This is The Digital Story Podcast #888, March 28, 2023. Today's theme is "The Distraction That Is Color." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


The bulk of my photography is captured in color. But there are those moments, when I look at the preview on the back of the camera and think to myself, "this just isn't right!" And the majority of the time the problem is the color itself. Sounds crazy? Well, I'll explain myself on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. 




Digital Photography Podcast 888





 
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The Distraction That Is Color






Here's what happened the other day. It was about noon, and the sun was high and bright. I had made a stop in Morro Bay and wanted to photograph my cool campsite.
 


The sky was blue with plenty of clouds. There were tall trees in the background, and there was the campsite itself with my VW ID.4 sporting a patio cover on the passenger side with a comfy Coleman camp chair and table in the shade. Sounds perfect, right?



I pulled out the Fujifilm X100V and mounted the 28mm lens to give me a bit more elbow room. Took the picture, reviewed it on the LCD, and recoiled. How could such a lovely scene photograph so poorly?


Well, the bright midday sun was definitely part of the problem. It added a nasty contrast to the scene. But the real culprit was the over-abundance of color. There was just too much. My ingenious campsite was lost in a cacophony of blues and greens. The protagonist of my visual story was being consumed by the supporting cast.



When I shoot with the X100V, I carry two filters with me: a circular polarizer and a Hoya R72 Infrared. The polarizer was definitely the wrong direction. But the R72 could solve my problem.







I screwed it into the front of my lens, set the aperture to f/2.0, switched film simulation to Monochrome+R, and recomposed the shot. Jackpot! My protagonist had returned to center stage, and the sky and trees were now a lovely supporting background.



I had eliminated the distraction that is color.



Here are 5 tips to keep in mind if you ever encounter a similar situation.



Know how to quickly find the B&W setting on your camera.
Shoot RAW+Jpeg to leave all of your options open.
Test your camera for IR sensitivity. If it passes, carry and R72 IR filter with you.
Don't be afraid to shoot midday, but know that IR and B&W do much better at this time than color.
Practice seeing in IR to understand how it doesn't affect manmade objects - the pavement, cars, bikes, benches, etc. - the same was that it does the living, especially plants and the sky.



Like I said at the top of this segment, I normally shoot in color. But I'm not hesitant in the least to switch to B&W if the situation calls for it. And I'm generally quite please with the outcome when I do.




Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake Join

The Distraction That Is Color - TDS Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #887, March 21, 2023. Today's theme is "Gearing Up for Spring." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


For those of us north of the equator, spring is just around the corner. Even though some folks may still have a month of slush and snow before the flowers grow. Either way, it's time to get in shape for one of the best photography seasons of the year. Tips on how do that, and much more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. 




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Gearing Up for Spring






I look at spring activities through two lenses. The first is physical. Bad winter weather tends to take its toll on my fitness. And if I really want to enjoy outdoor life again, I have to be in decent shape. 



The second lens is my camera gear. What do I need, if anything, to have the right tools for my adventures? And once I capture those images, is my workflow ready to accept them without strain?



Let's start with lens #1 - the physical aspect of our craft. I've long held the opinion that the greater our energy, the better our creativity. Now I'm certainly no triathlete, but I do strive to be able to enjoy a full day of activity without cutting corners on my photography.



I've already started working my way back in to shape. Every non-rain day here in Northern California, I get out by bike and go for a 20-30 minute ride. I have a few different routes that I alternate with to keep things interesting. And after just a couple weeks I'm already feeling stronger.



On bad weather days, I have a 20-minute workout indoors that incorporates a variety of stretches, weights, and tension using a surgical tube. Many of these exercises were learned as part of my physical rehab from injuries. Others were learned from magazine articles and advice from friends.


Regardless of which routine I'm able to do on a give day, I plan for early afternoon. This provides the added benefit of propelling me through the remainder of the day with much more energy than I would have otherwise. Honestly, there are no downsides here.



DxO PhotoLab 6 Now has Full FUJIFILM X-Trans Support

You can read the entire article on Dan Bailey Photo Blog.



Instagram Co-Founder Doesn't Like What the App Has Become

You can read the entire article 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.


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

Gearing Up for Spring - TDS Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #886, March 14, 2023. Today's theme is "Crazy Retro Weekend." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


So I did the craziest things this weekend, at least photography-wise. I was off on a road trip with some good photo possibilities, and the only camera I brought was a 10-year-old compact. Why would I do such a thing with the wonderful capture devices I have at my disposal? I'll explain myself on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. 




