Spark owners will definitely want to apply the new firmware update (V01.00.0500) that fixes some aggravating bugs and brings about a few much-desired features.

Highlights from the Spark firmware include:

• Gesture recognition improved.
• Photo resolution improved to 4K in gesture mode.
• Video recording now available in gesture mode.
• Fixed the problem that caused photos not to save with no shutter sound in gesture mode.
• Optimized battery's gas gauge.
• New option to adjust gimbal tilt sensitivity.
• Added a 180 degree Pano shooting mode.
• And more (really!)

The firmware update is a biggie, over 90 MBs, so set aside a little time to execute it. I applied the update using the DJI GO 4 app on an iPhone, and everything ran smoothly. Just follow the prompts.

I'm going to test the new gesture capability this week. I'll follow up if there's anything noteworthy to report.

Drone World Expo Coming to San Jose

For those who want to hear from industry experts, mark Oct. 3 and 4 on your calendar now for Drone World Expo.

Thought leaders, industry experts and end-users will gather at Drone World Expo in the heart of Silicon Valley to present real-world solutions to your business and environmental challenges.

I'll be in San Jose covering the Expo in October. If you want to attend, early bird pricing is available until Sept. 22. That includes a $200 discount on the conference program. And the Expo pass (with keynotes) is free during this period. After early bird, the Expo pass is $50.

Want to learn more about the DJI Spark?

Listen to my podcast, DJI Spark - The Nimble Drone.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #595, August 1, 2017. Today's theme is "The Unfriendly Skies for Photographers." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Travel is as important to many photographers as the cameras they carry. Because let's face it: you can have the coolest mirrorless in the world, but if you don't have anything interesting to shoot, it's not worth much. But unfortunately air travel has become increasingly unfriendly for us. So this week's show is dedicated to making our trips as painless as possible.

The Unfriendly Skies for Photographers

On July 26, 2017, TSA announced new security measures for domestic travelers.

As new procedures are phased in, TSA officers will begin to ask travelers to remove electronics larger than a cell phone from their carry-on bags and place them in a bin with nothing on top or below, similar to how laptops have been screened for years. This simple step helps TSA officers obtain a clearer X-ray image.

It is possible that passengers may experience more bag checks, however, through extensive testing, TSA identified ways to improve screening procedures with quicker and more targeted measures to clear the bags. The new screening procedures in standard lanes are already in place at the following 10 U.S. airports with plans to expand to all airports during the weeks and months ahead:

• Boise Airport (BOI)
• Colorado Springs Airport (COS)
• Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
• Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL)
• Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB)
• Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU)
• McCarran International Airport (LAS)
• Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)

In standard screening lanes, TSA officers will be stationed in front of the checkpoint X-ray machines to guide passengers through the screening process and recommend how best to arrange their carry-on items for X-ray screening. Travelers are encouraged to organize their carry-on bags and keep them uncluttered to ease the screening process and keep the lines moving. There are no changes to what travelers can bring through the checkpoint; food and liquid items that comply with the 3-1-1 liquids rule, electronics, and books continue to be allowed in carry-on bags.

For photographers, this new screening approach will be a supreme hassle. So what are some of the things that we can do to mitigate our discomfort?

• Signup for TSA Pre - By enrolling in the TSA Pre program, you can avoid taking electronics out of your carryon when going through security. You enroll online, then schedule a 10-minute appointment for background screening and fingerprinting. The service fee is $85.
• Simplify the boarding process - The earlier you can get on the plane, the more options you have for stowing your gear. Fewer devices, camera bodies, and lenses simplify this process. If you're flying for a job, you have to bring what you have to bring. Otherwise, pare down. Airline programs that provide early access, combined with traveling as light as possible, will get you in your seat faster.
• Avoid red flags - Don't attract attention to yourself by forgetting about liquids, knives, flammables, and other prohibited items. Once you're on the radar, they're going to become very curious about all of that gear.
• Get to the airport early - Nothing makes me more uneasy than traveling with someone who likes to arrive at the last minute. That might be fine for a friend's birthday party, but no good for a traveling photographer with lots of gear. Even with TSA Pre, I've seen the line back up to the door.
• Consider adding Clear Pass - CLEAR speeds you through the long line for ID check, and guides you to the screening line. Just find a Clear lane, verify that you are you with a tap of the finger or blink of an eye, and you speed right through. Enrolled in PreCheck? We'll provide you with fast access to PreCheck screening for eligible flights. You can start the enrollment process here. Currently Clear is in over 20 airports and growing. It costs $179 a year.

