Let's Get Real: A Smartphone-Only in Alaska is Ridiculous - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #965, Sept. 17, 2024. Today's theme is "Let's Get Real: A Smartphone-Only in Alaska is Ridiculous." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Alaska is geological wonder, seafaring history, indigenous culture, goldrush, hardship, wildlife, and wild west. It is truly bigger than the life most of us have ever experienced. Alaska is awe-inspiring, soaked to the bone, and warmed by Salmon bisque and fresh-baked bread. And if you're ever lucky enough to visit, take the right gear. And I don't mean just a rain jacket and boots. I'll explain more on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 965 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Let's Get Real: A Smartphone-Only in Alaska is Ridiculous Before I get to camera gear, which is the primary topic of today's show, I want to talk a little Alaska in general. Because if you're thinking of going, there are some things you should know. First, if you're cruising, be sure to include Glacier Bay. It's only accessible by water, and you need a captain that knows what he/she is doing. I recommend Holland America. They work closely with the U.S. Forest Service, the Indigenous tribes, and are focused on education as well as enjoyment. They have a long history in Alaska, they have the prime slips for docking while other lines often have to tender to shore. I recommend a starboard stateroom for inside passage trips, although port side is fine most of the time. Pay extra for a balcony. Your photo library will thank you. When in port, get outside city limits. You'll usually have plenty of time to explore the towns, but wandering beyond is where the wonder resides. Excursions led by locals in small vans is the way to go. And finally: Gear up! You'll need real boots, rainwear, backpack with all-weather cover, and a camera that is not afraid of the elements. I was walking around in downpours as happy as a seal in a salmon pond - but only because I was prepared for the elements. Now, let's get to camera gear. The bulk of my shots were recorded with the Nikon Zf and Nikkor 28-400mm zoom. I loved not having to change lenses in the pouring rain or blustery winds. I did use the 26mm prime for some interiors, but just a few times. Here's my focal length list: 20mm - 6, 26mm - 49, 28mm - 105, 30mm-70mm - 180, 71mm-105mm - 75, 106mm-200mm - 94, and 201mm-400mm - 70. I pre-culled my shots, so only the images I like made it in to Capture One Pro. There are hundreds more frames on the memory cards that will get backed up, but not added to my working library. I have 121 images in my 3-Star Collection. These are my favorites. 40 of them were recorded with focal lengths beyond 120mm. I also have a collection of B&W photos captured with the Zf using Deep Tone Monotone or Tri-X. (They are amazing out of the camera.) Resolution is 6048x4032. All the images were geotagged in realtime via Snapbridge. And ISOs crept as high as 25,600. Now why the data dump? Because this 10-day photo shoot would have been impossible with my iPhone 15 Pro Max. I did take 140 pictures with my iPhone, but they're the stuff you would imagine: selfies, meals, signs, and grab shots. I wouldn't want to come home with only those images. And yet, even on the photo excursions that I attended, over half the people with shooting with smartphones only. I was on one trip in the outskirts of Ketchikan, where I had the only interchangeable lens camera. The photo guides did a great job of showing iPhone photographers tips and techniques to squeeze the most out of their cameras. I often wandered off on my own and worked the locations with the Nikon. I know I'm speaking to the choir here. But I also know that it's tempting to rely on a smartphone more than we should. I had this moment in Vancouver, B.C. It was twilight. I was sitting on a balcony on the 15th floor of the Blue Horizon Hotel, gazing at the beauty of downtown. A waxing moon rose over a modern apartment building. I extended the zoom to 400mms and captured the scene beautifully. I then switched to the Tri-X B&W mode and zoomed out to 28mms for a city coming to life in the approaching evening. As I looked at the images on the LCD, I remember thinking, "I'm so glad I have this camera right now." Smartphones are wonderful. And they are a fantastic backup camera for documenting life as it soars by. But if you want your pictures to look different than everyone else's, there's nothing like a real camera. And never has that been more true than these days. What Happened in the Photo World While I Was Gone A whirlwind tour of the headlines over the past two weeks. 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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #964, Sept. 10, 2024. Today's theme is "2 Stories About Photography and Life." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Very few things happen in a vacuum, and photography is certainly not one of them. This week I have two stories that illustrate the connectedness of our artistic passion with the world in which we live. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 964 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In I Was There Among the Ballers With My iPhone Bigger is not always better, and that includes cameras and ballparks. You can read the essay here. Of All the Careers I Could Have Picked, Why Photography? I finally figured it out on a road trip with my son. You can read the essay here. 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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #963, Sept. 3, 2024. Today's theme is "Print Black & White Like a Pro." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Seeing a gorgeous black-and-white print emerge from your inkjet printer will make you fall in love with photography all over again. And you don't have to spend a $1,000 on a fine art printer to experience this. In fact, by following the tips in today's podcast, you can get your Ansel Adams on with gear you already own. All of this, and more, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 963 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Print Black & White Like a Pro I'm going to divide this discussion into three major parts: your inkjet printer, paper, and computer settings. Printer Best if you have at least one gray ink to accompany your black ink. You can let the printer"manage" the colors. ICC profiles not required. Newer printers have excellent driver software. Pro models may have Advanced B&W Settings. Consumer models may have a slimmed-down version of B&W settings. I'm getting excellent output from a Canon G620 tank model with one gray. Paper I use Red River paper. The type of stock you choose is very important. The white of your paper will be the white of your photo. Cool Tone Paper: Arctic Polar Luster, UltraPro Satin/Gloss, Polar Matte. Warm Paper: Palo Duro Satin, Aurora Art Natural, Blanco Matte Canvas. Glossy and Satin papers can achieve deeper blacks than Matte surfaces. Computer and Software Dim your monitor to 50 percent when editing images for printing. Make a virtual copy of your master and label it. eg. 5"x7" satin print. Crop your virtual copy to the paper dimensions that you're going to use. Experiment with B&W presets, Silver Efex Pro, and DxO Film Pack. Selecting proper Media Type is critical: luster, glossy, matte, etc. Use "Best" quality setting for final print. Let prints dry down for 10 minutes before making any judgements. I recommend that when you get a print you like, note all the settings you used on the back of the print and keep it in your paper box. That way you'll have a great starting point for that surface the next time you print. Canon PRO-1100 17-Inch Printer Promises Richer Blacks and Blues You can read the entire story on PetaPixel.com. Can Photography Competitions Help You Progress as a Photographer? 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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #962, August 27, 2024. Today's theme is "Getting Ready for Alaska." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue In less than 2 weeks, I'm boarding a plane as the first leg of my trip to Alaska. I've never been there, and I want to be prepared for anything that I may encounter. Since I'm smack dab in the middle of my planning, I thought I'd share my thought process with you. All of that, and more, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 962 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Getting Ready for Alaska So, let's cut to the chase... which camera am I taking? I've narrowed it down to two different systems. Here are the contenders. OM System OM 1 Micro Four Thirds OM-1 camera body OM System 12-40mm f/2.8 PRO II Zoom Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 PRO Zoom Olympus 1.4X Teleconverter Olympus 17mm f/1.8 Prime Olympus 75mm f/1.8 Prime OR... Nikon Zf Full Frame Nikon Zf camera body Nikon 28-400mm Z f/4-8 Zoom Nikon 24-50 Z f/4-6.3 Compact Zoom Nikon 40mm Z f/2.0 Prime Nikon 26mm Z f/2.8 Pancake Prime Viltrox 20mm Z f/2.8 Prime Pros and Cons We will be traveling the inside passage via ship, but I will be hiking on photo excursions when in port. Compactness is less of an issue for this trip than others. I'm hoping to be able to photograph the Northern Lights, wildlife, landscape, street photography, and life on the ship. I'm leaning toward the Nikon for this trip because of its low-light capability and depth of field control, and using the OM-1 for the Durango trip that's two weeks after Alaska for its portability during hikes. I'm discussing all of this in the podcast. Other Essentials for the Trip MacBook Pro 14" M1 laptop Jackery Explorer 100 Plus Power Station Solgaard Check-In Closet Lite with FlowCloset System Lowepro Trekker Lite BP 150 AW Backpack (flat in the suitcase) Tenba Cooper 13 Slip Carry-On Shoulder Bag WD Announces SanDisk 8 TB Memory Card You can read the entire story on thePhoblographer.com. Apple's 'Glowtime' iPhone event will be September 9th You can read the entire story 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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #961, August 20, 2024. Today's theme is "Zero Computational Photography with Process Zero." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Are you ready to see what kind of pictures your iPhone captures with absolutely no computational photography applied? You might wonder how that could even happen. The latest version of Halide (2.15) includes a feature called Process Zero. And when it's enabled, you record a RAW file with no AI or computational photography adjustments. Basically, it's like shooting slide film with an analog camera. And the results just might surprise you. I explain how it works, plus more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 961 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Zero Computational Photography with Process Zero Halide Mark II is an iPhone camera app for enthusiast photographers. It provides lots of control over the capture process. And with version 2.15, it basically allows for complete control over the image appearance with what they call Process Zero. Here's how they describe it. "When you take a photo on your iPhone, your photo is processed. The newer your iPhone is, the more processing typically happens: sometimes AI even comes in to make significant changes to your shot. People are made brighter, noise is reduced, details enhanced and 'flaws' removed. You might love this, or you might not. That can even change for photo to photo. That made us think: why shouldn't you be able to choose your processing the way you choose a lens? Where Halide previously allowed you to reduce processing, Halide 2.15 gives you total control: we now let you choose your image processing from the go. When you first set up Halide, or when you tap the format picker in the app, we now offer a choice: Apple's standard image processing, reduced image processing, or something new: Process Zero. PROCESS ZERO Process Zero is our own process. We take raw sensor data, and do minimal processing to make a beautiful, natural and film-like shot. It's very quick (up to 20 times faster than ProRAW) it is saved along with a 12 megapixel native RAW file. You can choose it at any time by tapping the "RAW" / "HEIC" format picker icon in the Halide interface, or you can read more and select a process in the Capture settings. After taking a few shots, using it is simple: on your iPhone, any app you open your photos in will use the Process Zero image, and any editor that supports RAW will open the RAW data for further editing. Easy! Process Zero is not made for low light photography, as it will get noisy and can get color cast. It has no HDR or AI to tweak its detail or dynamic range. Use this if you want to shoot entirely without Apple's processing -- a bit like an older digital camera, for natural looking shots, or as a starting point for editing. IMAGE LAB When we shot with Process Zero, we found we often didn't want to edit the results much, but we did want to tweak exposure at times. Since all Process Zero shots contain the original RAW data, we decided to add our first editing feature: the Image Lab. In the reveiwer, tap the small +/- icon to open the Image Lab. Adjusting exposure here will re-process the raw data with Process Zero, letting you often recover lost detail in shadows or highlights. Saving it will keep your RAW intact and save a new Process Zero shot. Easy, quick adjustments, ideal when you want to skip the editing or get a first pass on your shots. Feature Review It produces photos with more detail and allows the photographer greater control over lighting and exposure. This is not a photo filter-- it really develops photos at the raw, sensor-data level. Process Zero is available on every iPhone that runs Halide and iOS 17, not just the latest iPhones Pro. iPhone controls noise by combining multiple photos. You are no longer capturing a single moment in time, and when you average together multiple photos, noise goes away. Process Zero is a single-shot process. Process Zero gives you a single 12-megapixel shot. It will be less saturated, softer, grainier, and quite different than what you see from most phones. Each shot includes a true Bayer RAW file, if you want to use it in a full-fledged RAW editor, but we designed Halide so you don't need one. You can subcribe to get the latest version of Halide and Image Lab for $11.99 a year. They offer a 1-week free trial. "Camera" is the indie movie every photographer will love and you can stream it now You can read the entire story on DigitalCameraWorld.com. Photographer Retrieves $25K Worth of Stolen Gear Thanks to AirTags, Films Encounter on Meta Ray-Bans You can read the entire story on PetaPixel.com. There's a cheap LED camera light hidden inside this fake film roll You can read the entire story on TheVerge.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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #960, August 13, 2024. Today's theme is "Roof Top Camping and Nimble Photography." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue As I wandered through the campgrounds during my latest outing, I noticed some very impressive encampments that I'm sure required plenty of manpower to set up. Being the Nimble Photographer that I am, I prefer a lighter touch, which leaves me more time for photography and campfire gazing. In this week's show I talk about the TentBox Go RTT, roll out awnings, portable fire rings and more. Time saved in camp leads to more photography. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 960 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Roof Top Camping and Nimble Photography I'm going to break this feature story into two parts. I'll lead off with the camping set up (including a picture in the show notes), and then I'll discuss the photography rig I used in camp and on the trail. The Camp Setup One of the most important features or any comfortable campsite is the sleeping arrangement. Over the years I've migrated from sleeping on the ground with a closed-foam pad, to tents with inflatable mattresses, to inside the VW Vanagon, to inside the VW ID.4 SUV, to finally a Roof Top Tent (RTT) on the roof of the ID.4. When I first describe the RTT to people who aren't familiar with them, it's hard for them to imagine. What do you mean you're sleeping on top of your car? How could that be comfortable? Those are reasonable questions. Here's the way it works. Believe it or not, most RTTs work on a wide variety of cars. You need to be able to put roof racks with cross bars on top. The RTT securely mounts on top of the roof racks. It is collapsed while you're driving, then opened once you're in camp. People often ask about the amount of weight that the roof and racks can support. The answer is a surprising amount. The roof racks determine how much weight you can put on them. There are two categories: dynamic weight and static. Dynamic is during driving, and that's the rating you'll usually see listed on the rack. Mine can bear up to 165 pounds of dynamic weight. In terms of static, when you're not driving, that can go up to 600 pounds or more of distributed weight, like people laying down in a roof top tent. My TentBox Go weighs 73 pounds and measures Width: 50 in, Length: 90 in, Height: 45 in when open, and collapses to 18 in tall when collapsed. They achieve this light weight by using a trampoline styled base with a closed-foam air mattress on top. I am 6'7" tall and weigh 238 pounds. I can stretch out full length in the TentBox Go and there are no weight issues with the top of my car or the racks. And because the tent sits up on the racks, the aerodynamics of the car remain intact when I'm driving. My KwH per mile is virtually the same as without the tent at 65 MPH or slower, and a .3 loss per mile between 65 MPH and 72 MPH, and .5 loss per mile over 75 MPH. My normal average is 3.3 miles per KwH with no tent. So if I'm driving over 75 MPH, that can go down to 2.8 miles per KWH. On my recent camping trip, with car fully loaded, maintained my 3.3 miles per KwH for the entire trip. Once the tent is erected, there are screened doors on both sides, a front screened window, and a screened skylight window. At night I would close the side and front windows and leave the skylight open so I could look at the stars. A collapsible ladder comes with the tent that stores inside the unit during transport. I would go up four rungs then roll onto the mattress. It was easy and I never felt unsafe. Going back down is just as easy. Inside, there is plenty of room to sit up if you want to work on your pictures. This is especially nice when the mosquitos are out and you want protection from them. As for sleeping, I've never had a better couple of nights camping. The trampoline base is firm with just the right amount of give for sleeping on your side. Add the closed-foam air mattress that's designed for the tent (optional price), and I'm talking really comfortable. Sleeping bag, pillows, and mattress all stay in the tent, even for transport. So it's always ready to go. To set it up, you take off the protective cover, grab the ladder and extend it, then extend two poles inside the tent to raise it. It takes just a couple minutes. And it is very sturdy. It's rated stable up to 35 MPH winds when opened. I add a SlimShady 6.5' ($389) lightweight roof mounted awning on the opposite side of the ladder that weighs just 29 pounds, but provides 42 square feet of covered patio space. Both the upstairs bedroom and the patio add less than 100 pounds to the car, and don't adversely affect my mileage at normal speeds. Now it's just a matter of adding the patio chairs, foldable table, and the propane-powered portable fire ring (though not directly under the patio cover.). I'm using the Camp Chef Juniper ($149) portable fire pit. It's also nice for grilling in a frying pan. I also use the JetBoil Portable Stove System ($129) for rapid water boiling for coffee and meals. I have the entire campsite set up in 45 minutes, which leaves me the rest of the afternoon for relaxation and photography. Now for the Photography It's been a long time since I've shot with an all-in-one zoom lens. So I wanted to test how far I could push the Nikon NIKKOR Z 28-400mm f/4-8 VR Lens ($1,296) for the Nikon Zf ($1,996). Here's how it went. Pre-Orders for Mint's $799 Rollei 35AF Film Camera Start September 10 You can read the entire story on Petapixel.com. James Bond chooses Leica to photograph the Olympics You can read the entire story on DigitalCameraWorld.com. There's a cheap LED camera light hidden inside this fake film roll You can read the entire story on TheVerge.