This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Lowepro Pro Roller x200 AW Grand Prize; From the Screening Room: Ben Long: Shooting and Processing HDR; and on the Workshops Update: Sonoma Coast Photography Workshop Open for Business - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Getty and Flickr to cease partnership (DP Review) Even though the 6-year partnership ends, "Your status as a contributor to Getty Images is unchanged by this news. Your current agreement with Getty Images remains the same and agreements will NOT be terminated by us as a result of this change, no matter how few images you have on gettyimages.com."

In other news, Ultra-high def Panasonic GH4 ships this May at a price enthusiasts can justify - $1,700 body alone and $3,300 with camera and interface unit together, which adds 4K HD-SDI output with timecode, XLR audio, and DC power, as well as a stereo levels display and physical levels controls. Should ship in May. (Imaging-Resource).

And finally, iOS 7.1: The changes we love (and the ones we don't) Includes HDR auto, the camera automatically detects when an image might be improved by HDR, and shoots in that format. (Macworld Magazine).

Story #2 - Lowepro Pro Roller x200 AW Grand Prize

This is a sweepstakes for podcast listeners only. The goal is to bring you into our family of social network sites, so you can stay better informed about what's going on in our virtual camera club community. (Lots of TDS news isn't covered in the weekly show.)

Participation is easy. All you have to do is join one or more of our social network sites, and let me know which one(s) via email. Here are your choices:

• Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/thedigitalstory)
• Follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/Derrick_Story)
• Join us on Instagram (instagram.com/derrickstory)
• The send an email to derrick@thedigitalstory.com with the Subject line: Roller Giveaway and your name and social network addition in the body of the email. Please include your shipping address.

If you're already a member of all three social sites, send the email and say so. Be sure to include your shipping address.

Twenty-five randomly selected participants will receive the brand new "I have a high nimbleosity rating" microfiber camera cleaning cloth. One participant will receive the Lowepro Pro Roller x200 AW camera bag.

Only rules are that your email has to be date stamped before March 31, 2014, and if these sort of things are not allowed where you live, then I can't change that. In other words, void where prohibited.

I hope you toss your hat in the ring. I can't wait to send out those cool Nimble microfibers, and of course the Pro Roller X200.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Ben Long: Shooting and Processing HDR. This week's featured artist is expert photographer and all around great guy, Ben Long. Ben shows you the ins and outs of High Dynamic Range Photography in this week's title.

You can watch Ben in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - Workshops Update - The Sonoma Coast Photography Workshop is scheduled for August 22-24, 2014. And let me tell you why this is such a wonderful event for enthusiast photographers.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for March 2014 is HDR.

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 (31 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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Sigma Takes on Zeiss with its New 50mm f/1.4 Art lens; Apple TV Review; From the Screening Room: Tim Grey: Photoshop CC Raw Workshop; and on the Nimbleosity Report: PhotoSync for iOS and Mac - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Olympus OM-D E-M10 shooting experience and studio tests published (DP Review) "Live Composite, new to the E-M10, captures a series of long exposures, analyzing each frame to keep the brightest pixel in each location and creating a single composite image. In plain terms, it captures light trails without overexposing the rest of the frame, taking the guesswork out of long exposure photography. You get to preview the effect as the exposure builds up on screen and choose when to stop."
In other news, Sigma wasn't bluffing: 50mm f/1.4 Art appears to match Zeiss Otus ($3,990) on sharpness, beats it on contrast (Imaging-Resource).
And finally, Fujifilm Discontinues Neopan 400 PRESTO 35mm and Fujicolor PRO 400 120 Film (PetaPixel).

Story #2 - Apple TV Review

Now that Apple has declared that Apple TV is no longer a hobby, I thought it might be a good time to check in with the Internet-connected hockey puck.

The positives can be boiled down to a few basic features:

• AirPlay Mirroring - I can share just about anything from an iPhone, iPad or current Mac via AirPlay. Great for showing off your pictures or videos to a small audience.
• Apple Content - Movies, TV shows, music, iTunes Radio, and podcasts are easily accessible.
• Some Interesting 3rd Party Content - Sky News, YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, Vevo, HBO Go, Netflix, hulu, PBS,and others round out a variety of content that has something for just about anyone.
• Remote Control App - Using the iPhone or iPad to enter searches and passwords is much simpler that the Apple TV interface.
• Bluetooth Keyboard Compatible - You can even connect your Apple wireless keyboard to the Apple TV.