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Crazy Retro Weekend






As you probably know, we still have an atmospheric river flowing through California. On one hand, these things can be really destructive. On the other, there are countless photo opportunities if you can navigate the water. 



I had to hit the road on Saturday for family activities, and since I didn't have to drive, I could use this opportunity to take pictures during the excursions. Of all things, I decided to pack my Fujifilm X20, vintage 2013.



Why would I do that? Well, I've encountered article after article about the popularity of older digital compacts, and I wanted to fully immerse myself, pun intended, in this concept. The X20 had been one of my all time favorite cameras, as a sidekick, but this weekend it's going to be the only game in town.



Let's step back to 2013 when popular compacts such as the Canon PowerShot G15,  Sony Cyber-shot RX100, and the X20 were turning our heads. All of these devices are amazing photographic tools. By comparison, the iPhone 5, which was the hot smartphone at the time, featured an 8-megapixel camera that was fine, but not in the same class as any of these compacts.


Of the trio, the Fujifilm X20 is my favorite. Here's why.


It starts with the 2/3"-type X-Trans CMOS II sensor. When I open a RAW file from the X20 in Capture One Pro, it's beautifully toned and elegantly editable. Highlight and shadow recovery are smooth and gradual, the colors are natural, and the sharpness is wonderful. The pictures look like photographs, not digital images.


As lovely as the output is, the process of taking pictures is just as pleasing. It starts with the advanced optical viewfinder that adjusts the field of view as you zoom from 28mm wide to 112mm telephoto. When you press halfway on the shutter button, a digital overlay appears with exposure settings and focus confirmation. And of course you can still compose using the 3", 460k dot LCD.


Fujifilm includes 10 of its film simulation modes, including four monochromes. I use Astia Soft for my color work, and Monochrome+Yellow filter for black and white. Owners of the X100 series of cameras will understand just how important these are. And it's this shared DNA that adds to the X20's allure.


The Advanced modes provide panorama, a variety of filters, multiple exp

Crazy Retro Weekend - TDS Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #885, March 7, 2023. Today's theme is "A Workflow You May Find Interesting." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


With all of the great editing tools available, plus a myriad of backup options, how do we craft a photography workflow that maximizes our options while still providing the flexibility to enjoy and share our images on all of our devices? I've cobbled together one such workflow, and I'll share it in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.




Digital Photography Podcast 885





 
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A Workflow You May Find Interesting






Last Saturday was a wild weather day in Sonoma County. We had off and on rainstorms, a glistening landscape, big crashing waves, and at times, magnificent skies above.



So my friend Oliver and I got in the car and spent the day outdoors. I took the OM-1 with the 12mm-40mm PRO II zoom and photographed everything from redwood trees to seashore cliffs. Given the lighting extremes, I stayed in RAW capture the entire time.



When I think about the objectives for the day, there was an interesting variety that didn't naturally mesh with one another.



Wanted to photograph with my "real camera" and not the smartphone.
Needed to use RAW to cope with the wild lighting conditions.
Wanted to squeeze the most out of the initial processing of those RAW files with Capture One Pro or Lightroom.
Wanted to play with some of those images with imgmi on my iPad.
Also wanted to share the pictures with Oliver in a timely manner.
Wanted to have my favorites backed up to iCloud or Creative Cloud and available on all of my devices.



What kind of workflow is that? A crazy one. Here's what I do today.



Capture with the OM-1 in RAW.
Copy to and cull in Capture One Pro (Lightroom Classic would be the alternative.) Mark my favorites with 3 stars.
Decode and process the favorite RAWs using the advanced tools in C1P (or LR) including optical corrections, tonal recovery, and color adjustment.
Export full-sized, high quality Jpegs out of C1P and import into Photos for macOS (or Lightroom CC).
Let iCloud (or Creative Cloud) backup those 3 star images and share them across all of my devices.
Play with some of the images using my AI editors such as imgmi.
Create a shared album of favs in Photos and provide access to Oliver and others to view and download.



My master RAW files are housed in Capture One Pro and backed up to my Synology RAID drive. I can always return to that library to revisit other shots or fine tune the images I've already worked on.