Even if you do all of these things, they is still no protection against delay flights, obnoxious travelers, and rude airline staff. So pack plenty of patience and as much humor as you can muster. May the skies be friendly for you.

11 Free Apps I Couldn't Live Without as a Photographer

Photographer Paul Adshead posted this article on F-Stoppers. There are some terrific suggestions here.

New Subjects Added to The Nimble Classroom

I've trying to figure out a way to bring more personalized training to photographer without them having to travel. It's one thing to get on a plane to photograph wine country or the French Quarter, but not quite as alluring to sit in a classroom for two days.

As a result, I've designed a new approach called, The Nimble Classroom. And now there are four courses for the Summer Session of The Nimble Classroom.

• August 19, Catalog Management, Capture One Pro
• September 9, Expert Editing, Capture One Pro
• September 23, Luminar Pro Techniques
• October 7, Photos 3 for macOS

You can learn more about them and sign up for your favorites by visiting The Nimble Classroom online.

Updates and Such

Big thanks to all of our Patreon members!

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.

Texas-based Red River Paper recently announced a new fine art paper, Palo Duro Etching. The new paper is a 100 percent cotton rag paper and is free of optical brightener additives. The paper is designed to offer warm white tones, deep blacks and a subtle texture to accurately recreate traditional darkroom fine art prints.

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

ImageFramer 4 - ImageFramer is used by artists, professional and amateur photographers, scrapbookers, framers, and people who simply want their family photos to look better.

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

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.

The Capture One Pro 10.1 update was a substantial, much bigger dot release than what we typically see.

New goodies include master reset, tokenized watermarking (really slick), Photoshop round tripping, styles packs, and more. I've added movies to these features in my Capture One Pro 10 Essential training on lynda.com, which is also available on LinkedIn Learning. Here's a 10.1 overview movie that I think you'll enjoy.

I think the 10.1 update is icing on an already delicious cake. Capture One Pro 10 provides an excellent workflow to manage, edit, and output your RAW and Jpeg images.

Master Capture One Pro

Start with Capture One Pro 10 Essential Training that will quickly get you up to speed with this pro level imaging application.

Then drill down into mastering the editing tools with Capture One Pro 10: Retouching and get supremely organized with Advanced Capture One Pro: Catalog Management.

Personalized Instruction Too!

If you want to have your questions incorporated into the curriculum, plus have live Q&A interactions, then take a look at my Nimble Classroom Series. I have personalized online sessions scheduled for Capture One Pro, Photos for macOS, and Luminar. Sign up today!

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

The news just keeps getting better for Capture One photographers. Today's happiness is brought to us by RNI, who just released RNI All Films 4 Lite for C1 users on both Mac and PC platforms. These styles are absolutely beautiful.

"Street Musician, New Orleans" - Olympus PEN-F with Panasonic 20mm, RAW file processed in Capture One Pro using the Kodak E100GX Style in RNI All Films 4. Image by Derrick Story.

Here's what RNI has to say about them: "RNI All Films for Capture One is designed to bring the magic touch of film into your digital workflow. This package features 39 beautifully crafted film styles made after real analog film stocks. Rediscover film aesthetics. Create an emotional essence in your photography with RNI All Films.

And that's no exaggeration. Seems to me like the marriage of C1 RAW processing and RNI's film emulation science is ideal. As folks would say, "They are going to have some beautiful kids."

Once your purchase the Styles ($59), install them by opening Styles and Presets in the Adjustments panel, then clicking on Import Styles in the ... menu. All 39 film emulation profiles will be added to your User Presets.

Following that, simply open an an image and mouse over the different film types, you'll instantly see a preview of each effect. The workflow couldn't be easier.

Here's the processed version of the above image, using only C1's RAW processing and the RNI style.

"Street Musician, New Orleans" - Photo by Derrick Story.

Master Capture One Pro

Start with Capture One Pro 10 Essential Training that will quickly get you up to speed with this pro level imaging application.

Then drill down into mastering the editing tools with Capture One Pro 10: Retouching and get supremely organized with Advanced Capture One Pro: Catalog Management.

Personalized Instruction Too!

If you want to have your questions incorporated into the curriculum, plus have live Q&A interactions, then take a look at my Nimble Classroom Series. I have personalized online sessions scheduled for Capture One Pro, Photos for macOS, and Luminar. Sign up today!