There are a handful of shortcomings too:

• No iOS Apps - If apps were enabled, I could do things such as run Olympus Share on the Apple TV and view my photos in HD, streamed directly from the camera.
• Pesky Subscriptions - I find something interesting to watch, only to learn that I need a cable subscription or that from a particular service in order to view. So that Apple TV channel isn't really a channel, but an advertising tile.
• Spotty Performance - I have screaming bandwidth at my studio, but many of the 3rd party services are slow to load and often stall while in progress.

Bottom Line: I think the Apple TV is a terrific device for $99. I use AirPlay Mirroring often, and I enjoy listening to podcasts and watching movies with the device.

But it has a long ways to go, as I'm sure even Apple will admit. iOS apps could open many doors for Apple TV. That is the top request on my list.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Tim Grey: Photoshop CC Raw Workshop, Image Sharpening. This week's featured artist is Photoshop veteran, Tim Grey. Tim tackles a variety of techniques in this week's featured title, including image sharpening.

You can watch Tim in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - Super handy PhotoSync for iOS and your Mac.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for March 2014 is HDR.

The SizzlPix! Head to Head Challenge

Order a SizzlPix! using the image from which you've already made your best print. If, when you receive your SizzlPix!, you don't feel that it's the best version of your image ever, return yours within 30 days for a full refund.

Oh, and BTW: SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

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 (32 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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition tops the Weekly Update; Taking the Transporter Sync for a Spin; From the Screening Room: Chris Orwig, Lightroom 5 Essentials; and on the Nimbleosity Report: the Square Perfect Backdrop System- All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Hands-on with the GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition (DP Review) Supports 4K, 2.7K, 1440p & 1080p Video. "It has better battery life, quicker Wi-Fi speeds with longer range, is more compact with the new case, has a significantly improved microphone, and the best image quality I've seen from a GoPro to date." In other news, Adobe Camera Raw release candidate supports 14 new cameras including Sony A6000, Fuji X-T1 (but no corresponding Lightroom update). (Imaging-Resource). And finally, Olympus Patents Impressive 12 and 14mm f/1.0 Ultra-Wide AF Lenses (PetaPixel).

Story #2 - Taking the Transporter Sync for a Spin.

I've been testing the Transporter Sync ($99) for an upcoming Lynda.com title that I'm working on for backing up your mobile photos. I'm still in the early stages of learning about this device, but I have a few things to share with you now.

This is the standalone version of the transporter that doesn't include a hard drive. The thinking is that you add your own USB hard drive and it becomes a transporter.

One of the first things to note, is that whatever drive you use has to be completely erased by the transporter before it's available for storage. Once the Transporter has finished configuring the drive is then available for use.

You can access content on the drive the a desktop application, web browser, or iOS or android device. Right now I have a portable drive connected to the transporter that uses USB fo its power. I might switch to a drive with its own power supply to see if that increases performance.

The iOS app was more basic than I had anticipated. You can add images from your camera roll to your Transporter via your iPad or iPhone. But you can't do anything with them such as rename the file names put them in folders organize them things like that. And in fact, you can't even browse the images by icon. So all you end up with is a list of filenames without any indication of what the subject for the photo is.

At this point, I don't see the Transporter replacing services such as Loom that I think have more functionality for mobile photographers. It could be used as a straight back up solution, and I'm exploring that more and will report once I come to some conclusions about it.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Chris Orwig, Lightroom 5 Essentials. This week's featured artist is The enthusiastic Chris Orwig, who is an excellent Lightroom instructor. Chris shows you the things that you need to know to really master the basics of Lightroom 5.

You can watch Chris in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - The Square Perfect Backdrop Background Support Stand. This backdrop frame allows you to set up just about anywhere you have 10 feet of room. Plus it's affordable at lesson $70. And it breaks down to a pretty compact package. I talk more about it in the final segment of today's show.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2014 is Smartphone.

The SizzlPix! Head to Head Challenge

Order a SizzlPix! using the image from which you've already made your best print. If, when you receive your SizzlPix!, you don't feel that it's the best version of your image ever, return yours within 30 days for a full refund.

Oh, and BTW: SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

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 (24 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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Sony a7R full review tops the Weekly Update; Build Your Own DIY Slide Digitizer; From the Screening Room: Julieanne Kost on Photoshop CC Essential Training; and on the Nimbleosity Report: How I dropped my iPhone from the top of the bleachers, and what happened after that - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Full Review of the Sony a7R (DP Review) "When it comes down to it, the Sony a7R's image quality, created by a combination of its high-resolution sensor and premium quality optics, make it an impressive image-maker." Next, Nikon facing potential class action lawsuit due to D600 sensor oil issues (Imaging-Resource). And finally, we've got some specs and price information for the upcoming Pentax 645D CMOS Medium Format camera. It's going to cost about $10,000 and sport a 40-50-megapixel sensor (PetaPixel).

