Here's what motivated me to find out more about the Rokinon 7.5mm F3.5 UMC Fisheye Lens...

The client escorted me into a large ballroom that in a few days would be filled with more than 350 people and said, "We want a group shot of everyone, and you have 7 minutes to take it."

I replied, "Great. I'll be ready."

There were a few ways that I could approach this assignment, but my research led me to using the Rokinon 7.5mm F3.5 UMC Fisheye Lens on my Olympus E-M5 Mark II. The optic had good ratings, was affordable, and covered the 180 degrees that I would need to make this shot. I would stand on the stage and use the fully articulated LCD to compose the shot. And the f/3.5 maximum aperture would let me shoot at a reasonable ISO 1600.

So I went for it. And I'm now the happy owner of a very nice fisheye lens.

A few mornings later, I got my rig together, recorded RAW for maximum latitude, processed the group shot in Capture One Pro so I could adjust the distortion, and finished off the image in Luminar. The final shot looked great. The client is happy. And I now have a new lens to experiment with. (I can't show you that shot, because it's proprietary. But I have one just as good to share.)

The specs for this optic are impressive for its $249 price tag.

• 180 degrees angle of view
• 9 elements in 7 groups
• Aperture range f/3.5-f/22
• Minimum focusing distance of 0.295ft
• Approximately 1.9 inches long
• Manual focus with click-stop aperture ring

Here's the scoop about the shot I can show you...

I took it out for a spin the night before my assignment so I could get a feel for how it performed. Here's an image from inside Oracle Arena using the Rokinon at f/3.5 on the OM-D E-M5 Mark II. (Processed in Capture One Pro and finished in Luminar.)

"Oracle Arena Pregame" by Derrick Story - Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, Rokinon 7.5mm lens at f/3.5, ISO 3200, 1/5th of a second, handheld.

What a blast! So much so, that I only shot with the fisheye all night. As for lens performance, there is some softness on the corners at f/3.5, and that's about the only nit I can come up with. Some reviewers have complained about the stiffness of the manual focus ring. I kind of like it. For most of my work, I'm setting the focus to just off infinity and leaving it there. I like the the focus ring doesn't move on its own after I set it.

And the bottom line is, I've captured two photos in two days that I could not have recorded otherwise. The Rokinon 7.5mm F3.5 UMC Fisheye Lens is available on Amazon for $249. I wish I would have bought this one long time ago. (Plus it looks great on my E-M5 Mark II...)

More Capture One Pro Tips and Techniques

Improve your skills by watching Capture One Pro Essential Training now available on lynda.com. More than 5 hours of tips, tricks, and techniques. Plus many free movies using advanced techniques.

Luminar for Finishing Touches

Whether I'm starting the workflow in Capture One Pro, or in Photos for macOS, I'm often finishing my favorite images with Luminar, the most exciting image editor I've used in years.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #560, November 29, 2016. Today's theme is "Thoughts from 5 Conservation Photographers." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

On November 15 and 16, I spent two days in the company of some of the best conservation photographers in the world. During that time, I photographed them, recored segments from their talks, and even sat down for an interview at the Carnegie Institution for Science in Washington D.C. And today I'm going to share highlights from those two days with you, so you too can be a part of this amazing conference called WildSpeak 2016.

This show is supported in part by MindShift Gear, who proudly sponsors the iLCP in their mission to protect our planet and it's resources through photography.

Additional funding was contributed by Red River Paper, who supports The Digital Story from California to the East Coast, and everywhere in between.

And a special thanks to members of our Inner Circle, who have pledged through Patreon, enabling me to bring shows like this to all of our listeners.

Thoughts from 5 Conservation Photographers

Today's show features thoughts from seven important conservation photographers: Amy Gulick, Chris Linder, Daniel Beltra, Sandesh Kadur, and Robin Moore. Audio and interview were recorded at WildSpeak 2016 at the Carnegie Science Center in Washington D.C. I hope you enjoy the show.

See you next week!

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

MindShift Gear - MindShift Gear is a group of committed professional photographers and product designers who support conservation and protection of our natural resources and planet.

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

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

Not long ago, I wrote about the frustrations of connecting our digital cameras directly to a Mac. But new software to the rescue. Cascable Transfer is in beta, and you can use it right now to send Jpegs, RAWs, or both to your macOS computer.

The procedure is simple. Turn on WiFi with your camera, connect to it with your computer, then launch Cascable. If your camera is one that is supported, then the screen soon fills with thumbnails from the memory card.

Choose the shots you want, decide if you want to bring over the RAW, Jpeg, or both, then initiate the copy process. You can send the files to a folder, import to Photos for macOS, or put them inside of Lightroom. I had the best success with folders and Photos. The Lightroom transfer still needs a little work.

With Photos, my RAW files went right into the app, plus Cascable created an import album too so I can review all the shots that came into the app wirelessly. Everything was intact and looked great.

Because wireless transfer isn't as fast as plugging a memory card directly into the computer, this isn't a method that you'd want to use for hundreds of RAW files. But for a dozen or so images, the 5-6 minute wait time is reasonable.

