers would be 'No." A. OK, No.

"Well, there ya go. It's new, it's free, don't whine."

Updates and Such

Just Released!: The Apple Photos Book for Photographers

You can get your eBook copy of The Apple Photos Book for Photographers for $15 by using the checkout coupon: APPLE15. That saves your 5$ off the price.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #542, July 26, 2016. Today's theme is "The Cameras of Summer." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Life is much different during the summer months compared to the rest of the year. I don't wear proper shoes most of the time. Long pants are reserved for business meetings and going out to dinner. And my wardrobe of camera gear definitely changes too. And that's the focus of today's photography podcast.

The Cameras of Summer

I'm pretty darn active this time of year. Most of my errands are on bike. I go hiking on the weekends. And any chance I get, I'm in the water.

As much as I love my E-M5 Mark II, it doesn't come with me on many of these adventures. My summer wardrobe consists of a tube of sunblock and the Olympus TG-4 16 MP Tough Camera. Let's take a closer look at it.

summer-camera-maui-web.jpg

  • 4X wide-angle optical zoom with fast f2.0 high speed lens
  • Waterproof to depths of 50 feet, Freeze proof to 14 degrees F, Shockproof to 7 feet, Crushproof to 220 lb.
  • RAW capture, Live Composite, Underwater modes with Underwater HDR
  • Wi-Fi / GPS / e. Compass - serves as my watch and compass too
  • 1080P HD video
  • USB charging for on-the-go
  • Earned a DP Review Gold Award in August 2015

I go into more detail about the virtues of tough cameras in the first story of today's podcast.

In the News

Flickr ownership changes hands as Verizon acquires Yahoo via DP Review.

Telecom giant Verizon will acquire Yahoo and its web properties, including Flickr and photo blogging site Tumblr, for $4.83 billion. It seemed possible that Yahoo might sell its photo-sharing sites separately, as the company announced in March that it was accepting bids for its web properties. Today's announcement confirms that both Flickr and Tumblr will remain a part of Yahoo as it changes hands to Verizon.

Verizon owns AOL and Huffington Post, a point that Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer spins as a positive for her company's outlook. In a statement published on Yahoo today, Mayer emphasized that joining forces with AOL could help strengthen Yahoo's mobile offerings.

The Third Episode of Nimble Photographer Podcast will be Live this coming Friday

In the third episode, "Busted" that will soon be available for our Patreon members, I explore my untimely introduction to being a southpaw, and how that affected my nimbleosity.

Ultra Fast Nikon Tele

Petapixel just posted Nikon 105mm f/1.4 Lens Leaked, To Be World's Fastest 105mm saying that a new Nikon AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/1.4E ED lens has been leaked early, offering us a glimpse at the soon-to-be world's fastest 105mm prime lens. The full-frame prime N (Nano Crystal Coat) lens will have a gold ring and won't have Vibration Reduction (VR). Nikon's existing 105mm has VR but is slower at f/2.8. Digicame-info says the new 105mm will have an emphasis on bokeh quality.

Updates and Such

TheFlimCameraShop on Etsy

As part of the Film Project I've been working on since December, I shoot with a variety of SLRs so I can talk about the various experiences that I've had with them. Those cameras have been cleaned, tested, and seen at least one roll of film. Once I've completed what I needed to do for the book, I put many of them up for sale in TheFilmCameraShop on Etsy. If you haven't been over there for a look, I think you'll enjoy it. I have a tile on The Digital Story that will take you directly to the shop.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #541, July 17, 2016. Today's theme is "Moose Peterson Coffee Break." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

If someone asked you, "What would you rather do this morning... tackle that big writing project you've been procrastinating on, or have Moose Peterson stop by to shoot the breeze?" Well, I can tell you what my answer was... and I turned on the recorder to share the conversation with you. Listen in on today's TDS podcast.

Moose Peterson Coffee Break

When Brad Pitt has a new movie out, chances are good that he'll make an appearance with Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show. And when Moose Peterson is in town putting the finishing touches on his new MP Backpack Series for MindShift Gear, the odds are I can get him to come by my studio for a morning chat. After all, I'm only about 5 minutes away from Think Tank Photo headquarters.

Derrick-Moose.jpg Derrick Story and Moose Peterson, photo by Sharon Peterson.

