November 2025 Archives

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,027, Nov. 25, 2025. Today's theme is, "The 2026 Photography Workshop Season." I'm Derrick Story.

The 2026 workshop season features more events than ever! We have informative webinars, online intensives, and in-person explorations to exciting locations. I'll go over the entire lineup today, and then chat with Rob Knight who is leading some of the events. It's going to be a great year of photography!

Digital Photography Podcast 1027

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!


podcast-icon.jpeg

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In


The 2026 Photography Workshop Season

Eastern-Sierra-group.jpeg

In the coming year we'll be exploring the beautiful Maine coastline, magical Utah landscape, a hot air balloon festival, and Route 66. Plus we have online events covering backyard bird photography, mastering Lightroom, creative photo techniques, and inkjet printing.

You can view the entire lineup, plus reserve your spot, by visiting the The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page. So let's take a closer look at these offerings.

Jan 10 -- Webinar -- Make the Most of Your Next Photo Workshop (DS & RK)

When you attend a photography workshop, you want to maximize your shooting time and get the most value for your hard-earned money. This program is full of tips, techniques, and ideas to help make the most of your time in the field. Rob Knight and Derrick Story have been leading photography workshops for the last sixteen years, and working hard to ensure his clients have great workshop experiences. There are a few things that can make the difference between a good workshop and a great one. He will share what he has learned from his observations leading workshops and stories from some of his colleagues to help you have a good time, save you stress in the field, and make sure that you come back from your next photography workshop with amazing photos, and even better stories!

Online Workshop - Real-world Adobe Lightroom -- Jan. 8-29 -- (RK)

Adobe Lightroom Classic and Lightroom desktop provide industry standard image organization, editing, and finishing. Join Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight and learn to take advantage of all the great tools Lightroom has to offer. Whether you are a Lightroom beginner, or you are an experienced user looking to up your game, Rob will make sure you don't miss a trick.

Webinar -- Feb. 21 -- Backyard birds and beyond (DS & RK)

Wildlife photography, and birds in particular, can be a daunting discipline to explore. The long lenses and specific camera settings require a bit of study and a LOT of practice to master. This 2 hour webinar will begin with the basics for photographing birds and wildlife. Host Rob Knight will go over equipment considerations, camera settings, shooting modes, auto focus, and more.

Online Workshop -- Jan. 28-Feb. 18 Mobile Photography with the iPhone, iPad, and Camera (DS)

The iPhone, combined with a compact camera, is a powerful tandem for on-the-go photography. In this online workshop, we will explore how to pull together these devices to build a robust and enjoyable workflow.

Online Workshop - March 5-26 - Becoming a More Creative Photographer (RK)

It's easy to study the technical aspects of photography to improve your camera skills. There are endless books, videos, classes, etc that cover aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, but what about creativity? What techniques can we employ in order to create more compelling and expressive photos?

Online Workshop -- Creative Photo Techniques (DS)

Four weeks... and a different creative technique each session! We'll explore B&W techniques, Infrared, HDR, long exposure, and more.

Do you feel like you're taking the same photos over and over? Climb out of that rut with our creative camera techniques workshop, and discover your inner artist.

May 14-17, 2026 - Coastal Maine Photo Workshop (RK)

Hit the road with Rob Knight for a classic American road trip to explore the iconic towns, lighthouses, fishing boats, and more in Portland and Boothbay Harbor, Maine.

July 2026 -- SC Hot Air Balloon Classic and Micro Brewery Photo Workshop (DS)

The Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Classic is a two-day event that allows us to photograph every aspect of the festival from preparation, to morning glow, to lift off, to individual rides. It's a colorful feast for the eyes.

Additionally, Sonoma County has a thriving microbrewing culture. We'll go behind the scenes and learn about the brewing process and taste the results for ourselves.

Oct. 5-10 - Moab, Arches, and Dead Horse (DS)

Currently wait list

Our workshop headquarters is a spacious casa located a few blocks from downtown Moab shops, restaurants and galleries. Arches National Park is 5 miles away, Dead Horse State Park and other photo locations are less than an hour from our HQ.

In addition to full kitchen, table for 10, a comfortable common area, our casa includes a private hot tub, outdoor fire pit, BBQ Grill, washer and dryer, WiFi, and parking.

Arrivals begin on Monday, Oct. 5 at 4pm. The workshop starts on Tuesday morning. And departure is Saturday morning by 9am.

