I love the file organization and RAW processing in Capture One Pro 11. But once I have the basic image the way I want, I then like to move my favorites over to Luminar 2018 for the finishing touches. Here's an example from Maui.

"Playing in the Falls, Maui" - Olympus OM-D E-M10 II with a Panasonic 20mm f/1.7. 1 second exposure with a polarizer filter. Image by Derrick Story.

There are a variety of ways to do this, but I go the old fashion route by processing the RAW in Capture One, applying my basic edits, exporting a full resolution Tiff, then opening that file in the standalone version of Luminar 2018. I then save the working file as a Luminar document. When I'm finished with the enhancement, I also send an exported Luminar version back to Capture One Pro.

Each application has its own strengths. And when you take the best from each, image editing becomes really powerful, and quite fun.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #629, April 3, 2018. Today's theme is "Leica in Paradise." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Exploring an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is definitely a place where I want to travel light. It's warm. It's humid. And flip-flops and board shorts are the apparel of the day. Feels like a good challenge for the Micro Four Thirds Leica D-LUX. And in this show, I'm going to tell you how it fared.

Leica in Paradise

I've become quite fond of the Micro Four Thirds sensor used in my interchangeable lens Olympus cameras. And I've been curious about its implementation in the Leica D-LUX Type 109 that pairs it with a DC Vario-Summilux f/1.7-2.8 zoom lens.

It's interesting that a camera released at the beginning of 2015 is still shipping as is, and has not been discounted. And in fact, Leica has just announced the D-LUX (Typ 109) Digital Camera Explorer Kit for $1,195 that includes a 49"-long red COOPH Leica Rope Strap and an auto lens cap. It also comes packaged in a beautiful box that comes in a sleeve depicting one of the four seasons. (Keep in mind that you can get

This might be a good time to mention that the twin brother Panasonic LUMIX LX100 with the same lens is currently on sale for $597.

Basic specs include:

• 12.8MP 4/3" MOS Sensor
• 3.1x Zoom, f/1.7-2.8 Leica Lens 24-75mm (35mm Equivalent)
• 2,764k-Dot Electronic Viewfinder
• 3.0" 920k-Dot LCD Monitor
• UHD 4K Video at 30p, Full HD at 60p
• Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity with NFC
• ISO 25600 and Up to 40 fps Shooting
• Optical Image Stabilization
• CF D Flash Included

The overall package is quite compact. And most other options that provide such a bright zoom are more bulky. So I thought to myself, "Could this be the right camera for a family vacation when dad is a serious photographer?" To answer that question, I packed the Leica for a spring break in Honolulu. As it turns out, it was a good call. I explain in the first segment of today's show.

In addition to the image above, you can view an album of images captured with the Leica here.

Apple Pencil lag test: New iPad vs. iPad Pro

Macworld reports that: Put simply, I barely notice any difference between the two while using most Pencil-compatible apps. If anything, the Apple Pencil feels as though it delivers slightly smoother performance in the Notes Plus app on the new 9.7-inch iPad compared to the older Pro. (I also put a brand-new nib on my older Apple Pencil for a more even comparison.)

In apps such as Notability, Apple's Notes, and Procreate, though, the writing experience feels remarkably similar. I'd even go so far as to say that there's no difference at all, but I'll wait until I've conducted more "scientific" tests for the full review before making that kind of judgment.

As a person who frequently writes on his iPad Pro as though it were a legal pad, I see little difference in casual practice. And for those of you who've always wanted to buy an iPad Pro just for the Apple Pencil but were scared away by the price, that should be very, very good news indeed.

The new iPad starts at $329 (32GB/WiFi Only) and the Apple Pencil is $99. For a 128GB model with cellular + WiFi, the iPad price climbs to $559.

