"I took this shot on a visit to the Budapest Zoo earlier this year," said Ruan Viljoen. "I'm not sure what kind of animals these are, but the couple did put up a very good show! The signs were all in Hungarian which is very different to English or Afrikaans, which are my native languages.

Ruan captured this make-out scene with his Canon 350D using the 28mm - 135mm lens extended all the way to 135mm. Because there was plenty of light, he was able to use ISO 100 and still shoot at 1/250 at f-8.

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

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

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, grab shot, The Digital Story

Graphics tablets are great tools to help with detailed image editing in Photoshop. They can be pricey, however. Fortunately, Wacom has released the Bamboo line of tablets that start at $79 US.

PhotographyBLOG had just published a review of the Wacom Bamboo tablets that will help you decide if it's time to add this device to your image editing workflow.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, equipment, review, Technology, The Digital Story

We've talked about extreme glass before on The Digital Story. In this article Ben Long says, "If you have a digital SLR, but haven't yet explored the world of unusual lenses, you're in for an eye-opening treat."

Ben then takes you on a tour of fast, wide, fisheye, lensbaby, and tilting lenses, with photo examples for all. He captured this shot of me in Mexico with a Nikon 10mm lens, a wonderful piece of glass he discusses in the article.

On a side note, Ben is teaching the Aperture Power Tools Workshop with me at Macworld SF in January. And he knows his stuff...

Technorati Tags: digital photography, equipment, Technology, The Digital Story, Lens

If you're a Mac shooter and have been curious about incorporating digital picture frames into your display options, PhotoVu has now built-in compatibility for the Mac.

“We have garnered a very loyal following from the Apple and Mac user community,” said Robert Jordan, Partner, PhotoVu. “Our PhotoVu customers who use the Mac OS X Leopard operating system and iLife '08 recognize PhotoVu as 'the' premium digital picture frame to accurately and seamlessly display their life's photos directly from a iPhoto® '08 digital picture library or from their .Mac Web Gallery using RSS.”

PhotoVu frames come in a variety of sizes (10" - 22") and have beautiful screens that show your work in the best light possible. One might make a nice holiday gift for the Mac photographer in your family.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, gadgets, Technology, The Digital Story, Wi-Fi

Thinking about the perfect digital camera for Mom, your friend the serious enthusiast, or just an all around snap-shooter for the family? Then you might want to hop over to Imaging-Resource.com and take a look at Dave's Picks. He gets straight to the point, listing his favorite cameras in each category, then providing links for you to learn more about the models you're most interested in. Even if you're not in the market to buy, it's terrific window shopping.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, equipment, product review, Technology, The Digital Story

How do you protect your digital camera? Hopefully not by staying indoors when the weather gets interesting.

In this podcast, I discuss some of my favorite ways to protect my cameras in all sorts of weather conditions: from the depths of the ocean to a showery afternoon in the country. Often, these are the situations when you can find some of the most interesting shots.

Want to see what you can do with an $150 underwater housing and a compact point and shoot? Take a look at my underwater gallery from the Caribbean.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Light and Dark is this month's photo assignment. It's time to work with shadows and pools of light. See how you can manage a composition that features interesting highlights and shadows. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Nov. 30.

Listen to the Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Workflow" is the kind of word that makes most hobbyist photographers cringe. But the fact of the matter is, if you've taken great photos with your digital camera, don't you want to find the easiest way to organize them and share with others?

If this sounds appealing to you, then you might be interested in my workshop this coming weekend titled, I've Taken Great Photos, Now What?. You'll learn about the coolest photo management applications including Adobe Lightroom, Apple iPhoto, Photoshop CS3, Photoshop Elements 6, and Apple Aperture. We'll build a workflow tailored specifically for your needs. And by the end of the day, you'll see that managing your images can be as fun as taking them in the first place.

The workshop begins at 10 am on Sat. December 1 at 1678 Emeritus Hall, Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, California. You can sign up for the class online, or call for more information at 707-527-4372. The course fee is $63.

Photo of Derrick Story teaching on a recent Geek Cruise taken by Randal Schwartz.

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

Technorati Tags: Aperture, digital photography, iPhoto, software, The Digital Story, Workshop

I've posted an underwater gallery from my recent trip to the Caribbean on a Geek Cruise. All of these images were captured with a rig that costs less than $500 US.

The Canon PowerShot SD700 IS is a 6-megapixel compact that has a large 2.5" LCD and is image stabilized. You can purchase the matching Canon WP-DC5 waterproof case that enables submersion up to 130 feet. (If you own a Canon compact, take a look at their Underwater Photography page. You can find the right case for your camera, plus there are tips to help you get the best shots possible with it.)