Our photo excursions will include the beautiful landscape of Arches National Park, Dead Horse State Park, the Colorado River, and more.

Oct. 15-18 - Route 66 Photography Workshop (RK)

Join pro photographer and Route 66 explorer Rob Knight to explore the "mother road" this October. We will be based in Winslow and Kingman, Arizona, putting us right in the middle of the action. The stretch of Route 66 through northern Arizona contains many of the most iconic spots that still exist from the heyday of American car culture. We will visit towns along Route 66 like Seligman, Oatman, and Williams, Arizona. Along the way, we will explore and photograph the roadside attractions that made Route 66 so legendary.

Online Workshop - Inkjet Printing for Photographers (DS)

Nov. 3, 10, 17, and 24, 2026

Just in time for the holidays, this inkjet printing workshop will help you tame your printer, enabling you to create beautiful prints and fine art greeting cards.

We'll cover paper stocks, printer setups, project design, and even how to choose the best inkjet photo printer for you - all the details that you've always wondered about.

We Hope You Can Join Us!

Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.

Virtual Camera Club News

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

Costa Rica! June 2026 - Complete information and registration here. This will be a once in a lifetime photography event. I hope you can join us.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.


The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.


Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.


The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.


Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.


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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,026, Nov. 18, 2025. Today's theme is, "Photographer's Gift Guide 2025." I'm Derrick Story.

Over the course of a year, I test many cool photo and camping accessories. Most of these would make affordable, excellent gifts for the photo enthusiast in your life. This week I'll share my favorites, just in time for the holiday season. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1026

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!


podcast-icon.jpeg

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In


Photographer's Gift Guide 2025

Each of the items I discuss today are listed in the show notes, complete with descriptions, pricing, and links. So don't worry about taking jotting down details during the podcast. Just sit back and relax, then hit the show notes afterward.

K&F CONCEPT 67mm Black Diffusion 1/4 & Circular Polarizing in-1 Filter Pro Mist Cinematic Polarizer Effect Filter with 18-Layer Coating - $29.99 - Combines black diffusion 1/4 and polarizing filters to soften highlights and reduce reflections in various shooting conditions without causing vignetting. CNC-designed trapezoidal pattern for easy grip and rotation, paired with sandblasted anti-glare treatment to minimize stray light interference. Comes with 3 vacuum-sealed cleaning cloths for added protection.


godox-flash.jpg

Godox iT32 TTL Mini Flash with X5O Trigger Kit $98.90 - One Modular System, Built for All - Offering auto TTL, Manual, Stroboscopic flash compatibility, and Godox's 2.4 GHz X wireless system, the iT32 TTL Mini Flash enables diverse lighting setups when paired with a separately available X5-series unit.

Users can choose or switch between the X5C, X5N, X5F, X5O, or X5S to respectively find compatibility with a wide range of Canon, Nikon, FUJIFILM, Olympus/Panasonic, or Sony cameras; which means you can use a single iT32 flash body and opt for different hot shoes with wireless flash trigger capability.

A compact and versatile lighting tool, this flash features an adjustable power range from 1/128 to 1/1 with fine-tuning options, 1.5 sec recycling, HSS support, a color touchscreen, and a convenient LED modeling lamp. The iT32 operates using a built-in USB-C rechargeable battery to provide up to 510 full-power flashes and still has a lightweight individual body at just 6 oz.


Apple AirTag 4 Pack - $79.88 - Keep track of and find your items alongside friends and devices in the Find My app.


lens-cases.jpg

K&F CONCEPT 4 Pack Camera Lens Pouch Set - $24.99 - Our Lens Pouch Set equipment within 4 sizes range from S to XL, Size S accommodating lenses: 2.75" x 3.93"(*H); Size M for 3.14" x 5.5"(Dia*H); Size L for 3.54" x 7.08"(Dia*H); Size XL for 3.93" x 8.66"(Dia*H), which fit most DSLR/mirrorless lenses. Equipped with a side belt strap for convenient hand carrying or a hook to attach it to any bag, backpacks, or tripods for portable convenience.


