For the Nov. 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters worked on many levels. See for yourself in our gallery, Layers. And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

Photo by Victor Hermand. Victor writes, "With this month's assignment, I am happy to celebrate a year of virtual camera club participation. Thank you for all the fun!
Here is the recipe for this month's entry:

• 1 layer of fresh snow
• 1 layer of long exposure
• 1 layer of painting with light
• 1 layer of star trail
• Multiple layers on my back

Participate in This Month's Assignment

The Jan. 2015 assignment is "Backlighting." Details can be found on the Member Participation page. Deadline is Jan. 31, 2015. 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: Jan. 2015." 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 Nov. 2014 gallery at the end of Dec., the Dec. gallery will be posted at the end of Jan., and on and on.

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

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I just love the fact that my most popular Flickr photo of 2014 was recorded during a spontaneous tutorial at the TDS SF Street Photography Workshop last May.

We were scattered about on Pier 14 admiring the night view of the Bay Bridge. Some of the participants had already made some great photos. So I thought we'd do an unplanned tutorial on using Live Time on the Olympus OM-D E-M10.

Using a Mefoto DayTrip Tripod positioned on top of a covered refuse can, I composed the shot. For a little extra spice, I also enabled one of the Art Filters. I so enjoyed being part of the group huddled around the camera as we watched the image come to life.

A few days later, I posted the shot on my Flickr page, and it soon showed up on Explore. It just goes to show, you never know when you're going to capture that popular image...

Flickr Essential Training - I explore the entire Flickr universe, mobile and computer, in my lynda.com title, Flickr Essential Training. Stop by and take a look.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: - 5 Tips for a Productive 2015, Ello, I'm Here! Windows Phone 8.1 Adventure - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Snapshot - Holiday Group Shots - We gathered, we ate, we laughed, and then we took a group shot.

Weekly Update - Nikon D750 flare problems? Here's why and what to do about them. (It's not your lens.) - Some number of D750 bodies have a problem with internal reflections -- it's not lens flare -- from the autofocus sensor that lead to strong flare and "shadow bands" appearing in the image. Source: Imaging Resource.

Also this week... Hackers Find that Fingerprints Can Be Stolen Through Public Photos - As the quality of cameras becomes better and better, there's a new security issue emerging that you may have not thought about: fingerprints being stolen from photos. Hackers are reporting that a person's fingerprints can be reproduced using public photos that show their hand. Source: PetaPixel.

Story #1 - 5 Tips for a Productive 2015 - Each new year brings new opportunities. Are you ready to make the most of 2015?

• Endeavor at least one new project (or product) each year.
• Decide (and write down) how success will be measured.
• Keep a running list of great ideas.
• Reflect on what worked well, and what did not in 2014.
• Get your house in order. Do you have the tools and resources lined up to take advantage of new opportunities?

Story #2 - Ello, I'm Here! - After a month of observation and posting, I have to say that I think Ello is interesting. In fact, I bought the T-Shirt... literally. Here's more about it. You can find me on Ello here.

Story #3 - Windows Phone 8.1 Adventure - I was curious about the state of Windows phone operating system, so I bought a Nokia 520 on the cheap so learn more about the state of Microsoft in the mobile universe. I share my report in the third feature story of the day. I've also published two articles: 24 Hours with a Windows 8 Smartphone and Has Windows Phone Come of Age for Photographers?

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for December 2014 is "Frozen".

News from SizzlPix: Have your SizzlPix now, and with BillMeLater, make no payment until June. Great for selling SizzlPix of your photography and collecting your profit even before you pay. Also helpful for any photographer with an opportunity for gallery showings.

Red River Paper - Save 10 percent off your next order of inkjet paper and greeting cards. Good one per customer. Use discount code STORY10X - Ends 1/15/15.

And Finally...

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.

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (33 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 June!

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I've been hanging out on Ello for a while, and there are definitely interesting people posting there.

If you want a crash course in Ello, take a look at the post titled, 10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Ello by Thomas Hawk. Thomas is a fan of this social network for creative types, and he shares some good info in his post.

If you want to look me up on Ello, I'm there as derrickstory. If you need an invite, just send me an email.

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Anyone who follows me knows that I'm a dyed-in-the-wool iOS user. But as I was looking around for an inexpensive smartphone to serve as a backup, I couldn't help but to notice that the Nokia Lumia 520 with Windows 8.1. It's an amazing deal at $29 with the "pay as you go" AT&T GoPhone Plan. So I decided to give it a try.

Now if you're thinking that this is going to be a "bash Windows" article, you're wrong. After just a day of use, I like what Microsoft has done with Windows Phone 8.1. And to be honest, I prefer it over my Android device.

Overall Impression

The latest OS from Microsoft is attractive and easy to learn. The Home screen displays tiles that represent your favorite apps. You can "pin" new apps to the screen and remove those you don't use often. There are three sizes to choose from, allowing you to design your Home screen to your liking.

