The Digital Story Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #946, May 7, 2024. Today's theme is "The Inspiration Battle - 5 Tips to Overcome the Blahs." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue An Inner Circle member recently posted that he's been uninspired lately. Others chimed in that it happens to us all at times. And when it does, what can be done? This week I share 5 tips to overcome photographer's block. Plus, a very tempting offer for our podcast audience, and a peek at Peakto Search. All of this, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 946 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Inspiration Battle - 5 Tips to Overcome the Blahs Any artistic pursuit is vulnerable to creative block, and photography is no exception. Here are five tips to help get things moving again. Go Back in Time Shoot a Roll of Film Break Out a Vintage Lens Take a Trip to Bizarro World Find a Photo Buddy I promise you, if you embrace one or more of these challenges, you will begin to feel the rise of inspiration as you climb out of your creative rut. The Inner Circle Membership Drive - Spring 2024 I've been enjoying our Inner Circle experience so much this year, I just can't help thinking that you would too. But I know how that is... there are certain things we just never get around to doing. So I thought I could help with that. And I think you're really going to like this. For the next two weeks, we're having the Inner Circle Membership Drive. If you haven't joined us yet, all you have to do is click on this link to go to our Patreon page, scroll to Choose Your Membership, click on Pay Annually, then click on the Join button. The annual membership is $54 a year. The extra incentive is, once I see that you've joined the Inner Circle for a year, I'll send you a coupon code that will allow you to sign up for free, your choice of the Infrared Workshop in June, or the Printing Workshop in August. That's a $145 value! This promotion is for annual memberships only. One coupon code for one online workshop per paid membership. Plus, you will still receive all of the Inner Circle benefits including access to our exclusive space on DerrickStoryOnline and discounts for future online and in-person workshops. And you're helping to support our online community. If you're an existing Inner Circle Member, you can still benefit from the membership drive. All you have to do is switch from monthly payments to the annual payment of $54, and you will also receive a coupon code for either online workshop. If you've left the Inner Circle and want to rejoin us, the same offer applies. The Inner Circle Membership Drive runs from May 7, 2024 through May 22, 2024. Join us today and experience one of our online workshops. Peakto Search for Capture One Pro and Lightroom Utilizing AI, Peakto Search allows users to find any photos OR videos, based on a simple description or image. Capable of searching across multiple Catalogs, Peakto Search is always at hand in the menu bar and operates even when the app is closed. It instantly reveals results and enables users to open photos and videos directly in Capture One Pro or Lightroom. Peakto Search functions as an intelligent search engine. With just a simple description or image-based query, the plugin retrieves corresponding photos or videos. No annotations or knowledge of storage locations are required; Peakto Search's advanced AI swiftly locates content. Capture One Pro confines the ability to search for content to a Catalog or Session. Peakto Search extends this limit by offering a search that can be conducted across multiple Catalogs and Sessions simultaneously. Search results appear in real-time through previews of photos and videos. The video player preview available in the plugin highlights the segments in the video that exactly match the query or reference...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #945, April 30, 2024. Today's theme is "It's the Shooting Experience, Not Image Quality." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Why do we choose the cameras that we do? Is it sensor size, megapixels, lens catalog, high-tech features, or something else altogether? I recently polled our Inner Circle Members about the brands they use and stick with. I found their responses illuminating, and thought that you might too. All of that, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 945 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In It's the Shooting Experience, Not Image Quality Derrick Story riding the Verde Canyon Railroad. Photo by Steve Csoto. A recent conversation on the Inner Circle site centered around brand loyalty and what our photographers favor for cameras. I thought the comments were terrific, and I was enjoying each of them when I came across this thought by Rudiger Wolf: Olympus, Leica, Hasselblad, Apple all have unique uses and relevance. I'm finding the shooting experience is becoming more important to me than image quality. Each has a different shooting window (wildlife, portraits, macro, Astro, travel, sports, etc.). We are fortunate to have so many choices and options. Rudiger's comment seemed to have a many heads nodding in approval. Jim Kuzman followed up by writing: "Your comment about the shooting experience really resonates with me. I have some excellent lenses but I'm more inclined to trade ultimate image quality for a smaller, more compact, and ultimately more enjoyable setup that gets me 90% of the quality at 50% of the bulk and weight and 100% of the joy. Larry Borreson chimed in, "I have to agree. Each camera tends to lend itself to its own type of creativity." Michael Alford commented, "Fuji and OM Systems/Olympus. Main systems, but I also have a Lumix LX100. Then Nikon and Bronica for film, I agree with Ruddier that the shooting experience is more important than image quality, At least now that image quality is so high it hardly matters what you use." Forty-two percent of our audience have found the brand they like and are sticking with it. Another 42 percent are toggling between two brands depending on the task that's at hand. I started thinking about my own camera choices. It goes beyond brand for me into the actual camera model. I shoot Nikon for example, but not the more modern Z8 or Z9. I like the Zf. My favorite Olympus model is the PEN-F. And I adore the Fujifilm X100V, but an not interested at all in their X-S20 body. Along with Rudiger, Michael, Jim, and Larry, the shooting experience is my most important feature. And I don't know if this happens to you, but I can see just the picture of a new camera and right away know if I want to hold it in my hands. I remember testing the Nikon Z5 a few years ago. It was a perfectly capable camera, and I said so in my review. But after publishing those words, I promptly sent back my loaner, not even waiting for the full 30 day deadline. I just wasn't inspired with it. I tested other Nikons too. I was intrigued by the Zfc when it was released, thinking that we were going to become fast friends. I took my loaner on a camping trip in Mendocino County. I came home with lovely pictures. But the camera just didn't feel right in my hands. The retro design was sweet, but the shooting experience was off for me. I sent back my loaner after 30 days. More time passed and the Nikon Zf hit the market. Once again, B&H sent me a loaner right away. My first shoot with it was a haunted house assignment for a client. That's crazy depending on a brand new camera for a paying gig. But that's what I did. I never sent the Zf back. The shooting experience was amazing. And I was just as thrilled with its performance when I reviewed the images on my MacBook Pro. I hadn't felt that way...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #944, April 23, 2024. Today's theme is "Nikon 28-400mm Lens Review - Does It Measure Up?" I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue The specs seem almost too good to be true. The Nikon zoom has a focal length range of 28-400mm, yet it's compact and light. On the Z8, Z9, and Zf, it features Synchro VR, enabling 5.5 stops of stabilization. It has weather-sealed construction and close focusing. And it costs $1,296. How does it perform? Tune in to today's TDS Photography Podcast to find out. Plus an OM System Warning and ON1 Photo Raw 2024. