This is The Digital Story Podcast #902, July 4, 2023. Today's theme is "Photoshop's Generative Fill - AI for the Rest of Us." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

In the current Photoshop beta, Adobe is featuring a new tool called Generative Fill. It taps their Firefly technology, a set of creative, generative AI models designed to be commercially safe. How does this all hang together, and in what ways can it improve our images? Find out on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

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Photoshop's Generative Fill - AI for the Rest of Us

Photographers who have the $9.99 a month Creative Cloud plan that includes Lightroom and Photoshop, also have access to the latest Photoshop beta that features Generative Fill. It's a revealing peek into the future of imaging.

Experimenting with Generative Fill in the current Photoshop beta.

What You Can Do with Generative Fill

With Generative Fill, you can accomplish four impressive edits:

• Generate objects: Select an area in your image, then describe what you'd like to add/replace through a text prompt.
• Generate backgrounds: Select the background behind your subject, then generate a new scene from a text prompt.
• Extend images: Extend the canvas of your image, then make a selection of the empty region. Generating without a prompt will create a harmonious extension of your scene. Generating with a prompt will add content to your image while extending the rest of your scene.
• Remove objects: Select the object you want to remove, then generate without a prompt to let the Generative AI technology make it disappear. 

Why Use Adobe's Technology for AI Image Generation?

One of the selling points of Adobe's version of this technology is the design of Firefly itself. Its generative AI models are designed to be commercially safe. Firefly is trained on Adobe Stock's hundreds of millions of professional-grade, licensed, high-resolution images that are among the highest quality in the market. This helps ensure Firefly won't generate content based on other people's work, brands, or intellectual property.

Another selling point for Adobe's approach is Firefly's integration into the Photoshop workspace. This allows you to explore freely while still maintaining complete control over your creative process and outputs, all inside the Photoshop app.

The newly generated content is created in a generative layer, enabling you to exhaust a myriad of creative possibilities and to reverse the effects when you want without impacting your original image.

So, How Do You Use Generative Fill?

Let's start with creating an object since that's probably what most folks are curious about. It's quite simple.

Use any selection tool in Photoshop to make a selection around a desired object or an area in your image. Select the Generative Fill button in the contextual taskbar that appears. Type your text prompt. Click the Generate button.

You'll be offered a handful of images that you can cycle through. If none of them grab you, you can generate again for additional options.

Whatever you choose, it will be seamlessly blended into the background image, but on its own layer so you can continue to tweak it as necessary, such as tapping different blending options.

Generative Fill makes removing objects easy. All you do is make a wide selection of the object you want removed, don't enter anything in the text field, and click on the Generate button. poof!

If you like your subject, but not the background, you can create a new one. To do so, choose Select > Subject, then choose Select > Inverse. Then enter your text prompt and click on Generate.

And finally, if you want to extend your image in any direction, Extend the Canvas on that side and select the open area. Apply Generative Fill without a prompt will create a seamless extension of your image.

What I Like About the Adobe Approach

While I was working with Generative Fill, I felt like it was another tool in my image editing bag of tricks, albeit a very powerful one. Yes, I can have fun and do crazy things, such as add flying saucers to a Tahoe sunset. But for the most part, I was enhancing images that I had already created, but yet wasn't fully satisfied with.

And I think that's the magic of Adobe's approach. I still felt like a photographer, an artist, a technician. And now instead of having just a crescent wrench and a tire jack, I had a compressor-powered socket wrench with a hydraulic lift.

Can't wait to see what this all looks like in the next version of Photoshop.

Landscape Photographer Says People Don't Believe His Pictures Are Real

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.com

An award-winning photographer who has people doubting whether his work is genuine tells PetaPixel that he does not use composites and the otherworldly landscapes he visits is partly to blame.

Aytek Cetin won the International Landscape Photographer of the Year award in 2021 for a series of amazing photos shot in Cappadocia in Turkey, a place famous for its "fairy chimneys" and hot air balloons.

"I had questions about the fairy chimneys photographs with some people saying they can't be real, and I replied to these people that the rock formations in those photographs were genuine," he says.

"I regularly organize photography tours to that region. The lighting conditions and the atmosphere can vary, but I'm thinking that it wouldn't be fair to take people to a place that doesn't look like the one in the photo."

Cetin says that he doesn't use composites but will employ different shooting techniques to get the best results.

"In most of my photos, I use focus stacking for maximum clarity. Sometimes if I'm photographing a mountain in the background, it looks much smaller and farther away than with the effect of the ultra-wide angle lens, in this case, I use the focal blending technique," he says.

"For example, I shoot the flowers in the foreground at 15mm and the mountain in the background at 30mm and then combine them with Photoshop. Of course, apart from these shooting techniques, I love editing photos and adding my artistic perspective to the images."

The Most Expensive Lenses Currently in Production

You can read the entire article on LensRentals.com.

When you start your photo or video career, you'll likely find several lists containing the best bargain lenses available for your interested style. These lenses often include the nifty 50, cheap but sharp zoom lenses, and various other lenses that are considered staples within their focal length. But what about expensive lenses? Sure, all quality lenses usually come with a financial cost, but a few thousand dollars in a digital shopping cart at B&H Photo can net you a great, well-rounded kit for your career. But if you were to outfit the most expensive camera bag, do you know what lenses it would contain?

Here is that list...

Virtual Camera Club News

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #901, June 27, 2023. Today's theme is "How ON1 Photo RAW 2023 Wrecked my Workflow." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I was doing just fine. Leaning on Capture One Pro for my big assignments and macOS Photos for iPhone snapshots. It wasn't perfect, but comfortable. Then ON1 incorporated Photo Keyword AI into their latest Photo RAW release, and I made the big mistake of testing it. On this week's podcast, I'll explain the chaos that ensued. I hope you enjoy the show.

