High magnification reveals new worlds hiding in everyday objects. I've been photographing old RAM chips with the olloclip Macro 3-IN-1 Photo Lens and the olloclip Quick-Flip Case + Pro-Photo Adapter.

Using the InstaFocus Hood that's included with the kit, both lighting and focusing are easy. Just attach the hood to the lens and set it on the object you want to photograph. Tap on the iPhone screen, and the image snaps into clarity.

I recommend using the olloclip app available in the iTunes App Store to capture the image. Not only is it designed to work with the lenses, it also features a Mesh Editor Tool that makes distortion correction easy before saving the picture to your Camera Roll.

The iPhone 5S with olloclip lens and case and Joby Gorillapod for additional support. Photos by Derrick Story.

You can learn more about the olloclip Macro at their site. It's available for $69.99 directly from olloclip or from Amazon.

The olloclip has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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The iMac DV Special Edition was my first race car. When I bought this Macintosh in 1999, I felt like I had the sexist machine on the planet.

Not only was it beautiful to look at, and still is, it packed a 400MHz processor, a full megabyte of L2 cache, and a Rage 128 graphics chip. I used this machine to design my first web sites and make the transition to the online world.

The iMac DV still runs to this day. The internal hard drive died years ago. So now I boot it from a 6 GB FireWire external drive. As you see in the above photo, the iMac is logged on to my studio network and browsing the Web via Safari. It's running Mac OS X 10.4.

What's Your Favorite Mac of All Time?

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 wasn't the only good news from Olympus today. They also announced a handful of tantalizing accessories.

Starting with the M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ Lens in black or silver for $349. This pancake zoom lens measures just .9 inches thick. It has a smooth electric zoom that is suitable for shooting movies, and can also be zoomed in and out remotely using compatible smartphones through the updated Olympus Image Share app.

I'm also pleased that Olympus has improved the accessory grip for the E-M10 with the announcement of the ECG-1 for $59.95. They've designed a quick release lever that makes for simple removal of the accessory providing easy access to the battery.

The 9mm f/8.0 Fisheye Body Cap Lens for $99 adds a functional twist to the standard camera body cap. The super wide angle coverage (140 degree field of view) is perfect for adding a little creativity to your photography.

And finally, there's the new MCON-P02 Macro Converter ($64.95) that shortens the focusing distance for six lenses, including the 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 EZ, 14-42 f/3.5-5.6 II R, 45mm f/1.8, 25mm f/1.8, 17mm f/1.8, and the 12mm f/2.0 lens.

These accessories has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Breaking News! The Olympus OM-D E-M10; From the Screening Room: Derrick Story: Portrait Retouching with Aperture: Changing the Background (Plus Bonus Tip!) - Nifty WiFi Camera Trick on the Nimbleosity Report - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - Just announced! The Olympus OM-D E-M10. This third member of the OM-D family comes in at $699, yet has outstanding specifications, including:

• Extremely compact all metal body
• TruePic VII image processor, the same found in the OM-D E-M1, 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor
• WiFi that connects with Image Share app for camera control and picture download
• 3-axis IS (instead of 5-axis found on E-M1)
• Built-in flash (a first for the OM-D digital line) optimized for 1/250 second synchronization, a benefit for daytime flash photography. Will also serve as remote control for wireless flashes.
• 3" tilting touchscreen LCD
• Electronic viewfinder (1,440,000-dot) 100 percent field of view
• 8 fps burst mode, unlimited Jpegs, up to 20 RAW files



• Optional 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 EZ pancake zoom lens, measures just .9 inches thick, making it the world's slimmest standard zoom lens. It has a smooth electric zoom that is suitable for shooting movies, and can also be zoomed in and out remotely using compatible smartphones through the updated Olympus Image Share app.
• ECG-1 matching ergonomic grip is a removable grip exclusively for use with the E-M10. A single press of the lever on the bottom of the grip easily removes it, making replacing batteries seamless.

I tested the OM-D E-M10 in Las Vegas earlier this year, and I'll provide the complete lowdown on what I consider a tempting new camera body from Olympus. It's due to release in March.

