I read the announcement about Camera Plus 2 on DP Review and decided to give it a spin. I had been a big fan of the original, and thought the new version might be good for RAW capture with my iPhone.

After an evening of testing, I do like the updated interface. I had no problem controlling my captures and getting the results that I wanted. As for RAW photography, as long as I shot RAW+Jpeg, the images showed up perfectly in Photos on my Mac. They appeared as RAW+Jpeg pairs with the Jpegs on top - the same way images come in from my Olympus and other interchangeable lens cameras.

If I shot the RAWs and Jpegs as separate files, however, there appears to be a bug where the RAW comes in as a thumbnail only. My guess is that this will be fixed soon. But in the meantime, I would stick with RAW+Jpeg as a combined file for Mac photographers.

All the other features worked great (including the wonderful editing interface). And for a one-time fee of $2.99, this app is a gem. I'm going to continue to test it during my assignment in Orlando. If I discover anything new, I will update here and on social.

New Photos for macOS High Sierra Training!

Is it time for you to learn the ins and outs of the latest version of Photos? Take a look at Photos for macOS High Sierra Essential Training on LinkedIn Learning, or on lynda.com. Maximize your iPhone photography and complement the work you do with your mirrorless cameras as well. You'll love your cameras even more...

Also be sure to check out my new book, The Apple Photos Book for Photographers, 2nd Edition. It's completely up to date!

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

I have lots to do during this trip to Orlando, so I want to travel light. My Super Nimble kit is only 9" wide by 4.5" deep, yet it packs two cameras, 4 lenses, wireless flash, and all the necessary accessories. Incredible!

I start with a Think Tank Mirrorless Mover 20 camera bag ($54.75) that's beautifully designed and crafted. When I'm out on foot, it slings lightly over my shoulders. When I'm flying, it stashes neatly inside my gear backpack.

Inside the Mirrorless Mover I've arranged:

• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II with 14-42mm EZ Zoom ($699)
• Olympus 17mm f/1.8 prime lens ($399)
• Olympus 45mm f/1.8 prime lens ($299)
• Olympus 9mm Fisheye Body Cap lens ($99)
• Olympus FL-300R flash ($140)
• Contax T2 35mm camera with 38mm f/2.8 Carl Zeiss lens

You may be wondering why I chose the OM-D E-M10 Mark II over my other Micro Four Thirds cameras. Beyond just the fact that I love shooting with it, it has a popup flash. I can use the popup as a wireless controller for the FL-300R for super versatile (and highly compact) off-camera flash. This is really handy when covering events on the go.

The Contax T2 is a premium 35mm camera with AF and manual focus, programmed exposure, aperture priority exposure with click-stop settings, and exposure compensation up to +2/-2 stops.

I have the iPhone X in my pocket, so I can transfer images from the OM-D to the smartphone for immediate publishing. And when the weather gets bad, there's a protective rain cover for the Think Tank that I can quickly put on.

This is a kit that I can carry all day and well into the night. And to be honest, I can tackle just about any photo opportunity with it. Follow me on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to see how it goes.

This kit has a (super) 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 is The Digital Story Podcast #637, May 29, 2018. Today's theme is "The Future of Lightroom" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

After the fall of Aperture, Lightroom stood tall as the best all around digital asset manager for serious enthusiasts and many pros as well. But a number things have changed since then - some initiated by Adobe, and others by external forces. And suddenly, Lightroom's future is a bit more cloudy than it was a couple years ago. And that's the top story in today's TDS Podcast.

"The Future of Lightroom"

It's probably a good idea or a really bad one to discuss the future of Lightroom as I board a plane for Orlando to attend Photoshop World. But here we are.

Here are the five factors that I think will influence Lightroom's future:

• The End of the Perpetual License - In October 2017 Adobe announced the end of its perpetual license for new versions of Lightroom. If photographers want to stay current, they will need Creative Cloud subscriptions.
• Locked In Workflow - A few years back, Adobe redesigned Lightroom's import dialog. What followed was a good example of how software design becomes locked-in and unable to change to meet an evolving ecosystem.
• New Competitors - Later this year, Skylum will release their digital asset manager for Luminar. This highly anticipated update, if good, will continue to erode Lightroom's existing user base.
• Smartphone Popularity - Even though Adobe has done a good job with its mobility apps, the trend among consumer photographers is to let their smartphones handle all of their photography needs. For this group, a Creative Cloud subscription might not be that appealing.
• Software Fatigue - Sometimes you just need a change.