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How ON1 Photo RAW 2023 Wrecked my Workflow

You may recall that I talked about ON1 Photo Keyword AI, which is a terrific object recognition keywording app that dovetails nicely with Lightroom Classic. While I was on my ON1 product page, I noticed a new release, ON1 Photo RAW 2023.5 that included Keyword AI, plus AI Resize, AI Portrait and a bunch of other goodies. I hadn't tested this latest version, so I thought I'd give it a spin.

Before I explain the events that followed, I want to tell you the story of the time my aunt gave me a cool photo lightbox for sorting slides...

OK, back to Photo RAW. This app is really a rollup of the bulk of ON1's technologies and plugins. It covers the entire imaging workflow from import, to sorting, organizing, editing, sharing, exporting, and printing.

It's on sale right now for $69.99 (Mac/Windows, 2 computers) and includes AI presets and lots of goodies.

So I started thinking about how this could fit into a referenced masters model for my photo workflow. Here's the approach that I tested.

• ON1 Photo RAW for import placing the copied masters from the camera in a file structure on my computer drive.
• Run Keyword AI on the images.
• Cull, star rate, and color label the images in ON1. Those labels appear in both Lightroom Classic and C1P.
• Point either Lightroom or C1P to the now keyworded, rated, and labeled images in the master folder on my computer.
• Go about my work as normal from there.

Basically, at this point, I was using ON1 as a robust importer for the other apps that I normally use. But then I made a mistake. I started playing with the editing tools in ON1 Photo RAW.

Goodies like Content Aware Crop, NoNoise AI, Super Select AI, AI Adaptive Presets, and more. Before I knew it, all of my 3 star images were looking great and have never left Photo RAW. I used the Share button for those and sent the finished products directly to Photos for macOS, edits, keywords and all.

Now I had a foot in both streams. Image edits from Photo RAW were not automatically synchronized with Lightroom Classic or C1P, even though the masters were. I had to decide where my editing was going to take place.

One of the things that I noticed during testing, is that the initial RAW processing with my X100V files was prettier with C1P. Yes, I could get to the same spot with Photo RAW, but out of the gate, the C1P RAWs looked just as good as the in-camera processed Jpegs.

So, where does this leave me? Here are my temporary conclusions:

• The stuff destined for Photos and iCloud storage will definitely begin in PHoto RAW. It's importer is far superior, and I can include keywords and take advantage of all the AI tools.
• Client photo shoots that don't require keywords will go directly to Capture One Pro as normal.
• My personal projects... This is where it becomes a game-time decision. I may go directly to C1P or Lightroom, sort first in Photo RAW, or just keep editing on ON1 after the sort. Time will tell.

The bottom line is that ON1 Photo RAW is just too affordable and powerful to ignore. I had managed to keep it at arm's length in the past, but the new AI technologies combined with the semi-automatic keywording is just too alluring to bypass.

It may take me a while to refine my workflow again. But just like that lightbox that tore apart my entire apartment, once I got things reassembled, it was better than ever. And I think that's what's going to happen here as well.

The ON1 18th Anniversary Sale is going on right now.

DPReview.com looks forward to a new chapter with Gear Patrol

You can read the entire article on DPReview.com.com

We've heard from many of you over the past several weeks, and we realize there are many questions about what comes next for DPReview. We're thrilled to share the news that Gear Patrol has acquired DPReview. Gear Patrol is a natural home for the next phase of DPReview's journey, and I'm excited to see what we can accomplish together.

I want to reassure you that we remain firmly committed to what makes DPReview great: the best camera reviews in the business, industry-leading photography news and features, and one of the most active photography communities anywhere on the internet.

This is just the beginning of a new chapter for DPReview and we don't have all the answers yet, but I'm sharing what we know below and will continue to share information about this change as we get more acquainted with our partners at Gear Patrol.

Thank you for your continued support of our team and legacy. We appreciate it and can't thank you all enough.

Open Seat for the Sedona, Arizona Photography Workshop

One of our pre-registered photographers just informed me that he has to release his reservation for the Oct. 10-13 Sedona, Arizona Photography Workshop.

I was going to start building a waiting list anyway, so this seems like the perfect time.

Northern Arizona in Autumn is a photographer's paradise. Not only will we explore Sedona, but we have a number of additional locations lined up that will delight your senses and fill up your memory cards.

If you would like to get your name on the list, and hopefully snag the open sear, just write me at: dstory@gmail.com

New BenQ monitors could be the ultimate screens for photo and video editing

You can read the entire article on DigitalCameraWorld.com.

BenQ consistently makes some of the best monitors for photo editing, and now it's launching two new monitors aimed squarely at discerning photographers and videographers. The new PhotoVue SW272Q and SW272U replace the outgoing SW271C and SW270C, with the key difference between the two new models being panel resolution: the SW272Q is a Quad HD (2560 x 1440) display, while the SW272U has a Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) resolution. Both are 27-inch displays like their predecessors, and both boast USB-C connectivity for simple link-up with an attached laptop, but BenQ has now boosted Power Delivery from 60W to a healthier 90W.

But what really makes the SW272Q and SW272U special is their color accuracy and wide-gamut color space coverage. Both models boast 100% sRGB and 99% AdobeRGB coverage, along with factory color calibration to an accuracy of Delta E ≤1.5. The PhotoVue SW272U and SW272Q are certified by Pantone Validated, Pantone SkinTone, and Calman Verified for color performance and calibration. Both also support HDR, though only the SW272U supports hybrid-log gamma, making it the more suitable display for video editing.

What's more, both models also feature hardware color calibration. Unlike conventional monitor calibration where a LUT (look-up table) is saved to your computer to modify the graphics card's color output, the SW272Q and SW272U calibrated color data is stored in the monitor itself, independent of the connected computer.