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Derrick Story: Portrait Retouching with Aperture: Changing the Background (Plus Bonus Tip!). This week's featured artist is yours truly. In this movie on Lynda.com, I show you, step by step, how you can use Aperture adjust the color and tone of your background to better complement the subject.

You can watch me in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of my movies, plus every other title in the library.

And for those who listen to the podcast, I'll share a bonus retouching tip that isn't in my lynda training or on The Digital Story.

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report - "How to share photos wirelessly from all of your cameras using your compact WiFi enabled camera." This is a great tip, complements of virtual camera club member Ed Helms. I explain further in the third segment of today's show.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for January 2014 is White.

Artisan Cheese Festival: March 21-23, 2014 - This advanced workshop puts you on assignment to cover Artisan Cheese Festival. You'll experience a complex event assignment from the inside out, learning about client relations, shot list preparation, lighting techniques, post production, and more. Three days - $250

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (28 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com.

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"There are no secrets when it comes to light. Only physics," writes David Hobby in his free PDF titled, "Lighting 101." You can download this information-packed guide for free from his webiste, Strobist.

This 63-page tutorial is full of invaluable tips such as, "To avoid refections in glasses, simply light from one side and have the person face the other. There is no need to be shooting all of the way in profile, either. A flattering, 3/4 angle (subject to camera) will work just fine."

In my opinion, Lighting 101 should reside on every photographer's iPad for reference and practice. David Hobby had illuminated the path for working with flash for so many of us. Go visit his site today... and learn!

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It seems like it should work. But if you plug the Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader into your iPhone, all you get is a not supported message. Ack!

When I'm in super-nimble mode, I don't even want to bring my iPad (which of course does support the SD card reader). I just want a compact camera in one pocket and my iPhone in the other.

This is where camera WiFi saves the day. No adapters required. Today, I'm heading out with a Canon PowerShot S110 that connects to my iPhone 5S wireless via the Canon CW iOS app. And boom! I can quickly move images from one device to the other.

Personally, I would prefer it if Apple opened up the iPhone to use the SD Card Reader. It's always good to have a hardwire backup. Until then, thank goodness for camera WiFi.

This tandem has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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A primary goal with camera gear transport is to prevent metal objects from colliding with one another. There are a variety of ways to do this.

Many professional camera bags, such as those made by Lowepro, feature padded dividers to eliminate unwanted contact. This works great as long as your gear goes directly from the bag, to use, and back to the bag.

That's not always the way I work, however.

Often my camera bag is packed for traveling from one place to another, holding all of the equipment that I would need for that duration of the trip. Once I arrive at my destination, I most likely want to move about with fewer items, only selecting what I need for a particular shoot.

I'll have a flat shoulder bag packed in my suitcase, such as the Lowepro Photo Sport 18L Shoulder Bag or the Walking Man Shoulder Bag, then use pouches to protect individual items.

The Lowepro Photo Sport Shoulder Bag is a favorite of mine for travel.

The system can be quite efficient because I stow much of my gear in pouches in the large camera bag. Then I simply pull the items that I want and relocate them to the new bag. Essentially, it's a modular system for your camera gear on location.

Pouch features that I look for when designing this system include:

• Squarish shape that is more efficient when packed in a bag.
• Belt loop, and if possible, optional shoulder strap. This allows me to head out to dinner with just the pouch and no other bag at all.
• A variety of colors. This helps to quickly identify one pouch from another.

The downside to this approach is that you can't get as much equipment in your "Point A to Point B" bag because of the pouches themselves. So I don't use this setup for every shoot. But for vacation travel and non-photography business, it works like a charm.

This pouch system has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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I've been covering high school basketball this season with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the Olympus 75mm f/1.8 lens. As people see my shots online, the question has come up: Could I use this tandem instead of a DSLR to cover indoor sports?

The answer is a resounding, "depends."

Photos by Derrick Story. OM-D E-M1, 75mm lens, ISO 3200, Aperture Priority f/1.8, 1/400th, +0.3 EV

For example, here's a note that I recently received from Joel, who is a photographer in the TDS community.

