It's the modern day View Master. The Poppy turns your iPhone into a 3D creator and viewing device. And the best part? It's only $59.

Poppy works with iPhone 4, 4S, iPhone 5, 5C, 5S and the fifth generation iPod Touch. You put your phone in and Poppy's mirrors capture two stereographic images using your iPhone's single camera.

It doesn't need batteries and there are no electronics. It's just optics and your iPhone's camera and screen, so we can keep the price low without sacrificing quality.

The images I created and viewed with the Poppy were great. And it works for video too.

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Join me on my Instagram site as I explore Las Vegas during the CES show

Adding mattes and frames to your prints provide the finishing touches. Here are five tips to keep in mind while preparing for this project.

• Buy frames and mattes that fit your output. For example, I like to create 13"x19" prints, so I buy frames and precut mattes to fit those dimensions. This saves time and makes the process much more pleasurable.
• Clear off a large table and cover it with large towels. This provides you with a big work area that's frame and glass friendly.
• Find your bulb blower and a lint free cloth. These are handy for wiping down the glass, blowing off paper particles, and keeping all the components smudge and dust free.
• Print more than you need. When it's time to start framing, you want the freedom to design groupings. Plus, if you make a mistake with a print, it's good to know you have another at hand.
• Keep your eyes peeled for frame and matte sales. Buy these items when they are affordable and stash them for when you're ready to work.

Hanging your art on the wall is wildly satisfying. Handsone frames and mattes make your pieces look even more impressive.

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Very few of my cameras have built-in geotagging. And the ones that do, are sometimes inconsistent in their application of the data.

The good news is that it's easy enough to apply location information in post production with Aperture. It's not a regular part of my workflow. But for certain shots, such as this image of the Transamerica Pyramid in San Francisco, I like to do it.

Since I've added the GPS data, file sharing apps like Flickr with display it. Photo by Derrick Story.

The steps in Aperture are easy.

• After you've finished editing the image, go to View > Places.
• In the "Search the Map" box in the upper right, begin typing the location. Aperture will provide you with location options based on what you enter.
• Click on the best option to choose it, then click on the Assign Location button. A red pin will be added to your photo to indicate that it's been geotagged.
• Go to Preferences > Export and make sure that the box next to "Include location info in exported photos" is checked.
• Close Preferences and export your photo.

Adding location data using Places in Aperture 3.

After you've exported your image from Aperture, you can check your work by opening it in Preview. Go to Tools > Show Inspector. Click on the "i" tab, and you should see a GPS option. Click on it. The location information will be displayed.

You have now successfully geotagged your image. When it's shared on Flickr and elsewhere, viewers can see exactly where the subject is located. They might want to go there themselves.

Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture, check out my Aperture 3.3 Essential Training (2012) on lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

The Digital Story on Facebook -- discussion, outstanding images from the TDS community, and inside information. Join our celebration of great photography!

One of the things I like about Instagram, is that it's a great vehicle for building creative discipline. My goal is to post five new images a week. And by doing so, I've become a more interesting photographer.

"Old Fence" - Photos by Derrick Story

On one hand, I look at a lot of Instagram shots. There are so many different approaches. Some photographers focus on images of themselves, while others have favorite subjects outside of the mirror. Many contributors just want to do something different.

Taking all of this in inspires me to shoot outside of my comfort zone, experimenting with unique capture techniques or post production effects.

The Grapevine

But there's also something to the commitment of posting regularly. It's like writing everyday. The more I do it, the easier it becomes to create something new. Some photographers post a couple times a day. I think finding your personal frequency is important. But once you do, stick to it.

My Sister's 1965 VW Bus

Instagram has certainly had its share of controversy. And for some, it just isn't a good fit. But for me, it's been the first photo dairy that I've actually stuck with. I'm enjoying both the images by others, and the challenge to create new content day after day.

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

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For the November 2013 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters demonstrated their bravery while capturing these compelling portraits of four (or six) legged beasts. See for yourself in our gallery, Critters. And which one will be the SizzlPix Photo Assignment Pick of the Month?

"This little 'Critter' was shot during a photo excursion to Costa Rica," writes Don Zwicker. "I used a relatively short depth of field to isolate the frog in the image, while still capturing it in its natural environment." See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the Critters gallery page.

Participate in This Month's Assignment

The Jan. 2014 assignment is "White." Details can be found on the Member Participation page. Deadline is Jan. 31, 2014. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Jan 2014." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting Nov. 2013 at the end of Dec., the Dec. gallery will be posted at the end of Jan., and on and on.

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

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iPad for Digital Photographers

If you love mobile photography like I do, then you'll enjoy iPad for Digital Photographers-- now available in print, Kindle, and iBooks versions.

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Top 10 Photo products of 2013; Nimbleosity Report - Hands on with the Olympus FL-300R electronic flash; Photo Help Desk: Exposure tips for mini studio product shots - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - Favorite products of 2013. It's been a great year for photo related tools. Certainly, however, a few standout as the best. Here are my personal award winners.