Lowepro Trekker Lite BP 150 AW Backpack (Gray, 18.5L) - $149.88 - The gray, 18.5L Trekker Lite BP 150 AW AW Backpack from Lowepro has a soft structure, separate compartments, and customizable inserts. The pack accommodates a Sony a6000 or similar-sized camera with an attached lens, two additional small lenses, or a charger and a battery. Alternatively, it will hold a DJI Mavic Air 2 or similar small drone. A dedicated sleeve stores a 13" laptop, and there's extra room for a small tripod and personal items. You can easily configure this bag to meet your needs when traveling. It has a removable camera insert with strap kit and large grab handles on the top, side, and front. The rear of the pack has a hideaway strap system and a separate laptop sleeve. This backpack is essentially three products in one: an accessory strap kit, an everyday travel backpack, and a photo gear insert.


bluetti.jpg

BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 Portable Power Station, 288Wh Solar Generator, 600W AC Outlets (Power Lifting 1500W), Fast Charging LiFePO4 Battery - $189 - With a 600W AC inverter, 288Wh LiFePO4 battery, and 9 outlets, it weighs only 9.5 lbs, making it an excellent companion for outdoor camping, road trips, or home emergencies. 1500W power lifting, which can easily power small electric heating appliances such as kettles and toasters, greatly extending usage possibilities. Elite 30 V2 supports 8 charging methods, including AC charging, solar charging and car fast charging. With super fast charging, it goes from 0% to 100% in just 70 minutes, without damaging the battery.


Stoke Voltaics Electric Kettle, 120V Portable Water Boiler - $99.99 - This portable 500W electric kettle brings water to a boil in just 5 minutes--perfect for daily use at home, in the office, or while traveling. Reliable performance wherever hot water is needed. Perfect for more than just boiling water, from tea and coffee to instant noodles and hot chocolate--designed for all your hot drink and quick meal needs, anytime and anywhere.


anifurry-chair.jpg

Anifurry Wood Camping Chair with Wood Tray - Mohave - $137.99 - Experience the ultimate in comfort and portability with the Foldable Camping Chair, meticulously crafted for the outdoor enthusiast. Featuring a lightweight beech wood frame for easy handling and durability, this elegant camping chair combines a soft, textured top layer made of wool with a robust bottom layer of 900D Oxford fabric for exceptional durability. Designed for mobility, the chair quickly disassembles for easy transport, making it ideal for any adventure. from campsites to outdoor concerts, Whether you're relaxing at a picnic or enjoying an evening under the stars, the Camping Chair offers a perfect blend of sophistication, comfort, and practicality, ensuring it's the only chair you'll need for your outdoor activities.


FUJIFILM INSTAX Mini EVO Hybrid Instant Camera Black + Fuji Instax Film 20 Sheet + Custom Case & Album 32GB Micro SD Memory Card Accessory Bundle - $324.99 - Capture and instantly print photos from this Hybrid instant camera or print directly from your smartphone or tablet using its Bluetooth connectivity. Add some excitement by selecting from a variety of 10 lens effect options and 10 film effect options, giving you up to 100 different ways for more printing fun. Bundle pack accessories that include 20 film print exposures , 32gb micro memory card, USB memory card reader, fitted camera case and a photo album.


led-softlight.jpg

Ultra Thin Studio Edge Flapjack Light, 18''/45.5cm 70W Dimmable Portrait Light with AC Adapter/2.4G Wireless Remote - $159.99 - 70W LED video light is a new design with round shape, aluminium shell, ultra-slim panel (with thickness only 1.5 inches/3.8 centimeters), using a backlight and distribution technology in the guarantee of creating beautiful softer lighting; Cooling effect is also increased; Comes with a 2.4G remote control (indoor 50m barrier-free) to adjust the color temperature, brightness and channels. ou can adjust the brightness between 0-100% and color temperature from 3200k to 5600k steplessly based on how bright you have it. It can realize accurate color rendition and clear photographic images for its 95+ High CRI.


DxO Black Friday Sale - Save Up to 27 percent with Discount Code: DIGITALSTORY - PhotoLab 9 regular $239, $189 with discount code; NIK Collection 8 regular $169, $132 with discount code; FilmPack 8 regular $149, $123 with discount code.


TDS Workshop Gift Certificate - I'll send you a handmade gift certificate that can be used for any upcoming online or in-person workshop.

Virtual Camera Club News

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

Costa Rica! June 2026 - Complete information and registration here. This will be a once in a lifetime photography event. I hope you can join us.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.


The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.


Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.


The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.


Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.


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

See you next week!

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

Our final in-person photography workshop of the season featured a variety of visual opportunities - from rugged shoreline to colorful vineyards to African animals at Safari West.

Here are a few of those images, and some comments, from the photographers who attended and created such beautiful work.