I don't like to use flash underwater (none of the images in the gallery used supplemental light), so I'm always looking for clear water with interesting landscape and fish. That way I can shoot in relatively shallow depths--often less than 10 feet.

Having a camera with image stabilization is very important. Everything is moving underwater, including you. The image stabilizer minimizes the effects of camera movement during exposure. I also increase the ISO to 400 to enable as fast a shutter speed as possible. And don't forget to use the camera's Underwater scene mode if it has one. It really helps with the white balance setting.

Once I'm out of the water, I still have some correcting to do in post production--most of it is levels and white balance adjustment. The good news is, once you figure out the adjustments you want, you can apply them to most of the shots from the day. Features such as "copy" and "paste" in iPhoto or "lift" and "stamp" in Aperture are real time savers for these types of assignments.

I also recommend that you get your own snorkel and mask if you plan to take up this sport. That way you know you'll be comfortable while diving. I have my own fins too, but they take up a lot of room in the suitcase. So I usually leave them at home when flying and use the fins available on the dive boat or for rent at the destination.

As with any type of nature photography, be very respectful of flora and fauna. Don't touch the coral or harass the fish. They will come to you out of curiosity if your body language is non-threatening.

Underwater photography is a terrific way to spice up your image library. I like the exercise I get with a good swim, and then you can celebrate your "catch" with a cold rum drink or two while relaxing on the beach afterward.

Photo of skin diver by Derrick Story, captured in Curacao with a Canon SD700 IS in a WP-DC5 underwater case.

Technorati Tags: Aruba, Bahamas, Caribbean, digital photography, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, Underwater

"On a warm, bright, sunny day in Santa Monica, I was shooting promo shots for Jenna Phillips of Mission Possible when three warmly dressed, umbrella carrying ladies walked right through my set," said Joshua Targownik. "I stood up as they passed and waved them through, but kept my finger on the shutter release. When they were in frame, I snapped a shot and startled all three of them with a loud pop from my studio strobes. They laughed it off and kept going, and it turned out to be one of those photos that I couldn't have planned any better."

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

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

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, grab shot, The Digital Story

The October 2007 Photo Assignment was "Close Up," and we have an excellent cross section of images to show you -- 25 photos submitted by Digital Story members who demonstrate their ability to get up close and personal.

To produce the gallery, the pictures were first loaded into Aperture. I then added the accompanying stories to the IPTC caption field and combined it with the EXIF data from the photograph. The final step was to create a web gallery in Aperture and upload it to the Digial Story server. You can view this month's photo assignment here.

The November assignment is "Light and Dark." Start working on your contribution now. Details can be found on the Submissions page. Because of our new gallery format, you can now submit photo assignment pictures up to 600 pixels in the widest direction. Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for next month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Nov 2007." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Good luck with your November assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for October. It's an excellent collection of images.

Photo by Kevin Miller

Technorati Tags: digital photography, The Digital Story, Photo Assignment

Shooting in Costa Rica was a true adventure. The rain was pouring, so my uniform was Tevas, swimming trunks, and a mesh shirt. The Canon 5D performed great in the inclement weather. I had brought the SD700 IS in its waterproof housing, but it wasn't the right camera for people shots. The 5D was the king of the day.

In this podcast, I return home to catch up, share a few anecdotes, and get us all back on the right photography track. (I do make an error however and say that the photo assignment for Nov. is "water." That's wrong! The assignment is Light and Dark. Sorry about that. Still getting back in the groove.

Costa Rican Cyclist -- by Derrick Story, captured with a Canon 5D, 24-105 mm L zoom, ISO 640, Cloudy WB, 1/250 @ f-6.7.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Light and Dark is this month's photo assignment. It's time to work with shadows and pools of light. See how you can manage a composition that features interesting highlights and shadows. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Nov. 30.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Catching Up." You can download the podcast here (31 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

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

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

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

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

Technorati Tags: Caribbean, Costa Rica, digital photography, podcast, Technology, The Digital Story

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

Hidden in the depths of your Bridge 2.0 folder is a nifty application called Photo Downloader. If you use the Bridge/ACR workflow, this gem can handle importing images from your memory card, and it provides many of the same options that are available in Lightroom's Import dialog box.

The coolest thing is, if you've upgraded to CS3, you already have all the components needed to build a nifty workflow: Photo Downloader to import images, Bridge 2.0 to organized them and fine-tune metadata, and ACR 4 to process your RAW and Jpeg files.

Photo Downloader is easy to access. Just open Bridge, then select File > Get Photos from Camera...