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 944 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Nikon 28-400mm Lens Review - Does It Measure Up? When I mounted the brand new NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens on the Nikon Zf with SmallRig grip, I was surprised at how balanced the zoom felt on the camera. I could easily hold and shoot with one hand. The lack of bulk seemed unimaginable when considering that the focal range goes from a wide 28mm to a very long 400mm. If you're outside exploring the world, it's the only lens you would need that day. Let's start by taking a look at the specs. Focusing The STM stepping motor is very quiet and focuses quickly in good light. In low light, it's a tad slower. But this is not by any stretch of the imagination a low light lens. Build and Handling Amazing well balanced on a full-frame camera. When racking out the telephoto, lens extends to double its original length at 400mm. The Zoom Ring is nicely damped and large making it easy to grip. It's so large in fact that when the lens hood is reversed, there's still plenty of operating room. I really like the lock switch that prevents accidental extension of the lens barrel. The metal mount and weather sealing are excellent. The Control Ring is easy to find without having to look, and it can be programmed for a variety of functions including manual focusing, exposure compensation and aperture control. Image Quality Again, surprisingly good for a lens of this range. I tested at f/8 with settings of 28, 35, 50, 70, 105, 200, 300, and 400mm. I then viewed the Jpegs and RAWs at 100 percent in Capture One Pro. Center sharpness was excellent at all focal lengths. Some corner softness a extreme telephoto settings. Mild vignetting appeared at 105mm for the RAW files, but was not present in the Jpegs. There was no noticable CA. Overall, very strong performance. Bottom Line The NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR lens is a very good value at $1,296. If you're traveling and working outdoors, it can replace every lens in your bag dramatically lightening your load. You can keep the NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8 pancake in your pocket just in case you run into a low light situation. And quite honestly, be in great shape with those two optics. I think the 28-400mm looks great on the Zf. It's easy to operate. And if you're in good light, it's hard to beat. Highly recommended. OM System Warns macOS Changes May Prevent You From Updating Your Camera You can read the entire article on PetaPixel.com Infrared Photography Workshop - Online - June 2024 Do you feel like the world is looking like "the same old same old" through your camera's viewfinder? Have you felt your enthusiasm for photography waning? Then it's time for you to consider exploring infrared imaging. Suddenly walks you've taken a hundred times look completely different as you see them through your camera. Old familiar subjects burst to life with new vibrancy. IR photography can energize your creativity, not only for this medium, but for all of your artistry. Beginning June 5, 2024, join us for this 4-week exploration into the world of IR. During this event, you will learn: This online workshop (Zoom) begins on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, with both morning (9am PST) and evening sessions (4pm PST) available. We will convene weekly...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #943, April 16, 2024. Today's theme is "Riding Shotgun to Sedona." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue There are two facets to any road trip: How you think it will go and how it actually turns out. For the journey from Santa Rosa, CA to Sedona, AZ in my all-electric VW ID.4, I felt like I had a great plan. After all, this isn't my first EV rodeo. I've done two trips to Oregon for workshops, plus numerous adventures up and down the state. But I also know that every excursion takes on its own personality. Ride along with me to Sedona and let's experience it together. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 943 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Riding Shotgun to Sedona Tune-in to hear my on-the-road updates. Virtual Camera Club News The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events. Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view. If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #942, April 9, 2024. Today's theme is "The Irresistible Roadtrip." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Ah, the convenience of modern commercial aviation - Just hop on a plane and within a few hours you have landed at your destination. Why would anyone spend the extra time and effort to drive there instead? Well, this photographer for one. And on today's TDS Photography Podcast I will explain why I'm driving to this year's Sedona Workshop instead of flying. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 942 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Irresistible Roadtrip My sister, her husband and their 12-year-old dog drove up from Southern California last week to hang out with us for a few days. Over dinner one night we were talking about the long drive up Interstate 5 and how they navigated the challenges. At one point my wife turned to me and asked, "So why are you driving all the way to Sedona for your workshop? Why don't you just fly there like we did last year?" It's a great question. For the October 2023 event, we drove to San Francisco, went through all the pre-boarding rigamarole, landed in Phoenix, rented a Crysler Pacifica, then began the journey north to Sedona. It was fine. But it did consume an entire day, I was limited on what I could bring to the workshop, and it was expensive. So since I still have free charging with Electrify America for my VW ID.4, I decided to drive to Sedona this second time around. First of all, it's free. I can bring whatever I want to the workshop. That means more cameras to choose from each day, plus my own food, portable refrigerator, more clothes, better gear for our labs, and no one herding me around like I'm a dairy cow. Second of all, I can take pictures along the way. Who knows what I will see or experience between Santa Rosa and Sedona? And when I arrive, I will have my own car packed with my stuff and better able to serve those who are attending the workshop. My wife's question is perfectly logical. Lots can go wrong on a road trip. But lots can go right too. I think photographers are different. Given the opportunity, we need to spread our wings beyond the confines of a fuselage. Even if a unique photo opp never presents itself, we want that possibility. We want stories to go with our pictures. In the end, my sister, her husband, and my wife understand why I must drive to Sedona this year. They know that even though I sometimes defy their logic, my logic is what makes me the intrepid artist. And they will greet me with open arms when I return. Next Week's Podcast - The Journey I'm going to document my trip to Sedona and share those ups and downs as next week's podcast. Be sure to tune in. YouTube CEO Says it is a Problem if OpenAI Scraped Videos for Sora You can read the entire article on PetaPixel.com Infrared Photography Workshop - Online - June 2024 Do you feel like the world is looking like "the same old same old" through your camera's viewfinder? Have you felt your enthusiasm for photography waning? Then it's time for you to consider exploring infrared imaging. Suddenly walks you've taken a hundred times look completely different as you see them through your camera. Old familiar subjects burst to life with new vibrancy. IR photography can energize your creativity, not only for this medium, but for all of your artistry. Beginning June 5, 2024, join us for this 4-week exploration into the world of IR. During this event, you will learn: This online workshop (Zoom) begins on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, with both morning (9am PST) and evening sessions (4pm PST) available. We will convene weekly thereafter via Zoom for more training sessions (AM and PM), Q&A, and to compare notes. You can attend morning, evening, or both sessions. It's essentially the same content, just different participants. It is so much...