This is The Digital Story Podcast #628, March 27, 2018. Today's theme is "The 50-50 Rule." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Digital photography has had a tremendous impact on our workflow. Now, not only are we creatives behind the camera, we must also be technicians in front of the computer. But how much of each? In this week's podcast, I explore the division of labor during the process of creating artistic images. And I explain what I call the 50-50 Rule.

The 50-50 Rule

When I used to shoot weddings with my 35mm film cameras, we would work like dogs all day and into the evening. But once we were finished shooting, I would put all the film in a giant envelope, drop it off at my lab, and go have a 1am breakfast before falling into bed.

Then we began the transition to digital. And before long, I found myself spending hours in front of the computer, long after the wedding had completed, finishing the job. I didn't get paid any more, and in fact, prices began to fall. And that's when I realized that digital photography was going to change my life as a creative.

I agonized over learning Photoshop. Fortunately, apps like Aperture and Lightroom burst on to the scene to save me. But to this day, I know that if a photo is going to be competitive with others online, it will require post production.

And when I started to think about it, I realized that photography is now a 50-50 proposition. Half the creative process is at capture, and the other half is post. Most of us are stronger at one side or the other. And one of our challenges as an artist is to identify the aspect that requires the most improvement, then take the steps to improve in that area.

Rumor: Canon full-frame mirrorless already 'being used by select pro photographers'

DP Review reports that "a full frame mirrorless camera is well into its development cycle," and is in fact being used by "select Canon pro photographers" in the field." Canon Rumors is "very confident we're going to see something announced before the end of Q1 in 2019," while other outlets have predicted something for Photokina in September.

Apple's Camera Shutter Sound Was Recorded From a Canon AE-1

F-Stoppers reports: "In a recent interview with CNBC, the Apple sound designer behind many of the iconic beeps and bloops on the Mac, Jim Reekes, shares the origin of their naming and compositions. As it turns out, it's a film camera from the 1970s that was personally owned by Reekes since high school behind the ubiquitous iPhone camera click and screenshot sound effect on Mac. It was recorded from a Canon AE-1 and then slowed down to create the custom sound we know today. Even to this day, Reekes still seems to not be used to his recording being played everywhere he goes."

Do You Have a Film Camera that Needs a Good Home?

Over the last year, I've received donations from TDS members who have film cameras that need a good home. What I do is inspect the items, repair and clean as I can, then list them in TheFilmCameraShop where I can find a good home for them. If you're interested in donating, please use the Contact Form on TheNimblePhotographer site. And thanks for you consideration!

Dates Announced for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. Here's more about it.

Aerial Photography Workshop Update

Public registration is now open for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

Updates and Such

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

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

The Nimbleosity Report

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

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #627, March 20, 2018. Today's theme is "An Office on the Road." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

One of the great things about being a Nimble Photographer is the ease at which I can travel. In just a few days I will be on the road for a couple weeks. It will be an opportunity to add new images to my library and enjoy a change of scenery for my work. Yes, that's right, my work. And in this week's show I'll explain how I'm going to pull that off.

An Office on the Road

I'll be bouncing around to a few locations in the Hawaiian Islands. And because I'm on the go so much, I want to push my nimbleosity to the limits.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 with 14-42mm EZ zoom lens and the Lowepro Dashpoint 30 pouch.

My gear bag is already packed, and I'm testing it here at home. I'm using a Lowepro Fastpack 150AW that is extremely compact. It fits anywhere, under any seat, in any overhead compartment, and easily next to me in a restaurant. Since I will always have my bag with me, it must be light and thin.

Speaking of light, it weighs in at 12.5 pounds for my entire kit, and that includes a 13" laptop. Here are the contents:

• Lowepro Fastpack BP 150 AW II
• Apple 13" MacBook Pro
• G-Technology 500GB G-DRIVE slim USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II mirrorless camera with 14-42mm EZ zoom
• Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 lens
• Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. lens
• Olympus Tough TG-5 digital camera
• Leica D-LUX (Typ 109) digital camera
• Contax 159mm 35mm SLR with Zeiss 45mm f/2.8 Tessar lens
• Lowepro Dashpoint 30 camera pouch
• iPhone X
• Zoom H1n Digital Handy Recorder
• The typical accessories such as batteries, memory cards, backup hard drive, etc.