What Adobe has going for it... First, it's not easy to switch from one digital asset manager to another. Many photographers will remain with Lightroom as the path of least resistance. Plus, Adobe has done a good job with its mobility apps. So those in the Adobe ecosystem can integrate their smartphone photography with their more serious work. And finally, Lightroom is a good app. It's had its ups and downs, but at the end of the day it is a solid processor, editor, and manager.

The Portfolio Project - Week 4 - Your Portfoliobox Sites

I've received enthusiastic mail about how setting up a Portfoliobox site has rekindled the creative juices. So I thought what we could do is share this work with each other.

If you've signed up for a Portfoliobox Pro account, and have published at least one page, then send me the link to that site. Use the Contact Form on the Nimble Photographer and provide your name, the link, and the subject of the page or site you've published.

I will build a directory of user sites and publish it on TheDigitalStory. And all through the month of June, I will feature one of those sites on this podcast.

I love using Portfoliobox for these reasons:

• My images look great, both on my computer and on my mobile devices.
• It's easy to use. Without any instruction, I'm adding a high quality page in just minutes.
• It's affordable. There's a free plan and a Pro version. The Pro version is only $82.80 per year or $8.90 per month USD, and that's before the 20 percent TDS discount.

Highlights with the Pro Plan

In addition to unlimited pages, you get a personalized domain name, web hosting, and up to 1,000 images.

Get Started Today

Just go to the TDS Landing Page to get started with your free account, or to receive the 20 percent discount on the Pro version. And if you want to see the page that I've begun, visit www.derrickstoryphotography.com.

The Creative Luxli Cello 10" RGBAW LED Light

I recently reviewed the Luxli Cello 10" RGBAW LED Light, and I want to talk about why I think this is an incredible LED panel for photographers.

Great Online Training Titles for Efficient Learning

I have some terrific photography titles on both LinkedIn Learning and lynda.com. You may want to visit my lynda.com Author Page or my LinkedIn Learning Author Page. Here's a look at some of the titles waiting for you.

• Capture One Pro 11 Essential Training
• Luminar Essential Training
• Photos for macOS High Sierra Essential Training
• Dropbox for Photographers
• Sharing Photos with Flickr
• A Photographer in Cuba
• High School Seniors Portrait Photography

Signed Print Giveaway - If you watch one chapter for any of my training videos on lynda.com or LinkedIn Training during the month of May, send me a notification after the viewing via the Contact Form on The Nimble Photographer. (You can sign up for a free trial on lynda.com.) Just say, "I watched a chapter on lynda.com or LinkedIn Learning!"

You name will be entered into a drawing for a signed print from the Maui Project. The lucky recipient will be announced on the June 5, 2018 podcast. (Promotion ends on May 31, 2018. Void where prohibited.)

Reservation Forms have been sent for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. I sent out reservation forms this last weekend. So if you are on the reserve list, you should have received an invite.

Updates and Such

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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.

Portfoliobox - Create the site that your best images deserve by visiting Portfoliobox. And get a 20 percent discount by using our landing page!

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.

I've really enjoyed working with bi-color LED lights for my portrait work. But the Luxli Cello 10" RGBAW LED Light expands this color versatility to a dizzying new height.

The Luxli LED panel inside a softbox with its Bluetooth controller app running on my iPhone.

Each of the 176 individual LEDs inside the panel can reproduce red, green, blue, or white. These color options can be mixed using three modes - white (or color temperature) mode, RGB mode, or filter mode. So all of my options are open. I can tune the panel for precise color temperature control during a portrait shoot. Or I can create an effect using its virtual color gels.

There are two ways to enable these controls. The built-in LCD display on the back of the panel is intuitive and easy to read. I can adjust brightness, then switch between the RGB, gel filter, and CCT modes with the touch of a button. Or, I can use the free Conductor app (iOS and Android) to make these same changes.

I use both control options. Typically, I first set up the lighting with the back LED panel. But I've also been using the Luxli in my portrait softbox. And for those shoots, it's super convenient using my iPhone to change the light settings. I can stay where I am in shooting position, adjust the light, then fire off another series. I never have to disrupt the flow of the shoot by walking over to the softbox, opening it up, and fiddling with the controls. The iPhone is always in my pocket, and it is my lighting remote control.