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #941, April 2, 2024. Today's theme is "Finally, Fast Transfer from SD Card to Smartphone" I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue In theory, our mirrorless cameras and smartphones should be the best of mates. Together, they could provide the power and portability that we could only dream of a decade ago. But thanks to finicky WiFi mobile apps, transfers from camera to smartphones have been painful at best. Then, the EU stepped in. And everything changed. Find out how on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 941 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Finally, Fast Transfer from SD Card to Smartphone If I told you that you have everything you need right now for reliable, hassle-free transfers of RAWs and Jpegs from you mirrorless camera to your smartphone, would you believe me? If you've toiled with the wireless-enabled mobile apps from Canon, Nikon, Sony, FujiFilm, and OM System, you probably wouldn't. They're fine for Bluetooth functionality, such as geotagging our camera pictures, but they suck at robust transfer of pictures. I had pretty much given up on the whole thing until one day when I was gazing at the USB-C port on my iPhone 15 Pro Max. The port that replaced the Lightning connector by mandate of the EU. That same Lightning connector that I have various card readers for that for some unexplained reason doesn't work with my iPad which does have Lightning. I started thinking, what if I took my Kingston 1 TB card out of the Nikon Zf, put it in my Kingston SD card reader, and plugged it in to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It should work. And it does. And not only does it work, it works fast. So, what software could I use to manage the copying of photos from the SD card to the iPhone. It turns out, that the Apple Files app works great, as does Lightroom Mobile. Photos for iOS also has a direct import function, but it can't separate RAW/Jpeg bundles the way that Lightroom and Files can. So unless I'm shooting Jpeg only, I'll use Files or Lightroom for import. The basic process is easy. If you want to bypass the Files app and import from Lightroom Mobile directly, you can. Connect the SD card and tap on the blue import icon in the lower right corner of the Lightroom interface. Lightroom will ask you if you want to add photos from the Device (iPhone), Files (app), or Connected camera/card. Choose Connected camera/card, select the pictures you want, then tap the blue Import button at the bottom of the screen. You pictures will appear. Why would you want to use either of these methods for pictures from your mirrorless camera? If you want to read about the entire workflow, complete with pictures, check out my free link to the article, Making the iPhone/Mirrorless Camera Connection on Live View. And thanks EU for finally making Apple put a USB-C connector on my iPhone. Huh? Pentax announces a new daguerreotype camera! This was my favorite April Fools story. You can read the entire article on Photofocus.com Ricoh/Pentax announced a daguerreotype camera, catching the film industry off guard. "It's 1830s specs, but with some modern touches," designer Takeo Suzuki stated via Instagram. While the video doesn't reveal many details or a launch date, Suzuki stated that the camera is in development. "We have wanted to embrace analog technology. The Film Camera Project was just stretching a bit and warming up. Pentax is now seriously throwing down." Pentax went on to say that their daguerreotype uses the same process as the original 1830s design. "Young people have increasingly shown interest in these kinds of cameras, and we want them to experience the joy that the early pioneering photographers felt." With traditional daguerreotype cameras, the photographer polished a silver-plated copper sheet until it was like a mirror. Then they zapped it...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #940, March 26, 2024. Today's theme is "Getting Serious About Portable Power." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Cameras, laptops, drones, lighting - they all require power, and sometimes all at once. When we're at home, it's just a matter of finding enough outlets. But on the road, that can be more challenging in motel rooms. And if you're sharing space with someone, they're probably saying, "Hey, where do I plug my phone in?" And then, how about out in the field? Yes, we all need power, regardless of where we are. And this week, I'm going to tell you how to get it. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 940 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Getting Serious About Portable Power I started on this project years ago. As soon as I realized that I would need watts and watts of power on the road, I began looking for solutions. At first, there were small, pocket-sized power banks with USB-A outlets. They were fine for topping off my iPhone, but they weren't powerful enough for multiple iPad recharges or even camera batteries. But I packed one or two anyway, just in case I found myself in a pinch. Then, in the summer of 2021, I bought a Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station and a companion SolarSaga 100W solar panel. My road trips were suddenly improved. The Explorer 300 could power up to 6 devices at once via USB-A, USB-C, 12V carport, and two 110V AC outlets. I was able to power my laptop, recharge camera batteries, and keep all of my mobile devices topped off. If I was camping, I could use the solar panel to refuel the Explorer 300, feeling like I had endless energy regardless of my location. Everything changes with power. Now I had plenty of campsite lighting at night. I could ditch the ice chest and replace it with a portable refrigerator, and I could work and play the way I wanted, not worrying about draining little batteries that I couldn't refuel. For workshops, I could ditch the cumbersome extension cords and let participants plug their laptops into the Explorer 300. This worked so well, that I bought a second unit for more flexibility. And if motel rooms hid their only available outlet behind a 200 pound dresser, I didn't care. I would grab the Explorer 300 from the car and keep on chargin'. Like I said earlier, everything changed. Not Just for the Road When I returned to the studio, I would put everything away until my next road trip. That was fine, but it seemed like a missed opportunity. I had a south-facing sliding door that opened to my patio there, and it received hours of potent sunlight most of the year. Why not put that solar panel and power station to work? After all, I'm using solar panels on the roof at home, and my electricity bill is practically non-existent. I expanded my system a little bit, and power generation evolved from a convenience on the road to a hobby. With just a few adjustments at the studio, I was able to reduce my energy consumption by 30 percent from the grid. I'd set the solar panel out in the morning and connect it to a Jackery power station (1 minute), then charge all of my devices, laptop, lamps, and even TV from my mini power station. To give you an idea of the draw I needed, here's a list of my common devices now running off solar. BODEGAcooler Mini 12V Portable Freezer P8 With just a couple power stations and 100 watt panel, I could maintain all of these devices without ever having to plug them into the wall. And if there was a power outage, I have my entire backup system designed and ready to go. Better Technology, More Power Recently, Jackery introduced the Explorer 300 Plus with an array of improvements including lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP), faster charging times, improved LCD display, WiFi, Bluetooth, a companion mobile app, and more control over the settings of the unit - all for about...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #939, March 19, 2024. Today's theme is "Photography's Most Powerful Teacher: Failure." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue The idea of what is successful and what isn't has been swimming around my head lately. I'm sure a big part of it was our Photo Critique Workshop that just wrapped up. Those discussions about how we view our pictures versus the reactions to them by others were fascinating. So I decided to share a story with you about the secret to good photography. All of this, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 939 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Adobe interview: 'we're not trying to trick anyone with AI' You can read the entire story on AmateurPhotographer.com. How Nikon and Agence France-Presse in Paris Are Seeking To Ensure Authenticity in Photojournalism You can read the entire story on FStoppers.com. Virtual Camera Club News The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events. Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view. If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #938, March 12, 2024. Today's theme is "So Much Photography News This Week!." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Nikon buys RED, Lensrentals gobbles up Borrowlenses, the Princess of Wales gets caught with a sloppy Photoshop job, and a lot more - What a week in the news! So much so, that we are dedicating this week's podcast to the breaking stories in the photography world. Stay tuned! I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 938 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In This Week's Top Photography Stories Nikon to Acquire RED in Surprise Announcement on FStoppers.com. Actually, LENSRENTALS Won't Be Acquiring Employees from BORROWLENSES on ThePhoblographer.com. Edited Royal Family photo sparks major controversy on AmateurPhotographer.com 'Oppenheimer' Cinematographer Urges Filmmakers to Shoot on Analog in Oscars Speech on PetaPixel.com Has Leica just made its best camera ever? on DigitalCameraWorld.com Nikon's Z9 slated to go to the moon in 2026 on DPReview.com. Virtual Camera Club News The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10-percent discount on all events. Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view. If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address. Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation. Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs. See you next week! You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #937, March 5, 2024. Today's theme is "Film Simulations - Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Your first thought may be, "Why do I care about film simulations?" And that's fair if what you are after is the standard Jpeg processing included with your camera. But since electronic viewfinders can present a view of the world with our settings applied, film simulations can lead the way to more creative photography. I will explain more in the first story of this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 937 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Film Simulations - Nothing to Lose, Everything to Gain The announcement of the new Fujifilm X100 VI with its 20 film simulations seems to have re-energized this conversation. Being a fan of these myself, I thought it would be worth a few minutes of our time. Basically, film simulations are merely alternative Jpeg processing formulas. Camera manufacturers have their default recipes, which are excellent, but if you want to get creative there are alternatives. These really became popular with mirrorless cameras because the EVFs allowed us to preview the effect of any film simulation we had applied. Often this encourages creativity. And they are just plain fun. Nearly every camera has a way to apply these. Fujifilm includes a library of simulations developed with their color science built right into the camera. Nikon also has their versions of this, called Picture Controls. They include their own, and then leave 9 slots open for you to add your own. Currently I'm using a set developed by an independent site called Nikon Picture Control Editor. I use these on my Olympus cameras as well. Just like the other brands, OM System includes different looks built into the camera. But, you also have access to all of the controls required to create your own recepies. Rob Trek Online, for example, has published some Fujifilm recipies that you can apply to your OM System camera. You can also apply film looks in post production. Adobe, DxO, Capture One, Photomator, RAW Power, and ON1 all have film looks available. Tips for Film Simulation Shoot RAW+Jpeg. The RAW will be RAW and the Jpeg will reflect the film simulation. Note in your metadata descriptions the film simulation you used. These are not typically captured by the camera. I'm building an album in Capture One Pro that shows all of the film simulations that I'm using for the Nikon Zf. You can always return to the camera manufacturer's profile in post. In Capture One Pro, for example, the Base Characteristics panel will let me switch back to a Nikon ICC profile if I decide I don't like the film simulation I used while shooting. You can see the differences if you switch back and forth between the RAW version (which will have a native camera profile) and the Jpeg version (which will show the film simulation). I find this comparison very instructive. Bottom Line Film simulations, one way or another, can be enjoyed with any mirrorless camera. I love the looks they create, both in B&W and color. With my Nikon Zf, I have seven different B&W simulations to choose from - 3 native, and 4 added. And they are all very different. The New Film Camera from Pentax is a Half Frame Compact You can read the entire article on CasualPhotoPhile.com. Infrared Photography Workshop - Online - June 2024 Do you feel like the world is looking like "the same old same old" through your camera's viewfinder? Have you felt your enthusiasm for photography waning? Then it's time for you to consider exploring infrared imaging. Suddenly walks you've taken a hundred times look completely different as you see them through your camera. Old familiar subjects burst to life with new vibrancy. IR photography can energize your creativity, not only for this...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #936, Feb. 27, 2024. Today's theme is "Is Something Really Wrong, or Is It Me?" I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Even people who use electronics all the time can be baffled by them. You turn it on, get a warning light, and wonder, "Is something really wrong, or is it me?" It could go either way. And it's hard not to jump to conclusions. I've had a rash of these experiences lately. And I'll share a couple of them with you, if for no other reason, to demonstrate that we all fall into this trap. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 936 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Is Something Really Wrong, or Is It Me? I do admit, I push the envelope sometimes, especially if I can save a few dollars. In my mind, I am the king of repurposing. And for the most part, this works well for me. But every now and then I trip on my own shoelaces. My latest folly, which I have to admit makes me laugh at myself, is a story about the Nikon Zf, which comes with one battery and no charger. We all know that a happening photographer can not survive on one battery alone. And to buy a second would tack on $60 to the budget. So I examined an extra battery I already owned, the Nikon EN-EL15 that came with my aging D610 DSLR. It looked just like the EN-EL15c that came with the Zf with just a little less horsepower. And sure enough, when I inserted the EL15 into the Zf, everything worked normally. Problem solved! I checked this substitution online and Nikon officially states that the EL15 was not supported in the Zf. But it was working great. And to make things even better, the Nikon Battery Charger MH-25 that was also included with the D610 charged both the old and the new Nikon batteries. I was in frugal heaven. Life has been good since this discovery. I have two batteries for the Zf, and that's all I need for my everyday photography. I keep the newer one in the camera and pack the older one as a backup. Then on a Saturday Theresa and I had some errands out in wine country. The rain had subsided, and the forecast was fantastic. "I'm bringing the Nikon," I said to myself. I didn't have the battery charger at home. It was at the studio. "No problem," I thought. I can charge the Zf via a USB-C cable. So I dug around in my bag, found a nice substantial one, and connected the camera to a power source. The charging light started blinking, continued for 30 seconds, then went dark. "Hmmm," I thought. "Seems like it should stay on while charging." I checked the LCD screen and noticed that it was not charging. "That's odd," I thought. I'll try again. Same thing happened. 30 seconds of blinking then nothing. My next thought was shrouded in darkness. "Oh no! I have a defective camera." I took a deep breath. "Now hold on there cowboy. It's probably something simple. Maybe it's the cord or the power brick." So, I found another cord and another brick. Same result. I tried yet another tandem. No charge. At this point I had the contents of my equipment bag spread all over the couch, and a battery that was only 40 percent charged. When all else fails, read the owners manual. I found the PDF on my iPad and looked up charging. There was a note that stated when the light blinks for 30 seconds and goes out, it's a charging error. Excellent. I have the only Nikon Zf in California that won't charge via USB. I felt defeated. I repacked the contents of my cord pouch and stuffed it back in the backpack. "Might as well tidy up," I thought. Then I poured myself another cup of coffee and pondered my situation. "Why won't it work? Is it really broken?" Then I thought of one last-ditch effort. What if I switched batteries and tried charging the backup? Who know, right? I fetched the backup battery out of my backpack and switched it out with the one in the camera. Plugged everything ink, and waited. The charge...