The Apple Photos Book for Photographers, 2nd Edition

The Apple Photos Book for Photographers, 2nd Ed is now available on Amazon. If you purchase the book, send me proof, and I'll send you a link to my movie, "How to Organize Like a Pro in Photos." This offer is good until April 15, 2018. Use the Contact Form on The Nimble Photographer site. Also, feel free to post a review on Amazon once you've read the book. They're helpful to potential buyers.

Do You Have a Film Camera that Needs a Good Home?

Over the last year, I've received donations from TDS members who have film cameras that need a good home. What I do is inspect the items, repair and clean as I can, then list them in TheFilmCameraShop where I can find a good home for them. If you're interested in donating, please use the Contact Form on TheNimblePhotographer site. And thanks for you consideration!

Dates Announced 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. Here's more about it.

Aerial Photography Workshop Update

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!

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

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.

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.

When we work on an image and save it as a Luminar document, we have the option to revisit it later and "go back in time" thanks to the History popup.

I find this particularly handy when I've over processed an image, or when I decide later that I want a different look for the shot. In both of those cases, I can peruse the History popup, find the place that I want to return to, then start a new direction. Take a look at this short video to see how this works.

Tap the power of the History popup from Luminar Essential Training by Derrick Story

This feature is one of the benefits of using Luminar as a standalone app instead of as a editing extension or plugin. I tend to take advantage of History for documents that I want to spend more time on and get just right.

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.

I've been on the road for a week now. And having moved from one island to another with lots of exploration along the way, how does the iPhone fit in with the rest of the gear I've packed?.

Beach Bike - iPhone X back dual camera 6mm f/2.4 - Photo by Derrick Story

As it turns out, the iPhone plays quite nicely with the other kids, but not in the ways that you might think. First, it has been a wonderful reference camera. In other words, if I'm shooting a scene with the Leica Type 109, then I also record it with the iPhone to capture the location data so that the Leica images are organized correctly in the Photos library.

Cairns on the Manoa Falls Trail. (Gaelic for heap of stones.) Leica D-LUX. Photo by Derrick Story.

For example, I know that I captured the image of the cairn on the Manoa Falls Trail because I have an iPhone image with a similar timestamp and the location data. Speaking of timestamps, it's imperative that all the cameras are in sync for this system to work. So in essence, the iPhone becomes my journal for all the photographs I capture, regardless of which camera I use for the final image.

I've also been transferring shots from all the cameras to the iPhone via WiFi for social sharing. The images you've seen over the last week on Instagram were recorded with other cameras. I've been shooting RAW+Jpeg, and I love the flexibility of being able to share any photo, from any camera, online virtually from anywhere. And the iPhone is the hub that makes it all work.

I'll also use it to document my film project, which starts this week. So anything that I shoot with the 35mm Contax, gets recorded with the iPhone, and organized in a journal with notes about the subject. I've been using Day One as my journal app for nearly two years now, and I love it.

I do take the occasional final picture with the iPhone itself. It's inconspicuous and handy. But with all the great gear that I get to use for work, my smartphone is more of a facilitator than it is the star of the show.

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

Even though I'm a street photographer at heart, I sometimes want to go off-road and capture the world in less-camera-friendly environments. Honolulu is a perfect example of interesting subjects on sandy terrain.

That's when the Olympus Tough cameras can be your best choice. The Olympus TG-5 ($349) is a compact, go anywhere camera that's perfect for sand photography. I carry it in my board shorts when on the beach or in the water. It makes no difference to this capture device. Plus it includes built-in GPS, so the location data for my adventures are captured as well.

If you're planning some off-road activities this coming summer, and you don't want to worry about sand, dirt, dust, temperature, or water, then consider a Tough. Shoot in RAW+Jpeg, turn on GPS, and don't let yourself be limited by the environment.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #628, March 27, 2018. Today's theme is "The 50-50 Rule." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Digital photography has had a tremendous impact on our workflow. Now, not only are we creatives behind the camera, we must also be technicians in front of the computer. But how much of each? In this week's podcast, I explore the division of labor during the process of creating artistic images. And I explain what I call the 50-50 Rule.