Linda Jackson - Seabirds at North Salmon Creek

008- Linda.jpg

"I'm excited about all the locations you mentioned in your email. The California coast looks amazing! I decided to leave my infrared camera at home and bring the 12-100, 40-150 + 1.4 TC, and 100-400 lenses along with the OM-1 And the OMD 1 MKIII. And oh yes, if we do some street photography, I've tucked in the 17mm prime lens (also good for some coastal shots - such as nice lens!)."

Match Grun - Beautiful Bloom at the Marina

003-Match.jpg

"Thank you for a fabulous workshop. I enjoyed the company of all photographers. A different format to previous workshops that I have attended. I look forward to seeing your offerings for next year."

Dave Kinnear - Maple Leaf in Redwood Grove

008_Dave.jpg

"I am looking forward to the workshop. The fall colors have ended here, so I am looking forward to a second chance at the season!"

Michael Alford - Forest Path in Armstrong Woods

08-Michael.jpg

"It was terrific spending four days with you all. That was a great workshop. Everything was so varied, and we got some really nice pictures. For all my frustration with the redwoods, I still want to go back. We sure don't have anything like that on this coast. I hope we meet again at a workshop next year."

Rich Bahl - Waning Grape Leaf (Captured with his Leica)

008-rich.jpg

"I have been watching the weather and noticed the rain in the forecast. I had been planning on using my M11 for some of the workshop. The Leica rangefinders and their lenses aren't sealed against the rain. Should I leave it home? Will there be opportunity to use it? Honestly it is my favorite camera to use. I will have other gear as well."

Derrick Story - Cape Buffalo at Safari West

PB061851-derrick-story.jpg

"I think Safari West is unlike any wild animal park I've explored. Our photographer guide did a great job of getting us in position for compelling images (while keeping us safe in the process)."


014-Linda.jpg Match Grun, Derrick Story, and Michael Alford hanging out at the Pacific Air Museum. Photo by Linda Jackson.

Michael Alford has published an insider's take on the Sonoma County Fall Workshop, titled, A Photographic Pentathlon: Five Events, Four Days. Lots of insights and more pictures!

Our 2026 Photography Workshop Season will be announced on November 25th. We will have a great lineup consisting of in-person events, online workshops, and webinars. Stay tuned here! I hope you can join us in 2026.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,025, Nov. 11, 2025. Today's theme is, "Using Motion to Enhance Mood." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

The first day of our Autumn Workshop was exploring the Sonoma Coast. It was a gray day, perfect for experimenting with mood-enhancing techniques. I slowed the shutter to 1/2 second to create a somber, peaceful environment. That technique, plus more about our workshop on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1025

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!


podcast-icon.jpeg

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In


Using Motion to Enhance Mood

PB041318_Nik-derrick-story.jpg

As I watched the waves roll to shore, one after another, I knew that I want to incorporate that motion into a series of images. My approach was to juxtapose people against this backdrop. In the first segment of today's show, I explain how I did it.

DxO PhotoLab 9 with the OM System OM-3

dxo-photolab.png

As I had mentioned a couple weeks ago, I was pairing the OM-3 with PhotoLab 9 for our Sonoma County Fall Workshop. Here are my impressions after the event.

PB041307_Nik-derrick-story.jpg

Camera Industry News

Here are a few interesting stories from this week's photography news.

Canon's latest F1.2 lens is surprisingly fast, shockingly inexpensive from DPReview.com.

Panasonic is Shuttering Its Lumix Pro Services in Europe from PetaPixel.com.

Virtual Camera Club News

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

Costa Rica! June 2026 - Complete information and registration here. This will be a once in a lifetime photography event. I hope you can join us.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.


The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.


Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.


The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.


Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.


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

See you next week!

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,024, Nov. 4, 2025. Today's theme is, "My Favorite New Features in Lightroom 9." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Lightroom Desktop continues to vie for the hearts of enthusiast photographers who aren't already locked in to Lightroom Classic. And for those of us who want a more flexible solution, the terrific tweaks in version 9 bring it steps closer to becoming a total photo management and editing solution. I'll cover new features for both Classic and Desktop in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1024

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!


podcast-icon.jpeg

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In


My Favorite New Features in Lightroom 9

When Adobe added local file management to Lightroom Desktop in October 2023, I became far more interested in tapping it for photo shoots. The Local tab makes it far more practical for those of us who prefer to organize our photos in the Finder instead of the Cloud.