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #935, Feb. 20, 2024. Today's theme is "How Do I Pick My Best Shot? (And the New Fujifilm X100VI)" I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Breaking news! The Fujifilm X100VI. And... photographers tend to be too hard on themselves, or way too generous when evaluating their pictures. But there's a middle ground. To reach it, we need to honestly answer a few basic questions during the review process. In the first segment of today's TDS Photography Podcast, I'll let you know what those are, and how they can help you make better choices when selecting your images. Then we take you to Tokyo for the Fujifilm X-Summit. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 935 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In How Do I Pick My Best Shot? Have you ever opened up your laptop to show off a favorite picture, one that you worked very hard on, only to have the viewer rave about a different shot that you had passed by? "But I worked hours on this one to get it perfect!" you counter. "Oh, that one is nice too," the viewer says in a comforting voice. Photographers have many blind spots when evaluating their own work. One of the most common is, "If I spend lots of time working on a picture, it's better than the others." That may or may not be the case. But how do you know? You can move the odds more in your favor by analyzing your favorite photos using this process. It goes something like this. Let's apply this technique to a photo shoot you've just completed. Is the content of this photograph compelling? What I mean by that is, is there a clear center of interest and does it tell a story? Is the image technically sound? That is, is the exposure good and the sharpeness appropriate for the subject? Is there emotional appeal? Do you feel something when you look at the picture? Your best images will answer yes to all three questions. One of the things I've observed during lab sessions at our TDS workshops is that many photographers give too much weight to technical considerations and not enough to content and emotion. The irony is, if we had to live without one of the three, it would be the technical. Photos that have interesting content with emotional appeal will always outshine technically perfect images with general audiences. Once a person identifies your main subject and is attracted to it, the game is over. Pixel peepers may criticize image noise or a plugged-up shadow area, but if they are ignoring a great subject in the process, then they're missing the point. Try this four-step process on a recent photo shoot, and see if you're surprised by the winners. Maybe next time you open up your laptop to show off a picture, it will also be the favorite for the person you're showing it too. If you want more on this subject, check out my Live View article, How to Better Evaluate Our Pictures. This is a free link! Fujifilm X100VI Announced at X-Summit Tokyo Fujifilm photographers have their first X-Summit of the year on Feb. 20th in Japan. And they didn't have to wait long for the announcement of the new X100VI Digital Camera. The estimated ship date is Feb. 28, but you can preorder the X100VI now for $1,599. On today's podcast, you can hear directly from Fujifilm about their new compact camera. Infrared Photography Workshop - Online - June 2024 Do you feel like the world is looking like "the same old same old" through your camera's viewfinder? Have you felt your enthusiasm for photography waning? Then it's time for you to consider exploring infrared imaging. Suddenly walks you've taken a hundred times look completely different as you see them through your camera. Old familiar subjects burst to life with new vibrancy. IR photography can energize your creativity, not only for this medium, but for all of your artistry. Beginning June 5, 2024, join us for this 4-week exploration into...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #934, Feb. 13, 2024. Today's theme is "The Temptation of Cheap Third Party Lenses." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue It's hard to resist the siren call of super-affordable Chinese-made optics. For the price of a polarizer, we can fill gaps in our lens library that we might not otherwise be able to afford. But even at a modest price, do these accessories provide the quality we need for our work? The answer is "yes," and "no." Find out why on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 934 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Temptation of Cheap Third Party Lenses There are lenses that we use all of the time - 24mm, 40mm, 85mm - and lenses that we use every now and then. For our everyday work, I recommend sticking with optics that we know we can depend on, usually manfactured by the camera brand they are being mounted on. But what about those lenses we only use some of the time? Should we pay a premium for those as well? I was looking for a super-wide for the Nikon Zf. I wanted an optic that could cover more ground than my current 24mm. The Nikon NIKKOR Z 20mm S with a maximum aperture of f/1.8 has an overall rating of 4.9 and costs $1,046. It is 4.27" long and weighs just over a pound. It uses a 77mm front filter. The Viltrox 20mm Z has a maximum aperture of f/2.8, no star ratings yet on Amazon, and costs $158. It is 2.7" long, weighs 6.1 ounces, and uses a 52mm front filter. Lens construction differences between the two optics are different, but not as much as you might think. The Viltrox has 10 elements in 8 groups with 7 aperture blades. The Nikon has 14 elements in 11 groups with 9 aperture blades. Both optics have quiet AF and manual focus, and nano multilayer coating on the elements. And both work well on the Nikon Zf. We know that the Nikon 20mm performs well. But what about the Viltrox? I did a little testing with it mounted on the Nikon Zf. Here's what I found. So, right out of the camera, the Viltrox doesn't compete well against the Nikon. It's a stop slower, doesn't focus as fast, and doesn't perform its best wide open. But I worked the files a bit in Capture One Pro. Here's what I did. In Lens Correction, I selected the Nikon AF 20mm f/2.8 D profile. In that same panel, I increased sharpness and compensated for Light Falloff. In the Base Characteristics panel, I used the Nikon Zf Neutral profile. I then processed the image normally including a little devignetting. The finished RAW file looked very good. The bottom line here is if you're willing to spend a little time in post-processing massaging the RAW files, you can get good results from the Viltrox 20mm f/2.8. And if you only need a super wide on occasion, then the extra time might be worth it. However, if you want premium image quality and handling, then the Nikon Z is the superior way to go. The Viltrox 20mm f/2.8 is available in both Nikon Z and Sony E mounts for $158. Fujifilm and Skylum are Hosting 50 Free Photo Walks Across the U.S. You can read the entire article at Petapixel.com. Skylum, the company behind the Luminar Neo editing platform, and Fujifilm have partnered to host 50 free photo walks across the United States, giving photographers a chance to not only see their local cities in a new light but also try out new Fujifilm gear. The two companies say that this "experimental" new program was developed to inspire photographers to explore various metropolitan cities through their camera lenses on a series of guided photo walks where they will be surrounded by a like-minded community. As part of the experience, participants will be able to try out Fujifilm's latest cameras and lenses and get face-to-face time with personnel from both companies. "At almost every event in which Fujifilm participates, we look for an opportunity to...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #933, Feb. 6, 2024. Today's theme is "Documenting What Makes You, You." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue We have many more dimensions than most folks realize. Yes, in this community, we know each other for our photography. But each of us has far more going on than taking pictures. And we can use that skill to document - and share if we wish - the other areas of our life. Combining our love for photography with the things we enjoy. I will discuss one such example regarding me on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 933 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Documenting What Makes You, You I have lemon trees. Yes, multiple. At the studio, I have a miniature in a wine barrel on the back patio that is wildly prolific and produces the most delicious Meyers. At the house, we have two more small trees. And they seem happy as well. So this time of year I find myself up to my hip boots in fruit. I have already perfected the art of homemade lemonade using Xylitol as the sweetener. Delicious. Theresa incorporates our bounty into a variety of entrees that enhance their appeal. And yet, there are still more lemons. So I searched the Internet for interesting things to do with our harvest. And I stumbled upon a recipe for making Limoncello, an Italian liqueur traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestive. "That sounds good," I thought. So I endeavored to make a California version with my Meyers. The basic recipe involves soaking the lemon peels in grain alcohol for a few weeks, then straining, and finally adding simple syrup to sweeten. Limoncello is kept in the freezer and served in petite after-dinner liquor glasses. Now even though the basic recipe is simple, the proportions are very important. And being the type of guy who strives for the best Limoncello west of the Atlantic, I document everything I do as I evolve the recipe. This is where the documentation comes into play. For example: the first batch used 600 ML of Everclear 120 proof grain alcohol, the peels from 12 medium to medium-small Meyer lemons, and finished with 275 ML of homemade simple syrup. But without photographs to accompany my documentation, how do I know in the future what a medium-small lemon looks like? How much peel from each lemon? How do I filter the concoction after infusion? And on and on. So with each step, I photograph what's happening and label those images as part of Batch 1. And this part is as enjoyable as making the Limoncello itself. During the weeks required for infusion, I'm on the hunt for cute bottles that would be appropriate for such a delicacy. And since I'm going to be making lemonade with the juice of those lemons, I need to gather all those parts as well. This past Sunday, on a stormy day in Northern California, I finished the first batch, carefully placed the bottles in the freezer, and we sampled the finished product after dinner. Amazing! The second batch is already underway. For reference, I have photos of every step from version 1 to accompany my precise measurements. I love the pictures almost as much as the drink itself. So by now, you've probably figured out that I'm a hobby mixologist. I've created my own drinks from scratch, and have been able to copy others just by tasting them. I can now add Limoncello to my resume. And I have the pictures to prove it. Capture One Lays Off Staff Amid a 'Significant' Internal Restructure You can read the entire article at Petapixel.com. Capture One is undergoing what it characterizes as "significant changes" internally which has resulted in an unspecified number of layoffs at the company. It is at least the second round of turnover since it announced it was switching to a subscription model. PetaPixel first learned of the layoffs last week, but the company only confirmed them...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #932, Jan. 30, 2024. Today's theme is "A First Look at the OM System OM-1 Mark II." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Just in case you were wondering, OM System is not sitting on its laurels with the OM-1 that was released in March 2022. They've followed up their compact marvel with the Mark II. And on today's podcast, I'm going to tell you all about its feature highlights and who I think this camera is for. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 932 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In A First Look at the OM System OM-1 Mark II When you first look at the OM-1 Mark II, you will notice two things. First, the crown badge now reads OM System and not Olympus. The second, practically nothing else has changed on the outside. And if you're an OM-1 owner, that's a good thing because all of your accessories will work on the Mark II, including the external battery grip. But underneath the hood there are upgrades and an intriguing new feature. Before we get to that, let's take a look at the spec highlights. Grad ND - A Fascinating New Feature This technology uses computational photography to replicate the effects of using a half-ND filter, allowing the photographer to control brightness and darkness within the image, much like an external graduated neutral density filter. Through Live GND shooting, photographers can adjust filter steps (GND2, GND4, or GND8) and types (soft, medium, or hard) in real-time through the EVF or rear LCD. This function allows for customization of the effect's position and angle. Without the need for physical filters attached to the lens, photographers can leverage half ND effects, even with lenses lacking filter threads. More AI Autofocus Developed using deep learning technologies, the AI Detection AF has been enhanced to recognize an extensive array of subjects, including humans, formula racing cars, motorcycles, airplanes, helicopters, trains, birds, and common animals such as dogs and cats. This integration enhances the well-established Face Priority/Eye Priority AF, significantly refining autofocus capabilities. It can accurately identify subjects, even when individuals are in profile, facing away, or obscured by hidden facial features. Subjects are tracked within the frame, ensuring they remain in focus. The OM-1 Mark II can follow intricate details like driver's helmets or the eyes of birds and other animals, going beyond what photographers could normally do on their own. Who Should Buy the OM System OM-1 Mark II? Wildlife and birding enthusiasts are at the top of the list. For example, combined with the new OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3 IS lens that provides effective focal lengths of up to 1200mm, and weighs just over 2,000 grams (4.4 lbs), photographers can easily work with this rig all day, no tripod required. And that's just one of the many telephotos available. The OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 40-150mm f/4 PRO provides an effective reach of 80-300mm and weighs a mere 382 grams (13.5 oz). The f/2.8 version weighs 760 grams (1.67 lb) and accepts both 1.4X and 2X matched teleconverters. Other top-tier options include the Olympus 300mm f/4 PRO and the Panasonic Leica DG Elmarit 200mm f/2.8. Macro photography is also a strength of this system. There are a variety of optics well-suited for this work. Add the increased depth of field resulting from the Micro Four Thirds sensor, and the OM-1 is a godsend for super closeup photography. Lens options include the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 90mm f/3.5, 60mm f/2.8, and the 30mm f/3.5 macro optics. Travel photographers and journalists would also benefit from this system. Rugged design, compactness, and versatility make the OM-1 Mark II perfect for those covering the world while traveling light. That's not to say this isn't an excellent system for general photography....

This is The Digital Story Podcast #931, Jan. 23, 2024. Today's theme is "5 Upcoming Photography Conferences to Consider." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue In a recent edition of my Nimble Photographer Newsletter, I wrote about the dearth of photo announcements at CES 2024. But that doesn't mean there aren't other events that will cater to our desire to learn more and see the latest in imaging equipment. This week, I'll share with you 5 upcoming events that will stimulate your mind and tempt your pocketbook. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 931 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In 5 Upcoming Photography Conferences to Consider Sometimes it feels like all the cool photo shows have gone away. But that isn't the case. And if you'd like to get out among your peers, here are five upcoming events to consider. Imaging U.S.A. - Jan. 28-30, Louisville, Kentucky Imaging USA features classes, networking opportunities, and a huge trade show to help you feel inspired and ready to grow your photography business. This year we're bringing all the education and excitement to the Derby City. And to make your experience even more rewarding, pre-con classes are available in the days leading up to the conference. 90+ speakers, 130+ exhibitors Top Brands on the Expo Floor Three-day all-access pass is $459. Expo only pass is free. Camera & Imaging Photo Show CP+, February 22-25, 2024, Pacifico Yokohama, Japan "Nothing Stays the Same" - CP+ is an event where camera fans from all over the world gather to see, touch, and share the joy of photography and video with their friends! For four days from February 22nd (Thu) to February 25th (Sun), 2024, an on-site event held at Pacifico Yokohama and an online event distributed online will be held simultaneously. Anyone can enjoy it, from camera and photography enthusiasts to those who regularly take and edit photos and videos with their smartphones and enjoy their daily lives using SMS. 60+ speakers, 90+ exhibitors Top Brands on the Expo Floor Admission is free, but you must pre-register for onsite admission. WPPI, March 3-7, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada For five days each year, portrait and wedding photographers and videographers come together in Las Vegas to be inspired. Be a part of this remarkable community - evolve your aesthetic, gain invaluable strategies to grow your business, connect with friends, be dazzled by stories from industry icons and create lasting memories. 