"I have had some issues with the 75mm Oly lens. I am shooting Dvision 1 college basketball in the best-lit arena in the Patriot League. I am able to use a combination of ISO settings starting at 1600 and going up thru 3200, simply dependent upon the aperture and shutter speed I desire. BUT, I am having some problems with focus slipping off my intended subject, or simply never locking in the first place. I don't have those issues with the 45mm lens."

Joel went on to ask if I were having the same issues with the Olympus 75mm lens.

The short answer is "yes."

My loss is higher with the 75mm than with the Canon 85mm f/1.8 on my 70D DSLR. So why do I keep shooting this season with the E-M1 and 75mm?

The reason is because when I do get a shot I like, I love it. There's a certain feel that I get with the mirrorless kit that doesn't happen as often with other cameras and lenses. And as the season wears on, my percentage of good shots is rising. I'm having to learn how to shoot with this rig.

This is why my initial answer to the E-M1 vs DSLR is "depends." If I were shooting a single assignment that required the highest number of good images, I would choose my Canon DSLR and lenses. My percentages are better.

If, as the case for me this year, I have an entire season to build a collection of images for the high school yearbook, I'm sticking with the OM-D and 75mm.

Last night's shoot, for example totaled 723 frames for the JV game. I liked 219 images from that game. I loved a dozen of those shots.

For those of you who shoot basketball regularly, how do those numbers compare to yours? My guess is that they are a bit lower. And if you were shooting these types of assignments to pay your bills, you should go with a rig that gives you the best percentages possible. You don't want to miss the game winning shot.

As for me, I'm going to evaluate the body of work at the end of the season. Then I will decide. But for now, I'm going to stick with the E-M1 and 75mm and see how good I can get with them.

This kit has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

So, what do people wear on their feet when attending monster trade shows such as CES in Las Vegas? This floor level view provides some insights.

Recorded at CES 2014 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. I used a Canon S110 set at floor level. The movie was edited in Aperture 3.5 using the Slideshow tool.

Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture, such as how to edit movies with this app, check out my Aperture 3.3 Essential Training (2012) on lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: New Mirrorless Cameras on the Horizon; From the Screening Room: Douglas Kirkland: Storytelling Through Photography - Nimbleosity Report - Mark Your Stuff - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - New Mirrorless Cameras on the Horizon - the CES announcements were fun, but we still have more to come with mirrorless cameras in the coming weeks. Leading off, Fujifilm is expected to announce a DSLR-styled camera on January 28. In the same timeframe, we're expecting new announcements from Olympus too. A few leaked images have appeared online, so it's best not to speculate too much at this point. It is safe to say, however, that mirrorless shooters will have new gear to tempt them.

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Douglas Kirkland: Storytelling through Photography. This week's featured artist is the iconic photographer who photographed Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. In this title on lynda.com, Douglas talks about storytelling through the use of his photography, and how every image should have a message.

You can watch Douglas in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of movies with Douglas, plus every other title in the library (including over 20 by yours truly).

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report - "Mark Your Stuff"

I know at first this might seem a little bit obvious, but I am surprised at how many photographers do not have their gear marked. There are a couple of approaches you can take, to ensure that you have a chance to recover your equipment, if misplaced.

The Whole Bag Approach - for those who don't want to label every item, you can simply make sure that you have your contact information clearly visible somewhere in your camera bag.

Label it All! - some photographers are more comfortable knowing that every piece of equipment they have as a label on it. If this is you, I don't think you necessarily need your name on every lens, but your cell phone number is probably a good idea.

Serial Numbers Yes, Engraving No - cameras and lenses already have engraved serial numbers, so you don't have to engrave your name which depreciates their value. Instead, make sure that you have all of the serial numbers for your equipment on file.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for January 2014 is White.

Artisan Cheese Festival: March 21-23, 2014 - This advanced workshop puts you on assignment to cover Artisan Cheese Festival. You'll experience a complex event assignment from the inside out, learning about client relations, shot list preparation, lighting techniques, post production, and more. Three days - $250

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (30 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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Not every camera bag is right for all situations. But over time, most photographers settle on a style that best suits their general needs. Aside from rollers, the basic designs are sling, shoulder, and backpack. Here's a closer look at each.