Photo Downloader launches and reads any card attached to your computer. It enables image placement to any location you want, allows file renaming on import, provides for automated backup to a separate drive, and even lets you add IPTC metadata to your pictures, so your copyright and contact information is included right from the start.

Other handy features include thumbnail previews of the images on the card, selective uploading, and even on-the-fly conversion to DNG. Not bad for a little app that many photographers don't even know they have.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, software, Technology, The Digital Story, Photo Downloader

Most of us have "legacy" content that we would like to digitize: prints we laboriously perfected in the darkroom, slides that we exposed with the utmost care, and family mementos from previous generations. In other words, a good, versatile photo scanner is required equipment these days.

The Epson Perfection V500 Photo Scanner is a flatbed scanner capable of producing 13" x 19" enlargements from your 35mm slides (6400 dpi), uses LEDs for its light source, and includes Digital ICE to help eliminate dust appearing on your scans. All of this for $249 USD (or less).

PC Mag gave it an Editor's Choice for photo scanners, and the Amazon ratings are either love or hate... the hate stemming from slow scanning speeds (which wasn't noted by PC Mag). Seems like the bottom line here is... that if you want terrific quality for an affordable price, and are not in a production environment, the Epson V500 is a good choice.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, product review, The Digital Story, Epson V500 Scanner

"Walking back from a favourite photo shooting haunt, I saw these kids collecting crabs in the mud with their dad, whilst their mum looked on from the beach," said SD for Australia. "A few minutes after I walked past, I heard their excited yelps as they ran back to their mother relaxing on the beach ahead of me. I didn't have time to raise the camera to my eye, but rather went 'from the belt,' as I have read about many times in stories of how urban photographers get their best grabs. I just love the blur of the young boys foot, and that, even though you can't see his face , you can tell that he excited to show mum his new pet crab."

Steve captured this grab shot with the ISO set to 400 in Normal Program mode. The settings worked out to be 1/160th @ f-8.

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

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

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, grab shot, The Digital Story

If you've been waiting to upgrade to Mac OS X Leopard because of Lightroom incompatibility, the wait is over. Registered users can now download Lightroom 1.3 update from the Adobe site.

The Lightroom 1.3 update (and Camera Raw 4.3 plug-in) also add support for seven additional digital cameras including the Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III, Canon PowerShot G9, Nikon D3, Nikon D300, Olympus E-3, Olympus SP-560 UZ, and Panasonic DMC-L10.

And as a bonus, Adobe has made available a technology preview of the Lightroom Export SDK, available as a separate download on the Adobe Labs site. It allows for the development of third-party plug-ins that will enable communication from the Lightroom 1.3 Export Dialog to third party tools, Web sites or devices.

"Once we get feedback from the developer community we will evaluate how to expand the SDK to other aspects of workflow outside of image export," said Tom Hogarty, product manager for Photoshop Lightroom. "The end result will allow photographers to further customize and streamline their workflows. This technology preview will give developers an opportunity to provide feedback and shape the way Lightroom's architecture will be utilized. While we have received numerous requests to provide an SDK that allows for image manipulation plug-ins similar to those available for Photoshop, our current focus is to continue to enhance the digital photography workflow by improving the connection to tools, functionality and services not available in Lightroom."

So good news all the way around for Raw shooters using Adobe products. If you want to keep an eye on the conversation around these topics, check out the Inside Lightroom web site.

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

iPhoto is the backbone of photo app for many amateur photographers using Macs. In iPhoto ’08 Essential Training, I cover just about every aspect of iPhoto ’08, including how to burn CDs and DVDs; set up an advanced editing environment; and retouch, rotate, crop, duplicate, and manipulate photographs. I also share many tips on how to best organize large photo libraries with metadata, flags, keywords, ratings, and photo info. Exercise files accompany the tutorials.

I think this is a really good training if you want to dig into the latest version of iPhoto. There are nine free sample movies that you can peruse to see if this is the sort of thing you're interested in. Let me know what you think!

Technorati Tags: software, technique, The Digital Story, iPhoto

Nikon has released the Coolpix P5100 just six months after the P5000 received positive reviews. Essentially, this is Nikon's high-end compact for serious photographers who want a capable point and shoot to augment their DSLR.

Many of its specs will look familiar to those of you who have been eyeing Canon's PowerShot G9: 12 Megapixels on a 1/1.8 CCD, optical image stabilization, 3.5X zoom, SDHC card compatibility, face detection, 2.5" LCD monitor, and all the settings any serious photographer would want. I think the P5100 is a smarter looking camera than its predecessor, going more with the matt black look instead of the mix of chrome and black.

