Very few things in photography are as tough as composing on an LCD in bright conditions. It's basically "guess and shoot."

I've designed a simple solution using a cardboard jewelry box. It's easy to make, has adjustable depth, and can double as an accessory storage container. And the best part is, in bright conditions, it really works.

I explain how this gem works in my latest article for the lynda.com Article Center titled, Photography Hacks: Make an LCD Shade, Battery Protector, and Lighting Field Kit. It's the first installment of a 3-part series that I'm authoring for the site.

If you've got a little time to tinker this weekend, you might want to take a look at this post. I think you'll like what you end up with.

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Dropbox is one of the best cloud storage services available. And now, with their new Dropbox Pro offer, you can enjoy 1 TB of online storage for $99 a year.

When you look at the plan's features, combined with the ability to share files across all of your devices, I would say that we've reached a sweet spot. Here are a few of the highlights.

• 1 TB of storage for just about any type of file, not just photos.
• Easy to collaborate and control. You can share files with others and control the permissions.
• Remote wipe for lost devices. Delete data from a lost or stolen device. Rest assured a copy is backed up in Dropbox.
• Automatic backup of your photos from your devices. Never lose another photo, even if your mobile device goes missing.

I've been using Dropbox for a couple years, and they've continued to refine and improve their service. The feature set is excellent, the mobile apps are easy to use, and performance is outstanding.

If you pay annually, the price for Dropbox Pro is $99. The monthly payment plan is $9.99. Either way, this is a cloud service that makes good sense.

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The handsome, snap-focus Olympus ED 12mm f/2.0 lens is now available as standard issue in black.

This all-metal wide-angle prime has an 85 degree angle of view, seven aperture blades, 8 groups/11 lenses, fast 2.0 maximum aperture, and weighs only 4.59 ounces. You can quickly switch from manual focus by pulling back the focusing ring until it "snaps" into place. I love this feature and use it often with my 17mm f/1.8 prime.

By doing so, you can set a precise focusing distance. I've found this quite useful for astrophotography when I have to find the infinity setting in the dark.

Olympus has also created a black version of the LH48 metal lens hood for the 12mm. I don't have pricing or release date yet for the lens hood, but I estimate that it will be in the $75 neighborhood.

The 12mm f/2.0 lens is available for preorder now ($799). It should ship by early September.

Also, you're curious about the new PEN E-PL7 "social photographer" camera ($599), then you should check-out Olympus Debuts the PEN E-PL7 Aimed at Social Media Photographers, published on c't Digital Photography Magazine.

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Even though the original attraction to mirrorless cameras was their high nimbleosity rating, over time, that's evolved into all around photographic capability. I have a few editorial assignments on the horizon, and I'm packing my Lowepro bag for these jobs. I thought you might be interested to see what's inside.

• Olympus OM-D E-M1 - when it comes to professional work, this is the most capable mirrorless body in my arsenal. It is rugged, light, and very sophisticated.
• Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 zoom lens - this is my workhorse optic. I can shoot indoors existing light or outdoors in full sun. It's optically exquisite, fast, and solid. (A highly capable alternative is the Olympus PRO 12-40mm f/2.8 zoom.)
• Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 75mm f/1.8 lens - this is the optic I reach for when I need a portrait with a soft background. At f/1.8, it is incredibly sharp where I focus, and creamy soft everywhere else.
• Olympus 9mm Fisheye body cap lens - I love having a fisheye in my kit, and this little gem hardly takes up any room. The pictures it produces, however, are grand indeed.
• Olympus 60mm Macro f/2.8 lens - not only does this prime optic bridge the gap between my 12-35mm zoom and 75mm portrait lens, but it has outstanding 1:1 close-up capability. The 60mm is very handy when you have to get really close.
• Fujifilm X20 compact camera - I like the X20 as my back-up camera because it has a silent mode (thanks to its leaf shutter) that's perfect for street shooting, ceremonies, and other locations where going unnoticed is important. Plus it includes an optical viewfinder, film simulation modes, and great image quality. (As an alternative backup, the Panasonic GX7 or petite GM1 have electronic shutter options and can shoot silently. And they accept these lenses.)
• Lowepro Urban Reporter 150 - I've modified the interior of this bag to accommodate this kit, plus a flash and my iPad mini. It looks professional, yet is discreet. Great bag for city assignments.