I have my 3-star favorites on my iPhone, iPad, and all of my Macs via iCloud. I can show them off to anyone who will sit still, plus I can use my favorite editing extensions on them via Photos, such as Luminar and ON1 Effects.



And at the end of the day, I have the best images from the sho

A Workflow You May Find Interesting - TDS Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #884, Feb.28, 2023. Today's theme is "AI Photo Editing on Your Smartphone." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


Using AI editing tools on a smartphone makes even more sense than on your computer. Image enhancement on mobile devices is not the easiest task in the world. Their smaller screens and less precise input (aka our fingers) present a bit of a challenge. AI tools can help, and today, we're going to look at one such offering from Skylum that can really speed things up. I hope you enjoy the show.




Digital Photography Podcast 884





 
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AI Photo Editing on Your Smartphone

Skylum just updated their imgmi app to include AI Skin and AI Body adjustments. Added to the existing tools - Sky Replacement, Remove Powerlines, AI Enhance, Basic Adjustments, Crop & Rotate tool, Erase, and a collection of LUTs called filters - this app is rounding out nicely, especially for one so young (Sept. 2022). Think of it like Luminar Neo for your phone.



There are versions for iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. I haven't tested the Android version, but the ratings on the iOS app store are more favorable than those on Google Play.



The iOS version taps your camera roll and allows you to save finished pictures as a new image back to the same location. Once you return to Photos for iOS, you can continue working on the picture with its tools. Together, Photos + imgmi, you have a powerful image enhancement package that's easy to use.



Before Editing




After just a few clicks.




Select Sky

This is a very powerful feature in the app. The AI identifies the sky area of a photo, then presents you with a number of different substitute options divided into categories such as Blue, Dramatic, Sunset, etc.



Once you choose a sky, tap Tools again for a set of refinements including Adjustments such as Relight, Defocus, Haze, plus, other goodies such as Orientation and Mask.



And if you wish, you can even add your own stock sky images from your camera roll, and they will be available as well. Nice touch!


Remove Powerlines


I think a more apt title would be "Remove Lines." The app can indeed identify power lines and remove them. But in my testing, it often didn't stop there and removed other lines that it found, such as the pin stripping on a car driving by.



Even with these minor hiccups, I'm still glad they included this feature. Power lines are tough to deal with, and this gives us a fighting chance.


AI Enhance


Any Skylum user knows how wonderful this tool is. The mobile version isn't quite as intelligent or powerful as what we use on the computer, but it's still pretty darn good.


Skin and Body AI


These are the two latest features just added this week. And I thought Skin AI was particularly helpful, especially for portraits with side lighting that were not

AI Photo Editing on Your Smartphone- TDS Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #883, Feb. 21, 2023. Today's theme is "7 Photography Sins to Avoid." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


One of things my mom used to say to me as a child was, "Derrick, you should know better!" Sometimes I did and forgot. Other times I really didn't know better, but that rebuttal only earned me the follow up admonishment, "There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action." (Goethe) Life is complicated, but photography isn't, and today I'm going to remind you of 7 things that you probably already know, and possibly may have forgotten. I hope you enjoy the show.




Digital Photography Podcast 883





 
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7 Photography Sins to Avoid

There are two types of sins in photography, technical and behavioral. We'll start with behavior.






Rule 1: Don't Act Innocent When You're Not

If you're going to take a picture of something, then do it. But don't act like you didn't snap the shutter when you really did. 


You can always ask for forgiveness when confronted with, "Did you just take a picture?" The answer is, "I did. Why do you ask?" (Say this politely, don't be a dill weed.) Let the inquirer explain their concern, then try to respond as intelligently as possible.




Rule 2: Don't Take Pictures When Posted Signs Say "No Photography Allowed."


You may not understand the reason why photography is not allowed in certain locations, but nobody cares about your opinion, especially the security guard who caught you on CCD camera. 


If there's something forbidden that you really want to photograph, then you'll have to go through the steps of getting permission.

BTW: If you get caught, see Rule 1.


Rule 3: Do Not Use a Telephoto for Unauthorized Public Photography

I love street photography. But there's an unspoken rule that I'm now going to speak: You need to keep it fair by using a lens that gives the subject a chance to know they are being photographed. Standing a half block away with a long telephoto lens is creepy. Don't be creepy.


If you are confronted after taking a picture, see Rule 1.


Now let's cover a few technical sins to avoid.