Tap and hold on a tile and it pops forward allowing you to resize or remove it. At the bottom of your Home screen is an arrow icon that you can tap to see all of your apps in list form. You can add any of these to the Home screen by tapping and holding on it, then selecting "pin to start."

As for global navigation, at the bottom of the display is an arrow icon pointing left; that's the go back key. The Windows icon in the center is the home key. And the magnifying glass icon on the right takes you directly to Bing on Windows 8, and to Cortana if your have Windows 8.1 installed. The Nokia 520 can easily be updated to 8.1 over the air, and it's worth doing. Cortana is excellent, by the way.

Overall, I like the typography, design, and intuitive operation of Windows 8.1. It looks great.

Picture Taking and Editing

Given that I have a very inexpensive smartphone, I tempered my expectations for the 5MP camera on the Nokia 520. And to be honest, it's about what I expected. It takes serviceable images with a minimum of fuss. The side button located near the bottom of the right edge of the phone activates the camera, whether the phone is on or off. Press it again and it takes a picture once the image is in focus.

Dibs the cat captured with the Nokia Lumina 520 smartphone..

This works great for quick snapshots. Otherwise, I'm using the Lumina Camera app that provides more options, such as settings for white balance, ISO, and exposure compensation. You can download the app for free from the Windows Store. The store is easy to use and has a surprising amount of software available.

Either way, the resulting file was 1456 × 2592 pixels and around 1.5 MBs in size. Since the Nokia 520 only has 8GBs on onboard memory, I added a 2GB micro SD card to store my pictures. If needed, I can swap that out anytime for a larger card. It's a good option to have.

As you would imagine, there are a host of image editing apps in the Windows Store. At the moment I'm using Adobe Photoshop Express. It works well and it's free. There are lots of adjustment sliders, auto fix, a before/after button, cropping, and even a handful of filters called "looks." If you have an Adobe ID, you can connect to your cloud storage too.

For those who want to take screenshots with a Windows 8.1 device, press the Volume Up and Power buttons at the same time, and the screen image will be saved to your Camera Roll.

Photographer Stuff

I was pleasantly surprised to find a number of my favorite photographer apps in the Windows Store.

Instagram is there now as a beta. After a day of use, this early release seems just fine. I had no problems browsing images or adding new ones.

Dropbox hasn't release a native app yet (to my knowledge), but there's a handy third party program called CloudSix that connected easily to my Dropbox account. All the folders show up on the Nokia, and more importantly, I can send images from the device to my account.

Olympus released OI Wireless for Windows 8. It's not as full-featured as the iOS version. But it does allow you to download images from the camera to the phone. I tested it, and the images were transferred smoothly. Now all we need is the nifty camera control function.

Western Digital released WD 2go for Windows 8, that in theory allows me to connect to my wireless WD hard drive. The app can see the drive online, but gives me an error during the connection process. Maybe a fix is in the works?

Bottom Line

The Nokia Lumia 520 is a great little device for the price. AT&T GoPhone options start at $25 a month. I haven't activated my SIM card, in part, because I haven't needed too. I'm using the Nokia on WiFi with no hiccups. In the field, I've turned on Personal Hotspot from the iPhone 5S, then shared that connection. If I ever need cellular with the Nokia 520, the SIM card is inserted, and I can activate it directly from the phone. I have the SIM information card in my wallet just in case.

As for Windows 8.1, it's delightful. I like it much better on the phone than I do on a computer. The operating system is attractive, intuitive, and snappy. The Home screen is great. I enjoy the interactive tiles a lot.

Will I ditch my iPhone for a Windows device? Nope. iOS 8 is still my top choice. But I would buy a Windows phone before an Android device... easily. I think it's the second best mobile OS available.

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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 memory.

iPhones, iPads, Galaxy Notes - they certainly grabbed their share of headlines in 2014. To some degree, it feels as though the technology world has gone completely mobile. Who needs a laptop when you can carry an iPhone 6 Plus in your pocket?

But a funny thing happened on the way to the Cloud: computers are alive and kicking. I researched the yearly statistics for The Nimble Photographer, a site built for mobility, both in terms of subject matter and design. TNP is just as consumable on an iPhone 5S as it is on a Windows 7 desktop computer. Plus, all we really talk about there is going places, and how to best prepare for that.

The Nimble Photographer audience may be traversing the planet, but they seem to be planning their escapes on a computer. Here are the stats for 2014.

Top 5 Operating Systems for The Nimble Photographer

1. Mac OS X - 58%
2. Windows 7 - 17%
3. iOS - 12%
4. Android - 5%
5. Windows 8 - 3%

Top 5 Browsers for The Nimble Photographer

1. Safari - 53%
2. Chrome - 22%
3. KHTML - 11%
4. Firefox - 9%
5. Internet Explorer - 1%

Certainly there's plenty of online activity with mobile devices. But 2014 will not be the year we pronounce the death of traditional computers.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: - Top Stories of 2014, Lighting Q&A with Leah, Lens Technology, Instagram Cleans House - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Snapshot - Instagram Cleans House - My Instagram audience is organic. In other words, I haven't advertised or participated in any promotions to gain new followers. So I was a bit surprised when I lost close to 100 followers during the latest housecleaning. Here's a bit about that.