Story #2 - How to make a high quality slide digitizer with an old projector and a new camera. I'm getting excellent results with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 macro lens coupled to an old Leica P 150 projector. I cover why I chose to go this route, and how I assembled it. There'sd also a companion article titled DIY Slide Digitizer with Olympus OM-D and Leica Projector with how-to pictures and sample scans.

Original image captured in 1992 on Fuji 100 slide film.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Julieanne Kost: Photoshop CC Essential Training. This week's featured artist is one of the best Photoshop instructors I've ever listened to. Julieanne is an excellent photographer, so she knows the capture side of the equation too. And when she teaches, she's precise and adds plenty of wit and humor.

You can watch Julieanne in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - The Story of my Dropping an iPhone 5S from the top of the gym bleachers.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2014 is Smartphone.

The SizzlPix! Head to Head Challenge

Order a SizzlPix! using the image from which you've already made your best print. If, when you receive your SizzlPix!, you don't feel that it's the best version of your image ever, return yours within 30 days for a full refund.

Oh, and BTW: SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

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 (33 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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: the Panasonic GH4 tops the weekly update; The inside scoop on c't Digital Photography Magazine; From the Screening Room: David Hobby on The business of photography; and on the Nimbleosity Report: Pro HDR for iOS - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Panasonic announces 4K-capable Lumix DMC-GH4 (DP Review) Are you ready for 4K video? (4K has a horz. resolution of 4,000 pixels compared to 1,920 for HD). Speaking of Panasonic, looks like Olympus is using their sensors, not Sony's in the flagship OM-D E-M1 (Imaging-Resource). And finally, it looks like the Nikon D4s will be officially released soon. The body alone will run you about $6,000 (PetaPixel).

Story #2 - The Inside Scoop on c't Photography Magazine. It all began with a conversation in Germany in 2012. More than a year later, I'm an Associate Editor with this technical photo magazine based in Germany. (You can subscribe for $39.96 using this special URL.) Here's what I'll be doing for this terrific publication.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - David Hobby: Insights on Building a Photography Business. This week's featured artist is also known as Strobist. In this movie titled, "Determining your career compass point," David talks about his own career evolution and how establishing a compass point facilitates the process.

You can watch David in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - Pro HDR ($1.99) for iOS. High Dynamic Range photography is fun, but it's also a fair amount of work... that is unless you're using Pro HDR on your iPad or iPhone. I explain why in this fourth segment today.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2014 is Smartphone.

The SizzlPix! Head to Head Challenge

Order a SizzlPix! using the image from which you've already made your best print. If, when you receive your SizzlPix!, you don't feel that it's the best version of your image ever, return yours within 30 days for a full refund.

Oh, and BTW: SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

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 (30 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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: How High is Too High?; From the Screening Room: Nigel French: Designing a Photo Book; and on the Nimbleosity Report: olloclip auxiliary lenses for your iPhone - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - When it comes to ISO settings these days, how high is too high? That's a judgement call, for sure. But I also think it's worth revisiting. Sometimes we stick to the things we learned a few years back without reexamining them on a regular basis. ISO settings is one of those topics worth a second look. And that's what I'm going to do in today's top story.

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Nigel French: Designing a Photo Book. This week's featured artist is book designing expert, Nigel French. In this title on Lynda.com, Nigel goes beyond step by step teaching and actually explains to you the fundamentals of good book design.

You can watch Nigel in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

iPhone 5S image captured with the olloclip fisheye lens attachment.

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report - There's nimble, then there's iPhone-only nimble. The olloclip line of auxiliary lenses allow you to travel ultralight with just your iPhone, yet have the advantage of an interchangeable lens camera. I talk more about these lenses in the 3rd segment of today's show.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2014 is Smartphone.