The monitor's stand has also been upgraded with a soft-touch rubberized surface on the stand's base, while a detachable back cover and cable hub improves cable management. As with previous models, the SW272Q and SW272U are both supplied with a detachable hood, though only the hood supplied with the SW272U can be used in portrait orientation. Both models also feature a fine-coated anti-reflection panel coating to dramatically cut down reflections and glare, simulating the texture and experience of viewing paper.

The Ultra HD SW272U, priced at $1,599.99, starts shipping this month. The Quad HD SW272Q, priced at $799.99, will begin shipping July 3rd.

Virtual Camera Club News

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

The Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome camera is indeed a unique photographic tool.

By every standard, it is a flagship DSLR with outstanding specifications:

• 25.7MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
• SAFOX 13 101-Point Phase-Detection AF
• 1.05x-Mag. Pentaprism Optical Viewfinder
• 3.2" 1.62m-Dot Touchscreen LCD
• Up to 12 fps Continuous Shooting
• 5-Axis SR II In-Body Shake Reduction
• UHD 4K30p Video Recording
• Three Custom Monochrome Image Modes
• Face Detection and Touch Autofocus
• Wi-Fi & Bluetooth; Dual SD Card Slots

What separates it from everything else is that it only shoots black & white pictures. Even though this may sound very limiting, it really does impact how you would approach a project with it. To give you a feel, I packed this camera with the lovely Pentax HD Pentax DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 ED Limited DC WR lens and went exploring a local airfield here in Santa Rosa, CA. Here's what I came back with.

Is the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome camera for you? That depends. But if you love B&W photography, I think you'll have a blast with it.

Very few photographers I know enjoy spending the time to add keywords to their photos. Quite honestly, it is the least enjoyable task in our craft. But all of that is changing as of today. ON1 Software just released Photo Keyword AI. Does this transform how we find images? Indeed it does. And I will explain why on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #900, June 20, 2023. Today's theme is "The End of Keywording as We Know It - ON1 Photo Keyword AI." I'm Derrick Story.

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The End of Keywording as We Know It - ON1 Photo Keyword AI

I've had decent luck using the object recognition capability of Apple Photos to assist searching for my images. The same goes for the Cloud version of Lightroom.

But what about the folks who use Lightroom Classic and Capture One Pro? To this point, they've been stuck with the old-fashioned approach to marking and retrieving their images.

Now, those photographers can continue to use the applications they favor, and can add Object Recognition intelligence to them via Photo Keyword AI. I explain how this works in the first segment of today's show.

'AI or Not' is a Free Web App That Claims to Detect AI Generated Photos

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.com

"AI or Not" is a free web-based app that claims to be able to identify images generated by artificial intelligence (AI) simply by uploading them or providing a URL.

Powered by Optic, the company says its technology is the smartest content recognition engine for Web3 and claims it is capable of identifying images made using Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, Dall-E, or GAN.

"Optic AI or Not is a web service that helps users quickly and accurately determine whether an image has been generated by artificial intelligence (AI) or created by a human. If the image is AI-generated, our service identifies the AI model used (mid-journey, stable diffusion, or DALL-E)," Optic says.

"Our mission is to bring transparency to the media on blockchains so all communities can realize their creative and economic potential."

PetaPixel decided to see if the platform would be able to handle a range of images: both simple and easy-to-identify ones that astute human eyes could spot, as well as more challenging fakes.

With some of these images, the platform's inability to tell real from fake makes sense: Optic only promises that it can detect images created entirely by Stable Diffusion, Midjourney, Dall-E, or GAN, so the Tom Hardy image, the fake social media influencer, and the street photo with an altered face makes sense. However, it's inability to see the fully AI image of Trump and Fauci shows this platform has a ways to go yet.

According to Flickr the most popular camera in the world isn't even a camera!

You can read the entire article on DigitalCameraWorld.com

A new study by Flickr has revealed the most popular cameras used by photographers on the site and you'll probably be shocked by the top result. The once very popular photo-sharing platform has now been a little overshadowed by Instagram but there is still a community of photographers who regularly use it. More than 470 million images were analyzed to access which camera is the moist [popular and it turns out... it's not even a camera.

Taking the number one spot with over 13 million tags on Flickr is actually a camera phone and it's not even one of the latest models. Not only is Apple the most popular brand showing how people's approach to photography has changed but the iPhone 11 which is now four years old has been tagged over 13 million times. In the US, the most popular camera is another Apple product, the iPhone 12 Pro Max, so it's no wonder we've been seeing a drop in actual camera sales.

In the last few years, the big names have made some pretty incredible camera released such as the Sony A7 IV, the Nikon Z9 and the Canon EOS R5, but sadly, the price point of these cameras make them out of reach for a lot of people. According to Simple Ghar who led the survey, the Canon 5D Mark IV released in 2016 is still the world's most popular camera with over 11.7 million tags.

The results were broken day on a country-by-country basis showing an extremely varied preference when it comes to favorite cameras but overall Canon is still the most popular brand. For Japan, Sweden and Ireland, the Canon EOS R3 came out on top, although it costs close to $6K and is entirely aimed at professionals (but perhaps that says more about the type of people who use Flickr). Canon mirrorless systems were also the first choice system for Brazil and Turkey who preferred the Eos R while Ghana is still working with the original, Canon EOS R.

Despite being in the mirrorless market for the longest, very few countries' top choice was Sony system. That being said, the US is one of the largest countries in the world, and its most popular camera is the Sony A9 Mark II which means there are likely to be thousands of photographers using it. Even Olympus however, beat Sony when it comes down to country wins with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II coming out on top in Bolivia, Myanmar, Taiwan, Belarus and South Korea.

Virtual Camera Club News

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #899, June 13, 2023. Today's theme is "Why Speciality Cameras Are Not GAS - And the Pentax Monochrome." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

It was an overcast Sunday morning, and I had a couple hours for a photo shoot. I wanted something different today. Not landscape. No portraits. Different. I settled on visiting the Pacific Coast Air Museum right here in my own backyard. But what camera to bring? I discuss my choice, and why, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

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Why Speciality Cameras Are Not GAS

The Pacific Coast Air Museum features a unique collection of authentic, well-cared-for aircraft, and a non-profit organization with a dedicated base of aviation experts who are giving back to the Sonoma Community through education and preservation.