You can try to beta version of Cascable now for free. And if you preorder your final copy, you can save 50 percent off the $14.99 price when it's released. I'm going to order mine now.

Master Photos for macOS

Apple's Photos for macOS app was designed from the ground up to help you organize, edit, and share your pictures and videos. While the interface appears simple, finding the hidden nuances of Photos is not so straightforward. There's more to this app than initially meets the eye.

For photographers who are more than just casual snapshooters, or who are making the transition from Aperture or iPhoto, The Apple Photos Book for Photographers shines a light on the true sophistication of this app and the ecosystem it taps into. From the point of view of a working photographer, Derrick provides everything you need to know to get the most out of the imaging tools built into macOS and iCloud.

This book is up to date with the current version of Photos that shipped with macOS Sierra. It includes discussions on Memories and object recognition, plus all of the tools that make this a compelling application for Mac-toting photographers.

You can order your own copy directly from the publisher, Rocky Nook. Use coupon code DSAPPLE35 for a 35 percent discount. We recommend the Print & eBook Bundle that gives you the Kindle, iBook, and PDF versions, plus the lovely print edition.

You can also order your copy on Amazon.com

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

Most Mac users probably don't realize that Siri is waiting to serve as a personal photo assistant. All they have to do is ask.

In my case, I hold down the CMD key + Spacebar and state, "Find pictures of a cat." In just a couple seconds, this appears on my screen.

Lots of results from my asking Siri to find pictures of a cat.

How does this magic work? It's the combination of object/animal/people/place recognition build into Photos 2.0 plus Siri on macOS Sierra. I haven't keyworded any of those images as "cat;" who has time for that? The algorithms in Photos can find instances of a cat on its own without my help.

And by the way, none of them were keyworded or had descriptions.

If you're using Photos on macOS Sierra, you really need to try this. It's a lot smarter than you may realize.

It takes just a few seconds to make sure Siri is set up correctly on your Mac.

The Apple Photos Book for Photographers

Apple's Photos for macOS app was designed from the ground up to help you organize, edit, and share your pictures and videos. While the interface appears simple, finding the hidden nuances of Photos is not so straightforward. There's more to this app than initially meets the eye.

For photographers who are more than just casual snapshooters, or who are making the transition from Aperture or iPhoto, The Apple Photos Book for Photographers shines a light on the true sophistication of this app and the ecosystem it taps into. From the point of view of a working photographer, Derrick provides everything you need to know to get the most out of the imaging tools built into macOS and iCloud.

This book is up to date with the current version of Photos that shipped with macOS Sierra. It includes discussions on Memories and object recognition, plus all of the tools that make this a compelling application for Mac-toting photographers.

You can order your own copy directly from the publisher, Rocky Nook. Use coupon code DSAPPLE35 for a 35 percent discount. We recommend the Print & eBook Bundle that gives you the Kindle, iBook, and PDF versions, plus the lovely print edition.

You can also order your copy on Amazon.com

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

My favorite nugget of advice for business travelers is to add a bit of personal time to each trip to explore your surroundings. And if you're a photographer, writer, or other type of artist, visit a museum or gallery.

I am consuming imagery daily via online services such as Instagram and Facebook. And some of those shots I find truly inspiring. But there's something completely different about physically standing before a work and interacting with it face to face.

Experienceing "The Kin Series & Related Works" by Whitfield Lovell in the Phillips Museum, Washington D.C.

Many of the museums allow your to take pictures of the works (without flash) so you can continue to study and think about them once you've returned home. I've found that all types of art has helped me look at my photography with fresh eyes.

Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party" is one of my favorite paintings. You can see it at the Phillips Collections in Washington D.C.

Another thing that I've found, much to my delight, is that my boys will walk through a museum with me and discuss what we're seeing together. They've been doing so since they were about 6 years old. These are moments a dad doesn't forget.

Mother and daughter in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

And finally, set aside a little additional time to hang out in the museum cafe. I have never been disappointed, and having something tasty to eat and a refreshing drink finishes off the enjoyable afternoon.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

Macphun is offering a couple of sweet deals on two excellent software bundles, both of which I use regularly. In fact, I designed a set of presets, which are one of the bonus items in this offer. (And they are very helpful!) These offers are good through December 1st.

Luminar Deal

In addition to being one of the best (and creative) image editors available for the Mac, Luminar is my favorite editing extension for Photos for macOS, and a friendly addition to Lightroom. The Black Friday deal is really about the lowest price available, plus the bonus items. You can Luminar order here.

Luminar Bonuses

• Africa with Athena Video by Athena Carey ($60 value)
• Cameras in the Wild ebook by Contrastly ($29 value)
• Making the Image ebook by Dan Bailey ($25 value)
• Luminar Presets pack ($25 value) - I designed a set of presets that's included in this presets pack.

Black Friday Pricing

• Retail Value: $209
• Special Black Friday Price for Macphun Users: $49
• Special Black Friday Price for New Users: $59

It's easy to add custom presets to Luminar. Just go to File > Add Custom Presets Pack and navigate to your (free) new presets (mine are included in this offer).