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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Breaking News! The Olympus OM-D E-M10; From the Screening Room: Derrick Story: Portrait Retouching with Aperture: Changing the Background (Plus Bonus Tip!) - Nifty WiFi Camera Trick on the Nimbleosity Report - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - Just announced! The Olympus OM-D E-M10. This third member of the OM-D family comes in at $699, yet has outstanding specifications, including:

• Extremely compact all metal body
• TruePic VII image processor, the same found in the OM-D E-M1, 16 megapixel Live MOS sensor
• WiFi that connects with Image Share app for camera control and picture download
• 3-axis IS (instead of 5-axis found on E-M1)
• Built-in flash (a first for the OM-D digital line) optimized for 1/250 second synchronization, a benefit for daytime flash photography. Will also serve as remote control for wireless flashes.
• 3" tilting touchscreen LCD
• Electronic viewfinder (1,440,000-dot) 100 percent field of view
• 8 fps burst mode, unlimited Jpegs, up to 20 RAW files



• Optional 14-42mm f 3.5-5.6 EZ pancake zoom lens, measures just .9 inches thick, making it the world's slimmest standard zoom lens. It has a smooth electric zoom that is suitable for shooting movies, and can also be zoomed in and out remotely using compatible smartphones through the updated Olympus Image Share app.
• ECG-1 matching ergonomic grip is a removable grip exclusively for use with the E-M10. A single press of the lever on the bottom of the grip easily removes it, making replacing batteries seamless.

I tested the OM-D E-M10 in Las Vegas earlier this year, and I'll provide the complete lowdown on what I consider a tempting new camera body from Olympus. It's due to release in March.

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Derrick Story: Portrait Retouching with Aperture: Changing the Background (Plus Bonus Tip!). This week's featured artist is yours truly. In this movie on Lynda.com, I show you, step by step, how you can use Aperture adjust the color and tone of your background to better complement the subject.

You can watch me in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of my movies, plus every other title in the library.

And for those who listen to the podcast, I'll share a bonus retouching tip that isn't in my lynda training or on The Digital Story.

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report - "How to share photos wirelessly from all of your cameras using your compact WiFi enabled camera." This is a great tip, complements of virtual camera club member Ed Helms. I explain further in the third segment of today's show.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for January 2014 is White.

Artisan Cheese Festival: March 21-23, 2014 - This advanced workshop puts you on assignment to cover Artisan Cheese Festival. You'll experience a complex event assignment from the inside out, learning about client relations, shot list preparation, lighting techniques, post production, and more. Three days - $250

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 (28 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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: New Mirrorless Cameras on the Horizon; From the Screening Room: Douglas Kirkland: Storytelling Through Photography - Nimbleosity Report - Mark Your Stuff - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - New Mirrorless Cameras on the Horizon - the CES announcements were fun, but we still have more to come with mirrorless cameras in the coming weeks. Leading off, Fujifilm is expected to announce a DSLR-styled camera on January 28. In the same timeframe, we're expecting new announcements from Olympus too. A few leaked images have appeared online, so it's best not to speculate too much at this point. It is safe to say, however, that mirrorless shooters will have new gear to tempt them.

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Douglas Kirkland: Storytelling through Photography. This week's featured artist is the iconic photographer who photographed Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor. In this title on lynda.com, Douglas talks about storytelling through the use of his photography, and how every image should have a message.

You can watch Douglas in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of movies with Douglas, plus every other title in the library (including over 20 by yours truly).

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report - "Mark Your Stuff"

I know at first this might seem a little bit obvious, but I am surprised at how many photographers do not have their gear marked. There are a couple of approaches you can take, to ensure that you have a chance to recover your equipment, if misplaced.

The Whole Bag Approach - for those who don't want to label every item, you can simply make sure that you have your contact information clearly visible somewhere in your camera bag.

Label it All! - some photographers are more comfortable knowing that every piece of equipment they have as a label on it. If this is you, I don't think you necessarily need your name on every lens, but your cell phone number is probably a good idea.

Serial Numbers Yes, Engraving No - cameras and lenses already have engraved serial numbers, so you don't have to engrave your name which depreciates their value. Instead, make sure that you have all of the serial numbers for your equipment on file.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for January 2014 is White.

Artisan Cheese Festival: March 21-23, 2014 - This advanced workshop puts you on assignment to cover Artisan Cheese Festival. You'll experience a complex event assignment from the inside out, learning about client relations, shot list preparation, lighting techniques, post production, and more. Three days - $250

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 (30 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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: 5 Top Photo Picks from CES; From the Screening Room: Ben Long: Foundations of Photography: Flash - On the Nimbleosity Report - 5 Things I Hate About Travel - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - 5 Top Photo Picks from CES: As it turned out, CES was more photo gear rich than I had anticipated. Here are my 5 top picks from the show.

• The Panasonic Leica DG Nocticron 42.5mm f/1.2 ASPH Power OIS Lens $1,599 US. Nine Circular Diaphragm Blades, External Aperture Ring, Metal Design, and Image Stabilization.
• The Fujifilm Instax SHARE SP-1 Instant Printer $200 - it uses Fujifilm Instant Color Film (10 per pack) to produce a 62mm x 46mm print from your mobile device. Since it has its own WiFi hotspot, you can connect and print anywhere. Only weighs 253 grams and fits in your jacket pocket.