You'll find a three-acre field covered with authentic, well-cared-for aircraft. You can crawl under them, look inside wheel wells and bomb bays, peer into cockpits, and examine all the details.

The aircraft are primarily military, from the Korean War and Vietnam eras through the modern age. All are authentic. Many still have their original engines and all have complete or nearly complete cockpits. Several are equipped with authentic but inert ordnance. In all cases, they strive to restore and maintain these historic aircraft to represent them during their civilian or military career.

What a fun way to spend an overcast morning! Now, what camera to take?

I wanted something different. My goal was to capture the spirit of the 1960s and 70s when many of these aircraft were in service. I decided to shoot in black and white.

So I reached for the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome and fitted it with one of my favorite Pentax lenses, the Pentax HD Pentax DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4 zoom. (More on this camera in the following story.)

Shooting with this specialty camera landed me back in the 1970s. Its DSLR form factor felt like a 35mm film camera and the monochrome-only images reminded me of shooting with Kodak Plus X film. I was totally immersed in the experience.

Now you and I both know that I could have packed any camera and had a great time exploring this airfield. So why the monochrome?

I think the answer is in how I feel. Whether it's the Pentax Monochrome, Fujifilm X100S, my IR-converted Olympus E-M10, or the 35mm Nikon FG film camera, I'm on an adventure. I have a challenge to come home with pictures that excite me, that look different than my work shots that I do for clients. I can do anything artistically that I want on that airfield, and the camera I choose is part of that fun.

Now some folks might say that this is a rationalization for Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS). You could say that, but it isn't.

First of all, I don't buy every camera that I shoot with. The Pentax Monochrome is on loan. Anyone can go to lensrentals.com and get practically any camera in the world. You don't have to buy to experiment.

Second, if you find yourself engaging in specialty photography on a regular basis - B&W, infrared, medium format, etc. - then it has evolved to be part of your creative workflow. You're not getting your hands on these tools just to admire them on a shelf, you're using them to create interesting images.

Saying the camera isn't important to capturing a compelling image is like saying that a hammer isn't important to building a fence. Of course it is!

Don't limit your creativity because you're afraid of being judged as a materialist. Get your hands on what you need, use it to make great images, and ignore the chatter.

Hands on with the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome DSLR Camera

The Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome is indeed a specialty camera. And for those who love B&W photography, it can be a pleasure to shoot with. Let's take a look at its specs.

• 25.7MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
• SAFOX 13 101-Point Phase-Detection AF
• 1.05x-Mag. Pentaprism Optical Viewfinder
• 3.2" 1.62m-Dot Touchscreen LCD
• Up to 12 fps Continuous Shooting
• 5-Axis SR II In-Body Shake Reduction
• UHD 4K30p Video Recording
• Three Custom Monochrome Image Modes
• Face Detection and Touch Autofocus
• Wi-Fi & Bluetooth; Dual SD Card Slots

The first thing that jumped out at me is that this is a real camera. It feels like one, shoots like one, and delivers like one. I don't own the original K-3 Mark III, but I can see why so many Pentax photographers like it.

Things that I Liked

• Build quality
• Responsiveness
• Custom Image menu - Standard, Hard, Soft (D-Pad)
• Outdoor View setting (D-Pad)
• Choice of RAW file - DNG or Pentax
• Highly editable RAW files in C1P
• Digital Filters - such as grainy monochrome
• Excellent image quality

Things that I Did Not Like

• Fixed back LCD
• $2,199 price tag

Bottom Line

If you have a handful of Pentax lenses that you like, and aren't using much these days, the Pentax K-3 Mark III Monochrome is a great way to put them to use.

It's also a great alternative to other monochrome cameras that cost even more. I used it in combination with my iPhone Pro Max, using the iPhone for the color work, and the Pentax for black and white.

And finely, the monochrome files from the camera looked different than color files that I converted in post production. It's a bit hard to describe, but the Pentax images looked more natural, more like Kodak Plus-X from a film camera.

It's not an investment for everyone. But for those who want a deep immersion into black and white photography, it has a lot to offer.

Mastering Mobile Photography: Top Smartphone Cameras of 2023

You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com

Apple's iPhone 14 Pro Max is more than just a smartphone; it's a versatile photographic tool. The phone showcases a triple-lens rear camera setup: a 48-megapixel wide sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 12-megapixel telephoto sensor. This configuration allows photographers to capture a wide range of shots, from panoramic landscapes to detailed close-ups, all while maintaining high resolution and rich color reproduction.

The phone's Night Mode is particularly impressive. Now available for all three lenses, it intelligently adapts to different light conditions, enabling photographers to capture vibrant, detailed images even in low light. This opens up a world of creative possibilities, from capturing cityscapes under neon lights to shooting wildlife at dawn or dusk.

The Google Pixel 7 Pro is another standout in mobile photography. Its camera setup includes a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide sensor, and a 48-megapixel telephoto lens. This powerful hardware is complemented by Google's advanced computational photography capabilities.

The Pixel's software uses AI and machine learning to enhance image quality and make automatic adjustments. This leads to better low-light performance, enhanced digital zoom, and improved portrait mode effects. Google's Night Sight and Super Res Zoom take these enhancements even further, providing remarkable low-light shots and impressive zooming capabilities. For travel photography or impromptu street shots, these features make the Pixel 7 Pro a powerful companion.

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra comes equipped with a comprehensive camera system, housing a 108-megapixel wide sensor, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and two 10-megapixel telephoto lenses. This setup offers great versatility, accommodating a variety of shooting situations and styles.