The 50-50 Rule

When I used to shoot weddings with my 35mm film cameras, we would work like dogs all day and into the evening. But once we were finished shooting, I would put all the film in a giant envelope, drop it off at my lab, and go have a 1am breakfast before falling into bed.

Then we began the transition to digital. And before long, I found myself spending hours in front of the computer, long after the wedding had completed, finishing the job. I didn't get paid any more, and in fact, prices began to fall. And that's when I realized that digital photography was going to change my life as a creative.

I agonized over learning Photoshop. Fortunately, apps like Aperture and Lightroom burst on to the scene to save me. But to this day, I know that if a photo is going to be competitive with others online, it will require post production.

And when I started to think about it, I realized that photography is now a 50-50 proposition. Half the creative process is at capture, and the other half is post. Most of us are stronger at one side or the other. And one of our challenges as an artist is to identify the aspect that requires the most improvement, then take the steps to improve in that area.

Rumor: Canon full-frame mirrorless already 'being used by select pro photographers'

DP Review reports that "a full frame mirrorless camera is well into its development cycle," and is in fact being used by "select Canon pro photographers" in the field." Canon Rumors is "very confident we're going to see something announced before the end of Q1 in 2019," while other outlets have predicted something for Photokina in September.

Apple's Camera Shutter Sound Was Recorded From a Canon AE-1

F-Stoppers reports: "In a recent interview with CNBC, the Apple sound designer behind many of the iconic beeps and bloops on the Mac, Jim Reekes, shares the origin of their naming and compositions. As it turns out, it's a film camera from the 1970s that was personally owned by Reekes since high school behind the ubiquitous iPhone camera click and screenshot sound effect on Mac. It was recorded from a Canon AE-1 and then slowed down to create the custom sound we know today. Even to this day, Reekes still seems to not be used to his recording being played everywhere he goes."

Do You Have a Film Camera that Needs a Good Home?

Over the last year, I've received donations from TDS members who have film cameras that need a good home. What I do is inspect the items, repair and clean as I can, then list them in TheFilmCameraShop where I can find a good home for them. If you're interested in donating, please use the Contact Form on TheNimblePhotographer site. And thanks for you consideration!

Dates Announced 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. Here's more about it.

Aerial Photography Workshop Update

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!

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

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.

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.

The checklist of things that I want to accomplish on the road over the next two weeks is substantial. Overall, I'm looking to create new content, both visually and with words. Plus there are certain day-to-day operations that I need to maintain. After all, I am a one-man shop.

But I refuse to schlep around a trunk full of gear. So I've been testing my current travel setup over the last week, and I've finally settled on a packing list. I thought you might want a peek inside the bag

Here's the packing list:

• Lowepro Fastpack BP 150 AW II
• Apple 13" MacBook Pro
• G-Technology 500GB G-DRIVE slim USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II mirrorless camera with 14-42mm EZ zoom
• Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 lens
• Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. lens
• Olympus Fisheye Body Cap 9mm f/8 lens
• Olympus Tough TG-5 digital camera
• Leica D-LUX (Typ 109) digital camera
• Contax 159mm 35mm SLR with Zeiss 45mm f/2.8 Tessar lens
• Zeiss 28-70mm Vario-Sonnar f/3.5-4.5 zoom lens (for the Contax 159mm)
• Kodak Gold 200 35mm negative film (3 rolls)
• Lowepro Dashpoint 30 camera pouch
• iPhone X with AT&T LTE - also serves as my Internet connection when hotel connectivity fails me.
• Apple iPad mini - With Verizon 4G LTE to give me access to a different cellular network than my iPhone.
• Zoom H1n Digital Handy Recorder
• The typical accessories such as batteries, memory cards, backup flash drives, etc.

Final weight after this week's adjustments is a bit over 13 pounds. This bag will fit under the seat in front of me on an airplane, in an overhead bin on a bus, and on the floor between my feet in a restaurant. I can have it with me where ever I go.