The cameras are all packed in individual tight-fitting cases inside the Lowepro backpack. I can grab any individual camera as I'm dashing out the door for a bite to eat or to run an errand. I also save space by using wrist straps instead of longer neck straps. You might not think it makes that much difference, but it does.

With this kit, I can handle all of my work over the next two weeks, and all I need is an Internet connection and occasional power.

Do You Have a Film Camera that Needs a Good Home?

Over the last year, I've received donations from TDS members who have film cameras that need a good home. What I do is inspect the items, repair and clean as I can, then list them in TheFilmCameraShop where I can find a good home for them. If you're interested in donating, please use the Contact Form on TheNimblePhotographer site. And thanks for you consideration!

Dates Announced for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. Here's more about it.

Aerial Photography Workshop Update

Public registration is now open for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

Updates and Such

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

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

The Nimbleosity Report

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

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #626, March 13, 2018. Today's theme is "The Anti-Zoom Challenge." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I have three lenses sitting on my drafting table at the studio: 28mm, 45mm, and 85mm. And each day, when I go for my walk to deliver orders from TheFilmCameraShop, I pick one. And everything that I shoot for the next 40 minutes is with that focal length. In today's TDS podcast, I discuss why I think this practice has made me a better photographer.

The Anti-Zoom Challenge

All three of those lenses are Zeiss that mount to my full frame Contax 35mm cameras. Each has a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and must be manually focused. I also have a couple Zeiss zooms, but I don't use them for this exercise. "Why would that be?" you might ask.

My all-time favorite manual focus lens is the Zeiss Tessar 45mm f/2.8. It's a pancake lens that is beautifully sharp and has a unique quality. Among other things, it has forced me to get closer to strangers than I might have wanted to, and at other times, encouraged my to find another angle far enough back to accommodate a very large subject. That lens makes me creative. And once the juices are flowing, more creativity follows.

Just when I start to get comfortable, I'll switch to the 85mm Sonnar. Because its maximum aperture is f/2.8, it's relatively compact and is easy to bring along for street photography. The world looks much different through the Sonnar, and suddenly, I'm challenged all over again. I find myself taking shots that I had overlooked dozens of times before.

It's exciting to shoot with one lens. Themes develop, ideas flow, and there's a continuity among the shots that lend themselves to photo essays.

Finally, Some More m4/3 MTF Testing: Are the 40s Fabulous?

Published on the Lens Rental Blog. Here's the scoop.

The performance of the Voigtlander 42.5mm f/0.95 ($799) is spectacular. Of course, you also have to be OK with manually focusing, but still, that's a lens worth considering.

If you want a f/1.2 lens in this focal length, well, let's face it, it will probably come down to whether you want Power OIS or not. If you don't, the Olympus 45mm f/1.2 PRO ($1,199) is slightly less expensive and has less variation. But a good copy of the Panasonic 42.5 Noctitron ($1,398) is also excellent.

Both of the less expensive lenses in this range deliver a lot of bang for the buck. They have very good image quality, and if you don't need the widest aperture, they give you a lot for 1/3 the price of the wide-aperture duo.

If I were most interested in this focal length for portraits, I'd probably want the Olympus Zuiko Digital f/1.8 ($349); that field curvature will help throw everything other than the subject out of focus. For landscapes or architectural shooting, the flat field of the Panasonic 42.5mm f/1.7 ($348) would be an advantage.

Dates Announced for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. Here's more about it.

The San Francisco Street Photography Workshop Update

I've published an informative article on the San Francisco Street Photography Workshop that you may want to take a look at.

San Francisco Street Photography - April 26-28, 2018 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. Our hotel in picturesque Union Square will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. As always, we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Visionary Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

Updates and Such

I now have the dates for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

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

The Nimbleosity Report

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

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #625, March 6, 2018. Today's theme is "Like to Shoot, or Shoot for Likes?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Social media has revealed something about photographers that we suspected before, but have now confirmed: They are more interested in receiving likes than suggestions. Some say this is an addiction. I think it's human nature. And I explore this topic on today's TDS Photography Podcast.