Even though the Luxli Cello is compact enough for on-camera work, it's powerful enough for lightbox lighting in the studio.

Here are the basic specs for the Luxli Cello 10" RGBAW LED Light ($399):

• 10" 176 RGBAW LED Light
• Adjustable Full Color Light
• iOS/Android App Control via Bluetooth
• White Mode: Standard Bicolor Operation
• RGB Mode: Select Color from RGB Wheel
• Filter Mode: Colored Gel Sampling
• Discreet Dimming and Color Knobs
• 100 to 0 Percent Brightness Dimming
• 1/4"-20 Mounting Thread

The Luxli uses the same Sony L-Series battery that my other LEDs use, so it fits into my family of lighting gear. It also accepts plug-in power via a wall adapter.

The back panel showing the LCD display and the Sony L-Series battery.

The kit includes:

• Luxli Cello 10" RGBAW LED Light
• Shoe-Mount Ball Head
• NP-F750 Battery
• Battery Charger
• Limited 1-Year Warranty
• iOS and Android app available for download

If you're looking for versatile, powerful lighting in a compact package, the Luxli Cello is certainly an LED panel to consider.

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

Luminar is almost magical for aerial photography. Using the free bundled Aerial presets, the images spring to life. And this is one of the scenarios where I think Luminar 2018 is the perfect plugin complement to Lightroom.

Take a look at this round trip from Lightroom to Luminar and back.

Unedited drone image sent to Lightroom using the Luminar 2018 plugin.

Returned image after using an Aerial preset in Luminar. The entire process took about 1 minute. Photo by Derrick Story.

Setting this up is easy. First, make sure the plugin is enabled by opening Luminar 2018, and going to "Luminar 2018" > Install plugins. There are four choices: Lightroom, Photoshop, Aperture, and Photos. Click on Lightroom. The open Lightroom, find an image, and go to File > Plugin Extras > Transfer to Luminar 2018.

Enhance the image in Luminar 2018 and click the Apply button. The edited image will return to your Lightroom catalog. It's that easy. And the results are amazing.

Rock Luminar with my new Essential Training

You learn all the ins and outs of Luminar 2018 via my Essential Training on lynda.com and on LinkedIn Learning. It's fun, and I promise, you will learn a lot.

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

For many of us, Luminar has evolved from an app that we use some of the time for special images, to most of the time in our daily workflow. As a result, efficiency is more important than ever. And keyboard shortcuts really help with that.

I have my favorites that I use all of the time, and I thought that you might want to learn these as well. (These and others are from the Skylum Luminar User Manual page. Windows shortcuts are there as well!)

For controlling the interface, I use:

\ Activates before/after comparison. When the key is pressed, the original image will be shown. Releasing the key will reveal the enhanced image. This is much faster than moving the mouse pointer up to the top toolbar.

Tab Show/Hide the Preset panel at the bottom of the window and Side panel along right edge. The key will activate previously shown windows. I've been using this more lately because it displays my my image with a less distracting interface.

Working with tools:

• B Activate the Masking Brush tool
• G Activates the Gradient Mask tool
• R Activates the Radial Mask tool
• Cmd+J Clone & Stamp tool
• Cmd+E Erase tool
• C Enter the Crop tool

The two I use the most from these favs are the B and the C keys. They are super handy because the functions are otherwise buried in slower popup menus.

Brush and mask controls:

• [ Decrease the brush radius
• ] Increase the brush radius
• Shift+[ Decrease the brush softness
• Shift+] Increase the brush softness
• X Switching between painting/erasing modes
• / Show current layer mask in the form of red transparent image imposition
• Cmd+I Invert the layer mask

When I get in a zone with brushing, I just want to work fast. These commands really speed things up.

Viewing your image:

• Cmd++ Zoom In
• Cmd+- Zoom Out
• Cmd+1 Original Size
• Cmd+0 Fit to Screen
• F Show a full-screen preview of just the image

What's interesting is that most of these shortcuts work with the editing extension version of Luminar as well. So if you're using Luminar in conjunction with Photos for macOS, then you can accelerate your workflow there as well.

You can see all of the shortcuts on the Skylum Luminar User Manual page, but these will get you headed in the right direction.