Weekly Update - Lens Technologies: Fluorine vs. Fluorite - Fluorine is a special coating that's applied to the surface of a lens that helps to repel things like dust, water, grease, and dirt. Fluorite refers to the mineral used to create the lens elements inside the lens. It's a monocrystal that has low chromatic aberration while being much lighter than traditional optical glass. Source: PetaPixel.

Also this week... The Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Gets an Official Price Tag and It's Lower Than We Thought - Tamron Japan has just released the official price tag for the lens, which will be $1,178. It is set to release just five days from now, on December 25. Source: FStoppers.com.

And finally: Apple Adds 7 Cameras with RAW Compatibility 6.02 Update - Canon PowerShot G7 X, Canon PowerShot SX60 HS, Fujifilm X100T, Nikon 1 J4, Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7, Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GM5, and the Sony Alpha ILCE-5100. Source: The Digital Story.

Story #1 - Top Stories for 2014 - What were the topics that caught the eye of TDS readers? Here's the top story for each month of this past year.

• January 2014 - 5 Tips for Shooting Sports with the Olympus OM-D E-M1
• February 2014 - DIY Slide Digitizer with Olympus OM-D and Leica Projector
• March 2014 - How to Restore Old Photos in Aperture
• April 2014 - There's More to Lightroom 5pt4 than Mobile Sync
• May 2014 - Dust Off Your Old Glass
• June 2014 - Can't Decide Between Aperture and Lightroom? Use Both
• July 2014 - How Does the Olympus 75-300mm Stack Up?
• August 2014 - New Uses for Old Camera Bags
• September 2014 - What Not to Shoot with a Typical Zoom at Sporting Events
• October 2014 - Long Telephoto for Landscape Work
• November 2014 - Yosemite Compatibility with Google Nik Collection
• December 2014 - Panasonic 35-100mm f/4.0-5.6 Field Test

Story #2 - Photo Q&A #3 with Leah - "Side Lighting vs Front" - Leah was admiring a photo that had lots of texture, and she was wondering how the photographer achieved the effect. An interesting conversation ensues. 

Story #3 - New SizzlPix Winners! Congratulations to the follow virtual camera club members who participated in recent Photo Assignments and have been selected as SizzlPix Pick of the Month.

• October 2014 - "Water" - Carl Shortt
• September 2014 - "Shot From Behind" - Shelle Singer
• August 2014 - "My Favorite Close Up" - Gary Legere

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for December 2014 is "Frozen".

News from SizzlPix: Have your SizzlPix now, and with BillMeLater, make no payment until June. Great for selling SizzlPix of your photography and collecting your profit even before you pay. Also helpful for any photographer with an opportunity for gallery showings.

Red River Paper - Save 10 percent off your next order of inkjet paper and greeting cards. Good one per customer. Use discount code STORY10X - Ends 1/15/15.

And Finally...

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.

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 June!

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This was my favorite Instagram year to date. Now that I have a couple seasons under my belt, I'm feeling more at home in this square wonderland. To celebrate, here are the Top 7 photos from this year, based on likes... starting with #1.

#1 - Top Dog

What do you do with a brand new lens? Go out and take pictures. What began as a test for the new Olympus MSC ED-M 75 to 300mm II zoom lens for Micro Four Thirds ended up as my top Instagram image of the year.

Backlit Dog, Early Morning.

A photo posted by Derrick Story (@derrickstory) on Aug 8, 2014 at 9:57am PDT

#2 - Passion Flower and Butterfly

I keep a camera by my desk when I'm working at the studio. One afternoon, I noticed this butterfly was attracted to the Passion Flower by the sliding door. Once again I used my new Olympus75 to 300mm II zoom lens to capture this year's second most popular photo.

Butterfly on passionflower, captured with Olympus 75-300mm zoom on the OMD-EM 10.

A photo posted by Derrick Story (@derrickstory) on Jul 7, 2014 at 4:34pm PDT

#3 - Fisheye Trees

While scouting in the Eastern Sierra for my Bodie Workshop in June 2015, I used the super affordable and fun $89 Olympus 9mm f8.0 fisheye body cap lens to photograph this Aspen grove.

Look Up Too! We always say, "Don't forget to look behind you," when taking pictures. And I would add, don't forget to look up too.

A photo posted by Derrick Story (@derrickstory) on Oct 10, 2014 at 2:03pm PDT

#4 - Bay Bridge at Night

I was on assignment to cover the DJI Inspire-1 launch event on Treasure Island, San Francisco. But after the gathering broke up, I parked the car along the water's edge and photographed this night scene with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and Panasonic LUMIX G X VARIO 12-35mm/F2.8 zoom.

San Francisco skyline with Bay Bridge.