Like to Shoot, or Shoot for Likes?

I've learned a lot about photographers, and people in general, over the last decade while working online for Lowepro, Rocky Nook, ct Digital Photography, TDS, and now Skylum as well.

Generally speaking, photographers who post images online feel good about the work they're sharing, and looking forward to positive responses about it. That is about as human as it gets, but it can also turn into a trap that compromises your artistic growth.

The likes are addictive. And if we don't pay attention to our own process, we can find ourselves creating work for the casual viewing general population, instead of pushing our own creative boundaries. Here's an example that you can try.

On Instagram, post a pretty sunset shot. Make sure that it's colorful and very postcard like. Tally the likes that you receive in a 24 hour period.

The next day, at the same time, post an image that is more challenging to the viewer, but one that you took some artistic risks with. Tally those likes over a 24 hour period.

Then compare. In most instances, the colorful sunset, which requires very little photographic skill, will garner the most likes. And if you become addicted to those likes, your work is in danger of following the path of colorful sunsets.

The art of receiving and giving constructive criticism.

Knowing when not to give a damn.

Finding watering holes where experienced photographers hang out.

Coming Up: Build Your Digital Darkroom with Photos (And Get a Free Signed Copy of My New Book)

Our next Nimble Classroom is on March 10, Build Your Digital Darkroom with Photos. Every participant receives a free signed copy of The Apple Photos Book for Photographers, 2nd Edition.

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

The San Francisco Street Photography Workshop Update

I've published an informative article on the San Francisco Street Photography Workshop that you may want to take a look at.

San Francisco Street Photography - April 26-28, 2018 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. Our hotel in picturesque Union Square will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. As always, we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Visionary Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)

New! TheFilmCameraProject on Instagram

Teresa Hummel wins the Pentax camera!

I've started a new Instagram feed just for film camera lovers. It's called TheFilmCameraProject, and it's for those who appreciate the beauty of analog SLRs.

Updates and Such

I now have the dates for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

Videoblocks - Go to videoblocks.com/digitalstory to get all the stock video, audio, and images that you can imagine for just $149. Save on millions of studio-quality clips, tracks, and graphics.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #624, Feb. 27, 2018. Today's theme is "Canon, Fuji, and Pentax Make Big News" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

The Canon EOS M50, Pentax K-1 Mark II, and Fujifilm X-H1 are all very different cameras. But the one thing they have in common is that they are all recent announcements. Can we speculate about where the camera industry is going by examining these? We take a closer look in today's TDS Podcast.

Canon EOS M50

The Canon EOS M50 will sell for $899 with kit lens and will be available on March 26, 2018.

The Canon EOS M50 is an entry-level mirrorless camera that features an electronic viewfinder, fully articulating touchscreen, single control dial and a 24MP APS-C sensor - the same used by its M-series siblings. It has Canon's latest DIGIC 8 processor and offers expanded Dual Pixel AF coverage, 4K/24p video capture (1.6x crop) as well as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC.

• 24MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• Dual Pixel autofocus for stills and video
• DIGIC 8 processor
• 2.36M-dot OLED EVF
• 1.04M-dot vari-angle LCD
• 7.4 fps burst in AF-C (10 fps in AF-S)
• 4K/24p UHD video (1.6 x crop)
• 1080/60p and 720/120p HD video
• Wi-Fi and NFC with Bluetooth
• 235 shot-per-charge battery live (via CIPA)

Source: DP Review.

I think the biggest appeal is for photographers already shooting Canon being able to use existing lenses with an adapter.

Pentax K-1 Mark II

The Pentax K-1 Mark II will sell for $1,996 is will be available on March 11, 2018.

The K-1 II's main addition is an 'accelerator unit,' which is a pre-processor that sits between the 36MP CMOS sensor and the PRIME IV image processor. Ricoh says that this pre-processor increases the signal-to-noise ratio, thus reducing noise, which implies it's a a noise reduction process. Ricoh told us that the accelerator unit, which was found on other Pentax models like the K-70, was not ready for the K-1 when it launched.