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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #959, August 6, 2024. Today's theme is "County Fair and Fabulous Olympics Photography." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue If the steamy summer doldrums have put your photography on ice, then a colorful county fair might provide the inspiration to get you back outside. Even though fairs themselves are timeless activities, the rules have changed considerably. This week I punch your ticket for the Sonoma County Fair in Northern California. Then we travel to Paris for some truly impressive sports photography. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 959 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In County Fair Derrick talks about his photography at the local county fair. Preparation - check the fair website before leaving home. Camera Gear - things have changed. Security - getting inside the fairgrounds. Time of day Tell the Story - putting together a variety of shots. Save the Fun Zone for Last Don't Forget to Eat Processing and Presentation Fabulous Summer Olympics Photography Lots to talk about regarding the Summer Olympics, especially with the photography. David Burnett does it again, with this epic Eiffel Tower Olympic image on 4x5 film You can read the entire story on DigitalCameraWorld.com. EPIC photo of gravity defying surfer Gabriel Medina in the air goes viral during Olympics You can read the entire story on AmateurPhotographer.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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #958, July 30, 2024. Today's theme is "Hiking or Biking for Summer Photo Adventures?" I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Two popular summer activities for outdoorsy types are hiking and biking. The days are longer and the air is warmer, tailor-made for both forms of exercise. But what if we want to combine our favorite year-round hobby, photography, with these pursuits? Which is better? On today's TDS Photography Podcast I'll take a look at the pros and cons of each. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 958 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Hiking or Biking for Summer Photo Adventures? Having grown up in Southern California, hiking and biking have been part of my life since I was a kid. At first, biking. Any boy worth his salt had a set of wheels by the time he went to school. For us, a bicycle was freedom. Since parents in those days didn't think much about their kids until the nosecounts at dinner time, boys and girls with bikes could roam the earth freely until the street lights came on. Riding a bike is second nature for me. I don't really think about it any more than I do breathing or walking. The magically stays upright as I move from place to place. Even while waiting at traffic lights I can balance with feet on the pedals for a short time. These days, when I ride to work, I'm traveling between 18 and 22 MPH. That's a lot of ground compared to 3-4 MPH walking speed. My office is 6.5 miles from home. With traffic lights, I get from one place to the other in about 25 minutes. That's a nice commute. If I were to walk it would take 2 hours. So you'd think that biking would be great for photo adventures. Yes and no. Let's look at the pros and cons. Biking Pros for Photography Can cover more ground. If you're exploring somewhere like wine country, where locations are spread out, then a bike allows for a wider variety of photo opportunities. Can carry more weight. I prefer bike trunks to panniers, but even a midsize trunk can transport a decent amount of photo gear that isn't on your shoulders. Plus bottle cages secure your water for the day. Bikes provide a variety of options. If you're riding on trails, choose a mountain bike, rough surfaces a gravel bike, and strictly asphalt, go with a nice hybird. Plus now you can supplement your peddling with an electric motor, further increasing your range and conserving your energy. Biking Cons for Photography I pass up too many shots. Once I get going on a bike, I don't want to stop until I reach my destination. So if I'm gliding along at 20 MPH and see a potential photo subject, I contemplate for a few seconds, and typically keep peddling. Cycling requires looking forward, not gazing at the surrounding landscape. He who does not watch the road is doomed to disaster. Even on routes I know well, there are potholes, debris, and of course, cars. Hiking Pros for Photography It's easier to scope out shots, and once you see them, you'll actually take the time to photograph them. Photography provides natural breaks from hiking. If I'm trudging up a hill and ready for a break, I'll scope out a scenic overlook and make that my goal. Not only