A photo posted by Derrick Story (@derrickstory) on Nov 11, 2014 at 4:09pm PST

#5 - Eastern Sierra Plain

Outside of Bridgeport, CA is a beautiful open space that I captured with a Pentax K-5 and Cokin graduated filter. I was just having fun...

Oh, how I love open spaces and big skies.

A photo posted by Derrick Story (@derrickstory) on Sep 9, 2014 at 5:01pm PDT

#6 - Moon Shot

I've been admiring this rusty exhaust pipe for years when I came to work in the morning. It's right in my field of view as I walk along the path to the front door of the studio. This particular day, the moon was lined up perfectly for a fun composition. I pulled the OM-D out of my backpack and snapped this image before brewing my first cup of coffee.

Moon Shot.

A photo posted by Derrick Story (@derrickstory) on Oct 10, 2014 at 10:37am PDT

#7 Boy in Tall Grass

It's incredible to me how many of my popular shots were captured with the Olympus75 to 300mm II zoom lens, but here we are again. This time I was having my morning coffee while camping at Sugarloaf Ridge in Northern California, and I spotted this boy in the tall grass illuminated by the morning sun.

Boy in Tall Grass, Morning Light

A photo posted by Derrick Story (@derrickstory) on Aug 8, 2014 at 10:12am PDT

Final Thoughts

I never really know what's going to catch someone's eye. And it's not something I think about while composing the picture. But as I look at this group of shots, I do seen some common themes. They tend to be simple compositions without too many elements. The longer lens certainly had its lion's share of winners. And even though I shoot many, many Instagram pictures with my iPhone 5S, not one them were big favorites this year.

Bottom line is this: I had a blast with Instagram in 2014. And I'm looking forward to a fun, creative 2015.

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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 had fun writing an article for lynda.com titled Drool-Worthy Gifts for Lucky Photographers. The idea was, if you had up to a $1,000 to spend on a gift for a photographer, what are some good choices? You know... items that you would not normally consider.

For example, how about this ONA Union Street messenger bag designed with naturally milled Italian leather for $489?

"The Leather Union Street is designed to carry a 15-inch laptop, a camera, up to three lenses and small personal items. A zippered front organizer pocket provides additional space for small accessories."

Or how about this Hasselblad Stellar Special Edition digital camera, normally $3,299.99, on sale for $999? "A true objet d'art, the champagne-colored aluminum body features a carbon grip with black accents, along with hand and neck straps crafted of vegetable-tanned Italian leather.

Indeed, these are items that you would not normally consider. But what if? You can see the entire list at Drool-Worthy Gifts for Lucky Photographers on lynda.com Article Center.

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The storm parted about halfway through my trip south to Santa Barbara. I was traveling on Highway 101 near Santa Maria when the light and landscape came together presenting me this irresistible image.

I shot with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the super-compact Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ zoom lens. No polarizer or other filers.

I did, however, process the RAW file in DxO OpticsPro 10, with a few finishing touches in Aperture.

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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Photographers using Mac OS X Yosemite and Aperture, iPhoto, or Preview have seven new RAW formats available in the latest 6.02 update:

• Canon PowerShot G7 X
• Canon PowerShot SX60 HS
• Fujifilm X100T
• Nikon 1 J4
• Olympus PEN Lite E-PL7
• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GM5
• Sony Alpha ILCE-5100

Chances are, your Mac has already applied the update. You can check by going to the Updates tab in the Mac App Store. You can also download it here.

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!

This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Canon Takes Aim at Mirrorless (again!), Holiday Photo Tips, New Polaroid Socialmatic Camera, SizzlPix Winners, BPG?- All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Snapshot - Specifications Aren't Always the Most Important Feature - Sometimes I opt for love. You know those decisions that don't seem logical, yet you know it's the right thing to do. I'm that way with cameras sometimes. I explain in today's Snapshot.

Weekly Update - Canon to Target the GH4 With New DSLR Type? We're told that Canon will be directly targeting the Panansonic GH4 at NAB 2015 in Las Vegas this spring. The new camera will  have a 1″ sensor, shoot 4K and will be very portable. Source: Canon Rumors.

Also this week... New Image Format BPG Looks To Replace The Popular JPEG - BPG (Better Portable Graphics) is based on the H.265 video codec by utilizing the open source x265. This means BPG offers the ability to render 14 bits per color channel as opposed to 8 with JPEG. Source: FStoppers.com.

Story #1 - 5 Holiday Photo Tips - If you're lucky enough to be able to spend time with family and friends during the holidays, here are a few photo tips to keep in mind.

• Think portraits as well as activities. Yes, it's fun to photograph Uncle Bill opening his present, but get a portrait too. In the coming years, those informal, environmental candids will become more valuable.
• Reduce flash exposure. Most cameras emit too much flash indoors. Go to Flash Exposure Compensation and set it to -2/3 or even -1. Then increase your ISO to 400 or 800 to reduce dependency on the flash.
• Get a group shot. Yes, everyone will moan and groan. But group shots tell a big story in just a single frame.It's worth your while to set one up.
• Photograph food and decorations. Be sure to capture the food table before everyone digs in. Keep an eye out for decorations and place settings.
• Share your images. The more people in the family that you share pictures with, the better the chances they will survive the decades. Believe it or not, sending email attachments are often the most effective because the recipients don't have to do anything to receive them.