Rule 4: Don't Let Your Camera Decide What to Focus On

Autofocus cameras are great. But if you let them run the show unchecked, you're going to miss a lot of got shots because the camera did not focus on the most artistic element in the frame.



Invest some time in learning how your autofocus system works, then intervene as appropriate. I like to use a medium cross pattern that I move around the frame with the jog stick on the back of the camera. That way I'm deciding what's interesting, not the camera.


Rule 5: Don't Rely Solely on Auto Exposure 

Indeed cameras are pretty smart about exposure. But they will still turn a black anvil into a gray one, and will make that beautiful white snow a shade of yucky.



With

7 Photography Sins to Avoid - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #882, Feb. 14, 2023. Today's theme is "Your Camera's Hidden Features." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


Every camera I've owned had one or two tricks up its sleeve that I didn't initially discover. Then one day I'd be reading a review or listening to a podcast and learn about it. Which make me think, what sort of magic resides inside your camera that you haven't uncovered yet? I'll share a few of my favorites in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.




Digital Photography Podcast 882





 
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Your Camera's Hidden Features





To help illustrate my point, I have tips for the Sony A7 IV, Ricoh GR III, Fujifilm X100V, OM System OM-1, and the iPhone. Even if you don't have one of these cameras, knowing about these tips can help you search them out on your device. Let's get started.


Sony A7 IV

HEIF instead of Jpeg. HEIF stores twice as much information as Jpeg in the same file size. For example, Jpeg color is limited to 8 bits, where HEIF can manage 16 bits of color.


The Sony A7 IV allows photographers to choose between Jpeg or HEIF for their compressed format. The setting is:
Menu &gt; Shooting &gt; Image Quality &gt; Image Quality Settings &gt; File Format.



In this menu, you can also select RAW+HEIF for a true power couple. Nearly every app supports HEIF now, in part thanks to Apple's iPhone use of it. And it truly is a cut above Jpegs.


Ricoh GR III


Automatic Horizon Correction. When composing on a LCD screen, it can be difficult to get the horizon perfectly straight. Fortunately, the Ricoh GR III has a Horizon Correction setting that you can enable.



It's in the (7) Shooting Assist menu at the bottom of the screen. When you turn it on, the camera corrects 1.5 degrees if the IBIS is on and 1 degree if it's off. That may not sound like a lot, but it makes a huge difference in your pictures.



BTW: Did you know that the GR III has built in memory that provides up to 40 RAW or 140 Jpegs captures in case you have an SD card problem? You can switch to Internal Memory in the Format menu.


Fujifilm X100V

Film Simulation Bracket. One of the many reasons that Fujifilm photographers love their cameras is because of the great color science express through the various film simulation settings. But what if you weren't exactly sure which one is best for any given subject?


The Film Simulation bracketing that allows you to choose three different styles and have them recorded with each press of the shutter.


Start by choosing the simulations you want via: Menu &gt; Shooting Setting 1 &gt; Film Simulation BKT.


Back out of the Menu, then press the Drive button, navigate down to BKT, and select Film Simulation Bracket. If you shoot RAW+Jpeg, you will capture three RAW files and three film simulations with each press of the shutter butt

Your Camera's Hidden Features - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #881, Feb. 7, 2023. Today's theme is "Recording Video to Enhance Your Still Photography." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


Many stills photographers overlook the fantastic movie capture tools built into our cameras. Primarily, because they are not interested in making movies. But what if those ignored features could greatly enhance your photo presentations? Wouldn't that be useful? Find out how on today's TDS Photography Podcast. 




Digital Photography Podcast 881





 
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Recording Video to Enhance Your Still Photography

I can tell you why I don't make more movies than I do. It's because I hate video editing. It bores me to tears.


But that doesn't mean that I completely bypass the video features on my iPhone and OM System OM-1. Why? Because many of those settings can record content that vastly improves my photo presentations. Let me show you a couple examples.


Environmental Audio





When your record a movie with your camera, you are capturing both sound and pictures. Those two elements can be separated and used independently.


Here is an example that you can see for yourself. Recently I was scouting for our upcoming Pt. Reyes Photography Workshop. I found a wonderful spot where the geese were talking and the toads were croaking. It was so melodic and peaceful.



I initially captured a few still pictures. But they just didn't do justice to what I was experiencing at the moment. So I set my iPhone to movie mode and recorded the scene. The movie itself is good and does a better job of telling the story than just the still pictures. But what if I could combine the two?