Invariably, though, we all want to see how it stacks up to the Canon PowerShot G9. I've just returned from two weeks in the Caribbean using the G9 as one of my cameras, and it performed admirably. But the things I liked about it are missing from Nikon's P5100--notably the longer 6X optical zoom lens and RAW mode. Plus with the Canon you get a 3" LCD vs. the P5100's 2.5 monitor.

So when DPReview published their review of the Nikon P5100, I was eager to see if their thoughts were similar to mine. In short, yes, they were.

One of Richard Butler and Simon Joinson's primary complaints with the P5100 is that Nikon didn't really improve its handling speed. This is something they noted about the G9 too, although I have been fairly happy with its start-up and shutter lag performance. What the G9 doesn't have, as well as the P5100, is any sort of useful burst mode compared to a DSLR.

But where things really get interesting is the comparison of images shot at the lowest ISOs and ISO 400. My eyes see a clear difference with the G9 images looking hands down better. The reviewers seem to soften their comments here, but the pictures really tell the story.

Overall, even if you're a Nikon shooter, I think you should consider the Canon G9 as your high end compact. The Canon does cost $100 more, but that's about the only mark against it for a "pro point and shoot." For me, this is one of those many instances where you have to ignore brand and go with the better camera.

Technorati Tags: review, The Digital Story, Nikon Coolpix P5100, Canon G9

After a while, the rain just becomes part of the landscape. I don't really think about it. I'm dressed for it. And I know from previous experience that the Canon 5D with the 24-105mm f-4 lens with front filter and lens hood attached is a fairly water-resistant rig.

So, wearing Tevas, swimsuit trunks, and an unnatural fiber shirt, I ventured out into the Port Limon area of Costa Rica to see what I could find. Ironically, while on a small boat in the Tortuguero Canals, I came across this young man swinging on a rope and splashing while it rained.

By moving the ISO up to 640, I was able to get enough shutter speed (1/180th) to freeze the water. The aperture was f-5.6. In fact, I never was able to move the ISO down during the entire course of the day. Seemed like I was always on a boat or hanging off a rustic train that jiggled and rattled its way through countryside and small villages.

I'm sailing home now as I write this. Cuba is off the starboard side of the ship. I really could go for a few more days... rain and all.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, The Digital Story, Costa Rica

We approached the first of three locks just as the sun was rising Friday morning. I was looking forward to getting a close-up view of passing through the Panama Canal, but I have to say, it was more exciting than I had anticipated.

The first photo here shows how it looks from the bow of the Volendam as we entered the lock. There are many preparations that lead up to this moment. The most visual are the interactions with the locomotion helpers on both sides of the ship that guide us through the channel.

We only have a couple feet of spare room on each side of the ship. So the helpers have to be very skilled to keep the Volendam clear of the lock walls so they don't scrape the sides of the vessel. The second photo shows our exit from the final lock and you can clearly see how little spare room there is.

I shot with the Canon 5D and the 24-105mm L zoom. I worked the bow (front of the ship) for quite a while because I wanted to capture images of the locks opening up. I then went to the third deck where I could walk the perimeter of the ship to capture the details of our transfer.

It cost the Volendam $180,000 to pass through the Panama Canal. But after spending the entire morning watching and learning about the process, I have to say that this is a highly technical endeavor requiring lots of man power and expensive equipment.

I captured about 300 images, and I have 40 that I really like. What an experience.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, The Digital Story, Panama Canal

On Wednesday we tied up at Willemstad, Curacao -- sometimes called Pearl of the Caribbean or Heart of the World. I got off the cruise ship and boarded a tender that motored 20 minutes along the coast to our diving destination. We moored, then jumped off the back of the boat into some of the most beautiful underwater scenery I've ever seen.

The first thing I noticed was that picture taking was so much easier than it had been any other day of the trip. Spending the next 2 hours photographing colorful fish, coral, eel, and even squid (as shown here) reminded me that great location does make a difference.

A good photographer should be able to make a good image anywhere. But take that same good photographer and put him or her somewhere stunning, and you'll probably get two dozen great images. Sometimes you just need a good place to shoot.

I teach all day today for the Geek Cruise folks, then next stop is the Panama Canal.

Technorati Tags: Caribbean, digital photography, The Digital Story, Underwater, Curacal

Shooting underwater presents different challenges than topside. We docked in Oranjestad, Aruba. Then a handful of us caught a bus over to a little marina where we hopped on a rustic tender to De Palm Island. For the next four hours we could snorkel, relax in the white sand, and partake in the occasional Pina Colada.