The phone's Space Zoom feature is particularly impressive, offering up to 100x digital zoom. This feature can capture distant subjects with an impressive level of detail, which could be particularly useful in situations like wildlife photography or sporting events. Furthermore, the Single Take feature allows users to capture a series of photos and videos with one shutter press, perfect for fast-paced events or dynamic scenes.

The Sony Xperia 1 IV, with its triple 12-megapixel lens setup (wide, ultra-wide, and telephoto), offers professional-grade capabilities. The Photography Pro feature emulates the manual controls found in DSLR cameras, providing full control over parameters like shutter speed, ISO, and focus. This makes it an ideal choice for photographers who prefer hands-on control and precision.

Virtual Camera Club News

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #898, June 6, 2023. Today's theme is "The Roving Medium Format Photographer (Plus Vision Pro)." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I love self assignments. And my latest one was a gem: road trip to Huntington Beach CA to cover the international reveal of the VW ID.Buzz North American model. In addition to the debut, there was an auto show featuring more than 240 vintage VW microbuses, each with its own personality. And to cover this event? I chose the Fujifilm GFX 100s. What! Yes, that's correct. Find out why on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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The Roving Medium Format Photographer (Plus Vision Pro)

The topic for last week's Nimble Photographer newsletter was What I've Learned After 2 Years of Shooting Medium Format. I described how I've adjusted my rig to go from serious portrait shoots to everyday event photography. The key was finding compact lenses that keep my kit nimble.

As an example of this, I roadtripped to Southern California with the Fujifilm GFX 100S and the compact GF 50mm f/3.5 WR lens attached. The entire kit is housed in a very nimble Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 25i shoulder bag that has enough room for my Fujifilm XF10 ultra compact with 28mm lens.

Switching to the GF 50mm changed everything. It has a 40mm equivalent, which I love. Plus it's super compact and fun to shoot with. That lens transforms the GFX 100S from a bulky medium format to an on-the-go lovable lug.

To prove my point, this was the only kit I packed for my 9-hour journey to Huntington Beach for the debut of the North American VW ID.Buzz. And I had a blast! Here's why I loved shooting with this rig in So Cal.

• Did Someone Say Resolution? - I had 102 megapixels to play with. This eliminated the need for a bulky zoom lens. If I wanted to get closer, I just cropped and still had resolution to spare.
• Gotta Love that Flip Up LCD Screen - Shooting events in general and car shows in particular requires a variety of camera angles. The 3.2" 2.36m-dot tilting touchscreen LCD made easy work of high and low compositions.
• 5-Axis Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization - There's no way I'm packing a tripod for this event. And thanks to the built-in IS, I don't have to.
• All My Film Simulations in Capture One Pro - C1P fully supports the GFX. So I have access to all of those lovely Fuji film simulations in post. So if I'm not satisfied with my choice at capture, then I can change my mind during editing.
• Geotagging the Gig - Even though I wasn't able to use the new App because the 2.0 firmware wasn't ready yet for the 100S, the camera still paired easily with the old Cam Remote app to apply location data to all of my shots.

Plus, it was really fun to roam row after row of vintage VW busses with the GFX in hand. And the photos are absolutely beautiful!

Apple Vision Pro: Apple's big bet on a brand-new platform starts at $3,499

You can read the entire article on Macworld.com.

After months--years, even--of rumors, Apple has finally unveiled its mixed-reality headset. Dubbed Apple Vision Pro, it supports both AR and VR applications and boasts features and specs that make other competing products look like toys. Apple calls it "the most advance personal electronics device ever" and has filed over 5,000 patents related to it. But it will cost you. Apple says it starts at $3,499 and will be available early in 2024. Apple claims it is a high-end TV, sound system, computer, and more-making the cost a bargain by comparison.

Apple calls it a new type of product that blends the digital and real world. It's the first Apple product you look through, and not at. You control everything using your eyes, hands, and voice, rather than holding physical controllers. Apps and the interface can be moved around and resized, and even cast shadows on the real world to help you understand scale. Apple says that just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and the iPhone introduced us to portable computing, Apple Vision Pro will introduce us to "spatial computing."

You're able to place multiple apps in the real world space and can type with either voice or a virtual keyboard, but you can also use Bluetooth keyboards and trackpads, and with a glance at your Mac, you can use it on a large virtual display.

An external display shows people what your eyes look like at the moment with a feature called EyeSight, so others are not disconnected from you. But if you're in a fully immersive experience, a cloudy view shows others that you're not able to see them at the moment.

The apps we know are all completely redesigned for the virtual space. FaceTime shows each participant in a large video tile and uses spatial audio to help you place who is talking. Vision Pro also lets you capture photos and video in full 3D, so you can watch them using the headset and experience them with real depth. Watching a film dims the room or places you in a large virtual environment.

Wine Country in Autumn Photography Workshop This November

November 2-4, 2023 - Sonoma County Wine Country is a special place in November. The harvest is in and it's time to enjoy the fruits of labor.

During this workshop we'll combine an outstanding and educational wine experience with beautiful photography, at a relaxed pace. It's the perfect get-away for those who love alluring scenery, great food, and delicious tastings.

If you want to do something truly different, beautiful, flavorful, and come home with unique pictures, this wildly affordable workshop is for you.

We still have a few seats open. And now you can fly directly into Sonoma County Airport and you're here!

Reserve your spot now.

The Secret to Good Photography

You can read the entire article on Live View

I want to give you a taste of what we're up to on Live View. So here's a reading of my latest article, The Secret to Good Photography.

Virtual Camera Club News

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #897, May 30, 2023. Today's theme is "Why I Love Graduations and a Review of the New XApp." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Photographers are witnesses to the good and bad of life. Since I've left the newspaper business, I photograph mostly good. And one of my favorite positives is documenting Junior College graduations. There is something very special about these people. And being there to watch them celebrate their accomplishments reminds me that there is hope for our community, and for society overall. I'll explain why on today's TDS Photography Podcast.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Why I Love Graduations

I was one of a handful of credentialed photographers hired to cover the 2023 Santa Rosa Junior College Graduation Ceremony. Each of us had specific assignments and were tasked with overall coverage as well.