In Photos, I exported the audio only which gave me an .M4A file. I then opened the file in my favorite audio editing app, Fission. I trimmed the soundtrack, added fade-in and fade-outs, and boosted the audio volume.



I added my new soundtrack to my Apple Music library. Then I opened Photos and selected the images I wanted and created a Slideshow Project.



Using the Ken Burns effect to keep things moving, I substituted my "marsh sounds" audio track for the canned Apple music. I've published a short teaser here so you can see for yourself how well it works.


A Few Tips


Capture Panos - Broad panoramas play really well in slideshows with the Ken Burns effect enabled.

Get Yourself a Handy Audio App - For the Mac, I really like Fission by Rogue Amoeba for $35. But there are many good ones for Mac and Windows.

Keep Your Audio Files Organized - You'll find that you'll build up a sweet audio library that you can go to time and time again.



One final note on the value of movie capture. If you camera can record 4K video, you can pull out individual still frames from that footage to fill in gaps in your slideshows. This works really well.



It's worth it to review your recording set

Recording Video to Enhance Your Still Photography - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #880, Jan. 31, 2023. Today's theme is "Top Gear for Outdoor Photography." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


When we explore the great outdoors with gear in hand, we require ruggedness, dependability, and usually an extra bit of reach. So among all the different options available today, what are the items favored by experienced outdoor photographers? In today's podcast, we review their recommendations. I hope you enjoy the show.




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Top Gear for Outdoor Photography





I found an article titled 10 Best Cameras & Lenses of the Year: OP Editors' Picks 2022 on OutdoorPhotographer.com, and I thought it was one of the better recommendation pieces I had seen in recent history. I particularly liked that it was based on the research and experience of their editors who are top tier nature photographers.


I want to share with you some of their findings because it's already that time of year when we start thinking about our upcoming adventures in 2023. I also have some comments on their preferences.


Regarding the OM-1, Harold Mancusi-Ungaro wrote me: "Coincidentally your email found me in Antarctica photographing penguins with my OM-1.  I can tell you that the AI subject AF for birds finds penguins on land as well as swimming and diving long the shores. And with its weather sealing I don't worry about the occasional splash in the Zodiacs. I love the camera."


So lots of good hardware in this segment.



AI-powered watermark removal poses uncomfortable implications for content use

You can read the entire article on DP Review.com.



Artificial intelligence being used to create photorealistic artwork is already causing significant unrest within the photography industry, but a new tool, WatermarkRemover.io, is among the most concerning.

WatermarkRemover.io, which is available for free, uses AI to remove watermarks from images - as implied by its name. While there are some benign reasons to want to remove watermarks from an image, for example, if you own the rights to an image but can't locate a version without the watermark, but it's easy to imagine much more nefarious scenarios in which someone wants to remove a watermark from a photo.

This isn't an article centered around bashing WatermarkRemover.io. It has every right to exist, and the developers aren't completely responsible for whether users download the tool to do something illegal - removing watermarks to steal photos is illegal, at least in the US. However, it's worth considering how the tool fits into an increasingly murky AI landscape.

You can already edit watermarks out of images with photo editing applications like Adobe Photoshop. In some cases, it's very easy to do so. Where AI comes in is making complex tasks, like removing multi-colored watermarks with di

Top Gear for Outdoor Photography - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #879, Jan. 24, 2023. Today's theme is "Will Astropad Luna Display Work for Our Photography?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


Astropad Luna Display is a $119 dongle with supporting software that enables you to turn your iPad or Mac into a wireless secondary display and create a portable dual monitor setup with the devices you already have. It supports Macs, PCs, and iPads in a variety of configurations. But, is it robust enough to use for our photography workflow? I tell all in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.




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Will Astropad Luna Display Work for Our Photography?






Alright, so here's the backstory.



I have a 2017 4K iMac with a gorgeous screen. And it fits perfectly in my studio workstation. But being 2017, its brains are getting a bit laggy with today's software. I don't want to ditch the entire computer just because it needs a new processor.



So, I was thinking, what if I invested the $119 in the Astropad Luna Display, purchased a brand new M2 Mac mini, and used my existing iMac as the display?



This approach would save the iMac from the electronics recycler and save me the $1,600 required for the companion Apple Studio Display. Plus, I would still have the brains of the iMac as a backup computer.