Rock Luminar with my new Essential Training

You learn all the ins and outs of Luminar 2018 via my Essential Training on lynda.com and on LinkedIn Learning. It's fun, and I promise, you will learn a lot.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #636, May 22, 2018. Today's theme is "The True Summer Advantage" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Summer is the season of family vacations, solo adventure, BBQing, baseball games, picnics, and bare feet. But for photographers, there's another benefit that might not be immediately apparent, but can be wildly useful and enjoyable - and that's the subject of today's TDS photography podcast.

"The True Summer Advantage"

Light is the one thing that we need for photography, and there's plenty of it during the summer. And it's not so much the warmer days that I'm talking about, but the longer ones.

Even if you can't take as many photo vacations or workshops as you wish, with a little planning, you can substantially increase your captures. Here's how.

Let's say that you have a job that requires your presence from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm daily. If you're lucky, your workplace isn't far from home. Typically, that's not the case, however. But you can use this to your photography advantage.

If the commute to work is 30 minutes, for example, then that puts you in a new environment away from the house. In prime summer, there's working light until roughly 8:30 pm. Using your workplace as a jumping off point, you have 3 extra hours for creative pursuits that you did not have in the winter.

Open a map and draw a 1-hour radius from your work. What are the photo opportunities within that circle? Conceivably, you could bring your camera gear to work, leave the office at 5:30 pm, travel to one of these locations within radius, shoot a series of images, and be home by 9 pm.

That is one extra shoot that didn't require you to use any of your weekend or vacation time. And what if you identified numerous locations within this radius? (And that's not to mention revisiting the ones that you liked the first time.)

If you set this up to do just twice a month during the summer, you could add 6 or more quality photo shoots to your library without disrupting family obligations or daily routine. Think about the possibilities here.

The Portfolio Project - Week 3 - Wandering

The latest gallery that I added to my Portfoliobox project is Wandering. And the process that led me to this topic is quite interesting (as explained during the podcast).

I also tried a new feature. Mouse over any of the images on the gallery page, and a very attractive screen appears show the location for the shot. This allows me to add context to the image without cluttering up the gallery.

One of things that I really noticed when assembling this collection was how important it was for the images to work together on the page. I started with over 60 candidates, and experimented with many combinations before I settled on the 16 that's displayed there now.

I love using Portfoliobox for these reasons:

• My images look great, both on my computer and on my mobile devices.
• It's easy to use. Without any instruction, I'm adding a high quality page in just minutes.
• It's affordable. There's a free plan and a Pro version. The Pro version is only $82.80 per year or $8.90 per month USD, and that's before the 20 percent TDS discount.

Highlights with the Pro Plan

In addition to unlimited pages, you get a personalized domain name, web hosting, and up to 1,000 images.

Get Started Today

Just go to the TDS Landing Page to get started with your free account, or to receive the 20 percent discount on the Pro version. And if you want to see the page that I've begun, visit www.derrickstoryphotography.com.

Panasonic Lumix TS7/FT7 is the first rugged compact camera with a built-in EVF

DP Review reports: "Panasonic has announced its Lumix DC-TS7 (FT7 outside of North America) which is the first waterproof/rugged compact to have an electronic viewfinder. The viewfinder is 0.2" in size and has an resolution equivalent to 1.17 million dots and a magnification of 0.45x equivalent. Obviously, you won't be able to use the EVF if you have a scuba mask on, but for shooting in bright light on land it could come in handy. There's also a 3" non-touch LCD available for composing and reviewing your photos."

"The TS7 has a 20.4MP, 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor and an F3.3-5.9, 28-128mm equiv. lens. It's able to go 31m/102ft underwater, can take a fall from 2m/6.6ft and can withstand 100kg / 220lb of crushing force. It's also freezeproof to -10C / +14F."

Great Online Training Titles for Efficient Learning

I have some terrific photography titles on both LinkedIn Learning and lynda.com. You may want to visit my lynda.com Author Page or my LinkedIn Learning Author Page. Here's a look at some of the titles waiting for you.

• Capture One Pro 11 Essential Training
• Luminar Essential Training
• Photos for macOS High Sierra Essential Training
• Dropbox for Photographers
• Sharing Photos with Flickr
• A Photographer in Cuba
• High School Seniors Portrait Photography

Signed Print Giveaway - If you watch one chapter for any of my training videos on lynda.com or LinkedIn Training during the month of May, send me a notification after the viewing via the Contact Form on The Nimble Photographer. (You can sign up for a free trial on lynda.com.) Just say, "I watched a chapter on lynda.com or LinkedIn Learning!"