Now, for the content creation itself. I'll let you know when I land.

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

Not only are layers easy to use in Luminar 2018, they are fun as well. Using an adjustment layer to replace a boring sky is a perfect example.

In this free video, I show you how to create a new adjustment layer, then add and adjust a dynamic sky to improve a scenic photo. This technique only takes a few minutes to learn. And it can really improve some of your images.

Use an image layer to replace a sky from Luminar Essential Training by Derrick Story

In the past, you may have thought that layers weren't for you. With Luminar 2018 and my training videos, you may just change your mind about that.

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.

I like families with colorful members. Apparently, Kingston does as well. They've recently announced a flashy new trio of memory cards using the Canvas moniker. And I've had a chance to try them out.

All three family members are built tough. They feel good when inserting and ejecting from the camera. The Write Protect switch is firm and won't accidentally disable your card. This is a frustration I've experienced too many times with other brands.

The real difference among the models is speed. Canvas Select cards, the most affordable, are rated 80MB/s read and 10MB/s write. Canvas Go cards are 90MB/s read and 45MB/s write. While the top of the line Canvas React cards are 100MB/s read and 80MB/s write.

You can preorder a 64GB SDXC Canvas React for $34.95, a very reasonable price for a card of this caliber. And if your speed needs are more modest, you can save money with the 64GB Canvas Select for $26.50. Card capacities range from 16GBs to 256GBs. You can visit the Kingston site for more details about each family member.

I'm using the Canvas Select in the Olympus Tough TG-5, and the Canvas React in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. It feels good to have fresh memory cards in them both.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #627, March 20, 2018. Today's theme is "An Office on the Road." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

One of the great things about being a Nimble Photographer is the ease at which I can travel. In just a few days I will be on the road for a couple weeks. It will be an opportunity to add new images to my library and enjoy a change of scenery for my work. Yes, that's right, my work. And in this week's show I'll explain how I'm going to pull that off.

An Office on the Road

I'll be bouncing around to a few locations in the Hawaiian Islands. And because I'm on the go so much, I want to push my nimbleosity to the limits.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 with 14-42mm EZ zoom lens and the Lowepro Dashpoint 30 pouch.

My gear bag is already packed, and I'm testing it here at home. I'm using a Lowepro Fastpack 150AW that is extremely compact. It fits anywhere, under any seat, in any overhead compartment, and easily next to me in a restaurant. Since I will always have my bag with me, it must be light and thin.

Speaking of light, it weighs in at 12.5 pounds for my entire kit, and that includes a 13" laptop. Here are the contents:

• Lowepro Fastpack BP 150 AW II
• Apple 13" MacBook Pro
• G-Technology 500GB G-DRIVE slim USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II mirrorless camera with 14-42mm EZ zoom
• Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 lens
• Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. lens
• Olympus Tough TG-5 digital camera
• Leica D-LUX (Typ 109) digital camera
• Contax 159mm 35mm SLR with Zeiss 45mm f/2.8 Tessar lens
• Lowepro Dashpoint 30 camera pouch
• iPhone X
• Zoom H1n Digital Handy Recorder
• The typical accessories such as batteries, memory cards, backup hard drive, etc.

The cameras are all packed in individual tight-fitting cases inside the Lowepro backpack. I can grab any individual camera as I'm dashing out the door for a bite to eat or to run an errand. I also save space by using wrist straps instead of longer neck straps. You might not think it makes that much difference, but it does.

With this kit, I can handle all of my work over the next two weeks, and all I need is an Internet connection and occasional power.

Do You Have a Film Camera that Needs a Good Home?

Over the last year, I've received donations from TDS members who have film cameras that need a good home. What I do is inspect the items, repair and clean as I can, then list them in TheFilmCameraShop where I can find a good home for them. If you're interested in donating, please use the Contact Form on TheNimblePhotographer site. And thanks for you consideration!

Dates Announced 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. Here's more about it.

Aerial Photography Workshop Update

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!

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

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.

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.