Aurora HDR 2017

Aurora HDR 2017 has become my default HDR processor. It runs wonderfully on my Mac laptop, includes a variety of interesting presets, and has every fine-tuning adjustment that a discriminating photographer would want. So you can use it in "one click" mode, or noodle with an image for an hour. It's up to you. Plus, I like it as an editing extension for Photos and a plug-in for Lightroom. You can order Aurora HDR 2017 here.

Aurora HDR 2017 Bonuses

• The Essentials of Street Photography & The New York Photographer's Travel Guide by James Maher ($25 value)
• 20 Minute Video Training from Trey Ratcliff ($20 value)
• Holiday Preset Pack ($25 value)

Black Friday Pricing

• Retail Value: $169
• Special Black Friday Price for New Users: $89
• Special Black Friday Upgrade Price for existing Aurora HDR Owners: $79
• Special Black Friday Upgrade Price for existing Aurora HDR Pro Owners: $49

Make 2017 the Year of Creative Photography

These two apps will integrate with any workflow, ranging from Capture One Pro, to Photoshop, to Lightroom, to Photos. Yet, they will allow you to process your images in new and interesting ways. Plus, with these great bonuses, you can quickly up your game by learning tips from the experts.

Want to Use Luminar and Aurora HDR 2017 as Editing Extensions?

The Apple Photos Book for Photographers

Apple's Photos for macOS app was designed from the ground up to help you organize, edit, and share your pictures and videos. While the interface appears simple, finding the hidden nuances of Photos is not so straightforward. There's more to this app than initially meets the eye.

For photographers who are more than just casual snapshooters, or who are making the transition from Aperture or iPhoto, The Apple Photos Book for Photographers shines a light on the true sophistication of this app and the ecosystem it taps into. From the point of view of a working photographer, Derrick provides everything you need to know to get the most out of the imaging tools built into macOS and iCloud.

This book is up to date with the current version of Photos that shipped with macOS Sierra. It includes discussions on Memories and object recognition, plus all of the tools that make this a compelling application for Mac-toting photographers.

You can order your own copy directly from the publisher, Rocky Nook. Use coupon code DSAPPLE35 for a 35 percent discount. We recommend the Print & eBook Bundle that gives you the Kindle, iBook, and PDF versions, plus the lovely print edition.

You can also order your copy on Amazon.com

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #559, November 22, 2016. Today's theme is "Photographer's Gift Guide." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

If you only think in terms of DSLR camera bodies and fast prime lenses, then yes, photographers are hard to buy for. But we have more facets than some give us credit for. And the buying guide that I've assembled for you focuses more on the artistic than the mechanical.

Photographer's Gift Guide

I have a list for you that includes a treasure trove of affordable, desirable gifts for photographers. Let's take a look.

• @NatGeo: The Most Popular Instagram Photos - $12.46



• Black OneKnot Cotton/Leather Camera Wrist Strap - $12.90
• LUCIE Editions Fine Art Posters - average price $25. The Lucie Limited Editions are limited edition posters made by master photographers recognized at The Lucie Awards. These Lucie Honorees represent some of the most important photographers of the 21st century.
• Think Tank Photo Mirrorless Mover 25i Camera Bag - $64.75. The bag can be carried by the top handle, worn over your shoulder with an adjustable strap, or worn on a pant belt using the rear pass-through slot. It can also be worn as a backpack by using an optional Shoulder Harness V2.0. Stretchable side pockets and an interior mesh pocket can hold accessories such as memory cards, batteries, or the included seam-sealed rain cover.



• Pentax Analog Clock $69 - This handsome Pentax ME Super features a bayonet-mounted quartz Waterford clock that creates the perfect desk accessory.
• Polaroid Snap Touch Instant Print Digital Camera With LCD Display (White) with Zink Zero Ink Printing Technology - $179. Prints 2"x3" color photos, 3.5" LCD touchscreen viewfinder, 13MP photos, 1080p/720p video, Bluetooth enabled, Burst & photobooth modes, Micro SD card slot[up to 128GB], and, Editing app compatible with iOS & Android.
• The Apple Photos Book for Photographers: Building Your Digital Darkroom with Photos and Its Powerful Editing Extensions - $15.14
• On The Rocks: 10 Assorted Blank All-Occasion Note Cards Feature Dramatic Rocky Landscapes, w/White Envelopes. $9.98



• Ansmann X7 LED Search Light - $9.40. The X7 LED Search Light from Ansmann is a pen sized LED work light that can also function as a 1 LED directional flashlight. As a work light it utilizes 6 SMD LEDs with a brightness of 11 lumen and a maximum continuous runtime of 10 hours. As a flashlight it offers 1 lumen output and can run for up to 120 hours. Form fitting rubberized housing protects the light from impact and keeps it comfortable to hold. A built-in magnet and pocket clip provide convenient placement options. Three AAA alkaline batteries are included.
• Zoom H1 Ultra-Portable Digital Audio Recorder (Blue) - $79.99. Perfect for musicians, journalists, podcasters, and more, the H1 records high-quality WAV and MP3 files to meet any professional need. The H1 has a stereo X/Y microphone configuration that captures perfect stereo images. A built-in speaker lets you listen to your recordings right away.