130+ speakers, 80+ exhibitors Top Brands on the Expo Floor Four-day all-access pass is $199. Expo only pass is $49. The Photography and Video Show, March 16-19, 2024, Birmingham, UK From long exposure and layering, to business skills and incorporating AI into your workflow, your entry ticket will give you access to more than 350 seminars and live demos, with six stages and theatres to choose from. Led by experts and legends of photography, filmmaking and content creation, be prepared to learn new techniques and approaches; and be inspired to change your perspective on how you create! 100+ speakers, 200+ exhibitors Top Brands on the Expo Floor 48 pounds for a 4-day pass Shutterfest, April 2-4, St. Louis, MO. ShutterFest is an annual photography event that brings together thousands of professional photographers, photo enthusiasts, and industry experts from around the world. This event is unique in its approach to education and community building. Instead of focusing on traditional lecture-style presentations, ShutterFest offers hands-on classes, interactive experiences, and networking opportunities that help attendees develop their skills, build relationships, and grow their businesses. One of the things that makes ShutterFest so unique is its focus on creativity and hands-on learning. Rather than providing a one-size-fits-all approach to photography, the conference encourages...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #930, Jan. 16, 2024. Today's theme is "Looking Back and More, Now 2024." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Every January I close out my personal photo library from the previous year and start fresh with an empty catalog. Not only is this a practical endeavor, it's also an opportunity to acknowledge the highlights of the previous year. Today, I share the benefits of this annual exercise. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 930 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Looking Back and More, Now 2024 Despite my trials and tribulations in the past with Apple's Aperture, I still create annual libraries and store the neatly bundled catalogs in my multi-level archival system. Why? It's just the way my brain works. I measure my life's journey signpost by signpost, year by year. Plus, I've discovered some additional benefits to this practice, a few of which I'm going to share today. The Technical Part By way of review, I maintain two personal libraries. The first, Photos, is totally automatic. I take a picture with my iPhone, it's added to my Photos library, backed up in iCloud, and that's that. But I also have a Capture One Catalog. Pictures from my OM-1, X100V, and Nikon Zf are stored and edited here. Compared to the iPhone catalog, these images are more measured, captured in RAW, edited with C1P's excellent adjustment tools, and organized using its catalog tools. Often, there is some topic duplication between the catalogs. And this is a good thing. Let's take our workshop in Sedona, AZ for example. My iPhone pictures go directly into Photos, while the images from the OM-1 are stored in Capture One Pro. If I want to locate a shoot from years past, I can rely on the A.I. object recognition tools in Photos to help me remember the month and year. Who knows, I might even have an image there that suits my needs. But if I want the more "serious" shots, I know exactly which Capture One Catalog to open. It saves me a tremendous amount of time. And it allows me to rotate off my laptop drive those big image libraries from previous years. The Fun Part So the technical part is all good and well. Every one of us has our own system for managing and retrieving pictures. But I've discovered an added benefit too. One that I hadn't anticipated. It's easy to forget how much cool stuff happens in just a single year. Sure, we may still be basking in the glow of an event from last week, or even last month. But a couple of seasons ago. Those can get buried beneath the rigors of day-to-day life. This short stroll down memory lane reminds me that 2023 was a better year than I realized. And it helps me appreciate the good fortune of my life. Want to join me for a quick trip? [review highlights from my 2023 catalog.] As a result of this exercise, I have a much more complete memory of my past year. Sure it had its challenges. There's a substantial 8-week lull when I was laid up with my recovery from the total joint replacement in my hip. But I still managed to take pictures around the house to maintain my sanity. We are so busy, so distracted, and at times, so frustrated with daily life. It's easy to lose perspective. But looking back on my past year in pictures adds balance to my view of 2023. And it helps me appreciate the good moments in life all the more. The Camera Accessory That Saved My Workflow? Peak Design Tech Pouch Review You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com If you're like me, you have a whole bunch of small photography bits--cables, connectors, SD cards, batteries, and more--in your camera bag. If you were to use a different bag, you'd have to take all of them out and transfer them over. That's how I lived for the first couple of years of my career, and it was awful. I would always be triple- and quadruple-checking to make sure I had everything, sometimes...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #929, Jan. 9, 2024. Today's theme is "The Elephant in the Room - Nikon Zf vs Olympus OM-1." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Typically, Micro Four Thirds photographers aren't concerned by new full-frame camera announcements. They know what they have, and they like it. But the Nikon Zf seems to have upset the apple cart a bit. I've been getting mail citing reviews, defections, and the relevance of MFT photography in light of all this. So let's talk about it. Let's go head to head with the Olympus OM-1 and Nikon Zf. Today's top story on the TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 929 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Elephant in the Room - Nikon Zf vs Olympus OM-1 Let's set the stage a bit for this comparison. The OM System OM-1 was released in March 2022. It has a Micro Four Thirds sensor and is currently selling for $1,999. The Nikon Zf started shipping in October 2023, employs a full-frame sensor, and is currently available for $1,996. Even though the two cameras use completely different sensors, they are competitors. They cost about the same, appeal to serious enthusiasts, have appealing body designs, and are packed with the latest that imaging technology has to offer. But they are very different cameras in many ways too. So let's take a look at their respective strengths and compare them. OM System OM-1 Strengths Telephoto Muscle Macro Photography Inclement Weather Long Days Carry-On Air Travel Clever Technology More Lenses Nikon Zf Strengths Street Photography Low Light Situations Vintage Lenses Portrait Assignments Aestetics Why Switching Doesn't Make Sense I could never imagine a scenario when I would sell all of my Olympus gear to bulk up the Nikon Z system. For me, it would be like saying that I'm going to sell my pliers to buy a screwdriver. But depending on what type of photographer you are, you may feel that you need a little bit of both. I realize that this is a total luxury. But as long as I'm traveling for photography workshops, covering events, and working in the unpredictable outdoors, I will be using my OM-1 system. At the same time, I loved shooting with the Nikon Zf in San Francisco, capturing portraits with it for a recent article, and walking into a darkened haunted house, then emerging with incredible shots for the customer. I wouldn't recommend investing in pricy, hefty full-frame telephotos for the Z System. Compact wide angles and short zooms are a better fit. When it's time to go to Safari West this coming Autumn for a workshop, I'll be packing the OM-1 with 40-150mm f/2.8 zoom, and the 1.4X teleconverter. Now, I think OM System can quiet a lot of this chatter by releasing a great camera (or two) in 2024. In the meantime, if you own an OM-1 and are happy with it, ignore the switchers. And if your budget allows for another camera, I think the Zf would be a lovely complement to your existing system. Basic Lens Kit for Each Camera For the OM-1, I have a super-compact kit that includes the 14-42mm EZ Olympus zoom, Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 II, 45mm f/1.8 Olympus prime, and the 35-100mm Panasonic zoom. For the Nikon Zf I'm packing the 26mm f/2.8 pancake, 40mm f/2.0 SE, 24-50mm compact zoom, and the Nikon G 24-85mm zoom with the FTZ II adapter. How To Turn Your Apple Watch Into A Camera Remote And Timer You can read the entire article on SlashGear.com How many times do you use your iPhone camera in a day? If you're a photography enthusiast, content creator, or just someone who loves collecting snapshots of their favorite memories, you've probably answered "a lot." It's no surprise, though, considering the quality of the output and the many nifty photo editing features built into the iPhone. However, if you're using your iPhone camera a lot, then you're probably also familiar...