Basically, we're there to retell the story that is happening before us. This moment features hundreds of graduates, each with their own story. But what is different about this collective is, generally speaking, the odds they had to overcome to reach this moment.

Junior College life is different than at a four-year university. I know this firsthand from my two years at Chaffey Junior College in Southern California that saved my academic career that was eventually completed at a university.

JC graduations, at least the ones I've covered, do a great job of capturing the challenges and accomplishments of those seated in their caps and gowns. The speakers on stage tell stories of adversity, financial challenges, doubt, and ultimately, triumph.

For many families in the stands cheering for those seated on the football field, they are seeing the first from their clan receive a higher education diploma. Their child, sister, brother represent the hope that following generations will have more opportunity than those before them.

Many of the graduates had to balance their studies with one or more jobs, often being key providers for their family. Their life consisted of work, study, family, more work, more study, and if they were lucky, some sleep.

They often had to piece together small scholarships and grants, in addition to what could be spared from the paycheck, to pay for books and tuition. And remarkably, thanks to the genius that is the junior college system in California, most of the graduates received their diplomas debt free of educational expenses.

Many of the graduates will go one to four-year schools, as I did. Some will enter the workforce now as dental hygienists, medical assistants, firemen, computer programmers, hospitality specialists, fashion designers, and electricians, just to name a handful of the disciplines.

These are people we need in society. And not only do they graduate with the technical skills required for their career, they are disciplined and are willing to exert the effort required for success. They are prepared to meet the challenges of the workplace because they are already battle tested.

Every educational milestone is an accomplishment, from high school diploma to doctorate degree. But there is something unique and special about those who battle to achieve an AA Degree or Certificate.

And for me, it's a real honor to be able to share that moment with them.

Fujifilm's new XApp simplifies mobile sharing for recent X-camera models

You can read the entire article on DPReview.com.

Fujifilm unveiled a new phone app for its cameras. The Fujifilm XApp replaces the old Camera Remote app for users of supported cameras and will be the new default going forward.

XApp looks to roll image transfer, sharing, remote control, firmware updates, and even some unique stats into one convenient interface. Fujifilm is boasting improved image transfer times, more reliable Bluetooth connections and a minimalist design. Compatible cameras will also automatically sync their datestamp to the smartphone's clock, and can assign GPS data to images if desired.

In addition, the Fujifilm Xapp will track your shooting habits and locations. Everything from your lenses, preferred film simulations and number of shots (in virtual 'rolls' or 'feet of film' depending on whether you shoot video or stills) can be seen in a unified timeline interface.

You can also use the XApp to store, change and apply camera settings, making it easy to sync settings across cameras of the same model when you're shooting with multiple bodies.

Not all Fujifilm cameras will be making the leap to the XApp, as it requires Bluetooth functionality. That said, a long list of cameras will be compatible, with others like the GFX 100 and GFX 50R added in the future.

Wine Country in Autumn Photography Workshop This November

November 2-4, 2023 - Sonoma County Wine Country is a special place in November. The harvest is in and it's time to enjoy the fruits of labor.

During this workshop we'll combine an outstanding and educational wine experience with beautiful photography, at a relaxed pace. It's the perfect get-away for those who love alluring scenery, great food, and delicious tastings.

If you want to do something truly different, beautiful, flavorful, and come home with unique pictures, this wildly affordable workshop is for you.

We still have a few seats open. And now you can fly directly into Sonoma County Airport and you're here!

Reserve your spot now.

Confessions of a Photographer Who (Formerly) Packed for Every Possibility

You can read the entire article FStoppers.com.

As a 6'1" guy with 20+ years in the Army National Guard and a lot of construction projects behind me, I'm fairly used to carrying heavy things. Recently, my wife and our three kids (all under five years old) took an overnight flight to Lisbon, Portugal. Traveling from La Crosse to Amsterdam via Minneapolis with only one flight left, the airline gave away my seat to someone else -- just my seat, of course. According to their system, I never showed up at the La Crosse airport despite getting on two planes thus far and everyone in my party traveling with me. Nevertheless, I was stuck in Amsterdam alone, waiting for the next flight, while the rest of our group went to Portugal without me so the kids could get there before nighttime.

The Epiphany - Prior to this seat-being-given-away episode, we had been awake for 22 hours and just raced across Schiphol Airport because of a short layover. When I say race, I mean fast walking with two or three of the kids in a stroller and 42 lbs of camera gear in my backpack. For this trip, I had four lenses, two Canon mirrorless bodies (an R5 and R6 II), an Insta360 X3, a Profoto A2 flash, two microphones (I had no use for even one mic), and two ball heads, among other countless accessories. That's not even counting my tripod in our carry-on. I decided to pack lighter after a trip to Hawaii with the kids in December. How did I do this time? I left my drone at home, mostly because of the confusing drone laws in Europe. But hey, I felt pretty proud about reducing my kit!

So, How Did It Go? I loved it! Limiting what I used allowed me to create better photos. Although I didn't do as much architectural photography as I usually do (three kids under five), my work was better than anything I've ever done before. I also felt more confident knowing I didn't have to take all these things. I might still bring a backup camera body in my carry-on, but now that the iPhone is so amazing, I'm even doubtful about that.

Virtual Camera Club News

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #896, May 23, 2023. Today's theme is "Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Being the creatures of habit that we are, it's easy to stick with things we're comfortable with. In the world of photography, that could mean landscapes only or "I'm really a Photoshop guy." But what would happen if you stepped out of your comfort zone into the unknown waters of experimentation? I have a few real life stories to share of photographers who did just that. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

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Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone

Point Reyes Shipwreck by Steve Csoto.