I'll usually pack the MeFOTO DayTrip tripod in my suitcase during flight. But it will fit in the Urban Reporter if I need to bring it out on location. That means, of course, I would have to leave another piece of equipment back in the hotel.

With this kit, I can photograph just about any editorial assignment that comes my way. Yet, it's very nimble, and quite honestly, a joy to use.

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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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Silent Shutter, Huge Price Drop for the Panasonic GX7, Traveling with David Hobby, Luxurious Leica 42.5mm f/1.2 Lens for Micro Four Thirds - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - Cactus Releases the V6 - The Cactus Wireless WRLS Flash Transceiver V6 is the world's first non-TTL wireless trigger that can control power of cross-brand system flashes of Canon, Nikon and Pentax. You can adjust power levels in 0.1EV increments for perfect control of light output. And the best part, they sell for $59 each.

In other news, The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GX7 Price Drop - The Micro Four Thirds GX7 is now available for $697 that's a huge price drop for its $999 list price. I'll be talking more about the GX7 for street shooting in the next story.

And finally, Rumor: Zeiss Will Soon Announce the "Loxia" Lens Line for Full-Frame Mirrorless Systems (Sony Alpha) - All are designed by ZEISS itself, unlike the 55mm f/1.8 FE, which is a Sony product with ZEISS branding. All are said to be manual focus prime lenses, will feature a physical aperture ring and be made of high-quality materials. (Source: PetaPixel).

The new Fujifilm X30, along with its older siblings the X10, X20, X100 and X100S, feature a "silent shutter" option that's impressive.

Story #2 - Silent Shutter - We often don't realize just how noisy our cameras can be until we're in a quiet environment, such as a church. But there are a few stealthy capture devices out there, and I discuss their advantages for street shooting, weddings, and other situations where you don't want to draw attention to yourself. Four of the cameras I discuss are:

• Panasonic GX7 (Focal Plane and Electronic Shutter)
• Fujifilm X20 compact (Leaf Shutter)
• Fujifilm X100S (Leaf Shutter)
• Canon PowerShot S110 (Mute Mode)

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - The Traveling Photographer: Fundamentals with David Hobby. David might surprise you with his approach to this title. It's not just about f/stops and lenses. He provides insights to traveling as a photographer while balancing the other aspects of your trip.

You can watch David 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 other design, photography, and computing titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - I Got to Touch the Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG NOCTICRON 42.5mm/F1.2 lens for Micro Four Thirds. My friend and Lumix Luminary Joseph Linaschke stopped by the studio this morning with this optic in his bag of tricks. I immediately mounted it on my Olympus OM-D E-M10 to see how it would perform.

Story #5 - SizzlPix Winners! Here are the latest class of winning photographers for the SizzlPix Pick of the Month:

• Michael Hoffman -"HDR" - March 2014 Photo Assignment
• John Dillworth - "Flower Power" - April 2014 Photo Assignment
• Victor Hermand - "Around the House" - May 2014 Photo Assignment
• Richard Messenger - "Any Kind of Light but Natural" - June 2014 Photo Assignment

Congratulations on your excellent work!

Virtual Camera Club News

Red River Paper just released RRP Luster Card Duo again. It's a double-sided luster paper pre-scored for cards. It is related to Arctic Polar Luster, but the surface is more pearlescent. You can find it here.

The SizzlPix Challenge is Back! (for one month only). Each week the first 10 TheDigitalStory listeners/readers to order SizzlPix from their own favorite images will receive a mini-sample of each SizzlPix prior to production by return mail absolutely free! Just put the words "free sample first" and your mailing address in the comment space of SizzlPix's new simplified order form.

Photo Assignment for August 2014 is "My Favorite Close-up".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

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.