Lightroom Desktop 9, just announced at Adobe Max, continues to meld cutting edge AI tools with common sense file management. The five new features that I'm most impressed with has a little AI with a dash of workflow sweetness. Here are the new tools I've started using right away.

Assisted Culling (Classic and Desktop)

eyes-closed-rejects.png

Wedding and portrait photographers are going to love this. But honestly, anyone who takes lots of people shots, like parents of toddlers, are going to appreciate this timesaving feature.

Whether you're in Cloud mode or Local viewing, Assisted Culling is now near the top of the lefthand column. Click on it to open your options, check the boxes that are important to you, and Lightroom goes to work.

First time through, I turned on everything on. Under Select I checked: Subject Focus, Eye Focus, and Eyes Open. I enabled them all for Reject too: Documents and Receipts, Misfires, and Exposure Issues.

Lightroom marks the proposed selects with a green check and the rejects with a red X. You can copy your selects to the cloud, or apply batch actions such as ratings and labels to both the select group and the rejects group. All of this filtering work is accomplished in seconds, saving a huge amount of time.

It's likely that more options will be added over time, enhancing its usefulness for other types of photography such as landscape. But even in its present Early Access state, it's a great addition.

Show Subfolders in Local Storage (Desktop)

Subfolders are a great organizational tool for photo shoots that have different locations or components. If I'm photographing landmarks in Arizona for a week, I don't want every shoot lumped into one giant folder. I prefer something more like "Arizona 2025" with subfolders containing the different locations.

Now in Lightroom 9, if I toggle on the Include Subfolders switch at the top of the interface, and see my entire week of shooting my clicking on the master folder. I find this particularly helpful when I'm rating all of the images from the week. But I still have my subfolders for organization. It's the best of both worlds.

Color Labels (Desktop)

Speaking of organization, color labels are now available in Lightroom Desktop 9. This goes hand in hand with being able to label an entire shoot at once in addition to star ratings. I use color labels to indicate things like images that I pulled for an article, pictures that I've printed, or for marking client favorites. Color labels are a wonderful complement to star ratings, and I'm happy to see them in Lightroom 9.

Batch File Renaming (Desktop)

The practical tools hit parade continues! I can now build custom templates to rename my photo files. Not only is this helpful in Lightroom itself, but the app also applies those new names at the Finder level. So instead of being stuck with IMG_2048, IMG_2049, I can rename those files to include practically any bit of information I want, such as custom names, dates, sequences, and yes, the original file names too.

Using this feature, I went from ZF1_5373.jpg to ZF1_5373-Coco-2025-09.jpg - adding a custom name (Coco) and a date (2025-09).

Even if you don't use Lightroom Desktop for anything else, you can point it to a folder and have it rename all of the files in that folder for you.

Remove Dust Spots (Classic and Desktop)

The AI-powered Dust Removal feature in the Distraction Removal panel automatically detects and removes dust spots in a photo, created by dust on your camera's sensor.

Click on the Remove icon on the right side of the interface, go down the panel to Distraction Removal, and you'll see we now have a Dust option in addition to People and Reflections. Click Apply under Dust, and Lightroom detects and removes that pesky sensor dust marks. Talk about a time saver!

The Evolution of Lightroom Desktop

Lightroom Desktop is evolving into a powerful, flexible image management and editing application. It's free of the database mechanism that's embedded in Lightroom Classic, and it's no longer handcuffed to the Cloud either.

I can simply point Lightroom Desktop to my nicely-organized file system, and it provides the tools to help me manage it.

This latest round of new features enhances this experience. Simple things, such as subfolders and color labels, are very helpful. And then to add AI-powered culling and dust removal to the mix is a great bonus.

All of this is available right now to Adobe Photography Plan subscribers. Go to your Creative Cloud account, update to Lightroom 9, and get to work.

Camera Industry News

Here are a few interesting stories from this week's photography news.

Lightroom has a new slider - and it's a game-changer for fixing red skin. Meet the new Color Variance tool from DigitalCameraWorld.com.

Pentax Bet Everything on Photographers Coming Back to DSLRs. Now What? from FStoppers.com.

Affinity Going the DaVinci Resolve Route Is Brilliant and a Proven Success from PetaPixel.com.

Healthy upgrade: Nikon Zf firmware v3.0 adds grain from DPReview.com.

Virtual Camera Club News

Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.

If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.

Costa Rica! June 2026 - Complete information and registration here. This will be a once in a lifetime photography event. I hope you can join us.

Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.


The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.


Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.


The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.


Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.


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

See you next week!

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