Uber starts selling digital gift cards online

Uber has made it much easier to buy gift cards for friends, family and anyone else who paid for your fare in the past. You can now get digital gift cards straight from Uber's website and send them straight to someone else's email address. The company started selling physical gift cards through retailers back in September, but now you only have to click a few buttons to get one. Complete story with links via Engadget.

Next Week's Show - Audio Recordings from Washington D.C,

I have an interview and numerous audio clips from the WildSpeak conference in Washington D.C. And I'm going to share that content with you on next week's show.

Updates and Such

Big thanks to all of our Patreon members! I was able to pay for the podcast server and the backup system from last month's pledges. Your contributions are making a positive impact.

The 2017 Workshop Season is posted. I've sent responses to those who signed up on the reserve list. If you haven't received a confirmation yet, please send me mail at derrick@thedigitalstory.com.

B&H and Amazon tiles on www.thedigitalstory. If you click on them first, you're helping to support this podcast. And speaking of supporting this show, and big thanks to our Patreon Inner Circle members.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

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

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

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

Photographers from all over the world entered their absolute finest images to compete for a spot in Nature's Best 2016, now on display at the National Museum of Natural History through September 2017. The winning photographs are stunning.

You have until September 2017 to see this exhibit at the Smithsonian.

I attended a reception honoring the winners last night, then marveled at the display of Nature in all of her glory in the gallery. The photographs appear to be printed on aluminum and are expertly lit, so each picture has tremendous impact.

"Mt. Bromo" by Dr. Marc Tan is the winner for Asia Landscapes. It was one of my favorite images on display.

If you can't make it to Washington D.C., you can order the Collector's Edition for $14.95 (which I've already done.)

For those times that you're working off the grid, you may want to bring your own power generator to ensure that your camera and mobile devices stay operational. I had a good talk yesterday with Jeff Crystal of Voltaic Systems, and learned that these solar solutions are quite reasonably priced.

For a little over a $100, we put together a kit that included a portable solar panel, storage battery, and adapter for my camera battery. With these components, I can charge by iPad mini, iPhone, and batteries for the Olympus E-M5 Mark II.

During this discussion a wildlife photographer came up to us and exclaimed, "I've been using this gear in the field for months, and I love it." I'm thinking that a real time testimonial is always helpful when learning about new tech. He was there to buy more.

For most nimble photographers, the 6 Watt kit should get the job done. For extended trips, you may want to move up to a 9 Watt panel that costs a little more.

As Jeff said during out discussion, "Once you remove laptops from the equation, everything gets easier (and cheaper)." So true in many ways...

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

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

It's one thing to see @NatGeo Instagram images on your smartphone, but it's quite another to see them displayed as large prints in their museum on 17th St. NW in Washington D.C. Both the presentation and images are spectacular. It's all part of FotoWeekDC, the 10-day festival that includes a impressive lineup of activities, include the launch of WildSpeak today.

"As one of the world's top brands on Instagram, National Geographic, or @NatGeo, has more than 60 million followers and more than three billion likes on its 11,000+ posted images. This fall, visitors will get to experience the magic of the @NatGeo account firsthand at the @NatGeo: The Most Popular Instagram Photos exhibition opening at the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Nov. 11. Featuring more than 200 incredible photographs, interactive components and commentary from National Geographic photographers, the exhibition will be on display in the museum through April 2017."

"Hands-on, interactive elements include video screens, adjustable filters, and a wall where visitors can curate their own Instagram feed using iconic images from the @NatGeo account. Visitors will also have the opportunity to vote for or "like" their favorite photos in the exhibition and hear audio commentary from photographers about the stories behind various images featured in the exhibition."

And if you can't make it to town to see the pictures live, you can purchase @NatGeo: The Most Popular Instagram Photos on Amazon for $12.95. (It's a perfect gift for the Instagram shooter in your life...)

We're on Apple News!

Find us now on the Apple News App for iOS! Just open this link on your iOS device, then add The Digital Story to your Favorites.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #558, November 15, 2016. Today's theme is "The Attack of the 1" Sensor." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

By the time you listen to this, I will be working in Washington D.C. at the WildSpeak Conference. I'll be recording interviews and capturing still images. My big camera is the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II. What a beast ;-) The other three capture devices are considerably smaller, yet quite powerful. And one of them is the subject of today's show. Plus, a listen-in to my teaching podcasting to National Geographic photographers.

The Attack of the 1" Sensor

We all know that technology is constantly on the march. Laptops are thinner and cameras are smaller. But the changes are happening in opposite directions. Not only are the devices more compact, they are more powerful too.

A sweet spot in this evolving technology is the 1" sensor. It has enough surface area and photo sites to work in all lighting conditions, yet doesn't generate a tremendous amount of heat, so it can be housed in extremely small form factors. Here are three examples that I think are worth noting.

The DxO ONE ($499) - I'm starting here because in terms of efficiency, this camera is impressive. It features a 20.2MP 1" BSI-CMOS Sensor with a 32mm f/1.8 optic - all in a package that measures 3"x 2" x 1" and weighs less tha 4 ounces.