Download the Show

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (29 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. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until January!

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Early start to the day. I received a text message at 6:19 AM from my friend and Lumix Luminary Joseph Linaschke. He was heading north from the Sonoma Racetrack and wanted to see if I was available for a coffee meeting. He had a bag full of Panasonic gear with him.

You bet I was available.

After catching up for a bit, Joseph pulled out his Panasonic LUMIX G Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS lens. What a beauty!

I mounted the prime on my Olympus OM-D E-M10 and shot a few pictures. I wanted to test its "soft background" capability, so Joseph suggested we step outside for a quick portrait.

Joseph Linaschke with Panasonic 42.5mm prime lens on an OM-D E-M10: ISO 100, f/1.2, 1/500th. Photo by Derrick Story.

The lens was everything you'd expect from a premium optic. Focusing was swift and accurate. Design and build were outstanding. And image quality was top notch with beautiful softness in the background. Most photographers wouldn't expect these results from a Micro Four Thirds sensor. But yes, you can enjoy full frame quality from your compact Panasonic or Olympus body.

The Nocticron 42.5mm has a click-stop aperture ring near the front of the barrel, and a switch for optical image stabilization on the side. Olympus shooters can leave the aperture ring set to "A," because the OM-D firmware doesn't acknowledge the click stops. (They're still fun to play with, however!) But the optical stabilization does work if you prefer to use that over the sensor-based stabilization on the OM-D.

The nine circular diaphragm blades help create very smooth bokeh in the background. And the metal lens hood, which is very similar to the metal hood I have for the Olympus 75mm f/1.8, adds a nice finishing touch.

The Leica Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 lens is a dangerous lens to test. After about 3 minutes, you'll be checking your credit card limit to see if it can accommodate another $1,600.

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When I decided to join Instagram, I wanted to be somewhere special. I made that decision two years ago, and the location was Maui.

Today, I've published my 500th Instagram post. I chose an image from my stay in Hawaii in August 2012. I selected a colorful sunset image with a sailboat and light reflecting on the water. For some reason, that picture radiates the good feelings I have about this project.

Instagram has had its share of controversy. But for me personally, it has helped me become a more creative photographer. Every day, I think about what would be a good post as I navigate my world at home, or while I'm on the road working. It keeps my gears turning.

I follow a lot of shooters on Instagram. Some depend on their celebrity status, others are beautiful and capture selfies as the mainstay of their feed. But a lot of people are like me too: photographers who love taking pictures for the pure joy of it. And we have a place to celebrate our passion. That's what hooked me.

The images on this feed are different than my work as a photographer for hire. Assignments tend to have restrictions. I need to produce images that match a description. Even my publishing on The Digital Story is illustrative. I'm creating photos to describe a product or technique.

But when I press the shutter button for Instagram, it's just a picture. It could be anything in any style with any filter. It doesn't matter. Some images resonate and others don't. Like any photographer, I appreciate a "like." But I'm not thinking about that when I create the photograph. My thought is, "What can I do that's interesting?"

And that's why I love Instagram.

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

Not every tweet should include an image (thank goodness!), but on occasion, a picture really helps tell the story. If you use iPhoto to organize your captures, then you might be interested to see just how easy it is to enhance your tweets.

In my free training video, Using Twitter to Share Photos, I show you how to connect iPhoto to your Twitter account, then post tweets directly from the picture management application.

Regardless of how you like to use iPhoto, I think you'll find many useful tips in Up and Running with iPhoto. This title is for the latest version of iPhoto that runs on Mac OS X Mavericks.

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The BioLite Wood Burning Campstove ($129) is a marvel of technology and simplicity. The device initially seems basic. You gather a bundle of sticks, put them in the handsome fuel chamber, light with a match, and boil your water.

But there is plenty of magic under the hood to produce an intensely hot flame without smoke. The key is the power module that attaches to the side of the fuel chamber. The module can convert heat to electricity for powering a fan that intensifies the fire and produces surplus juice that is accessible via its USB port.