• Sony a7R full-frame 36.3 MP Interchangeable digital camera
• Canon EOS 70D 20.2 MP DSLR camera
• Apple iPad mini with Retina display
• Olympus M.ZUIKO 75mm f1.8 (Black) Lens
• Lowepro Urban Reporter 150 camera bag
• Fujifilm X20 12 MP digital camera
• Apple iPhone 5S
• Pentax K-3 DSLR 24MP camera
• Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 DC HSM zoom lens for APS-C DSLRs
• Panasonic LUMIX DMC-GM1 Compact System Camera with 12-32mm silver lens

Story #2 - The Nimbleosity Report (www.thenimblephotographer.com): Hands on with the Olympus FL-300R compact flash. I used flash for the first time to cover my parents 60th wedding anniversary event at my sister's house in Huntington Beach California. Over the course of the day, I did both the bounce flash and direct flash with this little unit. I cover how it performed in the second segment of today show.

Story #3 - From the Photo Help Desk (www.photohelpdesk.com): Exposure tips for mini studio product shots. Collapsible many studios are great for small product shots. But sometimes those bright white backgrounds fool your camera's exposure meter, creating the old gray backgrounds instead of white ones. Here's how to clean things up in the third segment of today show.

Photo Assignment News

Photo Assignment for January 2014 is White.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (35 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

iPad for Digital Photographers

If you love mobile photography like I do, then you'll enjoy iPad for Digital Photographers-- now available in print, Kindle, and iBooks versions.

Podcast Sponsors

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

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

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At first, you wouldn't think that the iPhone would be a good portrait camera. Its lens is wide with no optical zoom. The LED flash is too weak for outdoor fill. And it doesn't come with a tripod mount.

And yet, you can capture surprisingly good portraiture with it... including selfies that look much better than the typical Instagram snaps.

In my latest Macworld Magazine article, How to shoot the best portraits with your iPhone, I share a half dozen proven tips for improving your people shots, including using your car window shade as a reflector. If you're toting an iPhone, you might want to check these out.

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

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I'm traveling again, so that's the subject of today's The Nimble Photographer Journal entry, Notes from the Road.

And on Photo Help Desk, we help Barry control the tone of his mini-studio backdrop in the post, My White Has Turned Gray.

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

Celebrating the New Year typically involves good things to eat and drink. It's also a great time to capture ambiance images that go beyond the whacky portraits at the strike of midnight. So don't forget the food shots!

I usually start with an overview, such as the image above, then start to work closer on the individual offerings. Existing light food shots can be quite artistic. But you'll probably need to use a flash some too. I find that bounce flash is perfect for many of these subjects.

Then, once the party is over, send you favorite food shot or two to the chef or hostess with a thank you for the great evening. They will appreciate your artistry and consideration.

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

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When you see the Olympus FL-300R compact flash on a catalog page, it looks very tempting - especially for th modest $139 investment (modest in the world of flash photography). But does this wireless unit perform? I decided to put it through its paces with an Olympus OM-D E-M5 and E-M1.

Things I Liked

• Very compact and light. Uses 2 AAA batteries
• Tilts back for bounce flash and forward for macro
• Wireless capability with 2 channels
• Built-in diffuser panel that's effective
• Flash folds forward to stay out of the way when not in use
• Easy to operate
• Comes with protective pouch and off-camera stand

Things I Didn't Like as Much

• Can't use EVF in bounce position. Must use LCD for composition
• Only angles 60 degrees backwards, instead of full 90 degrees
• Flash can only be fired 10 times in succession at intervals of 6 seconds

The FL-300R On Camera

I liked that the flash slides directly into the hot shoe and doesn't require you to reveal the Accessory Port. I used Philips MultiLife 1000mah rechargeable AAA batteries to power the unit. The flash was ready for action just a few seconds after pushing the On/Off button, and it recharged quickly between firings.

Exposures were good on both the E-M5 and E-M1. I discovered that what is advertised as a Wide Panel (its switch is on the side of the FL-300R) is also an excellent built-in diffuser. When enabled, it lowered the contrast and softened shadows. I especially recommend it when working close to subjects. When in bounce position, however, don't use the wide panel setting because it does cut output a bit.

The FL-300R Off Camera

Even though the FL-300R is definitely an upgrade from the accessory popup flash that comes with the OM-D, don't toss it out. You'll need the pop-up to serve as the wireless controller for the FL-300R.

Once the popup is in place and the camera is fired up, all you have to do is move the RC switch on the back of the FL-300R to "A" and enable RC Mode in Menu 2 on the camera. Wireless performance was quite good, and it adds another dimension to your flash photography options.

You can hold the flash in your hand for on-the-go off-camera flash. Or you can use the supplied stand to position it on a table or shelf. The stand includes a threaded socket, so it can serve as an adapter for a light stand or tripod too.

The Final Word

Because of its capabilities and compact size, I do recommend the Olympus FL-300R Compact Flash for casual flash photography. It's not powerful enough for serious event coverage, but when you need to cobble together a quick lighting setup for a portrait or family gathering, you'll be happy to have this compact unit in your bag.

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

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