do I have a chance to catch my breath, I often get a lovely shot. Day hiking requires less gear. There's no bike to lock up and worry about, and the odds of a flat tire are much lower with boots than wheels. Hiking is more social than biking. If you have friends joining you on a photo walk, it's so much easier to converse than group bike rides. Hiking Cons for Photography You have to be in better shape for hiking than biking. All of your gear must be carried on your back or waist. You can cover as much ground as with a bike. Bottom Line In my opinion, bikes are best to get you to locations in a point A to point B fashion. But once you're there, it's best to get off the bike, lock it up, then explore your photo opps on foot. I love the freedom of riding a bike. It's the closest thing I've experienced to flying like a bird. I like that bikes don't pollute the atmosphere. And you can combine biking with public transportation - buses and trains. But I've learned that for photography, I have to get off the bike if I'm going to fall into a creative zone and make good pictures. Because otherwise, I'll just keep riding, and riding, and riding. I can't believe Olympus walked away from this camera - if only we had it now You can read the entire story on DigitalCameraWorld.com. Apple may use Samsung for iPhone cameras, ending longtime Sony run You can read the entire story on TheVerge.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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #957, July 23, 2024. Today's theme is "Behind the Scenes at the Olympics." I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue Opening ceremonies for the Paris Summer Olympics are this Friday. Certainly this is a thrilling moment for athletes from all over the world who will compete for their countries. But it's also an exciting time for the media specialists who are preparing to capture those moments. I've been lucky enough to witness firsthand the Olympic experience. And to celebrate the Paris event, I will take you behind the scenes to the Beijing Summer Olympics. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 957 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Behind the Scenes at the Olympics Derrick tells the story of his Beijing Olympic experience. "The Summer Olympics in Beijing were held from August 8 to 24, 2008. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competed in 28 sports and 302 events, one event more than those scheduled for the 2004 Summer Olympics.[2] This was the first time China had hosted the Olympic Games, and the third time the Summer Olympic Games had been held in East Asia, following the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, and the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. These were also the second Summer Olympic Games to be held in a communist state, the first being the 1980 Summer Olympics in the Soviet Union (with venues in Russia, Ukraine, Byelorussia, and Estonia)." "During the 2008 summer games, an unprecedented 87 countries won at least one medal. Host nation China won the most gold medals (48), and became the seventh different team to top an overall Summer Olympics medal tally, winning a total of 100 medals overall. The United States placed second in the gold medal tally but won the highest number of medals overall (112). The third place in the gold medal tally was achieved by Russia." Source: Wikipedia. Camera sales hit highest level for three years driven by mirrorless and a compact rebound You can read the entire story on DPReview.com. This $479 Smart Telescope Lets Anyone Shoot Beautiful Astro Photos You can read the entire story on Petapixel.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. 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 [email protected]. 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 #956, July 16, 2024. Today's theme is "How Still Photography, Once Again, Tells the Story" I'm Derrick Story. Opening Monologue New York Times photographer, Doug Mills was on stage just a few feet from Donald Trump when an assassin's bullet grazed the former president's ear. Mills, who has been covering the presidency since the days of Ronald Regan, recorded a series of images that help tell the story of that terrible day. This week, I'm thinking about the value of photojournalism as we try to understand these events. Digital Photography Podcast 956 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In How Still Photography, Once Again, Tells the Story Essay read by Derrick Story. Source credits from the essay. From The Daily: The Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump, Jul 15, 2024. Associated Press: In a world of moving pictures, photographs capture indelible moments in Trump assassination attempt. The Art of Stills Photography on Movie Sets You can read the entire story on FStoppers.com. Canon teases 'Something Big' on July 17th You can read the entire story 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. 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 [email protected]. 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.