So sure enough, both Moose and his wife Sharon joined me for coffee recently. We sat around the big table here at the studio, and I fired up the audio recorder and just set it in the middle of all of us. I wanted you to be able to listen in just like you were here with us.

Moose has this terrific new backpack that's a collaboration between the Petersons and MindShift Gear. It was just announced yesterday, so I thought you might enjoy hearing about it directly from the Moose's mouth. So here we go.

In the News

Lightroom Mobile 2.4 is Wildly Impressive via The Digital Story.

The other exciting recent announcement, in my opinion, was Lightroom Mobile 2.4 for both iOS and Android. The releases are a bit different, and on the iOS side, we now get RAW editing and localized adjustments.

So I put this new version through its paces, and share my impressions with you.

The Second Episode of Nimble Photographer Podcast is Now Live

One of my favorite shows of the first season, "Baggage" is now live for our Patreon members. In this episode, I read and discuss four different stories that relate to our camera bags. And thanks to all of our new Patreon supporters who signed up this week.

Real Camera Stores

I've started this series on theAnalogstory.com called Real Camera Stores. If you haven't read any of them yet, you might want to click on the link. But more importantly, if you have a real camera store that you want to share with the world, I'd love to hear about it. Just send me the scoop, with a photo if you can, to theAnalogstory@gmail.com.

Updates and Such

Just Released!: The Apple Photos Book for Photographers

You can get your eBook copy of The Apple Photos Book for Photographers for $15 by using the checkout coupon: APPLE15. That saves your 5$ off the price.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #540, July 12, 2016. Today's theme is "Nimble HQ Video." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Video isn't so bad. If you didn't have to worry about loads of equipment, frame rate, humongous files, crappy audio, a plethora of formats, or compression algorithms, it would be a piece of cake. I might not be able to help you with everything on this list, but I can share with you my nimble video kit that will lighten your load. It's what I use for commercial interviews.

Nimble HQ Video

Back when I was designing this recording kit, I wanted the same nimbleosity rating for my movie gear that I enjoy for still photography. Thanks to some careful selection, and advances in technology, I have a kit that produces professional results and won't break the bank, or your back.

Frederick-Video.jpg

In the News

Elevating X-Trans? Fuji film X-T2 First Impressions Review via DP Review.

The Fujifilm X-T2 is an updated version of the company's top-level DSLR-shaped APS-C camera. It's built around the same 24MP X-Trans sensor as the X-Pro2 but ends up being much more than an X-T1 with more pixels. Instead, the X-T2 is a camera that does much to address the X-System's remaining weaknesses, which can only broaden its already considerable appeal.

Key features include:

  • 24MP X-Trans CMOS III sensor
  • 325 AF points (169 of which offer phase detection)
  • AF point selection joystick
  • 2.36M-dot OLED EVF with 0.005 sec refresh time (60 fps or 100 fps in boost mode)
  • 3" 1.04M-dot articulating LCD
  • 4K UHD video at up to 30 fps for up to 10 min (30 min with booster grip)
  • F-Log flat profile and 4K out over HDMI
  • 8 fps continuous shooting with AF (11 fps with booster grip)
  • 5 fps continuous shooting with live view updates between capture
  • Dual SD card slots (UHS-II compatible)
  • USB 3.0 socket

The camera is expected in Sept. 2016 for $1,599.

The Nimble Photographer Podcast and Patreon

I've set up a Patreon account to support The Digital Story, The Nimble Photographer, and theAnalogstory. For patrons who pledge $5 a month or more (all handled seamlessly by Patreon), they will receive access to Season 1 of The Nimble Photographer Podcast.

The first episode is waiting for you right now. The second show goes live this coming Friday, July 15. It's title, "Baggage."

I hope you become a patron of The Digital Story, and I look forward to hearing what you think of The Nimble Photographer Podcast. The URL is: www.patreon.com/thedigitalstory

Do You Have an Analog Story to Share?

If so, please send the text and up to 6 pictures to theanalogstory@gmail.com.

Updates and Such

Just Released!: The Apple Photos Book for Photographers

You can get your eBook copy of The Apple Photos Book for Photographers for $15 by using the checkout coupon: APPLE15. That saves your 5$ off the price.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

inkdot Metal Prints Brilliant, affordable, and archival. Visit ink dot.com/metal-prints today.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #539, July 5, 2016. Today's theme is "Other People's Photos." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I was writing a post the other day about Flickr and looking at photos in my Friends feed. I started thinking about all of the photography I consume, and the role those pictures play in my own work. I explore this idea in today's show.