Other highlights include:

• Built-In Wi-Fi for Remote Use
• Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 30 fps
• ISO 51200, Shutter Speed to 1/20000 sec
• Pivoting Design, Built-In Li-Ion Battery
• JPG + DNG and DxO SuperRAW
• Contrast-Detect AF with Face Detection

And the best part is, the results can see stunning.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 IV ($899) - If you're willing to go about an inch bigger and spend nearly twice as much, the RX100 IV is an amazing camera.

• 20.1 MP 1" Exmor RS BSI CMOS Sensor
• BIONZ X Image Processor
• Internal UHD 4K Video & S-Log2 Gamma
• Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* f/1.8-2.8 Lens 24-70mm (35mm Equivalent)
• 2359k-Dot OLED Tru-Finder Pop-Up EVF
• 3.0" 1229k-Dot Multi-Angle Xtra Fine LCD
• Slow Motion Video at 960 fps
• Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
• ISO 12800 and 16 fps Continuous Shooting

The Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 ($697)

• 20.1MP 1" High Sensitivity MOS Sensor with Venus Engine Image Processor
• Leica DC Vario-Elmarit 10x Zoom Lens 25-250mm (f/2.8 - f/5.9)
• 1,166k-Dot Live View Finder
• 3.0" 1.04m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor
• 4K 3840 x 2160 Video at 30p/24p (AVCHD Ver. 2.0, MP4)
• 5-Axis Hybrid O.I.S.
• ISO 25600 and Up to 50 fps Shooting
• 4K Photo Modes and Post Focus

Podcast Class for Photographers at National Geographic

As part of WildSpeak, I teamed up with National Geographic photographer and podcaster, Robin Moore, to lead an intimate workshop at the Nat Geo center in Washington D.C.

I thought you might be interested in hearing some of my talk. So I recorded it for you. (Yes, just for you, seriously.) Here's a 9-minute excerpt as the second segment of today's show.

Review The Apple Photos Book for Photographers

The print version of the Apple Photos Book is now available. And I have 10 review copies for photographers who will read the book and publish a review about it. If you're interested, please write me at derrick@thedigitalstory.com

Luminar for the Mac

I've been testing a pre-release version of Luminar, both as a standalone app, a plug-in for Lightroom, and as an Editing Extension for Photos for macOS. And after improving countless images, I can tell you that I really like this software. I've already integrated it into my photography workflow.

And now you can secure a copy for yourself. If you pre-order before Nov. 17th, you'll receive Luminar at a discounted price, plus two bonuses, all for only $49 total (existing Macphun customers) or for $59 (new customers).

Updates and Such

Big thanks to all of our Patreon members! I was able to pay for the podcast server and the backup system from last month's pledges. Your contributions are making a positive impact.

The 2017 Workshop Season is posted. I talked about the events in last week's podcast, and folks are signing up for the reserve list. If you want to join me in 2017, take a look at the line up, and add you name to the list.

B&H and Amazon tiles on www.thedigitalstory. If you click on them first, you're helping to support this podcast. And speaking of supporting this show, and big thanks to our Patreon Inner Circle members.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

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

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

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

High quality mobile photography just took another leap forward with the latest firmware update for the DxO ONE camera. Photographers can now enjoy a RAW workflow leveraging the 1" sensor in the ONE and working with those files in Lightroom Mobile or Photos for macOS.

Transferring the RAW file in the DxO ONE app.

The process is easy. First update the DxO ONE app on your iPhone or iPad (it's free and in the Updates section of the App Store). Then update the camera firmware by going to Gallery > Menu > Camera Update. After a couple minutes, both camera and software are ready for action. Just make sure that you're recording in RAW in the camera's preferences.

As you take pictures, you'll have the option to transfer selected RAW files to the iOS device, as shown in the top illustration. (To save space, I normally have Jpegs sent to the Camera Roll and the RAWs saved to the memory card in the ONE. Now I have the option to send selected RAWs to the iOS device too.) Once the RAW is in the Camera Roll, you can work on it in Lightroom Mobile or Photos. It will also appear as a RAW file in Photos for macOS if you have iCloud connectivity, or in desktop Lightroom if you're using Creative Cloud syncing.

Working with the DNG in Lightroom Mobile on an iPhone.

And the best part is, you don't need a brand new iPhone to take advantage of this high quality workflow. I tested RAW photography on both an iPhone 5S and 6S, with the process working beautifully on both devices. All you need is iOS 10 and the DxO ONE camera.

Other enhancements with version 2.1 include direct WiFi connection for remote control of the ONE with an iOS device, improved recording efficiency for RAW files, and a one-tap power saving mode.

I'm going to have the DxO ONE in my pocket during my trip to Washington DC next week. I'll put it through its paces both for street shooting and covering the WildSpeak Conference. I'll share some pictures on social media.