Essentially, you can brew your morning coffee and top off your iPhone, using only a pile of sticks gathered from your surroundings.

In my test, using only a moderate amount of fuel, I was able to boil 1 quart of water in 20 minutes. If you pack the fuel chamber with tinder, you can cut that time in half. Also, the hotter the fire the more surplus electricity generated. I added an 8 percent charge to the iPhone in 30 minutes with a moderate fire. Surplus electricity was being generated for only about 10 minutes of that cooking session. If I increased the fire, then I could charge my mobile device at a faster rate.

The BioLite stove is a shade over 8" tall and weighs 2.1 pounds. It's a reasonable size for backpacking, especially considering that you don't have to carry fuel cylinders too. The USB charging port allows for on-demand electricity. You don't have to wait for the sun to shine. If you need to power a small device, build a fire. I'm using it in conjunction with my WakaWaka USB Solar Charger ($69) to provide multiple options for managing my devices.

BioLite stove with my trusty enamel coffee pot. But you can purchase a companion high-tech cooking kettle that's more efficient. Photos by Derrick Story.

BioLite makes some nice accessories, including the BioLite KettlePot for efficient water heating and the Portable Grill Attachment ($59) for cooking your burgers.

Initially, I considered the BioLite stove more of a novelty than a serious cooking device. But after use, I've changed my view. If your primary goal is to boil water for backpacking meals, coffee, and purification, then this device is all you need. And the fact that it provides electricity for devices, and is fun to use, is a sizable bonus.

For more articles on outdoor gear and technique, take a look at our Outdoor Life Roundup.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Off the Grid Photography (the Green Photographer), SizzlPix Award Winners, EISA Awards: the Best of the Best from Europe - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Sony a5100 First Impressions Review - "Based on my initial experiences with the a5100, it seems like a very compelling midrange ILC. For $699 with the 16-50mm power zoom lens, you're essentially getting an a6000 without an EVF and a few dials. If you don't mind losing that feature, you're getting what seems to be a lot of camera for $699 (with a 16-50mm lens)." (Source: DP Review.

In other news, The European Imaging and Sound Association Awards 2013-14 include the Olympus OM-D E-M10 (Best Consumer Compact System Camera), FujiFilm X-T1 (Best Advanced Compact System Camera), and the Sony RX100 III (Best Compact Camera). You can see all of the winners at the EISA site.

And finally, onOne Software is giving away Perfect Effects 8 ($79 value) in exchange for your email address and a free subscription to their Fotocommunity newsletter. You can take advantage of this offer at the onOne web site.

Olympus camera being charged via USB by a WakaWaka solar charger.

Story #2 - Off the Grid Photography (The Green Photographer) - Our digital tools have made us dependent on Internet connectivity and power outlets. But if you wanted to get off the grid for a week or two, could you? Yes, and fairly easily. Because technology is advancing in renewable energy too. Here are a few of the items that I discuss in today's Green Photographer segment.

• TheWakaWaka USB Solar Charger and Light ($69)
• The BioLite Wood Burning Campstove and USB Charger ($129)
• The Olympus TG-3 waterproof digital camera ($319)
• The Levin Sol-Wing 13W Ultra-slim Highest Efficiency Solar Panel Portable Solar Charger ($69).

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - GarageBand Essential Training with Garrick Chow. Garrick is one of the most season lynda trainers, and he specializes in Mac software titles. If you've wanted to learn GarageBand, but just found it a bit overwhelming, Garrick will break it down for you in digestible parts.

You can watch Garrick 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 other design, photography, and computing titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - SizzlPix Winners! Here are the latest class of winning photographers for the SizzlPix Pick of the Month:

• Michael Hoffman -"HDR" - March 2014 Photo Assignment
• John Dillworth - "Flower Power" - April 2014 Photo Assignment
• Victor Hermand - "Around the House" - May 2014 Photo Assignment
• Richard Messenger - "Any Kind of Light but Natural" - June 2014 Photo Assignment

Congratulations on your excellent work!