Story #2 - The Polaroid Socialmatic 14MP Wi-Fi Digital Instant Print & Share Camera ($299) - Has Polaroid found a sweet spot?

• 14 MP sensor
• Instant Uploading Provides a Whole New World of Social Sharing Possibilities
• Instant Printing Provides Immediate Gratification in 'Inkless' Photo Format
• Full-Fledged Android OS: Browser, Email, GPS, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Apps, Etc.
• Camera Can Embed Unique QR Code Into Images for Online Photo Tracking
• 4.5-Inch Full Color LCD Touchscreen; 4GB Memory, Expandable to 32GB

It is, however, about 5" x 5" and over an inch thick. So you would have to find a place for it in your camera bag.

Story #3 - New SizzlPix Winners! Congratulations to the follow virtual camera club members who participated in recent Photo Assignments and have been selected as SizzlPix Pick of the Month.

• October 2014 - "Water" - Carl Shortt
• September 2014 - "Shot From Behind" - Shelle Singer
• August 2014 - "My Favorite Close Up" - Gary Legere

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for December 2014 is "Frozen".

News from SizzlPix: Have your SizzlPix now, and with BillMeLater, make no payment until June. Great for selling SizzlPix of your photography and collecting your profit even before you pay. Also helpful for any photographer with an opportunity for gallery showings.

Red River Paper - Save 10 percent off your next order of inkjet paper and greeting cards. Good one per customer. Use discount code STORY10X - Ends 1/15/15.

And Finally...

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.

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 May!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

I just read an interesting field report on ShootTokyo titled, The Panasonic Lumix Smart Camera CM1, where the author field-tested Panasonic's Android smartphone that features a 1-inch 20MP sensor and 28mm equivalent Leica lens. Options include saving in RAW format. The device costs 1,000 Euros and is unlocked.

On one level, the CM1 reopens the conversation about needing a dedicated compact camera, especially if you already have a smartphone in your pocket. The practicality, I think, depends on what type of photographer you are.

I know many people who are perfectly happy using the iPhone or Samsung S4 as their primary camera. They are capturing the interesting moments in life with a device that's always with them. I also take a lot of photos with my iPhone 5S. But when I step out the door for an afternoon walk or to run errands, I put my Canon PowerShot S110 in my back pocket (which is currently on special for $179, BTW).

Why? Primarily because I need more camera than what my iPhone can provide. I want an optical zoom, mode dial, and yes, RAW format. The Panasonic CM1 does inch closer to bridging this gap, especially with the RAW option.

But then, what kind of phone is it? Wouldn't it be ironic I had to carry a second device to serve as my smartphone?

We dream of having everything we want in one package. But the fact of the matter is, it's tough to be a world class smartphone and camera in one tiny device. And how much are we willing to spend for such a convenience? That being said, it looks like the Panasonic CM1 has brought us one step closer.

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 memory.

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For the next week only, the Urban Explorer Kit is on sale for $24.95 (reduced from $34.95.) Plus every order receives a free Walking Man Microfiber Cloth. Both offers expire, Friday, Dec. 19, 2014.

The Urban Explorer Kit includes our classic Shoulder Bag designed by Lowepro and made of recycled material (it's planet friendly!), the Dual-Function Nimble Stylus Pen (perfect for iPad browsing in a restaurant or coffee shop), and the "I have a high nimbleosity rating" Microfiber cloth (for keeping your electronics and optics nice and shiny).

The kit comes packed with the Stylus Pen and Microfiber Cloth nestled in their dedicated pockets inside the Shoulder Bag. Plus, we include a holiday gift bag. So all you have to do is sign the card and present the gift.

Finish off your holiday shopping and let the celebrations begin!

Shipping to U.S. addresses only...

Photographers like me who run a variety of imaging applications can bring a little continuity to their life via plugins. I've been using DxO FilmPack 5 since its release. And with one purchase, the software works with Aperture, Lightroom, Photoshop, DxO Optics Pro 10, and Photoshop Elements... plus, it's a standalone app too.

If FilmPack 5 isn't on your radar, check out my post on lynda.com Article Center titled, Rediscover Analog Photography with DxO FilmPack 5 Elite.

The bottom line is, FilmPack 5 allows you to create versions of your images that look as if they were captured on film, such as Kodak Tri-X, Kodachrome 25, and Fujifilm Velvia 50. In the lynda.com article, I walk you through the ins and outs of the application, with lots of sample images. Plus, I talk about the difference between processing RAW files vs. roundtripping images in FilmPack.

Speaking or roundtripping, DxO FilmPack 5 works with just about any photo software that accepts plugins. Here are the options I was presented with when I installed the app.