Thus, the company has increased the top ISO to 819,200 - a big jump from 209,400 on the original model. We'd be shocked if anything near that ISO is usable, seeing how the K-1 looked at 209,400 (hint: poor, like all cameras in its class), but we'll find out soon enough.

The K-1 Mark II can, of course, still use the Pentax DA lenses designed for the company's APS-C cameras. By default the camera will use a 15MP APS-C-sized crop of the sensor if a DA lens is mounted but can be made to use its full sensor region, if you'd prefer. Ricoh has published a list of those lenses that will produce relatively useable results in full frame mode, if the aperture is stopped down.

• 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
• PRIME IV Image Processor
• 3.2" Cross-Tilt LCD Monitor
• Full HD 1080p30 Video Recording
• SAFOX 12 33-Point AF Sensor
• Native ISO 819200; 4.4 fps Shooting
• Pixel Shift Resolution II
• 5-Axis In-Body Shake Reduction
• Built-In Wi-Fi & GPS; Dual SD Card Slots
• Weather-Sealed Magnesium-Alloy Body

For a limited time this summer, current Pentax K-1 owners will be able to send their cameras in for service, essentially upgrading them to a Mark II. The service will include a main circuit board swap, and the 'SR' logo on the front of the camera will be replaced with a Mark II logo. The upgraded circuit board will add all of the features introduced in the Mark II, such as shooting at up to ISO 819,200 and an updated Pixel Shift mode.

The K-1 upgrade service will cost $550 US / $690 CAD and will be offered from May 21, 2018 to September 30, 2018.

The upgrade will be available for the same period in Europe at a cost of �450 in the UK and �500 across the rest of Europe.

Source: DP Review.

The Fujifilm X-H1

The Fujifilm X-H1 will sell for $1,899 and will be available on March 1, 2018.

The X-T2 offers 4K video, but the X-H1 takes things to a different level. Virtually every aspect of the X-H1's video feature set is upgraded compared to the X-T2. Thanks to its larger internal volume it can shoot 4K for longer (15 mins compared to 10), and while the two cameras both impose a modest 1.17X crop, the X-H1 boasts a maximum bitrate of 200Mbps and the option to shoot F-Log internally.

The X-H1's new 'Eterna' film simulation preset is intended to provide a quick and easy way to shoot gradeable, wide dynamic range video footage. For the first time, you can apply dynamic range 'DR' expansion settings in video mode on the X-H1, too. When combined with the DR400%, setting, Fujifilm says that footage shot using the Eterna preset should deliver a total of 12EV of dynamic range.

While it uses the same 24MP APS-C X-Trans sensor as the X-T2, the X-H1's on-sensor phase-detection autofocus system has been seriously upgraded. The most obvious improvements are to low-light sensitivity and focus tracking. The X-H1 can now focus down to -1EV (compared to the X-T2's limit of 0.5EV) and phase-detection AF should work even at effective apertures as small as F11 - i.e. when shooting at the long end of the XF100-400mm F4.5-5.6 zoom, when combined with a 2X tele-converter

Source: DP Review.

• 24.3MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS III Sensor X-Processor Pro Engine
• 5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization
• Internal DCI 4K Video and F-Log Gamma
• 0.75x 3.69m-Dot Electronic Viewfinder
• 3" 1.04m-Dot 3-Way Tilt LCD Touchscreen
• 325-Point Intelligent Hybrid AF System
• 1080p at 120 fps; Flicker Reduction Mode
• 1.28" Sub-LCD Top Screen
• Weather-Sealed Body; 2 UHS-II SD Slots/
• Same sized battery as the X-T2

I really like the top deck LCD. I think it looks great and is truly useful.

Coming Up: Build Your Digital Darkroom with Photos (And Get a Free Signed Copy of My New Book)

Our next Nimble Classroom is on March 10, Build Your Digital Darkroom with Photos. Here's why you might want to attend.

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

The San Francisco Street Photography Workshop Update

I've published an informative article on the San Francisco Street Photography Workshop that you may want to take a look at.