Virtual Camera Club News

The SizzlPix Challenge is Back! (for one month only). Each week the first 10 TheDigitalStory listeners/readers to order SizzlPix from their own favorite images will receive a mini-sample of each SizzlPix prior to production by return mail absolutely free! Just put the words "free sample first" and your mailing address in the comment space of SizzlPix's new simplified order form.

Visit the Red River Paper Card Shop. You can peruse top selling cards, order the card sample kit, and read tutorials on card printing. Save on Ground Shipping for Red River Paper. Use coupon code ground50c to receive a 50 percent discount on UPS ground shipping for Red River Paper. No minimum purchase required.

Photo Assignment for August 2014 is "My Favorite Close-up".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

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.

Download the Show

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (31 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. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until January!

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Getting close doesn't have to mean going broke. You can create professional macro images with a little ingenuity and tape... literally.

In the article, Gaffer's Tape Plus Prime Equals Magnification Boost, I explain how you can attach a reversed 50mm lens to a telephoto or macro lens for a substantial increase in magnification. It's a very easy technique, and the image quality is excellent.

In the article, Gearing Up for Macro, I show you how inexpensive accessories can enhance your capability and enjoyment when shooting close-ups.

Gaffer's tape, LED lights, free iOS apps... all add up to big fun, not large charge balances. Take a closer look.

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There are many athletes, who because of their busy jobs, can train only after they clock-out on Friday afternoon. They're weekend warriors. And for many photographers, the situation is similar.

A great way to unwind on Friday evening is to fill your favorite daypack with photo gear, and make plans for a short hike. It doesn't have to be all day or on a trail in an exotic location. The local park will do just fine.

What is important is getting out in nature, or the city streets if that's your preference, and taking pictures. In just a few hours, you will capture a handful of images that you can use for Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Flickr, or your web site. And if you're lucky, maybe something that would make a nice print too.

Yesterday, after I had met my work obligations. I grabbed my Lowepro bag and drove 30 minutes to Sugarloaf State Park. Patrick, my camping buddy, had already set up the site. We grilled a couple burgers for dinner, then went exploring on a twilight hike.

In just a 90-minute span of time, I photographed deer grazing in tall grass (went on Instagram and Twitter), two girls riding their bikes (TDS, Facebook), and a sunset vapor trail from a jet (probably Instagram tomorrow).

Will I win a contest with any of these images? No.

But I had a great time, got some exercise, practiced taking pictures, played with a new lens (75-300mm), and acquired fresh content that I would never have captured in front of the TV or at the grocery store.

Athletes forced to train on the weekend would love to work out more often than that. But they realize by staying in shape, they can take advantage of any opportunities that may present themselves in the future.

For photographers, it's even better. Embracing your weekend warrior makes you a better shooter. And you're rewarded with new images right on the spot.

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

I have camera bags dating back to the 1980s. They might not have the styling and features of my current favorites, but they certainly are functional. And some of them have been pressed back into service.

For example, this Lowepro Elite Convertible contains the flash kit I use for location portrait work. I have twin Sunpak units with CowboyStudio Wireless Flash Triggers mounted on an adjustable bracket. On location, I simply pull the entire unit from the bag and attach it to a stand. It literally takes a minute, and I'm ready to shoot.

Having a bag that allows me to work quickly on location is a blessing as I move from site to site. Nobody likes to wait for the photographer as he fiddles with his gear for 15 minutes before he's ready for the next location.

In the front pocket, I stash all of my Rogue FlashBender light modifiers. I open the pouch and choose the appropriate accessory for the lighting I'm configuring.

And because this is a bag from yesteryear, I can set it down anywhere and not worry. It's like having an old car to park at the airport for a week while traveling. You just don't worry about it.

Old camera bags also make excellent storage units at home. You can organize gear by brand or type, and have everything at your fingertips when needed.

Do you have an empty camera bag or two in your closet? Think about reenlisting it into your workforce. You'd be surprised at how useful your old friend can be.

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Over the years, we don't realize that one of our best picture archives is our email account. Numerous images are sent and received, and are still available... if there was only an easy way to retrieve them.