I decided to test the feasibility of this approach by purchasing the Luna Display and testing it with my 2020 Intel 13" MacBook Pro. If using the iMac as a secondary monitor for the MacBook worked, it certainly would suffice with the more powerful M2 Mac mini. Here's what I learned.



Do not use the WiFi connection for the two devices. It's way too laggy. I'm using the Ethernet cable, and the performance is much better. I tried to get USB-C to USB-C to work, but could not.

The configuration options are really nice. I'm using the iMac as a secondary screen, and I still have all the screen real estate of the MacBook Pro. Plus, I can use the mouse for the iMac on both the MacBook and the iMac. Both keyboards work as well. Very nice.

 At first I thought the performance was going to bug me, because working in Capture One Pro on the iMac display was a little different than natively on the MacBook Pro. But to be honest, I forgot about that as I became absorbed in my editing. So not as fast, but not bad either.

 A downside is that I'm now using my Ethernet port for the display, making it not available for other uses. I do have a powered multiport connector that would solve the problem. I haven't tested it yet, but I will.

You can take full advantage of the iMac's 4K Retina Display, but you have to enable Retina in the Luna Display software settings.

It's fairly easy to switch the iMac back and forth from secondary display mode to native iMac mode. Simply hold down the ESC key to exi

Will Astropad Luna Display Work for Our Photography? - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #878, Jan. 17, 2023. Today's theme is "The Uncomfortable Reality of AI Generated Images." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


In many ways, Artificial Intelligence is a friend to photographers. This technology makes our cameras smarter and our software easier to use. But there's also an uncomfortable side that creates computer-generated images based on text input. I'll explore some of those issues in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.



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The Uncomfortable Reality of AI Generated Images






Last week I talked about the popularity of analog photography. In many ways, this could be a response to the relentless march of digital imaging supplanting hand-crafted images.



One surging aspect of digital technology is the AI-generated image. Current software such as Stable Diffusion, Jasper Art, Starry AI, Dream, and DALL-E 2 work by entering a text prompt into a text-to-image generator that produces visuals based on those prompts.



The output ranges from surrealist illustrations to hyper-realistic photos. Much of the artwork I've looked at feels like a really good video game.



Understandably, there has been some concern in the photography community about AI-generated art. Is this something that will eventually replace all of us? 



The short answer is no. AI-generated photography will no more replace picture taking than photography replaced painting. They are different art forms.



But that doesn't mean that Artificial Intelligence won't disrupt segments of the photography world. I could see, for example, AI dominating stock photography at some point.



Imagine an art director being able to enter text prompts into a web interface and presented with a variety of options based on those words. That seems quite plausible to me.



I could also see Artificial Intelligence playing a role in social media where people have lots of ideas to communicate, but not necessarily the skills to illustrate them.



But when it comes to documentation, my belief is that photography will still rule the roost. Areas such as real estate photography, education, science, and even portraits will still lean heavily on the tools that we use now.



That being said, there are still some areas of concern for photographers. First of all, where do all those images come from that computers use for machine learning? It is likely that copyrighted work has been used to fine-tune the algorithms that are constantly improving.



And what about distinctive artistic styles? What if a style is learned from a specific photographer, then incorporated into output, but without credit or compensation to its creator? That's troubling.



Here's an interesting anecdote from the article, "Why AI Is a Threat to the Photography Industry" on DIY

The Uncomfortable Reality of AI Generated Images - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #877, Jan. 10, 2023. Today's theme is "Is Film Photography Really Making a Comeback?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


We keep seeing the headlines, but do we know what they really mean? And if indeed analog photography is making a comeback, how does that play out in the overall world of imaging? Thanks to my TheFilmCameraShop that I run on Etsy, I'm in frequent contact with those who fancy a fresh roll of Kodak Tri-X, and here's my take on the state of analog photography. I hope you enjoy the show.



Digital Photography Podcast 877





 
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Is Film Photography Really Making a Comeback?






I think a better way to frame this discussion is that analog cameras have become more in demand over the last two years. And I think there are some very logical reasons why.



Outside of top-end models from Leica and Nikon, no one is making quality 35mm film cameras right now. So like oil and other finite resources, when they're gone, they're gone.

We're seeing a pushback to the perfection of digital imaging. Some creatives are looking to film to create that artistic, somewhat imperfect look, while others are turning to old digital cameras.