San Francisco Street Photography - April 26-28, 2018 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. Our hotel in picturesque Union Square will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. As always, we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Visionary Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)

New! TheFilmCameraProject on Instagram

I've started a new Instagram feed just for film camera lovers. It's called TheFilmCameraProject, and it's for those who appreciate the beauty of analog SLRs.

And to celebrate the launch, I'm giving away one Pentax SLR and lens to one lucky follower of TheFilmCameraProject. All you have to do is follow the feed by Feb. 28, 2018. I'll then do a random drawing and announce the winner on the March 6 podcast. Join in the fun, and get to admire some really beautiful camera along the way.

Updates and Such

I now have the dates for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

Videoblocks - Go to videoblocks.com/digitalstory to get all the stock video, audio, and images that you can imagine for just $149. Save on millions of studio-quality clips, tracks, and graphics.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #623, Feb. 20, 2018. Today's theme is "Should Our Cameras Be as Smart as Our Phones?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I've been thinking about how the camera industry could better combat the encroaching smartphone phenomenon that is eroding their marketshare. Should Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, and Fuji tap computational photography for their devices? Or would another approach make more sense? I address this issue on today's TDS podcast.

Should Our Cameras Be as Smart as Our Phones?

I was up early shooting on Sunday morning. The air was crisp and clear, and the breeze hadn't kicked up yet. So off I went with my iPhone X, Pentax KP DSLR, and Olympus PEN mirrorless.

My experience changed noticeably as I switched from camera to camera. Standing there in the middle of a vineyard, the most visually delicious visuals were looking through the optical viewfinder of the Pentax DSLR. Everything was so beautiful, and it inspired me to compose the best shots possible.

The electronic viewfinder on the PEN-F was also satisfying, but in a different way. It was like I was in a darkened theater watching the scene on a screen. And it had the advantage of presenting me with realtime exposure compensation feedback.

The iPhone was the least satisfying. Seems like composing on its amply-sized LCD should have been engaging. But I found it far less inspiring than my dedicated cameras.

This got me thinking about approaches that camera companies, and you and me, could take when encouraging aspiring artists to add a dedicated camera to their toolset. Here are my five favorites.

• Emphasize your strengths. Create viewing experiences that can't be matched on a smartphone.
• Continue to develop tempting lens options, and possibly create more interchangeability among brands. Look how well Olympus and Panasonic have fared by doing so.
• Add a computational photography mode to help those making the transition from smartphones to cameras. I know there are scene detection modes now, but they pale in comparison to what we experience with mobile devices.
• Don't try to compete on the selfie level, emphasize important life events such as travel, weddings, and art.
• Continue to explore the design aesthetic. Smartphones are hampered by the need to fit slimly in one's pocket. But cameras have far more latitude with design, and that should be tapped.

Becoming smarter is only part of the answer. Camera manufacturers have so many assets they can leverage. They just need to focus.

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

The San Francisco Street Photography Workshop Update

I've published an informative article on the San Francisco Street Photography Workshop that you may want to take a look at.

San Francisco Street Photography - April 26-28, 2018 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. Our hotel in picturesque Union Square will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. As always, we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Visionary Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)

New! TheFilmCameraProject on Instagram

I've started a new Instagram feed just for film camera lovers. It's called TheFilmCameraProject, and it's for those who appreciate the beauty of analog SLRs.

And to celebrate the launch, I'm giving away one Pentax SLR and lens to one lucky follower of TheFilmCameraProject. All you have to do is follow the feed by Feb. 28, 2018. I'll then do a random drawing and announce the winner on the March 6 podcast. Join in the fun, and get to admire some really beautiful camera along the way.

Coming Up: Build Your Digital Darkroom with Photos

Our next Nimble Classroom is on March 10, Build Your Digital Darkroom with Photos. Here's why you might want to attend.

Updates and Such

I now have the dates for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

Videoblocks - Go to videoblocks.com/digitalstory to get all the stock video, audio, and images that you can imagine for just $149. Save on millions of studio-quality clips, tracks, and graphics.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #622, Feb. 13, 2018. Today's theme is "A Personal Photo Essay." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Some of the most interesting photo essays that I've seen over the years are those where the photographer is allowed inside someone's life in their home. It's fascinating to peer behind the curtain of their life, and think about how it compares to mine. But what if we told our own story, from our personal point of view? I talk about this project that anyone can do, with any camera, on this week's photography podcast.