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

For the next 3 days you can purchase Luminar Neptune for $49. Considering that this app was a steal at $69, this is one terrific offer.

Luminar Neptune includes the impressive Accent AI Filter, adaptive workspace, non-destructive RAW workflow, layers, filters, noise reduction, intelligent erase tool, and tons and tons of presets.

Luminar is also a plugin for Lightroom and my favorite editing extension for Photos for macOS. All of that is included in this $49 sale that's only available until July 27.

Photos for macOS as Your Digital Darkroom

I'll be showing you all the cool Luminar pro techniques in my upcoming Nimble Classroom on Luminar on Sept. 23. Interact with me and others from the comfort of your home.

You can learn more about using Luminar as an editing extension in my lynda.com training, Photos for macOS: Advanced Editing Extensions.

And if you'd prefer to cozy up with a book, check out The Apple Photos Book for Photographers that features chapters on basic editing, advanced post processing, and editing extensions.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #594, July 25, 2017. Today's theme is "No Such Thing as Free Time." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Time is like horizontal space in an office. If there's an opening, it becomes occupied. Seems to be a law of human nature that free time belongs to the young and the old. For everyone else, time must be planned. And if your photography isn't on the agenda, it won't make the cut. Ensuring that doesn't happen is the first topic of today's show.

No Such Thing as Free Time

It was a little after 7pm when I had finished watering the garden. The plants were thirsty after another 90 degree day in Sonoma County. But things were changing as the day began to wind down. There was a light ocean breeze in the air, and the temperature slipped back to the low 70s.

My chores were done, and I had a decision to make. Should I head inside, make a drink, and park it on couch? Tempting, and certainly justified after a weekend of work. But I hadn't shot since Thursday. And the light was absolutely beautiful right now.

Instead, I grabbed my camera bag and the keys to the Vanagon (that's right, the Vanagon!). Shilo Park was only a mile and a half from my house. I'm going to spend this last hour of light outside.

My first choice was to fly the DJI Spark. I waited about 10 minutes until everyone had cleared out of the parking area. I didn't want to end their day of nature with the sound of my drone. Once everything was clear, I lifted off and shot video for the next 15 minutes. The shadows were long and the colors were warm. It was a beautiful time for aerial photography.

Later that night as I was editing the footage in Final Cut, I thought about that last hour of the day. It made my whole weekend. And I almost let it slip away.

If you've let opportunities slip by you, here are five suggestions to help keep photography on your priority list.

• Manage Your Energy - At first this might sound like an odd addition, but it's been my long standing opinion and fatigue is the enemy of creativity. The three most important facets of energy management is sleep, exercise, and diet. Keep enough gas in your tank so you can seize the moment when it presents itself.
• Sell Yourself on the Value of Your Photography Work - If you don't believe that shooting is of vital importance, no one else is going to take your seriously. And you need them to do so if you're going to carve out time for your creative endeavors.
• Explore New Techniques and Gear - Many photographers feel a little guilty about acquiring new gear. But if a camera, lens, housing, drone, tripod, reflector, or bag excites you to the point of motivation, I think that's a good thing.
• Create Projects and See Them Through - Projects are vital to creative longevity. Last week I talked about seeing an image all the way through printing to framing. Photo essays, finished movies, printed books are other great examples of completed projects.
• Get Better - Few things are more motivating than mastery. The first thing that I thought when I reviewed my final movie from Shilo Park is that I can't wait to get out there again and make a better movie. What I did last night was better than any aerial work I had done before, and now I have the confidence to do even better.

If you make time for your photography, it will reward you beyond any reasonable exception. It is one of the best investments in you that you can make.

More On Being a Good UAS Citizen

After my podcast about the DJI Spark (Unmanned Aircraft System), I received quite a bit of mail, some of it kindly chiding me for not being more clear about certification. So, here's a bit more info about flying your UAS, including a link to the getting started page on the FAA site.

If you're flying only for fun, there are no pilot requirements. If you plan to use your drone commercially, however, you must have Remote Pilot Airman Certificate that involves a written test. The big question in my mind is how do you define commercial? Education, BTW, seems to fall into the non-commercial category.

Need to be aware of restricted airspace. Maintain line of sight with your drone, and always yield to manned aircraft. Don't fly over people unless you have their explicit permission. Do not fly from a moving car. UAS flight is for daylight hours only.