The Mac app, Lost Photos does exactly that. It's like a time machine for imagery. And the best part is that it's on $2.99.

You can download Lost Photos from the Mac App Store for free and give it a spin. Just point it to one of your email accounts, and it will retrieve images that you've forgotten you have, and place them all in a folder.

If you go past the 100 mark, it will prompt you to upgrade to the unlimited version for $2.99. From this point on, you can merrily take a trip back in time with each of your email accounts.

After Lost Photos has gathered all of your pictures, it will move them to iPhoto if you wish. Or you can leave them in the organized folders. Either way, I'm sure you'll discover many snapshot gems that you had forgotten about.

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

This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: New Gear Rumors for Photokina, Aperture Update, Photoplus Expo - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Apple RAW Compatibility Update 5.06 Adds 10 Cameras to Aperture - Even though development of Aperture is paused, its maintenance is ongoing. We get 10 new RAW profiles including the EM-10 and the GH4. (Source: The Digital Story).

In other news, I've accepted a contract gig with Rocky Nook Publications to serve as their Photography Evangelist. Rocky Nook publishes finely crafted books on photography technique.

And finally, I'll be in New York on Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 covering PhotoPlus Expo. And I'll be visiting with attendees in the c't Digital Photography booth. (We'll have giveaways too!)

Story #2 - My Favorite New Gear Rumors for Photokina. The list includes releases from Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Fujifilm, and more. I add my comments to a fun post published on www.camyx.com.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Up and Running with iPhoto with Derrick Story. The current version of iPhoto has tremendous capability. And it's going to be around for a while, and possibly even after Photos is released. This title includes the features you should know about.

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 other design, photography, and computing titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - Winner! A Free Photo Workshop. So many great suggestions and notes to go along with them. The topic I've settled on as one of the new additions to the 2015 TDS Workshop Lineup is: "Transitioning From Aperture." We'll examine the various options for Aperture users including migrating to Photos, moving to Lightroom, establishing a long term Aperture archive, integrating with iCloud, and more. Thanks to TDS virtual camera club member, Kevin Miller for this topic idea. Kevin will be invited to this workshop, tuition free.

Virtual Camera Club News

The SizzlPix Challenge is Back! (for one month only). Each week the first 10 TheDigitalStory listeners/readers to order SizzlPix from their own favorite images will receive a mini-sample of each SizzlPix prior to production by return mail absolutely free! Just put the words "free sample first" and your mailing address in the comment space of SizzlPix's new simplified order form.

Visit the Red River Paper Card Shop. You can peruse top selling cards, order the card sample kit, and read tutorials on card printing. Save on Ground Shipping for Red River Paper. Use coupon code ground50c to receive a 50 percent discount on UPS ground shipping for Red River Paper. No minimum purchase required.

Photo Assignment for August 2014 is "My Favorite Close-up".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

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.

Download the Show

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (34 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. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until January!

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This professional reporter's bag was co-designed by former Washington Times photographer Kevin Gilbert who covered the White House among his many assignments. B&H is now featuring the Stealth Reporter D200 AW Shoulder Bag for $59. That's a savings of $47 from its normal $106 price (with free expedited shipping).

Top features include:

• Padded, Tricot-lined pocket offers protection for photo viewers or other digital devices
• Removable memory card wallet protects up to 12 memory cards
• Removable accessory pouch provides easy access to cables, adaptors and other digital accessories
• An All Weather Cover provides protection for your gear in extreme conditions
• Padded Tricot lined top lid (will not scratch your SLR when placed in the bag)
• Water-resistant top zipper provides quick access to gear
• Uses attachment loops for optional SlipLock add-on accessories
• Luggage trolley strap quickly secures your bag to luggage handle
• Key fob on front of case
• Customizable stability strap distributes weight evenly when used in shoulder strap or waist applications

And the "stealth" feature is that there's an opening on the top of the bag that allows you to reach in and grab your camera without having to open the flap.

It's a very cool shoulder bag at a great price...