A Personal Photo Essay

This all started one afternoon when I was writing in the main room of my studio. The winter light was streaming in from the big window facing south, and it illumined a work table where I had some of my things.

As I looked at the scene, I thought, this one picture says a lot about my interests. There were a pair of red headphones hanging on the chair, a B&W print on the table, a Contax film camera, pens in a fake lens cup, and a Kodak scanner that I'll be reviewing soon.

Wouldn't it be fun to do a photo essay on a day in my life here? I would take pictures of the kitchen (where I spend too much time), Dibs, Studio A, Studio B, my washer that doesn't fit quite right in the laundry room, backdrops hung over the balcony rail upstairs, and on and on.

Imagine someone finding this photo essay years later? They would learn so much about me. And even on a practical level, many of these images would be helpful for insurance claims if something bad happened here in the near future.

So here are five tips that I have to help encourage you to endeavor your own personal photo essay.

• Look for scenes that really represent you - Your clothes hanging in the closet, your workroom, the car outside.
• Tidy, but don't over organize. Since it's a photo essay, we do want the images to look good. But don't over organize losing the soul and personality of the scene.
• Keep it to 36 exposures. I think 36 is a magic number here. It's a roll of 35mm film, a nice length for a slideshow, enough to tell the story, not so many that it becomes boring.
• Write captions for the shots. Images do say a lot, but a few additional words say even more.
• Finish the project. Build a slideshow, create a gallery that's saved as PDF, etc. Part of the beauty of this project is that it can be shared, discovered, and viewed.

New! TheFilmCameraProject on Instagram

I've started a new Instagram feed just for film camera lovers. It's called TheFilmCameraProject, and it's for those who appreciate the beauty of analog SLRs.

And to celebrate the launch, I'm giving away one Pentax SLR and lens to one lucky follower of TheFilmCameraProject. All you have to do is follow the feed by Feb. 28, 2018. I'll then do a random drawing and announce the winner on the March 6 podcast. Join in the fun, and get to admire some really beautiful camera along the way.

LRTimelapse 5 Is Here With Many Improvements and Additional Features

As reported on F-Stoppers,

LRTimelapse is without a doubt the best piece of software to manage extreme day-to-night and night-to-day transition when capturing a time-lapse sequence. This flicker remover program changed the industry for good and a new version with many improvements has just been announcement by its creator. Here is what you need to know about it.

LRTimelapse 5 is a big upgrade from version 4 but the workflow remains similar. The first thing you'll notice on LRT5 is the polished user interface. The buttons and icons look nicer and the interface is completely scalable for high-resolution monitors. Seasoned LRTimelapse users won't be lost but everything is better and faster thanks to the optimization and improved use of multithreading platforms. The program can now handle up to 32 threads.

The San Francisco Street Photography Workshop Update

Reservation forms have been sent to Reserve List members. If you signed up on the Reserve List, but didn't receive an invite, please email me.

San Francisco Street Photography - April 26-28, 2018 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. Our hotel in picturesque Union Square will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. As always, we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Visionary Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)

Updates and Such

I now have the dates for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

The latest training videos posted for our Inner Circle members are processing aerial photographs in Luminar and using Lightroom for time-lapse photography.

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

Videoblocks - Go to videoblocks.com/digitalstory to get all the stock video, audio, and images that you can imagine for just $149. Save on millions of studio-quality clips, tracks, and graphics.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #621, Feb. 6, 2018. Today's theme is "Using Lightroom for Time-Lapse Photography" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

One of the joys of mirrorless photography is that the cameras typically have an extensive feature set, including an interval timer for time-lapse photography. But, once we've captured the frames, what's an easy way to render the movie? Did you know that Lightroom can handle it? It can, and I explain how in today's TDS photography podcast.

Using Lightroom for Time-Lapse Photography

On my Olympus cameras, if I go to the bottom of Camera Menu 1, I can set up an interval program to capture thousands of frames over a period of time. Also, using the Cascable app's Shutter Robot, I can also set up a time-lapse program. And after a few hours, I have thousands of images on my memory card.