Three Types of Camera Bags - Sling (left), Shoulder, and Backpack.

The Camera Backpack

Backpacks, such as the Lowepro DSLR Video Fastpack 250 AW combine excellent storage capacity for your camera gear, laptop, and tablet with excellent comfort. Weight is distributed over both shoulders and hips (if you buckle the waistband). So you can explore for an entire day without much fatigue.

On the downside, access to your gear isn't as convenient as with shoulder and sling bags. And backpacks are sometimes problematic in crowded areas where you might accidentally bump others with it.

Best for... carrying gear from point A to point B, travel, hiking, and when you need to have lots of equipment with you over an extended period.

The Shoulder Bag

Shoulder bags, such as the Lowepro Urban Reporter are perfect during shoots when you need to access your gear quickly. You can position the bag to hang in the front while your working, then slide it around to your back while relocating to a different area.

Shoulder bags are not as convenient when walking long distances or transporting lots of gear. Because all of the weight is centered on one shoulder, photographers will tire more quickly.

Best for... quick access during a shoot and for working in crowded areas. Also a bit more stylish for urban shooters who also attend meetings.

The Sling Bag

Sling bags, such as the Lowepro Transit Sling, offer an alternative to the traditional backpack.

Slings provide faster access to gear, while maintaining backpack-like capacity, and to some degree, comfort if you use the supplied stabilizing strap that helps distribute weight off one shoulder. Worn properly, you can carry more gear for longer periods with a sling than a shoulder bag - but still not as long as a good-fitting backpack.

Best for... providing fast access to a moderate amount of gear. Slings are also well suited for those who prefer backpack styling over shoulder bags. They're easier to reposition in crowded areas than backpacks.

What Do I Use?

My everyday on-the-go bag is the Urban Reporter 150. When traveling or moving gear from point A to point B, I prefer the DSLR Video Fastpack 250 AW that also has a padded area for my 15" MacBook Pro. And when I'm on the trail, I love the Lowepro Photo Sport Pro 30L AW Backpack that not only protects my camera equipment, but has enough storage for an overnight campout.

This camera bags have a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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Built-in camera WiFi has evolved from novelty to useful.

Two factors have improved this experience. First, cameras are able to establish their own hotspots and not depend on an existing WiFi networks. This provides much more flexibility. And second, companion apps that run on mobile devices now interact more smoothly with the cameras and provide a variety of functions.

In my latest Macworld Magazine article, How to use Wi-Fi for an expert photo workflow, I detail the workflow I used to cover CES in Las Vegas, using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Canon 70D with their respective iOS apps running on an iPhone 5S and iPad mini with Retina Display.

A few years ago, I would gather information and photos during the day, then go back to my hotel room at night to process and publish. Now, the expectation is to publish over the course of the day. Camera WiFi and improved mobile hardware and software make realtime reporting feasible.

Show organizers and cellular providers also helped our cause by improving the networks at the Las Vegas Convention Center. As a result, I was able to shoot, edit, and publish at the event.

If you find this stuff interesting, then take a look at How to use Wi-Fi for an expert photo workflow and see what you think.

This workflow has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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The folks over at In My Bag wanted to know what I wast packing in my Urban Reporter 150. So I laid it out for them, and added a new entry to the Nimble Photographer Fit Kit page.

Fit Kit 12 - Everyday Work Bag

This kit has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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Yes, you can spend thousands upon thousands for a new Apple Mac Pro. But once you've finished the fun of seeing how high you can go, what's a reasonable configuration for working photographers?

I spent some time with the configurator and designed a system for less than $5,000. Yes, that's a lot of money. But I also included a new 27-inch Apple Thunderbolt Display, thinking that most of us have outdated displays right now.

