iPhoto users looking for a more robust photo management system don't have to search any farther than the just-released Aperture 2. There are a number of reasons why this is a logical transition.

I think the best reason, however, is how easy Apple has made the transition from one photo management system to the other. In this podcast, I discuss some of Aperture's advantages over iPhoto, then cover a few strategies for moving up to Aperture, including:

• Transfer Single Images: In Aperture, go to File > Browse iPhoto Library. You can then drag the images you want into your Aperture library. (Aperture's iPhoto Library Browser is shown above.)
• Creating Referenced Files to Your iPhoto Masters: If you hold down Command+Option while dragging from the iPhoto Browser to Aperture, you'll reference the imported images... no duplication. So you get to use your iPhoto images in Aperture without making extra copies of them.
• Moving iPhoto Albums into Aperture: You can bring in entire iPhoto albums by using Aperture's Import command, choose Images from the pop up menu, and navigate to your iPhoto Library container. When you click on it, Aperture will show you all of your albums. Choose an album, and Aperture will import it and place it as an album within your selected project.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Empty is this month's photo assignment. Empty spaces, empty containers, empty lives... lots of possibilities for this one. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Feb. 29.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "iPhoto to Aperture 2." You can download the podcast here (28 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

At Macworld 2008, Adobe announced Photoshop Elements 6 for the Mac. It is schedule to ship in March, but you can preorder now for $89, or $69 for the upgrade.

Back in October 2007, I interviewed Mark Dahm about Elements 6 for Windows, so it's only fair that I revisit Adobe for his take on the Mac version. In this interview we cover all things Mac, and there's a ton of good stuff to talk about.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Empty is this month's photo assignment. Empty spaces, empty containers, empty lives... lots of possibilities for this one. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Feb. 29.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Inside Photoshop Elements 6 for the Mac." You can download the podcast here (26 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

PMA 2008 featured evolutionary products such as the Sony A350, Canon Rebel XS1, and Panasonic TZ3. I also saw groundbreaking equipment, such as the Casio EX-F1. In this podcast I cover my favorites from PMA 2008, including:

• Casio EXILIM Pro EX-F1
• Canon Rebel XSi
• Sony alpha A350
• Nik Software's Viveza
• Sanho Hyperdrive

Photo of PMA 2008 at the Las Vegas Convention Center by Derrick Story.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Empty is this month's photo assignment. Empty spaces, empty containers, empty lives... lots of possibilities for this one. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Feb. 29.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Favorite PMA Goodies." You can download the podcast here (27 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Julieanne Kost is one of my favorite Lightroom evangelists. I sat down with Julieanne at PhotoPlus Expo in New York to talk about Lightroom, DNG, and organizing lots and lots of photos. Julieanne shares plenty of great tips in this interview. I think you'll enjoy it.

You can check out Julieanne's book, Window Seat on Amazon.com

Photo of Julieanne Kost at PhotoPlus Expo by Colleen Wheeler.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Edges is this month's photo assignment. Where does one thing begin and another end? How about the edges of the day, the mind? Lots of possibilities for this one. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Jan 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Julieanne Kost on Lightroom and DNG." You can download the podcast here (32 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

You can distinguish your work from others. If ten people are given an assignment to shoot a cityscape, you want your photo to be the one that stands out from the crowd.

In this podcast, I cover five reminders that will help your photos look different than those of your peers. No magic here. Just good photography technique. I provide sample images at the end of this post.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Edges is this month's photo assignment. Where does one thing begin and another end? How about the edges of the day, the mind? Lots of possibilities for this one. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Jan 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "5 Ways to Distinguish Your Photos." You can download the podcast here (29 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

What's the difference between "input" sharpening and "output" sharpening? Do you know when to use Adobe Camera Raw or when you should launch Photoshop? How would you like to learn a new way to convert to B&W in ACR that introduces less noise? Katrin Eismann, coauthor of the just released The Creative Digital Darkroom, shared many of her Raw processing secrets over the course of two days in Tampa.

In this podcast I highlight some of my favorite techniques that Katrin demonstrated, including my two favorites: how to better use the masking slider for input sharpening, and a new way to convert to B&W in ACR. These techniques also work in Adobe Lightroom.

You can get more goodies directly from Katrin and Sean by visiting their Creative Digital Darkroom web site.

Katrin Eismann (seated) holding court in the Adobe booth at Imaging USA in Tampa. Photo captured with a Canon G9 at ISO 400 by Derrick Story.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Edges is this month's photo assignment. Where does one thing begin and another end? How about the edges of the day, the mind? Lots of possibilities for this one. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Jan 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Katrin Eismann on ACR Sharpening, B&W and More." You can download the podcast here (25 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: Adobe Lightroom, digital photography, Technology, The Digital Story, Adobe Camera Raw

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

The start of a new year is a great time to get organized. In this podcast, I discuss pulling together the serial numbers for your camera equipment, registration numbers for you software, and just getting things together in general.

I also remind folks about the new New Baggage Restrictions for Li-Ion Batteries.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Edges is this month's photo assignment. Where does one thing begin and another end? How about the edges of the day, the mind? Lots of possibilities for this one. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Jan 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Getting Organized." You can download the podcast here (27 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, Li-Ion Battery, Photo Assignment, podcast, The Digital Story

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, Li-Ion Battery, Photo Assignment, podcast, The Digital Story

I've discovered that I'm using burst mode much more than I used to, and I wanted to figure out why. As is turns out, there are a number of factors, including changes both on the camera side and in post production.

In this podcast, I extol the virtues of shooting in burst mode, then give tips for getting the most out of it.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Water is this month's photo assignment. It's time to work with all states of water, from vapor to ice. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Dec 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Burst Mode." You can download the podcast here (32 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: Adobe Lightroom, Aperture, digital photography, technique, Technology, The Digital Story

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

We've been good photographers who have embraced the concept of workflow, invested in software, and have tried to go about our business in an orderly fashion. So what's the payoff?

I had begun to wonder that myself. Oh, sure, there have been small victories here and there. For example, I wanted to find this photo that I call "Head Stomp." I had captured it back in Sept. 2006, and I needed it for a project. Thanks to my organizational software, it took me a matter of seconds to locate it, then export it in the size and format I needed. Nice.

But the real payoff appeared when I started working on my latest book, Digital Photography Companion, and had to organized hundreds of photos that I've captured over the last few years. I talk about that experience in this week's show.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Water is this month's photo assignment. It's time to work with all states of water, from vapor to ice. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Dec 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Payoff." You can download the podcast here (30 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: Adobe Lightroom, Aperture, digital photography, iPhoto, podcast, software, technique, Technology, The Digital Story

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

The first step in an accurate color workflow is ensuring your computer monitor is calibrated to printing standards. In this podcast, I cover some steps you can take right now with no additional equipment, then discuss the advantages of using a monitor colorimeter. Even affordable units, such as the Huey for less then $80, can lead to more accurate printing and web pages.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Water is this month's photo assignment. It's time to work with all states of water, from vapor to ice. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Dec 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Monitor Calibration." You can download the podcast here (26 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story Podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Check out what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot by taking a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Have you looked at the Park by the Numbers Camera Phone Project? If you have a camera phone, you've got to check this out.

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, equipment, Huey, ICC Profiles, software, Technology, The Digital Story

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.