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At the moment, iPhoto is still the go-to picture management app for many snapshooters. And rightly so. You can organize, edit, and create cool output such as custom greeting cards featuring your own photography.

If you haven't tried making your own foldable artwork, take a look at my tutorial, Designing a Greeting Card from my title, Up and Running with iPhoto. This training is for those using the latest version of iPhoto with Mac OS X Mavericks.

Once you design your custom card in iPhoto, you can have it professionally printed in any quantity you want. But you also have the option of saving your design as a PDF and printing it with the inkjet you have sitting idle in your office.

Another handy tip is that these designs make terrific title and chapter openers for slideshows. Simply design your "greeting card" as a title slide and save it as a digital file. Then add it to your presentation along with the other images. It's easiest if you use the "flat" style of card design.

Regardless of how you like to use iPhoto, I think you'll find some useful tips in Up and Running with iPhoto.

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Apple released Digital Camera RAW Compatibility Update 5.06 that adds Raw support for the following cameras.

• Nikon COOLPIX P340
• Nikon 1 V3
• Olympus OM-D E-M10
• Olympus STYLUS 1
• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GH4
• Sony Alpha ILCE-7S
• Sony Alpha ILCE-5000
• Sony Alpha ILCE-6000
• Sony Alpha SLT-A77 II
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III

This is great news for Aperture (and iPhoto) users shooting with one of those cameras -- in my case the Olympus OM-D E-M10. After you install Update 5.06 via the App Store, relaunch Aperture and enable the Adjustments tab.

With the Adjustments tab enabled, you can click on each thumbnail to bring it to life. I use the arrow key to move from image to image.

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!

For the June 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters turned their back on the sun and looked for alternative light sources. See for yourself in our gallery, Any Kind of Light but Natural. And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

Photo by Ashwin Chathuruthy. See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the Any Kind of Light but Natural gallery page.

Participate in This Month's Assignment

The August 2014 assignment is "My Favorite Close-up." Details can be found on the Member Participation page. Deadline is August 30, 2014. No limit on image size submitted.

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 this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: August 2014." 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.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting June 2014 gallery at the end of July, the July gallery will be posted at the end of August, and on and on.

Good luck with your August assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for June.

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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.

One of the many backup and sharing solutions that I use for my photography is Pogoplug's personal cloud software combined with a Buffalo CloudStor 2-Bay RAID hard drive ($206).

This system sets up at my studio, yet is accessible anywhere with an Internet connection via my laptop, iPad, or iPhone. The initial investment is just a couple hundred dollars, and there are no monthly fees. Plus, I have on-site RAID mirroring to protect me against hard drive failure.

In this movie produced by lynda.com, I show you how the Cloudstor system works. I demo communication with the networked RAID device located hundreds of miles away. This free movie is part of my training title, Managing Your Mobile Photos, where I cover a variety of backup solutions for both iOS and Android users.

If the embedded movie fails to play, you can watch it by clicking on this link: Taking a Look at Pogoplug.

I've been using the Pogoplug/Buffalo system for over two years, and I haven't had a single problem with it (knock on wood)!

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Lightroom Update, Night Photography Tips, Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens, Exporter for Aperture 1.0 in Mac App Store - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Ricoh expands Q series with Pentax Q-S1 ($499). I definitely like the new styling for the latest Pentax Q. But the image sensor is a smallish 12MP 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS that remains largely unchanged. (source: DP Review).

In other news, Adobe ships Lightroom 5.6, Camera Raw 8.6 Nikon D810, Panasonic GH4 and FZ1000 support. Update also includes profiles for 21 new lenses on seven different mounts. And they fixed the Lightroom Mobile star rating bug I discovered. (Source: Imaging Resource).

And finally, Martin Scorsese Writes Passionate Letter to Kodak in Defense of Film. (Source: PetaPixel)

Story #2 - Exporter for Aperture 1.0 in Mac App Store for $14.99. If you're going to migrate to Lightroom, this is probably your best friend.