I started with the Quad-Core option (3.7GHz quad-core with 10MB of L3 cache). I increased the RAM memory from 12 to 16GBs. For storage, an upgrade was definitely needed since the default is only 256 GBs. (This is even the case if you start with the more expensive 6-Core and Dual GPU.) So I upgraded to 1TB of PCIe-based Flash storage. That costs $800 right there.

I left the graphics card alone - Dual AMD FirePro D300 GPUs with 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM - but did add the 27-inch Thunderbolt Display for $999. This raised the total price for the setup to $4,898.00.

Now it's true that you could buy the base unit for $2,999 with the 27" display for $999 and provide the upgrades yourself. In that case, your initial order is $3,998... with more expenditures to come.

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The Nimble Photographer has had a fast start to 2014. Here are some of the latest posts on The Nimble Journal.

This Could Change Our World - The possibilities of 3D printing. (The Lux camera shown here was output by a 3D printer, designed by Kevin Kadooka.)

It's Still Work if Your Don't Get Paid - The endless opportunity to apply your craft for free.

The Shakedown - Yes, the ongoing battle between Las Vegas and your wallet.

Assignment Gear - What I pack for a light-footed event job.

Join me on my Instagram site as I explore the world of mobile photography. And now Instagram features 15-second movies too.

Follow me on Twitter

Since light meters built in to our cameras are so good, why would we even bother with an external tool? A few reasons come to mind, most of them after spending some time with the Lumu light meter for the iPhone.

This small accessory plugs in to the headphone jack of the iPhone or iPad. And when used with its free iOS app, the Lumu measures the ambient lighting to help you determine an excellent starting point for exposure.

Here's a quick look at why I like using the Lumu.

Excellent Starting Exposure

Why not test the Lumu's capability while photographing the actual device in a mini popup studio with natural light? Take a look at the comparison.

Unedited exposure established by the Lumu in my mini studio.

Unedited exposure determined by the camera.

As expected, the camera's patterned metering system under-exposed the shot (lower photo). This can be easily corrected with exposure compensation, of course. The Luma, however, nailed the exposure. When using the Lumu, I shot in manual mode and set the f/stop and shutter speed to the readout on the iPhone.

Manual Exposure Made Fun

Dialing in my own settings is now a snap. I use the readout displayed on the iPhone. That's it. Start taking pictures. I can ignore all of the blinking lights in the camera and focus on the composition.

Feels Artistic

Your photo subjects will be impressed as you take a light meter reading with your iPhone before the shoot. You may want to dress in all black and wear a beret to enhance the effect.

Great for Video

Video shoots are easy to set up using the Luma. You need to be in manual exposure anyway for video, so this accessory makes that process even easier.

Bottom Line

Not everyone will want to spend $129 for an external light meter. But those who appreciate this type of photo tool will most likely love it. I bought my Lumu as a Kickstarter project and am very pleased with the investment. If you want to learn more about Lumu, visit the Lumu home page.

The Lumu has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: 5 Top Photo Picks from CES; From the Screening Room: Ben Long: Foundations of Photography: Flash - On the Nimbleosity Report - 5 Things I Hate About Travel - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - 5 Top Photo Picks from CES: As it turned out, CES was more photo gear rich than I had anticipated. Here are my 5 top picks from the show.

• The Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS Lens $1,599 US. Nine Circular Diaphragm Blades, External Aperture Ring, Metal Design, and Image Stabilization.
• The Fujifilm Instax SHARE SP-1 Instant Printer $200 - it uses Fujifilm Instant Color Film (10 per pack) to produce a 62mm x 46mm print from your mobile device. Since it has its own WiFi hotspot, you can connect and print anywhere. Only weighs 253 grams and fits in your jacket pocket.



• The Poppy turns your iPhone into a 3D camera $59 US. Works for both capture and viewing. It is the modern day "Viewmaster."
• The Samsung 16-50mm f/2-2.8 S ED OIS Lens $1,299 US. 24.6-77mm (35mm Equivalent), 9-Blade Circular Aperture Diaphragm, Splash/Dust proof, IS.
• The olloclip 4-in-1 Photo Lens for iPhone 5/5s + Quick-Flip Case $99 US - Great way to expand your iPhone photography. Plus, they're coming out with a model for the iPad that might be even more practical from some folks.