The DxO ONE camera with update 2.1 has an extremely high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This excerpt is from the newly published book, The Apple Photos Book for Photographers, which is current for the latest Photos 2.0 and is now available in print and as an eBook. Each chapter leads off with an essay, then delves into artistic and technical content to help you improve your photography using Photos for macOS and its editing extensions. Here's the essay from Chapter 1.

The Guy Before You

Thunderous applause is the last thing that you want to hear for the person who just spoke before you. This could happen in the classroom, at work, or even at a social gathering. Oh sure, on the outside you're happy for them. But inside, nobody likes to follow someone who has just knocked it out of the park.

This plays out in may ways. How about the guy that replaced Michael Jordan after he retired from the Chicago Bulls? I bet that was fun. Movies try to do this with sequels. The first release was a smash, so let's do it again. Sometimes it works out.

And then there's the world of software. Here we are with Photos for macOS, Apple's second act, following Aperture. Those who had stuck with it all of those years had come to love it. I didn't sense the same affection for iPhoto. But there wasn't much disdain either. iPhoto was like the friendly neighbor next door who suddenly disappeared one day. You felt a little sad at first. Then you went back to watering the lawn.

Apple is no stranger to turning over the cart. They've done it with hardware (you don't need a built-in SD card reader) and with software (you'll be working with Final Cut X now). And most of the time, they've pulled it off. And I think Photos for macOS is going to fall into that category.

To be honest, it hasn't really received a fair shake. Aperture refugees lament missing features. And they may never learn to love again. A lot of iPhoto folks weren't sure what they were doing in the first place, and are now more confused than ever. (I don't mean you, of course.)

Then there are the folks coming to Mac computing by way of the iPhone. They have their hands full learning a new operating system and trying to figure out how iCloud works.

I wrote this book for all of these people. For you. Because I think that you and Photos for macOS should get a fair shake. If the two of you spend some quality time together, I think you'll find a lot in common. I'm not saying that you're going to get married and have kids or anything. But the friendship could be rewarding.

Someone once told me that a good relationship is one where both parties feel like they got the best deal. Photos for macOS is free. (Well, except that you have to buy a Mac to use it. That's an old Steve Jobs joke, by the way.) It can protect your valuable memories, even if your phone, tablet, or Mac is lost or destroyed. It automatically backs up your images to iCloud. That is, if you let it.

Photos can make your pictures look better. Its editing tools are outstanding. And the third party editing extensions that are rolling in to the Mac App Store are taking creativity to another level.

And just as importantly, Photos is friendly. It really is. All of that seems like a good deal to me. What does Apple get out of it? Well, if your learn to love Photos, you'll probably keep buying Macs, iPhones, and iPads. That's not bad for them either.

Think about that boy who has to walk on stage after the kid before him gets a standing ovation. He probably has something wonderful to say. But you have to give him a chance. Now's the time to do that.

-Derrick Story

More About The Apple Photos Book

Apple's Photos for macOS app was designed from the ground up to help you organize, edit, and share your pictures and videos. While the interface appears simple, finding the hidden nuances of Photos is not so straightforward. There's more to this app than initially meets the eye.

For photographers who are more than just casual snapshooters, or who are making the transition from Aperture or iPhoto, The Apple Photos Book for Photographers shines a light on the true sophistication of this app and the ecosystem it taps into. From the point of view of a working photographer, Derrick provides everything you need to know to get the most out of the imaging tools built into macOS and iCloud.

This book is up to date with the current version of Photos that shipped with macOS Sierra. It includes discussions on Memories and object recognition, plus all of the tools that make this a compelling application for Mac-toting photographers.

You can order your own copy directly from the publisher, Rocky Nook. Use coupon code DSAPPLE35 for a 35 percent discount. We recommend the Print & eBook Bundle that gives you the Kindle, iBook, and PDF versions, plus the lovely print edition.

You can also order your copy on Amazon.com

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #557, November 8, 2016. Today's theme is "The 2017 TDS Workshop Season." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

We started working on the 2017 photo workshop season three months ago. Every year we bring in new events and blend them with those that are still popular with our audience. What we came up with for 2017 is truly exciting. And I'm going to provide you with a complete overview in today's show.

The 2017 TDS Workshop Season

The 2017 workshop Season breaks new ground for the upcoming year. We're riding the rails from Chicago to New Orleans, learning about analog, and exploring California's wine country. Take a look at this lineup, pick your favorite, then get on our reserve list now.

Take a look at this overview, and if you see something you're interested in, fill out the "Send Me Info!" request form. By doing so, you're placed on the reserve list for the event of your choice. (That means you have first opportunity to sign up before all the seats are filled.)

• Film Photography in the Digital Age - Feb. 11-12, 2017 - We'll explore the convergence of film and digital imaging in this fascinating two-day event. Each participant receives their own SLR to use during the workshop, then to take home and keep. You will learn shooting techniques, film choices, lab vs home darkroom, digitizing, adding metadata, cataloging, and how analog photography can help you evolve as both an artist and craftsman. If you've been curious about film, this is the workshop for you. Participants receive their own camera to keep, film, and all of the amenities that our workshops are famous for - all for just $495.
• San Francisco Street Photography - April 6-9, 2017 - We'll work entirely on location in San Francisco. We'll book a hotel in picturesque Union Square that will serve as our headquarters during the event. No rental car will be necessary. We'll explore the City's hidden treasures and capture them through our lenses. And we're adding new shooting locations again this year, including twilight assignments. This is San Francisco like you've never seen it before. And as a bonus, Olympus Trailblazer Mike Boening will be joining the teaching staff and leading sessions on street shooting and night photography. Two instructors, three days, and all for just $695. (That's right, it's 3 full days in one of the most photogenic cities in the U.S.)