But then what? I wanted to find an easy way to render an HD movie from those pictures, have the ability to manage and edit the frames, use software that worked on both platforms, and didn't cost me anything more than what I've already invested in my gear. The solution that surfaced: Lightroom Classic CC.

The only missing ingredient is a set of templates that you can download for free via an article on the Adobe blog titled, To the fast lane of time-lapse with Photoshop Lightroom.

Once you have the templates installed in the Slideshow module, you can take all those frames you've captured and convert them into an HD movie.

If you want to see the time lapse that I created, you can watch it here.

I've also published a 16-minute video tutorial for our Inner Circle Members that walks you through all the steps. After watching that, you'll be ready to create your own time-lapse movie with Lightroom.

New! TheFilmCameraProject on Instagram

I've started a new Instagram feed just for film camera lovers. It's called TheFilmCameraProject, and it's for those who appreciate the beauty of analog SLRs.

And to celebrate the launch, I'm giving away one Pentax SLR and lens to one lucky follower of TheFilmCameraProject. All you have to do is follow the feed by Feb. 28, 2018. I'll then do a random drawing and announce the winner on the March 6 podcast. Join in the fun, and get to admire some really beautiful camera along the way.

Layers in Capture One Pro 11

We have our first Nimble Class this coming Saturday, Layers in Capture One Pro 11.

The headline new feature in Capture One Pro 11 is the redesigned layers area for localized editing. In this classroom, Derrick Story shows you best practices for working with layers in Capture One Pro 11. Class participants may submit their unique questions before class, allowing Derrick to incorporate that content into his teaching. And there will be live Q&A sessions throughout the course.

The San Francisco Street Photography Workshop Update

Reservation forms have been sent to Reserve List members. If you signed up on the Reserve List, but didn't receive an invite, please email me.

San Francisco Street Photography - April 26-28, 2018 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. Our hotel in picturesque Union Square will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. As always, we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Visionary Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)

Updates and Such

I now have the dates for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

The latest training videos posted for our Inner Circle members are processing aerial photographs in Luminar and using Lightroom for time-lapse photography.

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

Videoblocks - Go to videoblocks.com/digitalstory to get all the stock video, audio, and images that you can imagine for just $149. Save on millions of studio-quality clips, tracks, and graphics.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #620, Jan. 30, 2018. Today's theme is "Camera or Computer?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Digital photography is this murky mix of technology and art. We see a picture, press the shutter, and record it. Then what? Unless we're using a smartphone, something else needs to happen. And that something is firing up a computer to complete our image. Since it's a noteworthy part of the process, why do we treat it like tires on a car? I explore that in today's TDS podcast.

Camera or Computer?

If I were to give you $1,000 right now and say that you could spend it on either a new camera, or a new computer, which are you likely to choose? My informal research has led me to the belief that you would choose a camera or a lens.

Why is this? I have five theories why when it comes to camera or computer, we choose camera.

• Theory #1 - Computers suck.
• Theory #2 - They are more utilitarian than cameras.
• Theory #3 - Computers are messy.
• Theory #4 - Computers are not as much fun.
• Theory #1 - If we could live without computers we would. But we would never give up our cameras..

One of the reasons why we feel this way, however, is that we tend to hang on to old hardware while constantly adding new software. If we stayed a bit more current, our experience should be better, and in the end we'd be more efficient and happy. Maybe.

A Review of the Olympus Super Fan Weekend in San Francisco

This past Friday, I spent a day with the Olympus community for their Super Fan Event in San Francisco. Here's what I learned.

The San Francisco Street Photography Workshop

San Francisco Street Photography - April 26-28, 2018 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. Our hotel in picturesque Union Square will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. As always, we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Visionary Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)

The 2018 Nimble Classroom Series

The 2018 Nimble Classroom Series begins in February. Here are the first three sessions:

• Layers in Capture One Pro 11 - Feb. 10
• BUILD YOUR DIGITAL DARKROOM WITH PHOTOS - MARCH 10
• Digital Asset Mgmt with Luminar - April 21

You can sign up right now for each of these and reserve your spot. Only 6 participants per class.