Canon 70mm image on the left and the Sigma 50mm Art lens portrait on the right. Photos by Derrick Story.

Story #3 - The Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens for Canon is a delight on the full-frame 5D Mark II. And by special request, I also tested it on the Canon 70D body. I discuss the results in the third segment of today's show.

Story #4 - From the Screening Room - Enhancing Night and Low-Light Photos with Photoshop with Seán Duggan. Sean is a terrific instructor who uses ACR, Photoshop, and Lightroom to tackle a variety of night-shooting challenges. My favorite parts are his tips for starry sky photography.

You can watch Sean 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 other design, photography, and computing titles, plus every other topic in the library (including my brand new "Photographing High School Senior Portraits."

Story #5 - A Free Photo Workshop. I'm working on the 2015 TDS Photography Workshop Schedule. As many of you know, I like to introduce at least one new topic a season. And I'd like to hear from you, "What Theme Would You Love for Me to Teach in 2015?" Send your idea to derrick@thedigitalstory.com with the subject line: My Favorite Workshop Topic. My goal is to incorporate one of these suggestions into the 2015 season. If I do, that person gets free tuition to that workshop.

Virtual Camera Club News

Save on Ground Shipping for Red River Paper: Use coupon code ground50c to receive a 50 percent discount on UPS ground shipping for Red River Paper. No minimum purchase required.

Photo Assignment for August 2014 is "My Favorite Close-up".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

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.

Download the Show

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (34 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. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until February!

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I like to leave the laptop at home for vacation. And with the power and connectivity of the iPad, traveling light is better than ever.

Editing in Lightroom Mobile on the iPad mini is a joy.

When Adobe introduced Lightroom Mobile, I saw my iPad-only scenario improving. Imagine being able to sync Collections with your master Lightroom library at home and bring them with you on your mobile device? Plus, even better, upload those vacation shots in the field, then use LR's amazing editing tools to fine tune them, and publish online from your remote destination.

In my latest post for lynda.com Article Center, Field Test: Lightroom Mobile in Maui, I go into detail about how LRM performed in the field. The bottom line is this: Bringing content with you from your master library works great. You can view, share, and even star-rate the pictures.

But going the other direction is frustrating. If you're thinking that you can use this software and your iPad to replace a laptop in the field, my guess is that you'll be disappointed.

Browsing new images in Lightroom Mobile on an iPad mini.

Yes, you can browse new Jpegs and adjust them with Lightroom's tools. But you can't add any IPTC metadata, including captions, keywords and copyright. And I had issues with the star ratings that I explained in the lynda article.

So for now, Lightroom Mobile is more about bringing pictures from home than it is working with new ones in the field. Maybe over time this will change...

More Help on Managing Your Mobile Photos

In my lynda.com title, Managing Your Mobile Photos, I cover a variety of backup solutions for both iOS and Android users. These tutorials will help you build the perfect backup solution for you, so that you never lose a single image.

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As the Nimble Photographer, many know me as the champion of mirrorless cameras. And indeed I love them. You would have a hard time prying any of my OM-Ds from my camera bag.

Leah assisting me on a commercial photo shoot. Canon 5D Mark II, 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom at f/2.8. Photo by Derrick Story

But there are plenty of reasons why I still use my DSLR kit. Here are three of them.

• Lens selection - the Canon lens catalog provides just about every type of optic I would ever need. If I don't already have it, I can rent it. Plus clients still love seeing big glass.
• Soft backgrounds made easy - The number 1 request from clients for portrait work is soft backgrounds. With the 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom (plus 1.4X converter if necessary), I can create a soft background just about anywhere.
• Clean megapixels - The 21MP full frame sensor on my Canon 5D Mark II provides clean results through my working ISO range. I never have to worry about providing files that are big enough for clients or clean enough for me.

So even though I shoot with my mirrorless cameras about 70 percent of the time, I want my DSLRs for those situations that demand their strengths. So, if you're running a freelance business, or trying to start one, instead of selling your DSLR to buy mirrorless, go shoot a job with it to raise the cash.

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