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Ben Long: Foundations of Photography: Flash. This week's featured artist is all around great guy Ben Long. His introductory movie shows you the variety of flash techniques that he'll demonstrate, including fill flash, slow synchro, and off-camera.

You can watch Ben in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of Erin's movies, plus every other title in the library (including over 20 by yours truly).

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report - "5 things I hate about travel."

• Setting my bag on the restroom floor - This is why I go with shoulder bags in airports instead of rollers whenever possible.
• The middle seat - There's no delicate way to get around this: the middle seat sucks.
• Overhead compartments - They were designed in the day when people didn't have to pay to check their luggage. Now everything from rolling trunks to grand pianos are tried to squeeze in overhead.
• Overpriced everything - I went to buy a pack of gum at the airport concession, until I saw it was $3. Water is even a bigger rip off because you're not allowed to bring your own with you.
• Unsavory cab drivers - The hell doesn't end once you arrive at your destination. The second wave of torment awaits you outside.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for January 2014 is White.

There's still a seat open for the Fine Art Photography Workshop, Feb. 28-March 1, 2014 .

Artisan Cheese Festival: March 21-23, 2014 - This advanced workshop puts you on assignment to cover Artisan Cheese Festival. You'll experience a complex event assignment from the inside out, learning about client relations, shot list preparation, lighting techniques, post production, and more. Three days - $250

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (32 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - For The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club members ... if you'd like additional copies of for gifts, or SizzlPix! of any other of your images to make spectacular, amazing holiday gifts, order any two SizzlPix! to be shipped together, and we'll give you 25% off on the second one! Order any size up to a mind-boggling 48 by 72" Imagine -- six feet! and no sacrifice in resolution, luminance, and impact. Just put "TDS " in the comments space on the sizzlpix.com order page. Of course, you may apply the discount to any number of pairs. And free shipping to any US mainland address.

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Sports photography is a test for any camera. It needs to react quickly and produce excellent images at high ISO settings. I've been using the Olympus OM-D E-M1 to cover high school basketball. Here are five tips to help you get the most from this camera.

• Choose Fast Glass - You need every drop of light to reach the sensor, plus you want to be able to soften the background. Fast glass is the answer. I've been using the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 lens for this task. Stick with native micro four thirds lenses for fast moving sports.
• Embrace High ISO - Freezing the action is important. You need fast shutter speeds to accomplish this. For the image here, I shot at ISO 3200 to get a shutter speed of 1/640th of a second.
• Use Aperture Priority Mode - You can lock down the maximum aperture, in this case f/1.8, by choosing Aperture Priority mode.
• Capture in RAW - The E-M1 has robust electronics that will allow you to shoot RAW and handle burst mode at the same time. This makes it much easier to fine tune your best photos later.
• Stalk Your Subject - Watch who is performing well that night and follow that player through the viewfinder. Basketball, as with most sports, moves quickly. Isolate and stalk hot players for your high impact images.

I'm very much enjoying the E-M1 with the 75mm for basketball photography. This camera gets the job done. And if you embrace these tips, you'll be rewarded with terrific shots.

The Olympus OM-D E-M1 has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

Not only can you retouch your people shots in Aperture... it's easy. In my latest article for Macworld Magazine titled, Portrait retouching in five easy steps, I explain how to not only work artistically, but quickly too.

If you like the techniques outlined in the article, then you may want to watch my lynda.com training video, Portrait Retouching with Aperture. It's a deeper dive into using these tools to make your subjects look like they had the best day ever when you photographed them.

Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture, check out my Aperture 3.3 Essential Training (2012) on lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

The Nimble Photographer is back from Las Vegas and the Consumer Electronics Show. No more public restrooms, crowded restaurants, or smoky casinos (at least for now...).

I discussed this assignment in The Nimble Photographer Journal with entries including Las Vegas and Assignment Gear. So how did it all work out? Quite well, actually.