I recommend Elite for $99 over the Standard $49 version. Here's a comparison chart of features that show why. And the best part is... they have a 30-Day Free Trial.

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Someone had their thinking caps on for this design. Westcott just announced the 38" x 45" Omega Reflector Kit for $99. Among its plethora of features, its center flap opens allowing you to shoot through it. In essence, the Omega becomes a giant, natural, ring light.

Highlights (yes, pun intended) include:

• Innovative 10-in-1 design
• Can be used as a traditional reflector or shoot-through
• 2:3 Ratio removable center frame panel
• 38" x 45" white, silver, sunlight, black and 1-stop diffusion surfaces
• Durable fabrics
• Folds down to 1/3 open size
• Includes two window suction cups and carry case with shoulder strap
• Lifetime frame warranty

I'm also impressed with the loops attached to all four sides and the window suction cups that come in the kit. You can hang the translucent Omega on a window to help diffuse direct light coming in. To see more of the features, here's a short product video.

I'll report more once I have a chance to test the Omega Reflector. You can preorder it now from B&H. And I suspect that we'll be using it for the upcoming Bodie and Fall Color workshops.

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One of the advantages to processing RAW files in Adobe Lightroom is taking advantage of camera profiles. A favorite example is choosing among Fuji's film effects from the X20.

The process couldn't be simpler. Open the RAW file in the Develop Module. Scroll down to Camera Calibration. Choose the look you want from the Profile popup menu.

The options are based on the actual profiles offered in the camera menu. So, for example, I'll see different available profiles for my Olympus RAW files than those from the Fuji X20.

The thing I really like about the profiles feature is this: there are times during post processing that I say to myself, "I wish I had used the monochrome film effect when I took that shot." With these profiles available in Lightroom, I get a second chance.

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This special is now over!

Amazon is running a Gold Box special on the Olympus XZ-2 digital camera for $179 that originally sold for $549. The sale ends Tuesday night.

Features include:

• Super fast, bright i.ZUIKO f1.8 to f2.5 lens that uses high quality ZUIKO digital lenses.
• Pairs a powerful TruePic VI sensor with an SLR-quality image processor to dramatically improve image quality with spectacular low-light performance and blazing autofocus speed.
• 3.0", 920K dot super high resolution Tilting Touch screen with FAST Touch Autofocus and shutter release just by touching the screen.
• Built in Accessory Port, Hybrid Control Ring and Function button and level for ultimate control.
• Special effects for your photos & HD Videos with Olympus' 11 in-camera Art Filters and Art Effects.
• Enjoy low light photography with the built-in pop up flash and increased ISO sensitivity to 12800.

The one thing it doesn't have, however, is built-in WiFi. Instead, the camera pairs with the Toshiba FlashAir card. If that's not a deal-breaker, however, the price is certainly right.

The XZ-2 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: Insane Compact Panasonic Zoom, iStick Blues, Leah Goes to Mexico - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Snapshot - "17 Pounds and Counting" - Everything I need for an assignment abroad, in a situation without Internet much of the time, needs to fit in a bag that weighs less than 20 pounds. Can I do it?

Weekly Update - Should you get an iStick? The iStick does allow file sharing among your iOS devices and a Mac or PC computer. Even though the hardware is clever and works, the device is hampered by subpar software. I add-on to the discussion that I began with my post on TDS.

Story #1 - The Panasonic 35-100mm f/4.0-5.6 - this tiny optic packs a big punch. I explain why in this segment of the show.

Story #2 - Photo Q&A with Leah - "Travel Abroad" - Leah will be heading to Mexico soon, and she wants to hear if I have any tips for her protecting her gear while on the road. 

Story #3 - 2-for-1 Subscription of c't Digital Photography Magazine with eBook Chapter One from "The Essence of Photography" by Bruce Barnbaum - Engineered in Germany, this quarterly photographic publication provides deep dives into gear reviews, techniques, and artists. There's no publication like it in North America, and for a limited time, you can give a subscription and garner one for yourself. The best deal of the year!

Story #4 - Two seats open for the San Francisco Street Photography Workshop on April 24-26, 2015. Update on the plans for the event.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for December 2014 is "Frozen".

Red River Paper - Save 10 percent off your next order of inkjet paper and greeting cards. Good one per customer. Use discount code STORY10X - Ends 1/15/15.

And Finally...

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.

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 May!

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The HyperDrive iStick is a pocketable Flash drive with a Lightning connector on one end and USB on the other. By using its free iStick app for iPad and iPhone, users can share files among all of their iOS devices and Mac or PC computers. It's particularly useful for bringing movies with you on long journeys.

In my testing, I've been able to accomplish the following with the iStick:

• Backup photos from an iPad/iPhone to the iStick.
• Stream movies from the iStick to an iOS device.
• Play music from the iStick through my iPad/iPhone.
• Move photos from the computer to the iPad

The device does work. I've streamed movies from a variety of formats to my iPad and iPhone. iStick's built-in player handles the playback. All I had to do was launch the iStick app on the iOS device, navigate to the movie I wanted to watch, and select it. The player itself is quite basic. But you can enjoy the video without having to copy anything to your mobile device. And since most feature movies are 1 GB or larger, that relieves a lot of pressure off the iPad or iPhone.