And just as important as all of that, be courteous to others and use common sense. If you follow these guidelines, you should have a rewarding experience, and it won't be at the expense of others.

ImageFramer 4.1 Available

ImageFramer 4.1 is available, which includes hiding layers (including image layer) and a drop-down list of templates in Lightroom plugin (needs an update of the plugin).

More information can be found at right here.

ImageFramer on Facebook

For more tips like these, and lots more, visit ImageFramer on Facebook. And give your images the ImageFramer look they deserve.

We want everyone to enjoy the benefits of the new ImageFramer. ImageFramer 4.0 is a free upgrade for ImageFramer 3 customers. Note that it requires macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or later. TDS listeners can receive a 20 percent discount by visiting: our ImageFramer landing page.

New Subjects Added to The Nimble Classroom

I've trying to figure out a way to bring more personalized training to photographer without them having to travel. It's one thing to get on a plane to photograph wine country or the French Quarter, but not quite as alluring to sit in a classroom for two days.

As a result, I've designed a new approach called, The Nimble Classroom. And now there are four courses for the Summer Session of The Nimble Classroom.

• August 19, Catalog Management, Capture One Pro
• September 9, Expert Editing, Capture One Pro
• September 23, Luminar Pro Techniques
• October 7, Photos 3 for macOS

You can learn more about them and sign up for your favorites by visiting The Nimble Classroom online.

Updates and Such

Big thanks to all of our Patreon members!

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.

Texas-based Red River Paper recently announced a new fine art paper, Palo Duro Etching. The new paper is a 100 percent cotton rag paper and is free of optical brightener additives. The paper is designed to offer warm white tones, deep blacks and a subtle texture to accurately recreate traditional darkroom fine art prints.

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

ImageFramer 4 - ImageFramer is used by artists, professional and amateur photographers, scrapbookers, framers, and people who simply want their family photos to look better.

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

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.

Photos for macOS version 3 will ship with High Sierra. As part of the public beta, we're getting a chance to look at this app and some of its new features. One that I think a lot of photographers will be interested in is Curves.

Image after applying Curves in Photos 3. Image by Derrick Story.

As it stands now, this implementation of Curves is on the basic side in terms of features (no presets, etc.), but effective. We have highlights, midpoint, and shadows droppers. We can target specific tones and add them to the adjustment curve. And we can work in individual channels, or all channels rolled up in RGB view.

Before the Curves adjustment in Photos 3

There are also the normal controls that you would expect such as Auto Curves, reset adjustment, and the ability to turn it on and off without affecting the other sliders.

Final image output from Photos 3. Picture by Derrick Story.

Sometimes it's handy to target a specific tone and make an adjustment. In Photos 3, we'll be able to do just that with Curves.

Book, Videos, or Live Classroom: Photos for macOS

I'll be covering Curves and all the new Photos features in my upcoming Nimble Classroom on Photos for macOS, October 7. Interact with me and others from the comfort of your home.

You might also be interested in exploring the world of modern photography with my The Apple Photos Book for Photographers that features insightful text and beautiful illustrations.

And if you'd like to cozy up to a video at the same time, watch my latest lynda title, Photos for macOS Essential Training

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

It wasn't that long ago that a lens hood was mandatory gear. Hoods serve the dual purpose of helping to protect the front element from accidental bumps, plus assist in blocking stray light falling directly on the glass.

But no practical person rigs up a lens hood for his iPhone. And it's rare that I even see them on mirrorless cameras as well.

But not using a hood doesn't mean that flare won't compromise your image when shooting toward the sun. The biggest downfall is contrast degradation. If you do a "before and after" test with your hand shielding the lens, you'll see what a difference it makes eliminating stray light.

So, by way of reminder, I say this: first, be aware of situations where flare might occur, then, take steps to prevent it. Most commonly, I will cup my hand and use it as a temporary lens hood. I'll move it around until I find the position where the stray light is blocked, but my hand isn't part of the picture.

If it's convenient for your camera, a lens hood still makes sense. It doesn't always eliminate flare by itself, but it definitely makes it easier to control. Plus, you can cup your hand on the outside of the hood, then use them both together.

Regardless of the method that you use, beware of flare, and don't let it compromise your shots.

There are certain tools, that once you learn them, you wonder how you ever lived without them. For me, the Gradient Mask in Capture One Pro is a perfect example.