I carried the Lowepro Urban Reporter 150 (shown in the picture) with me all day, everyday. I relied primarily on the Olympus OM-D E-M1 with the Panasonic 12-35mm f/2.8 zoom for my picture work.

If I went out for a stroll and casual shooting in the evening, I switched to the lighter Walking Man Shoulder Bag that's easier on my back and more discreet.

The images were transferred to either my iPad mini (with Verizon cellular) or the iPhone 5S (with AT&T cellular) depending on which device was getting the best reception. I used the WiFi capability of the E-M1 to copy images directly from the camera to the mobile devices that were running the Olympus O.I. Share iOS app.

If there was time, I would fine-tune the pictures using Snapseed or iPhoto for iOS before pushing them up to the c't Digital Photography Facebook page, The Digital Story or the Lowepro social site.

The organizers at CES made reporting a bit easier by beefing up the cellular networks at the Las Vegas Convention Center. This was much appreciated. It allowed me to post 3-4 times a day on the various sites while still on location.

For my luggage, I used the eBags Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible along with the Urban Reporter. Why don't I use a roller? They're too cumbersome when you're in nimble mode.

For example, I checked out of my room yesterday morning and had to bring my luggage on assignment at the Convention Center. I then caught a cab from CES to the airport. I can wear the eBag on my back during all of this moving around. (I actually have the eBag on too in the above photo.) A roller just wouldn't work.

Now that I'm home, I'm definitely tired. But my gear worked flawlessly while I was on the road. And my clients seem happy with the timely reporting from Las Vegas.

This gear has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

CES is an over-the-top event to begin with. It dominates Las Vegas, jams the monorail, and creates lines at every turn. But if you really want to witness a sea of technology humanity, go to the Samsung booth in the Central Hall.

Samsung Booth Entrance CES 2014 - Photo by Derrick Story

In part, the enthusiasm is generated by the sheer variety of technological items offered by Samsung. Mobile devices, cameras, laptops, TVs, and on and on are displayed with flare and precision. Plus, Samsung is on a roll. And it's clear they intend to keep it going.

Between my meeting with their PR folks, and my own personal exploration, I probably spent close to an hour in the Samsung area today. How many trade show booths can you say that about?

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It's the modern day View Master. The Poppy turns your iPhone into a 3D creator and viewing device. And the best part? It's only $59.

Poppy works with iPhone 4, 4S, iPhone 5, 5C, 5S and the fifth generation iPod Touch. You put your phone in and Poppy's mirrors capture two stereographic images using your iPhone's single camera.

It doesn't need batteries and there are no electronics. It's just optics and your iPhone's camera and screen, so we can keep the price low without sacrificing quality.

The images I created and viewed with the Poppy were great. And it works for video too.

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Join me on my Instagram site as I explore Las Vegas during the CES show

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: What to Expect at CES Las Vegas (first peek at 2014 products); From the Screening Room: Erin Manning: Up and Running with Lighting - Nimbleosity Report - TDS Fine Art Photography Workshop - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - CES Las Vegas - Smartwatches and wearables will probably grab their share of headlines. Players include Sony, Pebble, and Archos, just to name a few. I'm sure we're going to hear more about 4K TVs and streaming services. And there will probably be evolutionary announcements in the tablet sector.

The world of imaging is a bit harder to predict. I have NDA meetings with a handful of manufacturers, but I don't know of many actual announcements at the show itself, with the exception of the Samsung NX30 and Galaxy 2. They may use the venue to preview upcoming 2014 releases.We will however probably see some interesting things with 3D printing.

So maybe we'll have some fun surprises. I'll be reporting from Las Vegas for c't Digital Photography Magazine. You can see my posts on their Facebook page, Facebook.com/ctdigiphoto

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Erin Manning: Up and Running with Lighting: Natural Light. Working with the light and diffusion. This week's featured artist is accomplished photographer Erin Manning. Her introductory movie sets the tone for this excellent title on natural light photography. Not only will you learn her tricks for using reflectors and diffusers, Erin will also share the camera settings she uses for these types of assignments.

You can watch Erin in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of Erin's movies, plus every other title in the library (including over 20 by yours truly).