Updates and Such

Three new training videos are now posted for our Patreon Inner Circle Members:

• Tips for Importing Images into Photos for macOS
• Using Gradient Masks in Luminar
• Working with Light Adjustments in Capture One Pro

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

Videoblocks - Go to videoblocks.com/digitalstory to get all the stock video, audio, and images that you can imagine for just $149. Save on millions of studio-quality clips, tracks, and graphics.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #619, Jan. 23, 2018. Today's theme is "Oh, The Assumptions We Make." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Assumptions aren't always a bad thing. In our fast-paced world, they can save us time as we move from decision to decision. But we also know that assumptions can get us in trouble, or at least lead us down the wrong path. Photography is not immune to this shortcoming, and that's the topic for today's show.

Oh, The Assumptions We Make

Not long ago, I purchased a beautiful used Pentax-FA 50mm f/1.4 lens. I was looking for a fast prime to use on both my film cameras as well as DSLR bodies, and this optic, at least on paper, seemed to fit the bill.

First I mounted it on a Program Plus and shot a half dozen 35mm frames with it. Then I put it on my KP DSLR and snapped a photo with it wide open at f/1.4. When I review the image on the LCD, I thought something must be wrong. It didn't look very sharp. I recorded another frame with the same result.

My immediate assumption was that I had received a "bad copy." A wave of sadness came over me. It was such a beautiful lens, and I had purchased it for only $125. Fortunately, I decided to dig a little deeper, and here's what I discovered... (story concludes on the podcast).

Here are some other assumptions to be leary of...

• Larger camera sensors are always better.
• Primes are always sharper than zooms.
• I must always shoot at a low ISO.
• RAWs are always better than Jpegs.
• Real photographers (pros) only shoot with Nikons and Canons.

DJI Mavic Air leaked ahead of announcement, looks like a Spark-Mavic hybrid

DP Review writes: If these leaked photos and specifications are accurate, the Mavic Air will put Mavic-level hardware--a 3-axis gimbal, 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor, 4K 60p video capture, obstacle-avoidance sensors on the front, back, and bottom--into a body that looks very much like the diminutive DJI Spark. The upside is that 4K 60p video capture that the Mavic Pro and even Mavic Pro Platium has been missing; the downside is that the smaller body means even less flight time, which is rumored at just 21 minutes. The drone is also purported to have a 32MP panorama mode.

Velbon launches the Chairpod, a tripod-chair hybrid (no, really)

Digital Camera World reports: We all love photography, but sometimes it's also nice to sit down. Well, thanks to Japanese manufacturer Velbon, these two pursuits need no longer be enjoyed separately.

Here, we present the Chairpod HY127, reported in Japanese publication DC Watch (translated version here). Able to extend to a maximum height of 1.28m with the addition of an extension rod, the Chairpod integrates a tripod and a folding chair, which allows the photographer - well, at least, a photographer that weighs less than 80kg (176 pounds), which is the maximum weight it'll support - to shoot while sitting.

The San Francisco Street Photography Workshop

San Francisco Street Photography - April 26-28, 2018 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. Our hotel in picturesque Union Square will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. As always, we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Visionary Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)

The 2018 Nimble Classroom Series

The 2018 Nimble Classroom Series begins in February. Here are the first three sessions:

• Layers in Capture One Pro 11 - Feb. 10
• BUILD YOUR DIGITAL DARKROOM WITH PHOTOS - MARCH 10
• Digital Asset Mgmt with Luminar - April 21

You can sign up right now for each of these and reserve your spot. Only 6 participants per class.

Updates and Such

Three new training videos are now posted for our Patreon Inner Circle Members:

• Tips for Importing Images into Photos for macOS
• Using Gradient Masks in Luminar
• Working with Light Adjustments in Capture One Pro

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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

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

See you next week!

More Ways to Participate

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

Podcast Sponsors

Videoblocks - Go to videoblocks.com/digitalstory to get all the stock video, audio, and images that you can imagine for just $149. Save on millions of studio-quality clips, tracks, and graphics.

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.