You name will be entered into a drawing for a signed print from the Maui Project. The lucky recipient will be announced on the June 5, 2018 podcast. (Promotion ends on May 31, 2018. Void where prohibited.)

Reservation Forms have been sent for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. I sent out reservation forms this last weekend. So if you are on the reserve list, you should have received an invite.

Updates and Such

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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.

Portfoliobox - Create the site that your best images deserve by visiting Portfoliobox. And get a 20 percent discount by using our landing page!

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.

Everyday online, I marvel at impressive images that are amazingly sharp, colorful, and display broad dynamic range. Indeed, today's photographers have access to the greatest tools ever.

But sometimes I need something a little different, slightly less perfect. That's when I turn to analog or film emulation filters. For certain shots, this look helps me better tell the story.

"Out for a Stroll" - Venice Beach, CA. Pentax Program Plus with Kodak 200 film. Photo by Derrick Story.

Take a look at this shot from Venice Beach, CA. This is an iconic California location with interesting characters, palm trees, and sandy walkways. People have been hanging out here and enjoying the sights and weather for decades. And for me, that history is part of the story, even for images captured today.

There are many different ways to paint this scene and tell the story. And to be honest, I would probably like most of them. I often shoot both digital and analog at the same time, then decide later which direction I want to go. For this series, the analog feel won hands down.

You don't have to shoot film to play in this sandbox. Every major processing application has film emulation presets available, either as part of the app, or via plugins. And what I've found is that I tend to lean on just a few of those presets for most of my shots because they have a look that I find appealing - just like I typically work with just a few film stocks.

Digital photography has brought amazing flexibility to our image making. And if we think to, we can choose from an array of looks to help us better tell the story.

Rock Luminar with my new Essential Training

You can discover just how flexible your digital photography can be with my Luminar 2018 Essential Training on lynda.com and on LinkedIn Learning. It's fun, and it's amazing what you can do with your images.

One of the things that came up while Mike Boening and I were talking quadcopters on a recent TDS Podcast, was the value of a landing pad for your drone. No, it's not a gimmick. It's a real accessory that I think you'll like once you try it.

"Why?" you may ask. "Dust" is the answer.

The AURTEC Drone Landing Pad is a collapsible landing disc that helps control dust when landing your quadcopter.

I spend a lot of time landing on dirt roads or on the edges of vineyards. All of these places are extremely dusty, especially when landing a drone with four spinning propellers.

To help combat this problem, I bought myself a 32" AURTEC Drone Landing Pad for $22 that provides a nice big target for my DJI Spark to touch down. The pad collapses to a mere 12", just like the reflectors that we use for portraits. It includes a case, four stakes, and even landing lights, if you need them.

In addition to keeping my quadcopter cleaner, it's also fun to practice landing on my own instead of using the auto-land feature of the Spark. And for $22, I have to say, not only is it one of my most affordable accessories, it's also one of the coolest.

More About the DJI Spark

The Right Drone for You - An Interview with Mike Boening - Photo Podcast 635

Elevated Panoramas with the DJI Spark

Use Your Spark's Gimbal on the Ground - The PolarPro Katana

DJI Spark: The Nimble Drone

Exporting a Single Frame from Video

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #635, May 15, 2018. Today's theme is "The Right Drone for You - An Interview with Mike Boening" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Ever since I read about the new Mavic Air, I have wondered if I should replace my beloved Spark. To help me decide, I called up my friend and drone enthusiast Mike Boening to discuss the latest in quadcopters, their accessories, and a few important flying tips. I also recorded it to share with you on this week's TDS Podcast.

"The Right Drone for You - An Interview with Mike Boening"

Mike and I get to the bottom of the question: "Should I replace my DJI Spark with a new Mavic Air?

The Portfolio Project - Week 2 - Portraits of Women

The latest gallery that I added to my Portfoliobox project is Portraits of Women.

My thinking was that I have all these galleries that I've produced for these women, wouldn't it be fun to pick one image from each of my favorites, and build a Portfoliobox page with those shots? And the answer is: it was very fun.