Photography topics include: Photoshop, Aperture, DSLR Video, Foundations of Photography: Composition, Foundations of Photography: Exposure, Creating Time-Lapse Video, Shooting with the Canon 5D Mark III & Shooting with the Canon Rebel T3i (600D and Kiss X5), Shooting with the Nikon (D800 & D7000), Lightroom 5.

Story #3 - Nimbleosity Report - TDS Fine Art Photography Workshop - I have quite an event for you on Feb. 28 and March 1, the TDS Fine Art Photography Workshop. I'll explain why I'm so jazzed about this event in the third segment of today's show.

Photo Assignment News

Photo Assignment for January 2014 is White.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (30 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

iPad for Digital Photographers

If you love mobile photography like I do, then you'll enjoy iPad for Digital Photographers-- now available in print, Kindle, and iBooks versions.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

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Adding mattes and frames to your prints provide the finishing touches. Here are five tips to keep in mind while preparing for this project.

• Buy frames and mattes that fit your output. For example, I like to create 13"x19" prints, so I buy frames and precut mattes to fit those dimensions. This saves time and makes the process much more pleasurable.
• Clear off a large table and cover it with large towels. This provides you with a big work area that's frame and glass friendly.
• Find your bulb blower and a lint free cloth. These are handy for wiping down the glass, blowing off paper particles, and keeping all the components smudge and dust free.
• Print more than you need. When it's time to start framing, you want the freedom to design groupings. Plus, if you make a mistake with a print, it's good to know you have another at hand.
• Keep your eyes peeled for frame and matte sales. Buy these items when they are affordable and stash them for when you're ready to work.

Hanging your art on the wall is wildly satisfying. Handsone frames and mattes make your pieces look even more impressive.

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Very few of my cameras have built-in geotagging. And the ones that do, are sometimes inconsistent in their application of the data.

The good news is that it's easy enough to apply location information in post production with Aperture. It's not a regular part of my workflow. But for certain shots, such as this image of the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, I like to do it.

Since I've added the GPS data, file sharing apps like Flickr with display it. Photo by Derrick Story.

The steps in Aperture are easy.

• After you've finished editing the image, go to View > Places.
• In the "Search the Map" box in the upper right, begin typing the location. Aperture will provide you with location options based on what you enter.
• Click on the best option to choose it, then click on the Assign Location button. A red pin will be added to your photo to indicate that it's been geotagged.
• Go to Preferences > Export and make sure that the box next to "Include location info in exported photos" is checked.
• Close Preferences and export your photo.

Adding location data using Places in Aperture 3.

After you've exported your image from Aperture, you can check your work by opening it in Preview. Go to Tools > Show Inspector. Click on the "i" tab, and you should see a GPS option. Click on it. The location information will be displayed.

You have now successfully geotagged your image. When it's shared on Flickr and elsewhere, viewers can see exactly where the subject is located. They might want to go there themselves.

Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture, check out my Aperture 3.3 Essential Training (2012) on lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

One of the things I like about Instagram, is that it's a great vehicle for building creative discipline. My goal is to post five new images a week. And by doing so, I've become a more interesting photographer.

"Old Fence" - Photos by Derrick Story

On one hand, I look at a lot of Instagram shots. There are so many different approaches. Some photographers focus on images of themselves, while others have favorite subjects outside of the mirror. Many contributors just want to do something different.

Taking all of this in inspires me to shoot outside of my comfort zone, experimenting with unique capture techniques or post production effects.

The Grapevine

But there's also something to the commitment of posting regularly. It's like writing everyday. The more I do it, the easier it becomes to create something new. Some photographers post a couple times a day. I think finding your personal frequency is important. But once you do, stick to it.

My Sister's 1965 VW Bus

Instagram has certainly had its share of controversy. And for some, it just isn't a good fit. But for me, it's been the first photo dairy that I've actually stuck with. I'm enjoying both the images by others, and the challenge to create new content day after day.

Join me on my Instagram site as I explore the world of mobile photography. And now Instagram features 15-second movies too.

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