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #928, Jan. 2, 2024. Today's theme is "All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go" I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue I have just taken my 100th portrait of the cat. All the blooms have fallen off the Christmas Cactus in the window box. As I sit here watching the rain outside, surrounded by all of this great camera gear, I'm jonesing for a photo adventure. But not today. How I plan to cope with my internment is the lead story in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 928 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In All Dressed Up with Nowhere to Go I feel like one of those guys with an electronic ankle bracelet, wandering around the studio with a Nikon Zf around my neck looking for something compelling to photograph. Now I know how the cat feels. I watch her explore every corner of the living room in search of something to play with. Sometimes she lucks out and finds an unlucky bug. Poor little bugger. His minutes are numbered. So I take a picture of the cat. She looks for spiders. And the rain keeps pouring down. Don't get me wrong. I'm thankful for the rain. It is filling our reservoirs and adding fresh water to my open barrels in the backyard. And sometimes I even take pictures in the rain. But it isn't really fun. And it doesn't last for long. I've figured out all sorts of cool things during my interment. I've adapted my favorite Pentax lens, the Pentax HD DA 70mm f/2.4 Limited Lens, to my OM-1. It's going to be fantastic for landscape and portraits with its 140mm equivalent focal length on my favorite all-time cropped sensor camera. But not today. I've been testing the amazing NIKKOR Z 26mm f/2.8 pancake lens on the Nikon Zf. The combo is so addictive that I walk around the studio with it all day. But this thoroughbred needs to run. And today is not that day. I've reorganized both of my camera kits a dozen times. Should I include the 45mm f/1.8 or the 45mm f/1.2 with the OM-1? Is there enough room for both the 40mm and 50mm in my Nikon bag? Maybe I should start over. I even pulled out all of my tripods yesterday and started switching their heads. Now I have a Joby head on the Induro and the Induro head on the Manfrotto. Anything other than a Manfrotto head is an improvement. Finally, after this low point, I decided that I needed to do something meaningful. And fortunately, an opportunity presented itself. Theresa gifted me and the boys tickets to a Saturday Warriors game. I checked the weather report, and there's no rain that afternoon. So I got out my street photography black shirt, oversized jacket, and gray Warriors cap. I tucked the Zf with 26mm pancake into a softball-sized shoulder pouch that I could wear inside of my jacket, and put the iPhone 15 Pro Max in my front jeans pocket. I'll arrive in the City a couple hours before I'm to meet the boys and engage in some serious photography. Then I'll catch the Metro T down to Mission Bay to meet the boys. My super compact pouch meets the bag requirements for Chase Center, and the short lens won't get me in trouble. The three of us will then enjoy the game, and then I will reverse course back to the parking garage at the north end of The City, shooting pictures all along the way. If this plan works, I will have much to report next week. Stay tuned. (I'm totally excited!) Why One Photographer Prefers Micro Four Thirds You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com How Websites Have Become Practically Unuseable A short commentary. Virtual Camera Club News The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear. TDS Workshops! - You can sign up for available workshops by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner...

This is The Digital Story Podcast #927, Dec. 26, 2023. Today's theme is "The Fourth Ingredient in a Recipe for Success." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue I was thinking about all of the great tools I have access to for my photography - sophisticated cameras, intelligent software, tons of information. And if I were only after good pictures, that's all that I would need. But what if I wanted something more? Special images require a fourth ingredient, and that's the subject of today's lead story. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 927 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Fourth Ingredient in a Recipe for Success This churn began a little over a week ago when I was out for a portrait shoot in a local park. It was a beautiful late afternoon with the sun hanging low in the sky. I was working with Victoria, who had helped me out back in the Lynda.com days. I needed illustrations for an article on Fill Flash that I was writing for Live View. I opted for the Nikon Zf and the Fujifilm X100V for the assignment. The X100 was going to be an example of cameras that have built-in flashes. And the Nikon was going to host the Godex Lux Senior external flash I had discussed a couple of weeks ago. The point of the article was that I could have taken all of the pictures with any camera or smartphone letting the device make all of the decisions, or I could intervene by adding flash and finding the perfect output that still looked natural, but smoothed out contrast and filled in shadows. I would start at each location by looking at the lighting and how it was illuminating Victoria, then ask myself, what could I do to make it better? In the case of the X100V, I used TTL flash, but dialed it down two-thirds of a stop. With the Nikon, I started with manual flash at half power, then increased or decreased output depending on how I liked the first exposure. As I worked each scene, it dawned on me how much I liked this process. I own four of the most sophisticated cameras in the world - iPhone 15 Pro Max, OM System OM-1, Fujifilm X100V, and the Nikon Zf. Each one of them is capable of producing perfectly acceptable photographs in auto-everything mode. And I love that technology. I would not give up a single feature in any of these cameras - subject detection, pro capture, sensor-based image stabilization, high ISO performance, film simulation, wireless communication, portrait enhancement, skin smoothing, and the list goes on and on. But what really excites me is that these tools are at my disposal for when I choose to use them. I make the creative decisions, not the camera. During that photo shoot in the park, I knew I didn't need to tap portrait enhancement or skin smoothing on the Nikon because of the lighting I had created, and Victoria's complexion didn't need it. With the X100V, I added the NISI Black Mist filter for a lovely rendering. The shots from the two cameras are different, and I like them both. The same is true during post-processing. A.I.-powered tools are my able-bodied photo assistants, but not the creator. I refuse to relinquish control. I decide when to apply AI Noise Reduction or any of the other options. I believe these are the best of times for photographers. We have access to 1) amazing gear, 2) sophisticated software, and 3) tons of information. But there's a fourth ingredient. Us. It's our contribution to the equation that makes a creation personal, something truly unique. Years ago I heard this story about a lady named Kate who went back to her butcher who had recently sold her a cut that she used for corned beef. She stood at the counter and explained how difficult the meal was to chew. The butcher respectfully listened to Kate tell her entire story. When she finished, he paused for a moment, then said, "But aye Kate, there's a little in the cookin' of it." The "cookin' of it" is...