As with my first gallery, the bulk of the work was deciding which shots I wanted to feature in the portfolio. Once I made those decisions, I put the gallery together in Portfoliobox in just a few minutes. I love using their service for these reasons:

• My images look great, both on my computer and on my mobile devices.
• It's easy to use. Without any instruction, I built my first two pages in under an hour. I will be adding a page a week throughout May.
• It's affordable. There's a free plan and a Pro version. The Pro version is only $82.80 per year or $8.90 per month USD, and that's before the 20 percent TDS discount.

Highlights with the Pro Plan

In addition to unlimited pages, you get a personalized domain name, web hosting, and up to 1,000 images.

Get Started Today

Just go to the TDS Landing Page to get started with your free account, or to receive the 20 percent discount on the Pro version. And if you want to see the page that I've begun, visit www.derrickstoryphotography.com.

Great Online Training Titles for Efficient Learning

I have some terrific photography titles on both LinkedIn Learning and lynda.com. You may want to visit my lynda.com Author Page or my LinkedIn Learning Author Page. Here's a look at some of the titles waiting for you.

• Capture One Pro 11 Essential Training
• Luminar Essential Training
• Photos for macOS High Sierra Essential Training
• Dropbox for Photographers
• Sharing Photos with Flickr
• A Photographer in Cuba
• High School Seniors Portrait Photography

Signed Print Giveaway - If you watch one chapter for any of my training videos on lynda.com or LinkedIn Training during the month of May, send me a notification after the viewing via the Contact Form on The Nimble Photographer. (You can sign up for a free trial on lynda.com.) Just say, "I watched a chapter on lynda.com or LinkedIn Learning!"

You name will be entered into a drawing for a signed print from the Maui Project. The lucky recipient will be announced on the June 5, 2018 podcast. (Promotion ends on May 31, 2018. Void where prohibited.)

Aerial Photography Workshop

Public registration is now open for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

Reservation Forms have been sent for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. I sent out reservation forms this last weekend. So if you are on the reserve list, you should have received an invite.

Updates and Such

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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.

Portfoliobox - Create the site that your best images deserve by visiting Portfoliobox. And get a 20 percent discount by using our landing page!

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.

As I mentioned in last week's podcast, I had allowed become caught up in social networks for sharing my photography, and I hadn't really established a portfolio site. When I finally stopped to think about it, I realized that this was a problem that needed to be fixed.

So I started working with the folks at Portfoliobox to build an online presence of my favorite images. My plan was to add a page a week for the month of May. The first week was "Cuba," and the second installment is Portraits of Women.

The Portfoliobox editor. Building pages, then adjusting them later, is a simple process with Portfoliobox.

In addition to the images, I also created a true About Me page that I like a lot better than the canned versions on Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social sites. This version is cleaner, better designed, and includes only the stuff that's important to me.

The next two pages that I have planned in this project are "Events" and "Street Photography." After that, I will add pages on a thematic basis. So for example, if I wanted a different group of images to represent my travel photography, I would turn off the navigation for "Cuba," create a new page such as "Iceland," and list it in the top menu. The links for all the pages I create would remain valid. It's just what would be featured in top navigation... sort of like a museum rotating its various installations.

After two weeks, I have to say that the Portfolio Project feels really good. I do like posting on social, and none of that is going to change. But having this portfolio site fills a different need, one that allows me to step back and curate some of my favorite images from over the years.

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

Among its many virtues, the DJI Spark has an excellent video camera with 2-way gimbal built in. It's obviously great for making movies from a high vantage point. But thanks to the PolarPro Katana DJI Spark Tray ($49.99), we can use our quadcopter on the ground as well.

The concept is simple and the execution is excellent. PolarPro designed a lightweight, balanced mount for both the Spark and a smartphone (up to an iPhone 8 Plus in size) that makes it easy to record handheld video using the Spark's 2-axis stabilized gimbal camera. The phone, which serves as the video monitor, can be mounted at either a 45 or 90 degree angle. The Spark is mounted securely beneath it using a cleverly designed harness. The entire rig can be set up in just a minute or two.

To use the tandem, fire up both the Spark and the phone, connect them via the DJI GO app, switch to video camera mode, and start recording. It's really that simple. The Spark's gimbal will keep your handheld movie as steady as a rock.

The Katana also works well as a steady grip for recording video with the iPhone itself. I found it much easier to capture footage with the grip than when trying to hold the iPhone by itself.

The PolarPro Katana is very light and only about a foot long. For easy storage in my backpack, I unscrew the phone mount and rubber band it inside the harness. That way, I always have it with me for video recording with both the Spark and the iPhone.