• The Poppy turns your iPhone into a 3D camera $59 US. Works for both capture and viewing. It is the modern day "Viewmaster."
• The Samsung 16-50mm f/2-2.8 S ED OIS Lens $1,299 US. 24.6-77mm (35mm Equivalent), 9-Blade Circular Aperture Diaphragm, Splash/Dust proof, IS.
• The olloclip 4-in-1 Photo Lens for iPhone 5/5s + Quick-Flip Case $99 US - Great way to expand your iPhone photography. Plus, they're coming out with a model for the iPad that might be even more practical from some folks.

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Ben Long: Foundations of Photography: Flash. This week's featured artist is all around great guy Ben Long. His introductory movie shows you the variety of flash techniques that he'll demonstrate, including fill flash, slow synchro, and off-camera.

You can watch Ben in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of Erin's movies, plus every other title in the library (including over 20 by yours truly).

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report - "5 things I hate about travel."

• Setting my bag on the restroom floor - This is why I go with shoulder bags in airports instead of rollers whenever possible.
• The middle seat - There's no delicate way to get around this: the middle seat sucks.
• Overhead compartments - They were designed in the day when people didn't have to pay to check their luggage. Now everything from rolling trunks to grand pianos are tried to squeeze in overhead.
• Overpriced everything - I went to buy a pack of gum at the airport concession, until I saw it was $3. Water is even a bigger rip off because you're not allowed to bring your own with you.
• Unsavory cab drivers - The hell doesn't end once you arrive at your destination. The second wave of torment awaits you outside.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for January 2014 is White.

There's still a seat open for the Fine Art Photography Workshop, Feb. 28-March 1, 2014 .

Artisan Cheese Festival: March 21-23, 2014 - This advanced workshop puts you on assignment to cover Artisan Cheese Festival. You'll experience a complex event assignment from the inside out, learning about client relations, shot list preparation, lighting techniques, post production, and more. Three days - $250

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 (32 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.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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

SizzlPix! - For The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club members ... if you'd like additional copies of for gifts, or SizzlPix! of any other of your images to make spectacular, amazing holiday gifts, order any two SizzlPix! to be shipped together, and we'll give you 25% off on the second one! Order any size up to a mind-boggling 48 by 72" Imagine -- six feet! and no sacrifice in resolution, luminance, and impact. Just put "TDS " in the comments space on the sizzlpix.com order page. Of course, you may apply the discount to any number of pairs. And free shipping to any US mainland address.

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 week on The Digital Story photography podcast: What to Expect at CES Las Vegas (first peek at 2014 products); From the Screening Room: Erin Manning: Up and Running with Lighting - Nimbleosity Report - TDS Fine Art Photography Workshop - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - CES Las Vegas - Smartwatches and wearables will probably grab their share of headlines. Players include Sony, Pebble, and Archos, just to name a few. I'm sure we're going to hear more about 4K TVs and streaming services. And there will probably be evolutionary announcements in the tablet sector.

The world of imaging is a bit harder to predict. I have NDA meetings with a handful of manufacturers, but I don't know of many actual announcements at the show itself, with the exception of the Samsung NX30 and Galaxy 2. They may use the venue to preview upcoming 2014 releases.We will however probably see some interesting things with 3D printing.

So maybe we'll have some fun surprises. I'll be reporting from Las Vegas for c't Digital Photography Magazine. You can see my posts on their Facebook page, Facebook.com/ctdigiphoto

Story #2 - From the Screening Room - Erin Manning: Up and Running with Lighting: Natural Light. Working with the light and diffusion. This week's featured artist is accomplished photographer Erin Manning. Her introductory movie sets the tone for this excellent title on natural light photography. Not only will you learn her tricks for using reflectors and diffusers, Erin will also share the camera settings she uses for these types of assignments.

You can watch Erin in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of Erin's movies, plus every other title in the library (including over 20 by yours truly).

Photography topics include: Photoshop, Aperture, DSLR Video, Foundations of Photography: Composition, Foundations of Photography: Exposure, Creating Time-Lapse Video, Shooting with the Canon 5D Mark III & Shooting with the Canon Rebel T3i (600D and Kiss X5), Shooting with the Nikon (D800 & D7000), Lightroom 5.

Story #3 - Nimbleosity Report - TDS Fine Art Photography Workshop - I have quite an event for you on Feb. 28 and March 1, the TDS Fine Art Photography Workshop. I'll explain why I'm so jazzed about this event in the third segment of today's 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 (30 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

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

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.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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