Film is expensive, but there is a wide variety of options that are truly intriguing. And we are seeing new film emulsions all the time.

Film photography is easy. I know this sounds weird, but think about it. You don't need a computer, backup system, or have to learn software. Take the picture, send off the roll, and get back finished prints.

And finally, film photography is cool. Most folks won't give you a second look if you say you like to take pictures. But if you say that you like to shoot film, they are interested.



You know it's interesting, film photography has become part of our cultural DNA. Just go to any used book store and dig around in the old magazine section. When you flip through the pages of Life, Time, and others, it's like looking back through your artistic ancestry. And the fact that we can create pictures like those today has an almost time machine feel to it.



 The very first article that I wrote for Medium was Why Film Photography Won't Go Away. For a first effort, it was a hit. 



But it wasn't my writing that grabbed the spotlight, it was the subject: Film Photography. People are interested in it, even if they never intend to shoot a single frame of Kodacolor 200.



There isn't a film photography resurgence, it never really went away. It's the fact that it's still here that impresses headline writers.



It feels like the Pentax K1000 should have been buried with 8-Track tapes and shag carpet. But here it is today, alive and well with its audio brother vinyl records.



You don't have to be popular to be good. You just have to be good. And film photography is indeed very good stuff.




New Eco-Fr

Is Film Photography Really Making a Comeback? - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #876, Jan. 3, 2023. Today's theme is "Shoring Up My Backup System with the Synology DiskStation DS220+" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


In last week's show I discussed getting what I needed (instead of what I wanted). And now I've done exactly what I should have: shore up my backup system with the Synology DiskStation DS220+. This week, I talk about how I have this $299 workstation setup, and how it's working for my photography. I hope you enjoy the show.



Digital Photography Podcast 876





 
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Shoring Up My Backup System with the Synology DiskStation DS220+


I've made tremendous progress filling the gap in my backup system. As you may recall from last week, my weakness was the immediate backup of working files and photo shoots. I really like the solution I settled on.







I now have running the Synology DiskStation DS220+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure with a pair of WD 8TB WD80EFZZ Red Plus SATA III 3.5" Internal NAS HDD internal drives.


After initial setup and testing, here are the reasons why I like this solution.



Good Value for the Money - $299 plus hard drives feels like a good price for what I get.

Can Run on My Network, But Don't Have To - I could plug the DiskStation directly into my router and use across the network, and even tap via the Internet. But after testing that, I've decided to plug directly in using Ethernet cables (RJ45 included) and the twin Gigabit Ethernet Ports.

Good Choice or RAID Options - RAID 0, 1, JBOD, Synology Hybrid - I'm using RAID 1.

Decent Read/Write Speeds - Reads up to 225.98 MB/s and Writes up to 192.21 MB/s.

Tons of Supported Protocols - CIFS/SMB, CalDAV, FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, NFS, SMB 3.0, SNMP, and iSCSI.

Good Admin Software - Easy to setup and easy to use.



Currently I have an iMac and MacBook Pro plugged directly into the DiskStation using RJ45 Ethernet cables. The iMac has an Ethernet port, so that's easy. And I purchased a uni RJ45 to USB C Thunderbolt 3 - Type-C Gigabit Ethernet LAN Network Adapter for $16 to use with the MacBook.



I use the Connect to Server &gt; Browse &gt; Synology DiskStation sequence to access the RAID unit. You can get there even faster if you add Network to your Finder Sidebar. Once you're connected, the DiskStation shows up as a Shared Disk on the Desktop.



The Synology DiskStation DS220+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure is easy to use, relatively fast, and I can have multiple computers connected to it simultaneously, even without getting the router involved. It solved my backup problem perfectly.

 

52Frames Weekly Photo Challenge: Improve Your Photography One Week at a Time

You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com.



Make 2023 a year of creative breakthrough. We all know the key to getting better is consistency. Doing something over and over again will eventually make you bette

Shoring Up My Backup System - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #875, Dec. 27, 2022. Today's theme is "Investing in What Your Need, Not What You Want" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


What I need and what I want are not always the same things. It's wonderful when the two line up. But when they don't, I have to make a decision. Today was one of those days. This week I discuss my final equipment purchase of 2022. And how it was what I truly needed. And how I was able to resist what I really wanted. I hope you enjoy the show.