For the accompanying audio, I use an ultra-compact Instamic, then add the audio to the video when I'm editing in Final Cut X.

There are times that we can't fly our aircraft for various reasons. But if you have the PolarPro Katana with you, you can still capture great video footage.

More About the DJI Spark

DJI Spark: The Nimble Drone.

New DJI Spark Firmware.

Exporting a Single Frame from Video

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #634, May 8, 2018. Today's theme is "What's Your Online Gallery Strategy?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

If you're like me at all, you have your images spread across various sites online. At one time, you may have had a master plan - best shots go here, family stuff there, everyday life somewhere else. And chances are, as good as that plan was, it went out the door long time ago. So maybe it's time to revisit your portfolio site - a place for only your best shots, the ones that you would show to other photographers and potential clients. Creating such a place these days is easy and very satisfying. And that's the focus of today's show.

What's Your Online Gallery Strategy?

My original plan wasn't too bad. Instagram for everyday life, Facebook for news and conversation, Smugmug for client galleries, and Flickr for the photography that I wanted to show off.

The problem was, however, that Flickr is just so darn versatile. I started using its embed feature to publish photos on other sites, and the next thing I knew, it wasn't my best work. It was just my work. That's fine. But it left me without a true portfolio page. I knew it was time to do something.

As I was thinking about this, two other important things happened. First, I was contacted by the folks at Portfoliobox. They asked me if I would take a look at their product. Not long after that, I had a very interesting conversation with an upcoming photographer. I told him he could ask me anything he wanted. His question? "What should I do about an online portfolio?"

I don't believe these three events were coincidence. So I decided to investigate the best lead I had: Portfoliobox. More on that in a bit.

So why do we need an online portfolio?

• We need a place where our images look really good - By now everyone knows that Facebook makes your stuff look like crap. Flickr is better, but cluttered as well. When you open a real portfolio, one with paper and pages, the images are presented in the highest quality possible. So it's an opportunity to display our photography as we see it during creation. And we don't have to apologize for the quality.
• Our portfolio page is dedicated to great photography, and nothing more - Social network sites pull you into to fishing for likes, sharing, and posting everyday. A portfolio page is more like a fine wine that we craft over time. Forget about likes, just put up great images.
• It's a chance to tell a story - Photo essays can be powerful. But we need to be able to craft those stories without clutter and interference. A portfolio site provides the platform to do so.
• Custom Domain Name - Nothing fancy here, just www.derrickstoryphotography.com. But using your name or photo business name for your images establishes your credibility when people search for your work.
• Links to your other sites - Once you've established your creditability as a photographer, then people will look at your other sites in a more favorable light. Put those links on your about page.

By way of example, I've begun a portfolio page that you can view - www.derrickstoryphotography.com. I'll be adding to it weekly over the month of May, so together we can watch it grow.

Portfoliobox - A High Quality, Affordable Gallery Site for Photographers

As I mentioned earlier in the show, my quest for a gallery page let me to Portfoliobox, based in Stockholm, Sweden, with over 740K users from around the world. Here's what I love about this service.

• My images look great, both on my computer and on my mobile devices.
• It's easy to use. Without any instruction, I built my first two pages in under an hour. I will be adding a page a week throughout May.
• It's affordable. There's a free plan and a Pro version. The Pro version is only $82.80 per year or $8.90 per month USD, and that's before the 20 percent TDS discount.

Highlights with the Pro Plan

In addition to unlimited pages, you get a personalized domain name, web hosting, and up to 1,000 images.

Get Started Today

Just go to the TDS Landing Page to get started with your free account, or to receive the 20 percent discount on the Pro version. And if you want to see the page that I've begun, visit www.derrickstoryphotography.com.

Pour One Out for Casio: Pioneering Digital Camera Maker Pulls Out of Market

As reported on F-Stoppers:

"Casio, known today for rather pedestrian point-and-shoot compact cameras, wasn't always that way. In the late 1990s, they were at the forefront of digital imaging, but now, that's no more.

In the 1990s, it was so weird to frame up an image using an LCD screen. It just wasn't a thing. In fact, this was the first consumer digital camera to offer up a screen for composing and viewing photos, a fact that they even tout in the instruction manual. There was room for 96 images on the camera's built-in memory. The terminology wasn't even invented to describe using this whole process. Casio had to tell people to "think of camera memory like a 96-page album of the images you record," which sounds quaint today. The main way the manual suggested to save your images was to hook up to a TV and record the images onto a video tape."