I particularly like the gradient mask for adjusting the sky in landscape shots. Not only does it make it easy to tweak color, saturation, and tone, I can go back with the brush tool and tailor the mask exactly as I wish. Keep in mind this is my everyday photo management software that can handle this. (Sweet!) Here's a short video that shows how it works.

Open one of your favorite landscapes in Capture One, then follow along with the video. After just a few minutes, you too will be smitten with the Gradient Mask tool.

Master Capture One Pro

Start with Capture One Pro 10 Essential Training that will quickly get you up to speed with this pro level imaging application.

Then drill down into mastering the editing tools with Capture One Pro 10: Retouching and get supremely organized with Advanced Capture One Pro: Catalog Management.

Personalized Instruction Too!

If you want to have your questions incorporated into the curriculum, plus have live Q&A interactions, then take a look at my Nimble Classroom Series. I have personalized online sessions scheduled for Capture One Pro, Photos for macOS, and Luminar. Sign up today!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #593, July 18, 2017. Today's theme is "Just One Print." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Sometimes we make things too big. And as such, we shy away from them. I was actually thinking about this as it relates to making prints from our digital images. The idea of printing and all that goes with it seems like so much work. But what if you said to yourself, "I'm going to make just one print." That doesn't seem so bad, does it? We explore this approach on today's TDS Podcast.

Just One Print

Work in Progress - A 13" x 19" print with an ImageFramer matte on my worktable getting ready to be framed.

You probably didn't know that for a while, I smoked cigarettes. I was in a rock n roll band called Section 8. I was in my 20s, and it was the golden era of small night clubs in Southern California. After our sound check, but before the gig actually started, we had a lot of time on our hands. And that's when I learned to smoke.

As you may have guessed, after a while the charm wore off. And when it was time to quit cigarettes, I found that was much more difficult than starting. Fortunately, my paths crossed with someone who could help me. He was teach smoking cessation for the Public Health Dept.

One of the things that he used to say, is that when the urge would strike, just say that I'm not going to do anything for the moment. Not forever, or even tomorrow, Just right now. And soon the urge would pass.

I learned that this technique worked in the opposite direction as well. If I was facing a big task, I would say to myself, "I'm just going to do one thing right now." Then later on, I would do another. And I some point I would have completed the whole thing.

I bring this up, because I think people feel that printing their images is a big task. Not only the actual output, but the matting and framing and all of that. But what if you decided to make just one print? That's it. Just a print, then a matte, then a frame. How would you feel about printing after that?

Making Your Your Own Mattes with ImageFramer

So after I made my one print, I decided to make a matte for it. I had a particular color scheme in mind, so I opened ImageFramer and started playing. Once I created the design I wanted, I substituted the picture with a a blank white Jpeg. Why? Because my intention was to print out this design on Red River Paper, cut it, then use it as a matte. And it looks terrific!

ImageFramer on Facebook

For more tips like these, and lots more, visit ImageFramer on Facebook. And give your images the ImageFramer look they deserve.

We want everyone to enjoy the benefits of the new ImageFramer. ImageFramer 4.0 is a free upgrade for ImageFramer 3 customers. Note that it requires macOS 10.11 (El Capitan) or later. TDS listeners can receive a 20 percent discount by visiting: our ImageFramer landing page.

Vanagon Update

Here's the latest on the VW Vanagon...

New Subjects Added to The Nimble Classroom

I've trying to figure out a way to bring more personalized training to photographer without them having to travel. It's one thing to get on a plane to photograph wine country or the French Quarter, but not quite as alluring to sit in a classroom for two days.

As a result, I've designed a new approach called, The Nimble Classroom. And now there are four courses for the Summer Session of The Nimble Classroom.

• August 19, Catalog Management, Capture One Pro
• September 9, Expert Editing, Capture One Pro
• September 23, Luminar Pro Techniques
• October 7, Photos 3 for macOS

You can learn more about them and sign up for your favorites by visiting The Nimble Classroom online.

Updates and Such

Big thanks to all of our Patreon members!

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.

Texas-based Red River Paper recently announced a new fine art paper, Palo Duro Etching. The new paper is a 100 percent cotton rag paper and is free of optical brightener additives. The paper is designed to offer warm white tones, deep blacks and a subtle texture to accurately recreate traditional darkroom fine art prints.

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

ImageFramer 4 - ImageFramer is used by artists, professional and amateur photographers, scrapbookers, framers, and people who simply want their family photos to look better.

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

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.