Digital Photography Podcast 875





 
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Investing in What Your Need, Not What You Want

 Back in August with Podcast 854, I discussed our collective backup systems and how many photographers in our community weren't totally satisfied with their systems.



I was among the "somewhat satisfied" group and fading quickly. My two Drobos were still running fine, but their software dashboards were no longer being updated and not compatible with macOS Ventura.



My twin-drive RAID enclosure died. And even though I didn't lose any data, I didn't have a replacement moving forward. I found myself once again cobbling together a backup system based on random hard drives and iCloud. I knew I needed to fix this.



Fast forward to the end of 2022 with no progress. I had a little money left over in the budget and wanted to make a year-end purchase for tax purposes. Here's where it got interesting.







B&H Photo was running some screaming sales. One in particular that caught my eye was the FUJIFILM GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR lens for $499 - a savings of $500! This optic would give me an equivalent of 28mm-55mm for my GFX 100S. I didn't own a zoom for that camera, and especially a zoom in my favorite range. And for only $499!



I left that catalog page open for two days. But I never added the lens to my cart. Why? Because what I really needed was a 2-drive RAID enclosure with a couple of 8TB drives. And yes, that rig costs about the same as the lens.



So you can see my dilemma. What I really wanted was the new lens to play with rather than the new backup drive system.



Finally, today, I ordered the Synology DiskStation DS220+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure with a pair of WD 8TB WD80EFZZ Red Plus SATA III 3.5" Internal NAS HDD internal drives. Thanks to discounts and PayBoo's "no sales tax," then entire setup cost me $550. Well within my $600 budget.



How did I get to the point of choosing what I should invest in over what I wanted? Here's how:



Time - Waiting and debating over 48 hours instead of making an impulse purchase.

Pros and Cons List - This is where I have to be very honest with myself about the true benefits of each product.

Acknowledging I May Be Able to Get What I Want in the Future - If this lens went on sale once, odds are good it will happen again. And maybe next time I will be in a better positi

Investing in What Your Need, Not What You Want - TDS Photo Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast #874, Dec. 20, 2022. Today's theme is "What's It Going to Be in 2023?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue


Just when I thought I had everything dialed in, 2022 happened. The enclosure for my backup RAID died, Capture One took another step toward a subscription model, and I was banned from Twitter. This seems like a good time to take a step back and reexamine my entire photography ecosystem. And if you're interested in doing the same, listen on. I hope you enjoy the show.



Digital Photography Podcast 874





 
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What's It Going to Be in 2023?





 As I'm planning for the new year that's right around the corner, I thought I'd start with a pros and cons list - what are the aspects of my workflow that are in good shape, and what are the areas that need attention. 


I'm dividing my workflow into five areas: Capture, Organization, Processing, Backup, and Sharing.


Pros and Cons

Capture - Good Shape - OM System OM-1, Fujifilm X100V, and Pentax KP. Will see what the iPhone 15 looks like in the Fall.



Organization and Processing - OK for 2023, but not sure beyond - Have a perpetual license for Capture One Pro 23, so I don't have to make any decisions right now. But will be watching this landscape closely because a change might be in the works for 2024 depending on what everyone does. Photos for macOS Ventura is fantastic for my mobile photography work.



Backup - Flirting with Danger - My Drobos are aging and not supported by macOS Ventura and my RAID enclosure died. I do have Dropbox and the 1TB iCloud plan, so I'm not totally screwed. But need to shore this up in 2023



Sharing - Moving Away from Social - The Twitter permanent suspension was a real eye-opener. I had been using Twitter for daily photography updates to the TDS site via a sweet little API. That's gone now, and we're trying to figure out a new solution.



I could go to Facebook, but not a real fan of that platform beyond what we already use it for. And Instagram seems pretty volatile. I'm looking at Mastodon and Tumblr, but not really sure about any of them.



In the meantime, I'm going to put energy into our Nimble Photographer newsletter on Substack, maintain our The Digital Story Facebook page, and keep an eye peeled.


Bottom Line - I definitely have some things to work out this year? Will keep you posted as I navigate through them. But clearly, there's work to be done in 2023.



What Are the Best Alternatives to the Adobe Photographer Plan?

You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com.


Adobe ruled the waves for image processing. However, evermore people are jumping that ship in favor of alternative methods. Most have similar functions, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking about changing, here are some alternative combined digital asset management, ph

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