• The Chicago to New Orleans Rail Adventure - June 26-29, 2017 - For this unique photography workshop, we'll launch our adventure in Chicago, visiting iconic locations for street photography (and including a visit to the historic Central Camera Company). We'll then board a train called the "City of New Orleans." The route leads us through several states southbound, passing through Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and arriving in the dynamic city of New Orleans, LA. It is approximately a 19-hour trip, starting in a city of street shooting paradise, traveling through lush, beautiful landscapes, and ending in the Deep South in a city rich in culture, history, and of course, a myriad of photographic possibilities. We'll then explore the French Quarter and other intriguing locations within NOLA. You'll fly into Chicago, then out of New Orleans. What a trip! Four days including train fare: only $795
• The Northern CA Coast Tour - Mid August 2017, 2017 - After congregating in Santa Rosa, our adventure begins at the mouth of the Russian River where it meets the Pacific Ocean in Jenner, CA. For the next three days, we caravan north, exploring Fort Ross State Park, Salt Point State Park, Sea Ranch, Gualala, and Point Arena. We then head inland to Boonville, continuing to Highway 101, where we return to the TDS Studio on Santa Rosa. Three days, thousands of images, only $695.
• Autumn in Wine Country: Late October, 2017 - Would you like to combine your interest in wine tasting with your passion for photography? And how about doing so during one of the most beautiful times of year in Northern California Wine Country: Fall. We'll spend the mornings fine tuning our photography skills and shooting on location, and our afternoons wine tasting and learning about the entire process, from growing the grapes, to harvesting, to making the wine itself. This is the perfect workshop to bring a friend because the afternoon sessions are open to both paid workshop attendees, and to one friend. Three days: $595

For more information, visit the TDS Workshops page.

In the News

$400 Price Drop on the Fujifilm X-T1

Thanks to the introduction of the X-T2, we're seeing substantial price drops on the X-T1, which is now available for $899.

This is highly specified camera that has enjoyed numerous firmware updates to help keep it current. And right now, it's a great deal.

Luminar for the Mac

I've been testing a pre-release version of Luminar, both as a standalone app and as an Editing Extension for Photos for macOS. And after improving countless images, I can tell you that I really like this software. I've already integrated it into my photography workflow.

And now you can secure a copy for yourself. If you pre-order before Nov. 17th, you'll receive Luminar at a discounted price, plus two bonuses, all for only $49 total (existing Macphun customers) or for $59 (new customers).

I explain what Luminar is in this third segment of the show.

Updates and Such

Big thanks to all of our Patreon members! I was able to pay for the podcast server and the backup system from last month's pledges. Your contributions are making a positive impact.

I'll be announcing the 2017 TDS Workshop season next week. And I have to tell you, this is our most exciting lineup to date. Keep eye peeled!

B&H and Amazon tiles on www.thedigitalstory. If you click on them first, you're helping to support this podcast. And speaking of supporting this show, and big thanks to our Patreon Inner Circle members.

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

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

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

MacPaw Creators of CleanMyMac 3 and other great software for Apple computers. Visit www.macpaw.com today.

Hedge for Mac - The fast solution for moving photos and videos from memory cards to drives, or drives to drives for that matter. Learn more at Hedge for Mac.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

One of Phil Schiller's justifications for removing the SD card slot from the latest MacBook Pro laptops was that there are wireless options for photographers to use instead. I was curious about these alternatives, so decided to do a little investigation.

What I discovered is that there are practically no wireless options for my Olympus cameras. The one method I found is wholly unsatisfying, but I will share it with you nonetheless.

• Enable WiFi on your Olympus camera.
• Connect to the camera's network on your Mac.
• Open your web browser and type http://192.168.0.10 - then hit return.
• Click on the 100OLYMP button to reveal your thumbnails.

You will be able to see both Jpegs and RAW files, but you will not be able to execute a batch download. Instead, you can double-click on each Jpeg thumbnail individually, wait for it to download, then save that image to your desktop or application. This procedure will not work for RAW files.

In my opinion, this is hardly a robust solution. At best, you can grab a Jpeg or two in a pinch.

I checked the Mac App Store for software that might enhance this procedure. But I could not find anything. So I'm putting this out to our community. Is there software that will allow me to download wirelessly from my Olympus camera? And is it robust enough to replace the SD card slot?

Please post your solution on the TDS Facebook page, or feel free to send me an email: derrick@thedigitalstory.com.

I don't always have my best cameras with me when the great moments in life happen. And for those instances, thank goodness for plug-ins. More on that in a moment. First, a word about noise reduction.