It's not that most photographers don't want to experiment, but sometimes they need a little nudge. I just spent a week with a group of artists in Northern California who were doing exactly that.

Their stories are interesting. And I thought that you might way hear the different ways these folks stuck their big toes in the pool of uncharted creativity.

Scott: I'm Primarily a Street Photographer

Scott generally packs a compact Ricoh GR when he heads out the door. But last week he brought a Fujifilm mirrorless camera and a humongous telephoto zoom lens. "I told my friends that there were elk in Pt. Reyes, and they challenged me to come home with a picture."

On the first day were were standing on a deck overlooking Tomales Bay with his rig in hand. Here's what happened.

Harry: I'm Not Going to Shoot Big Landscapes

Harry's story is how he began working with Intentional Camera Movement, Close Ups, in-camera processing, and quadpics.

Rich: Going the Extra Mile

The most senior member of the group, Rich, doesn't do that much hiking these days. But in Pt. Reyes, he pushed himself out to areas that he normally wouldn't explore. And he returned with some very compelling images.

Steve: I'm Not Going to Be Bound by Conventional Standards

One of the best examples of Steve's artistic rebellion was when we visited the Pt. Reyes shipwreck. Everyone returned with a unique angle or approach to photographing the old ship. Steve went way beyond that.

Michael: Experimenting with the Illusion of Depth

Michael saw the lingering fog as an opportunity to add more depth to his images. He would find a foreground subject that was detailed, then position it against a distant tree in the background shrouded in fog.

Each of these photographers stepped outside of their comfort zones and shared their images with the others. And to be honest, they left Northern California different artists than the ones that had arrived a week earlier.

Pentax's first 'Film Camera Project' release to be a fixed lens compact, hints film SLR may be next

You can read the entire article on DPReview.com.

In the midst of the film resurgence, Ricoh announced last year that they were going to explore the idea of building a new film body camera under the Pentax banner. Details were scant; we knew that Ricoh was launching a 'Film Camera Project,' to formally house a research and development team, but we didn't know timelines, form factor, price points they had in mind or what criteria they were using to use to decide if actually building a film body was a viable idea.

The last peep on that front from them was Pentax's December 2022 announcement, until this past weekend when Ricoh published a pair of new YouTube videos that detailed the project's progress.

In a video released we learn more about the camera that Pentax has committed to building, along with a hint of a possible second film camera to come. Pentax's first film body will be a compact fixed-lens camera, according to Pentax product planning/design team member Takeo Suzuki.

Pentax clearly sees an opportunity in film cameras and may be positioning itself to fill the void left by its competitors. The company has famously kept manufacturing DSLRs as other manufactures have moved to mirrorless bodies. Perhaps here too, Pentax is seeing gold to be mined with consumers seeking ways to discover or rediscover a classic style of image-making.

Film photographers may not represent the mainstream today, but the community is growing. The closest parallel may be in the return of vinyl record albums, which grew from a small niche of buyers a decade ago to outsell CDs in 2022 (the first time since 1988), accounting for $1.2 billion, a 20% jump from the previous year. So film photography could be a fad, or, if it goes the way of vinyl, a potential boon for Pentax.

Wine Country in Autumn Photography Workshop This November

November 2-4, 2023 - Sonoma County Wine Country is a special place in November. The harvest is in and it's time to enjoy the fruits of labor.

During this workshop we'll combine an outstanding and educational wine experience with beautiful photography, at a relaxed pace. It's the perfect get-away for those who love alluring scenery, great food, and delicious tastings.

If you want to do something truly different, beautiful, flavorful, and come home with unique pictures, this wildly affordable workshop is for you.

We still have a few seats open. And now you can fly directly into Sonoma County Airport and you're here!

Reserve your spot now.

Madavor Media Offers Bundle of Photo Sites

You can read the entire article OutdoorPhotographer.com.

Madavor Media is offering the following bundle of its print and digital photo properties:

• ICN - Image Creators Network
• Outdoor Photographer
• Imaging Resource
• Digital PhotoPro
• Digital Photo

This is an "as-is" only bundle offering and includes archives, websites, and sub roster. Price: $500,000. Serious inquires only.

AI-Generated Image of Pentagon Explosion Caused Markets to Dip

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.com.

An artificial intelligence (AI) generated photo which showed a fake explosion outside the Pentagon went viral and caused the markets to briefly dip today.

On Monday morning, an image showing a huge cloud of black smoke on a grass lawn outside a building was widely shared across Twitter with reports that there had been an explosion near the Pentagon building in Washington D.C.

But the photograph of the explosion was a hoax, purportedly generated with AI technology.

The U.S. stock market briefly dipped as news of the purported explosion spread. The fake image was reportedly first shared on Twitter at 10:06 local time -- although the original post has since been removed from the platform.

And by 10:10, the U.S. stock market had turned sharply lower shortly after reports of the explosion had circulated. However, the market bounced back and stabilized after the photo was revealed as an AI-generated hoax.

Virtual Camera Club News

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 90 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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

Our photography group explored the far corners of Pt. Reyes, Tomales Bay, and Inverness, CA. during the Pt. Reyes workshop that just concluded. I thought that you might enjoy seeing some images from that event. Here's a mini-gallery.

A view of Tomales Bay from our workshop headquarters. Photos by Derrick Story.

Tule Elk.

Michael photographing birds near Abbotts Lagoon.

Seals having a conversation.

Harry at work at Drakes Bay.

Seaside Daisy.

Douglas Iris.

Singing White-Crowned Sparrow.

Curious Fawn.

If you'd like to learn more about our photography workshops, please visit our workshops page. (We have a fantastic "Wine County in Autumn" event this coming November!)