Other People's Photos

When I was in college, I tutored others in English. Many of my students were engineering and science majors, hoping to pass the written skills tests required to complete their curriculum. I noticed that those who read novels and literature frequently had an easier time improving their writing skills. It seemed that reading good stuff added the meter and syntax of the language to their consciousness. I think this is true for photography also.

Photography can be a very inwardly focused endeavor. We obsess over the details of our equipment, pixel peeping post processing, and perfect alignment of composition. Yet many great artists eschew much of this and produce great images anyway. What is their secret? Maybe we can unravel it by looking more closely at their images.

Here are a few suggestions that I have to add the language of photography to our consciousness.

  • Study Books Published by Great Photographers - A trip to the used book store can provide a wealth of photographic inspiration. The thing images in books, compared to an Instagram feed, is that they are curated. People thought long and hard about which images to include, and which to leave out.
  • Take In a Daily Dose of Explore on Flickr - The interesting thing about Explore, compared to traditional photo books, is that it's contemporary. Here are the trends that are valued today, whether they be by computer algorithm, or hand picked by editors who are most likely young. It's worth knowing and studying these images.
  • Follow Your Friends - The advantage of friendship photography is that you have an open channel to that person. If he or she produces something that you find inspiring, you can ask them about it, pick their brain, and learn from them.
  • Make_2nd_Print_D_Story.jpg

  • Visit Galleries and Museums - The test thing about studying art in college was that we'd learn about the works in the classroom, then see them in real life in museums. I can't describe how shockingly different a painting affected me in real life compared to print.
  • Print Your Own Work - You can learn from your own photography if you print it. Much in the same way that art changes when you see it in a museum, your work is different on the wall then viewed on a smartphone. You'd be surprised at the things you can learn from your own pictures if you give them a chance to teach you.

In the News

Eye-Fi to cease support for Pro X2 and earlier generation cards via DP Review.

Eye-Fi will soon end support for its X2 and older wireless memory cards, services and apps, according to a notice sent to customers today. Citing security concerns, the company will complete the 'end of life' stage on September 16, 2016 by ending server support. The cards will still function at that point, and certain wireless transfer modes may still work, but their associated apps and services won't offer full functionality. Eye-Fi is offering to move customer data to its newer Cloud service, and will sell affected customers new cards at a discount. Mobi, Mobi Pro and EyeFi Cloud are all unaffected.

The Nimble Photographer Podcast and Patreon

This is something that I'm really excited about. You may recall that about this time last year, I mentioned that I was working on a project with Frederick Van Johnson. That project was The Nimble Photographer Podcast. As it turned out, we could never quite get the logistics worked out. But I had recorded 4 shows, and written a half dozen others. So I've been sitting on these episodes trying to figure out what to do. And now I have the answer.

Enter Patreon - I've set up a Patreon account to support The Digital Story, The Nimble Photographer, and theAnalogstory. For patrons who pledge $5 a month or more (all handled seamlessly by Patreon), they will receive access to Season 1 of The Nimble Photographer Podcast.

The first episode is waiting for you right now, with the balance of the shows to appear every two weeks following. When you commit your pledge on Patreon, you'll receive the URL and password for the season pass to The Nimble Photographer Podcast.

These shows are different than this one, much in the same way that the Nimble Photographer is different than The Digital Story. Here's the opening from show 1.

I hope you become a patron of The Digital Story, and I look forward to hearing what you think of The Nimble Photographer Podcast. The URL is: www.patreon.com/thedigitalstory.

New lynda Title

We've just released, Flickr Mobile: Sharing Photos Anywhere. I had so much fun recording these movies, working only with my iPhone, iPad and Android tablet. It was a true nimble-rush. And I think you'd enjoy watching this training.

Updates and Such

Just Released!: The Apple Photos Book for Photographers

You can get your eBook copy of The Apple Photos Book for Photographers for $15 by using the checkout coupon: APPLE15. That saves your 5$ off the price.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper - Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

inkdot Metal Prints Brilliant, affordable, and archival. Visit ink dot.com/metal-prints today.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.