I was shooting with my Canon SD700 IS in its underwater housing. At first I was concerned about visibility because the water was churning. Sure enough, once beneath the surface, there wasn't the clarity I had hoped for. But I noticed that when I positioned myself so the sun was over my shoulder, the shots were much cleaner than from other angles.

Now you may be thinking this is simple, right? Well, it's a whole different world underwater. And it was a fun problem finding the fish, then trying to get positioned to fire off a shot before they darted way.

Even when I was in the right position, the movement of the water would produce a variety of effects. Sometimes in my favor, sometimes not. And finally, there was the task of composing the image on the LCD with all of those reflections.

I think dealing with the fickleness of light underwater makes snorkel photography fun. There are so many variables to contend with. And when I did get a good image, it was ever bit as satisfying as a beautiful landscape shot topside.

Photos by Derrick Story with a Canon SD700IS using the Underwater Scene Mode in a waterproof housing.

BTW: Can anyone identify this fish? If so, please leave a comment. They were very big, a couple feet easily, and easy going.

Technorati Tags: Carabbean, digital photography, The Digital Story, Aruba, Underwater

When out in the field, the goals are to capture great images, enjoy nature, and do no harm to yourself and others. In this Best of Podcasts #2, I share ten of my favorite tips for shooting outdoors.

This is an appropriate "Best of" for this week, because I'm in Aruba today with camera in hand. I'll be reporting on what happens while I'm in the field (and in the water) working.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Light and Dark is this month's photo assignment. It's time to work with shadows and pools of light. See how you can manage a composition that features interesting highlights and shadows. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Nov. 30.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "10 Tips for Great Field Photography." You can download the podcast here (26 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

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

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

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

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

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, The Digital Story

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

I taught both iPhoto 08 and Aperture classes today on the Geek Cruise, and one of the key points that resonated with students was how beautifully iPhoto can serve as a deluxe plug-in for Aperture.

The basic workflow goes something like this: Use Aperture as your main database for uploading, organizing, rating, keywording, and editing your pictures. In its Preferences pane, turn on previews and sharing with other applications. Then, when you want to use iPhoto's cool slideshow function, make greeting cards, create calendars, publish web galleries -- access your Aperture images using the File > Show Aperture Library command. You'll see a pop-up dialog box as illustrated here. Drag the photos you want into iPhoto (it will use the previews you generated in Aperture, so the better the previews, the more options you have in iPhoto.)

In this manner, iPhoto becomes a fairly extravagant plug-in for Aperture. This can be especially nice for Raw shooters who want Aperture's horsepower but the output goodies in iPhoto.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, software, The Digital Story, iPhoto, Aperture

I walked into a shop to buy a hat and asked the shopkeeper how her morning was. She said, "Ah, OK, still recovering from the storm." Our ship had missed the bad weather and we were enjoying a nice day on the beach. The locals weren't as lucky.

I paid cash for the hat and wished her a speedy recovery at home. As I strolled the beach after my swim, I came upon this scene of a couple of tourists renting a little sailboat for the afternoon. I framed the shot with the Holland America ship in the distance to better tell the story of my first afternoon in the Caribbean.

Photo by Derrick Story during the MacMania 7 Geek Cruise - Canon G9, Raw, ISO 80, 1/1250 at f-4.5, Auto White Balance.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, The Digital Story, Bahamas, Carabbean

"Dia de Patria, Santiago, Chile -- Figured I´d stroll around and find a festival," said Capn Scott. "I ended up in Parque O´Higgins… Yep.. a good old irish name for a spanish park… (though, doesn´t beat the chinese restaurant in David named Don Jose). There had to be over 10,000 people here. And yes, I want one of these."

Capn Scott used a Canon PowerShot G7 ("Didn´t want to break out the 20D in a crowd of 10,000") set to 1/80th at f-4.0 with the zoom on its widest setting (7.4mm).

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. If we publish it, you'll receive an ultra cool custom carabineer keychain.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

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

Technorati Tags: candid, digital photography, grab shot, The Digital Story

How long has it been since you've checked for updates for your printer? I've noticed that the major printer manufacturers (Epson, HP, Canon) have been doing a pretty good job of posting revisions for both firmware and new ICC profiles for paper. What fun!

I just finished downloading a new firmware update for the Canon IPF5000, and even better, new printer profiles, created with X-Rite's ProfileMaker 5 for 10 different Canon papers.

Chances are you're not using this printer, but my point is that new stuff is released all the time for older printers. And this becomes even more important if you're contemplating an OS upgrade (Vista or Leopard). Typically, one of the biggest frustrations after an OS upgrade is a printing glitch. So a little planning can potentially save you a lot of headache.

Technorati Tags: ICC Profiles, software, The Digital Story, Canon IPF5000, Printer