This is The Digital Story Podcast #895, May 16, 2023. Today's theme is "Scouting for a Photo Shoot Is a Photo Shoot." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I've been exploring some of the most beautiful corners of Northern California in preparation for our Pt. Reyes Photography Workshop that begins this week. I love scouting missions. No pressure, no timeline, no expectations. Just looking for the best places to bring my crew for their upcoming shoots. But if it's just a scouting mission, why do I always come home with such great pictures? We'll find out why on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Scouting for a Photo Shoot Is a Photo Shoot

So, technically, a scouting mission is designed to find great locations for photo shoots and decipher the best time to return for optimal results.

Typical scenarios include locations for movie making, ideal spots for portrait shoots, hidden treasures for photo workshops, or great vantage points for wildlife and landscape photography.

The thinking is that you can scout any time of day, in any weather condition because that isn't the real shoot. You gather the information, look up a few things, then return when the conditions are ideal for your project.

And that's what makes scouting missions so fun. Basically you're just following leads, exploring tips, and sometimes just wandering aimlessly out in nature. I like to pack a lunch, plenty of water, and an extra layer so I don't have to return to civilization any earlier than absolutely necessary.

I do bring a camera, of course. My favorite for these days is the X100V with a couple specialty filters. The camera is light, versatile, and records great pictures. My iPhone Pro Max fills in the gaps.

I think there's a bit of a psychological thing going here, however. Because I don't feel the need to capture great images, I always seem to do so. I guess you could say that the pressure is off, and the bar is set low.

Listen to this audio segment I recorded out at Tomales Point last week when scouting for the workshop. I had just completed a hike on a beautiful day, captured lots of pictures, and had returned to the car where I was sitting with the hatch up watching the world go by.

I don't sound very stressed, do I?

That got me thinking about frame of mind and our approach to photo shoots. Maybe there's something to lower expectations. What if we just go out with out camera and have fun?

I was taking pictures with a pro mist filter, R72 IR filter, switching to B&W film simulations, playing with weird angles, and just sitting on the ground. I never really cared about how good any of those shots would be. I was like Rainman with an expensive camera.

After playing with a handful of images on the computer back at the house, and really enjoying the pictures, I decided to look up other scouting trips. And darn it, if I really didn't like those photos as well.

I'm beginning to think that Scouting for a Photo Shoot Is a Photo Shoot. All I have to do is forget that fact the next time I pack up the car to go exploring.

Amazon sues its own Marketplace sellers for selling fake Canon batteries

You can read the entire article on DigitalCameraWorld.com.

Canon USA and Amazon.com have filed a joint lawsuit against sellers of counterfeit Canon camera batteries and chargers sold through Amazon.com. The statement from Canon (opens in new tab) specifies that the joint lawsuit was filed with the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington against 29 Amazon accounts selling fake products, infringing Canon's trademark rights.

The fact that Canon is pursuing trademark infringement is to be expected, as fake Lithium-ion batteries and substandard charging equipment being fraudulently sold with Canon branding could well be dangerous for unsuspecting end users. More surprising is that Amazon is jointly filing the lawsuit, as it's Amazon's own platform that's facilitating the sale of these counterfeit goods. If Amazon already had tighter control over its Marketplace seller listings, this issue could well have been prevented before fake products could ever reach buyers.

With this lawsuit in progress, you might therefore assume Amazon had now removed all dubious Canon-labelled listings from its Marketplace platform. However when we did a quick search for 'Canon battery' on Amazon.com, we found several suspicious products still prominently listed for sale. These items feature images of batteries clearly embossed with the Canon logo, but there are several clues that hint that these products might not be the real deal. Item titles such as "Battery for Canon Rebel...." (you'd expect the product title of a genuine battery to lead with "Canon") don't inspire confidence. Likewise, the 'Brand' section in the product details of these suspect listings usually specifies the battery brand as 'Generic' or even 'EOSRebel' - not 'Canon'. And of course there's the surprisingly cheap prices being charged for these batteries - often way less than half Canon's RRP. It all gives us serious cause for concern.

Imaging Resource was a respected camera review site founded in 1998 and was the only other United States-based photo publication with a dedicated camera testing lab except for DPReview which itself is being closed down by Amazon.

Wine Country in Autumn Photography Workshop This November

November 2-4, 2023 - Sonoma County Wine Country is a special place in November. The harvest is in and it's time to enjoy the fruits of labor.

During this workshop we'll combine an outstanding and educational wine experience with beautiful photography, at a relaxed pace. It's the perfect get-away for those who love alluring scenery, great food, and delicious tastings.

If you want to do something truly different, beautiful, flavorful, and come home with unique pictures, this wildly affordable workshop is for you.

We still have a few seats open. And now you can fly directly into Sonoma County Airport and you're here!

Reserve your spot now.

The Z8 is Nikon's best mirrorless camera yet

You can read the entire article TheVerge.com.

Take the Z9's guts, put them in a smaller body, and cut almost $1,500 off the price, and you've got the Z8.

When I reviewed the $5,496.95 Nikon Z9, I said that "Nikon finally put itself in the professional mirrorless camera race, and in a lot of ways it's now winning." I said this because, while most camera manufacturers went small and light, Nikon made a big, heavy mirrorless camera with very high specs that felt made for working professionals.

The company has now taken those great specs and put them into a smaller $4,000 body. The new Nikon Z8 boasts a 45.7MP stacked CMOS sensor that, thanks to the Expeed 7 image processor, can shoot RAW photos at 20fps for over 1,000 frames. There are also autofocus readings up to 120fps. And impressive video specs: 12-bit N-RAW at 8K 60fps or 4K 120fps.

With the Z8, Nikon is now playing ball with most of the other camera manufacturers who set out to get big specs into smaller systems, and it is going to be more challenging to capture an audience when its camera now looks like everyone else's. Tune in to my video above for sample photo and video from the Z8, which is available for preorder today and launches on May 25th, 2023, for $3,999.95.

Virtual Camera Club News

The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.

TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events.

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 90 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

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

See you next week!

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