Great Online Training Titles for Efficient Learning

I have some terrific photography titles on both LinkedIn Learning and lynda.com. You may want to visit my lynda.com Author Page or my LinkedIn Learning Author Page. Here's a look at some of the titles waiting for you.

• Capture One Pro 11 Essential Training
• Luminar Essential Training
• Photos for macOS High Sierra Essential Training
• Dropbox for Photographers
• Sharing Photos with Flickr
• A Photographer in Cuba
• High School Seniors Portrait Photography

Signed Print Giveaway - If you watch one chapter for any of my training videos on lynda.com or LinkedIn Training during the month of May, send me a notification after the viewing via the Contact Form on The Nimble Photographer. (You can sign up for a free trial on lynda.com.) Just say, "I watched a chapter on lynda.com or LinkedIn Learning!"

You name will be entered into a drawing for a signed print from the Maui Project. The lucky recipient will be announced on the June 5, 2018 podcast. (Promotion ends on May 31, 2018. Void where prohibited.)

Aerial Photography Workshop

Public registration is now open for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

Reservation Forms have been sent for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. I sent out reservation forms this last weekend. So if you are on the reserve list, you should have received an invite.

Updates and Such

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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.

Portfoliobox - Create the site that your best images deserve by visiting Portfoliobox. And get a 20 percent discount by using our landing page!

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 the things that I like about catching a ride with Uber or Lyft is that I can enjoy a little photography along the way.

"Skateboarder with Dog" - Captured from the front seat of an Uber ride when leaving Haight Ashbury for downtown SF. Olympus PEN-F, 14-42mm EZ lens, processed in Photos for macOS with the Luminar 2018 editing extension. Photo by Derrick Story.

I've never had a problem taking a seat in the front with either Uber or Lyft drivers. This enables me to shoot both ahead, and to the side. I do ask before rolling down the side window, however.

As for the straight-ahead shots, I pay close attention to the reflections in the windshield. Many times, especially in big cities with tall buildings, they're not a problem. But when on the open highway in bright sun, they can present a challenge.

I typically use a compact zoom lens for this type of photography. My goal, besides getting the shot, is not to appear too serious or professional. I don't want to make the driver or the subjects uncomfortable. I'm just a tourist enthralled by the exciting sights and sounds of the city.

Letting someone else drive the car has so many advantages, including the bounty of photo opportunities. Maybe someday, when self-driving cars become the norm, this will become even easier.

Rock Luminar with my new Essential Training

That's how I processed this shot...

You learn all the ins and outs of Luminar 2018 via my Essential Training on lynda.com and on LinkedIn Learning. It's fun, and I promise, you will learn a lot.

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

It's amazing. With all of the great optics that I have access to, the one lens that I always have with me is the $98 Olympus Fisheye Body Cap 9mm f/8 lens.

It's about the size of an Oreo cookie, weighs 1 ounce, yet covers 140 degrees and incorporates 5 elements in four groups.

It's manual focus with 3 settings for infinity, medium range, and close up. You don't need anymore than that because of its tremendous depth of field thanks to the optical design, fixed f/8 aperture, and micro four thirds sensor. I use the "body cap" lens on all of my Olympus and Panasonic cameras.

When traveling, the fisheye allows me to capture images that I would otherwise have to pass on. For example, on the last day of our TDS San Francisco Street Photography Workshop, we celebrated our success at one of my favorite restaurants in Chinatown. I love the big round tables with a lazy susan in the middle. The food begins to arrive from the kitchen, and everyone shares in the bounty.

"Lunch in Chinatown" - We celebrated our workshop efforts, and I was able to capture it with my E-M1 Mark II and the $98 fisheye lens. Photo by Derrick Story.

That's when I pull out the fisheye (from my pocket in this case) and capture the moment. We have 9 people around the table and just as many entrees - no sweat for the 140 degree field of view with the Olympus lens.

There are certainly higher quality optics on the market. But how much space do you want to dedicate to a fisheye lens, and how much of your budget would you allocate? In this case, it's less than practically any other lens, and smaller too. And that's why I never leave home without my Olympus Fisheye lens.

TheOlympus Fisheye Body Cap lens has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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