The iStick includes a Lightning extender cable so you don't have to remove the case from your mobile device to use it.

Same goes for music. I use Apple's iCloud to manage my music library and to free up space on my devices. Works great except when Internet isn't available, such as flying cross country. With the iStick, you can load up your albums and stream them to your iPhone/iPad without any stress on the device. Again, the player is very basic.

The iStick has its own movie player, as basic as it is.

Here's where we start to get in to the nits of the device. The hardware seems fine on initial inspection. But the iStick software needs work. Is it functional? Yes, in a basic way. But it does not have the fit and finish that most of us expect from iOS applications.

Plus, as it stands now, it's not very useful for photographers. Why? The biggest problem is that photos are displayed with filenames and a generic icon. No image thumbnails. So yes, you can backup your iPad to the iStick on the road. But if you want to find a photo, you'll have to wait until you can copy them to a device that displays thumbnails.

Plus there's no swiping or slideshow feature. So you have to open files one by one to display them. This isn't practical at all for showing others your work.

Along the same lines, the music player does not move from song to song through the folder. So you have to play each track individually. That's nuts. And you don't get any standard controls beyond play/pause. No album artwork either. Same complaints go for the movie player, but since you don't have to change tracks that often, it's more tolerable.

The bottom line is this: The iStick 16GB USB Flash Drive with Lightning for iPhone and iPad ($109) does provide easy, secure sharing among your devices. But it's hampered by subpar software. Right now, I see its best use for viewing movies on the plane, because the built-in player can handle that function, and the nature of movies is to hit "play" and sit back. But beyond that, the iStick needs an overhauling of its software for the device to get a positive review.

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The Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 35-100mm f/4.0-5.6 ASPH. MEGA O.I.S. zoom lens, designed for Micro Four Thirds cameras, packs a ton of quality into a small, jewell-like package.

The optic weighs a mere 4.76 ounces and is measures a svelte 2.19" x 1.97" (DxL). Yet, its effective focal length is 70mm-200mm, perfect for outdoor field work. When mounted on Panasonic mirrorless cameras, the optic's built-in image stabilization is rated at 3 stops.

On Olympus bodies, photographers have the option of using sensor-based stabilization or optical MEGA O.I.S. They can switch to optical in the "gear" menu > "C" Release > Lens I.S. Priority. Since the optical stabilizer is quieter than the sensor-based alternative, there may be situations where Olympus owners want to take advantage of this feature.

The Panasonic lens maintains its compact size by retracting. To use it, twist to the right to move it into zooming position. The nicely-damped zooming ring keeps the barrel in place regardless of shooting position. The manual focusing ring also feels good. Like the image stabilization, switching to manual focus happens in the camera's menu. There are no switches on the lens itself.

Outdoors, focusing is fast and accurate. Indoors, the lens may hunt for a second or two before confirmation. This highlights the fact that the Panasonic 35-100mm f/4-5.6 is an outdoor lens. Its maximum aperture and focusing capability will not satisfy the indoor, existing light photographer. Outside, however, the optic is a joy to use.

Autumn leaf captured at the 100mm setting on the Panasonic zoom mounted on an Olympus OM-D E-M10: f/5.6, -1 EV, ISO 250, 1/200th sec., optical stabilization.

Image quality is excellent edge to edge, with slightly better performance in the center. Distortion and chromatic aberration are also well-controled, a surprising performance for such a compact, affordable zoom.

Try as I may, I could not get the lens to produce noticeable chromatic aberration: focal length 35mm, f/11.

The Panasonic 35-100mm f/4.0-5.6 zoom lens was released in late October for $397. It's styled to compliment the Panasonic GM line of mirrorless bodies. But it looks great on the Olympus cameras too. Its metal barrel construction and mount feel solid, and the swift focusing via the stepping motor inspire confidence. The optical performance is very satisfying.

Flower close-up captured at 100mm, f/5.6. Photos by Derrick Story.

Bottom line: I love this lens. It's a quality optic that's easy to carry with me. My prediction is that I'll be capturing beautiful images with it for a very long time.

This Panasonic 35-100mm f/4.0-5.6 zoom lens has a very high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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The latest version of DxO OpticsPro was introduced right before PhotoPlus Expo. It can be used as a standalone app or integrated in to a Lightroom 5.7 workflow. And for RAW shooters, it adds a fast, powerful way to process those files.

The starting point workspace for DxO OpticsPro. It can be configured to your tastes.

In my opinion, DxO OpticsPro is for photographers who want their images to shine, but who don't necessarily want to spend a lot of time fiddling with them in post. The software has a knack for bringing out the best in a photograph through its intelligent algorithms and lens profiles that correct distortion, minimize noise, enhance contrast. And with the latest version, removes haze via a new feature called ClearView.