In my mind, Apple has never been very good at taming noise. Even in their pro app, Aperture, that adjustment brick was ineffectual at best. And things haven't improved in Photos for macOS. Fortunately, we have third-party relief though editing extensions. And my current favorite is the noise reduction tool in Macphun's Luminar, that will offer its toolset to Lightroom and Aperture as plug-ins, and to Photos as an editing extension.

Editing this image in Photos is fun, but noise is rearing its ugly head.

The process I use now, is that I edit my image natively in my photo management app, in this case Photos, knowing that I can apply noise reduction once I'm finished with it.

I then open the image in Luminar and apply my noise reduction. Reviewing the results with the before/after curtain.

The fine-tuned picture then comes back to Photos, looking much cleaner.

Finished image with noise reduction applied.

You may be thinking that you rarely have to deal with noise using your Nikon D800. Yes, that's true. But many of life's moments happen when the D800 is back on the shelf at home. The image I'm using here was captured as a Jpeg with a compact camera that was in my pocket while I was driving on an errand. I had never expected to engage in serious landscape photography.

Yet, there was the shot, and I was going to use what I had to capture it. I knew that in post I could probably clean it up. Between you and me, I like the picture. I decided to go for a painterly look, adding to the effect of the fog. But tomorrow I may feel differently, and possibly go back and do something else. The joy of non-destructive editing.

I'm using Luminar for this type of work now because it can handle everything I need with just one editing extension or Lightroom plug-in. And I've tested it with Capture One Pro too, seeing great results.

I have a beta copy, but you can pre-order your copy now for a discounted price plus bonus items. It's a great help for all types of images, especially those you did not plan to take.

Master Photos for macOS

(It's More Powerful than You Think)

For hands-on tutorials, be sure to take a look at Photos for OS X Essential Training on lynda.com. I cover everything you need to know to get the most from this surprisingly powerful image management application.

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've been testing a pre-release version of Luminar, both as a standalone app and as an Editing Extension for Photos for macOS. And after improving countless images, I can tell you that I really like this software. I've already integrated it into my photography workflow.

And now you can secure a copy for yourself. If you pre-order before Nov. 17th, you'll receive Luminar at a discounted price, plus two bonuses, all for only $49 total (existing Macphun customers) or for $59 (new customers). The package and bonuses include:

• Save over 70 percent on the bundle
• Full version of Luminar for Mac - the new supercharged all-in-one photo editor
• Multiple license valid for 5 Macs
• Build a Profitable Photo Business E-book
• Premium WildlifePhoto.com membership
• Video training by Matt Granger

You will get all the bonuses in the email right after you place the order. You will get Luminar software on November 17th, when it becomes available.

What I like most about this software is how it makes advanced editing easy (and fun). If you've shied away from layers and masking because they were difficult and complicated, Luminar will change your mind about these tools. Plus its built-in presets, adjustment sliders, and localized editing brushes are not only understandable, but enjoyable. And all of these capabilities work as an Editing Extension for Photos for macOS, and as a plugin for Lightroom and Aperture (yes, Aperture too).

Here are a few of Luminar's highlight features:

• Adaptive User Interface - you can shape it to your tastes
• Multiple Modes: From basic to advanced
• One-click switch between modes
• Change modes anytime
• All-in-one photo editing tool set
• Includes essential editing tools for different photography styles
• Live editing, live processing, live previews
• Non-destructive editing
• Works as a standalone app, plug-in, and editing extension
• RAW converter and processor
• History Panel

Deep Dive Into Luminar Training Video

If you want to accelerate your mastery of Luminar, I've produced a 38-minute training video that shows you how to tap the power of the application's sophisticated tools. If you've never felt comfortable with layers and masking, all of that will change. Look for Deep Dive Into Luminar on the checkout page. It's available for $19.

Master Photos for macOS

(It's More Powerful than You Think)

And for an overview of all of the great features in Photos, my Photos for OS X Essential Training will get you up and running quickly. I cover everything you need to know to get the most from this surprisingly powerful image management application.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

After a week in all types of weather, I can finally share some of my images from Iceland captured with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. Since I don't have a RAW converter yet, these images are Jpegs recorded in RAW+Jpeg mode.

I used the Time Comp feature with the 12-100mm f/4 lens for this 39 second exposure. All images by Derrick Story.

Even though I captured this stormy image of the Southern Coast in RAW, near Vik, I used the in-camera RAW converter to apply an Art Filter.

I loved shooting at the wide end of the Olympus 12-100mm f/4 PRO zoom.

With incredible 6.5 stops of image stabilization, I could record this shot, handheld, at 1/2 second exposure.

The new Pro Capture mode records a few seconds before you push the shutter so you can capture events, such as this geyser, at peak.

Olympus released the price today for the OM-D E-M1 Mark II at $1,999.99. It should start shipping in early December.

Flickr Tips and Techniques

If you want to master Flickr on your mobile device, check out Flickr Mobile: Photo Sharing Anywhere. Desktop users might be interested in Sharing Photos with Flickr. Of course the platforms work well together too, and I discuss how you can integrate all of your devices to create a seamless photography workflow.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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