I wrote about ClearView in an article titled, New ClearView Feature Shines in DxO OpticsPro 10. In short, it wipes away atmospheric haze for landscapes, and air pollution for urban scenes. I also discuss how to integrate DxO with Lightroom 5.7 in the article.

The bottom line is this: DxO OpticsPro 10 Elite costs $149 (through Dec. 25th) and is an intelligent, easy-to-use RAW processor that produces beautiful results.

It runs on Mac or Windows computers, can also fine-tune Tiffs and Jpegs, and supports camera and lens profiles for most popular hardware. In my case, all of my Canon, Olympus, and Panasonic gear had profiles.

And to be honest, I really like what it does to my RAW files.

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For the Oct. 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters got their feet wet. See for yourself in our gallery, Water. And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

Photo by Glenn Hubbers. Glenn writes, "I took this shot at sunrise after being out for half the night trying my hand at astrophotography. Despite going out to capture star trails, (which was a failure that will need more practice!) I decided to hang out to see the sunrise. After all was said and done, I thought this shot was the best of the trip. I had travelled for the weekend up to Tobermory, Ontario to get away from light pollution. It was a great trip, just me and my camera kit hanging out for the weekend." See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the gallery, Water.

Participate in This Month's Assignment

The Dec. 2014 assignment is "Frozen." Details can be found on the Member Participation page. Deadline is Dec. 31, 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: Dec. 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 Oct. 2014 gallery at the end of Nov., the Nov. gallery will be posted at the end of Dec., and on and on.

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

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Being a photographer, I know how difficult it can be to shop for one. For example, right now I would love to have the new Panasonic Lumix GM5 mirrorless camera. Unfortunately, it costs $897. I don't really have any friends who like me that much. (But, hey, the shipping is free!)

But I do have folks in my circle who will spend $25, $50, or even $75 for something special. So I wrote the article 11 Great Gifts for Photographers - All Under $100 for those who care about the shooters in their lives, and want to get them a goodie for the holidays.

For example, did you know that you can get the versatile Lowepro Photo Hatchback 16L AW for $55? That will knock their Christmas socks off! And there's more...

Hop over to the lynda.com Article Center and peruse 11 Great Gifts for Photographers - All Under $100. It just might save you $800.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Manual Exposure Mode Situations, Photo Q&A: How to Shoot a Buffalo, Gifts for Photographers Under $100, a Surprise Birthday Party - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Snapshot - The Birthday Party - I think it's difficult going to an event as a civilian, then suddenly being pressed in to duty for the big shot. I discuss a case in point in this week's snapshot.

Weekly Update - Cactus V6 update adds Micro Four Thirds and Metz flashguns to wireless control list - Olympus FL-50R, FL-36R and Panasonic FL-500R and FL-360R. (Source: DP Review)

In other news, Rumor: FAA may kill commercial drone operations by requiring a full pilots' license (Source: Imaging-Resource)

And finally, 20 Dos and Don'ts for Shooting the Moon - Do use a tripod and telephoto lens; don't use a slow shutter speed and image stabilization. (Source: Digital Photography School).

Manual exposure was used to capture this NY night scene. Photo by Derrick Story.

Story #1 - 5 Situations for Manual Exposure:

1. Nighttime exposures outside
2. Fill flash indoors
3. Off-camera flash outdoors
4. Flowing waterfalls
5. Street shooting

Story #2 - Photo Q&A with Leah - "Shooting Dark Objects in Contrasty Midday Light" - Leah wants to photograph a buffalo. To help her, I cover RAW, spot metering, and recovering shadow detail. 

Story #3 - 10 Photo Gifts Under $100 - I've published a fun post over at lynda.com Article Center with some terrific gift ideas for photographers, under $100. Here are a few of my favorites from that list:

• Joby GorillaPod Micro 800 Tripod ($20)
• Nanuk 903 Case ($30)
• Kenu Stance Compact Tripod for iPhone ($29)

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for December 2014 is "Frozen".

Red River Paper - Save 10 percent off your next order of inkjet paper and greeting cards. Good one per customer. Use discount code STORY10X - Ends 1/15/15.

And Finally...

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 (37 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 June!

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When Canon announced its compact EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lens for $149, the only real question was its performance. And now we have more information about that too.

PhotographyBlog reports in their post, Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM Review:

"Image quality is very good. Centre sharpness is excellent even at the maximum aperture, and almost as impressive at the edges of the frame. Chromatic aberrations are fairly well controlled, although there's obvious vignetting at the maximum aperture and some barrel distortion too. The lens doesn't ship with a hood, although it didn't really exhibit any unwanted flare effects."

They went on to give it 4.5 stars, stating that "We can strongly recommend the Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM as an extremely small and lightweight prime lens for APS-C DSLR owners that won't break the bank."

I think this optic would be particularly attractive to Rebel and 70D owners. You can read all the details for yourself over at PhotographyBlog.com.

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