When you pack for vacation, do your gear up as if you were preparing to invade a small foreign country? Do you feel the need to document every movement that family members make? Are you constantly scanning the horizon for incoming great shots? If you answer yes to these questions, you are not on vacation.

I have great empathy for this syndrome. I've been afflicted myself, and drift in and out of recovery. I had a chance to think about this recently during a vacation in Maui. And this week's show I talk about balancing work and play during time off.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Whirlwind is this month's photo assignment. This can be taken so many ways: things happening quickly, life breezing by, an very energenic child. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Oct. 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Do Photographers Really Get Vacations?." You can download the podcast here (28 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Follow me on Twitter

-

Learn what photographers need to know to organize and edit their images with Photoshop CS4. Take a look at The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers. It fits in your laptop bag and is very easy on your wallet.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

PhotoPlus Expo in NYC is one of the best photographer events on the calendar. I say "photographer" on purpose because it's really about the person with the camera in their hands who wants to improve their craft. The combination of top-tier seminars with a heady trade show floor make this a very satisfying event.

I spent the week at PhotoPlus and have pulled together a recap of my experiences there, from my time in the O'Reilly booth, to teaching classes, to wandering about the Expo hall, and talk about them in this podcast. I even had time to do a little street shooting.

Early morning preparations in Javits Center before the show opens. Photo by Derrick Story, captured with a Canon G9.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Missing is this month's photo assignment. This can be taken so many ways. A series of objects with one missing, someone missing someone else, a clear omission... lots to work with here. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Oct. 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "PhotoPlus Expo Recap." You can download the podcast here (28 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Follow me on Twitter

-

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Scanners are good for creating artwork as well as copying it. Think about how hard it would be to properly light and photography this image of an autumn leaf (shown above)? Instead, I placed it on an old flatbed scanner and started experimenting.

In this podcast I talk about ways that you can put your flatbed scanner to use for creating interesting images, especially this time of year for holiday greeting cards and gifts.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Missing is this month's photo assignment. This can be taken so many ways. A series of objects with one missing, someone missing someone else, a clear omission... lots to work with here. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Oct. 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Creating Art with a Flatbed Scanner." You can download the podcast here (20 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Follow me on Twitter

-

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

What were you shooting with in 1997? One of the cameras I had in my hand was a Kodak DC20. This primitive digital camera could hold 8 shots of sub-VGA resolution images (493 x 373). It had no LCD finder, so you had to upload the images via a serial port before you could even see what you had shot. It was focus-free, automatic exposure, ISO 800-1600. And I was fascinated with it.

In this podcast, I pull the DC20 out of the closet, put a battery in it, and connected it to an old PowerBook 1400 that has a serial port and Mac OS 9, which supports the camera software. Why? Because by doing so, I'm able to actually step back into the history of personal digital photography.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Missing is this month's photo assignment. This can be taken so many ways. A series of objects with one missing, someone missing someone else, a clear omission... lots to work with here. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Oct. 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Found Treasure - Kodak DC20." You can download the podcast here (27 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Follow me on Twitter

-

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

I take a look at the article, How to Fail as a Photographer by Allen Murabayashi. In the article, Allen, a photographer and CEO of PhotoShelter, Inc., cites some common beliefs that many photographers have, and shows how they can actually contribute to the failure of your business. Some points I agree with, and others I don't. So I walk you through the article adding my comments along the way.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Missing is this month's photo assignment. This can be taken so many ways. A series of objects with one missing, someone missing someone else, a clear omission... lots to work with here. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Oct. 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Photography Dollars & Sense." You can download the podcast here (25 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Follow me on Twitter

-

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Photos are important, but what about all the work associated with them? If you've spent time keywording, sorting, rating, adding captions, and making non-destructive image edits (XML), then you should be backing up that information too. Because at the end of a year, that work can represent hours upon hours of your time.

In this podcast, I discuss things you need to know about preserving your labor as well as your images. I cover techniques for Lightroom 2.0, Aperture 2.1, and Photoshop CS3.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Missing is this month's photo assignment. This can be taken so many ways. A series of objects with one missing, someone missing someone else, a clear omission... lots to work with here. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Oct. 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "It's Not Just Your Photos at Risk." You can download the podcast here (25 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Adobe has taken the wraps off Photoshop CS4. I've been working with prerelease copies for months, and I have 10 favorite features that I want to share with you in today's podcast. This is a terrific update, and I think you're going to enjoy what Adobe has done with our "must have" photo application.

This means that I also get to announce my new book, The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers. This guide fits nicely in your laptop bag and maps out an easy to use workflow for photographers using CS4 -- everything from upload, to organization, to image editing, and output.

I even included a chapter of Photoshop recipes for portrait retouching, lens distortion correction, color changing, and much, much, more. The Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers gives you everything you need, and nothing you don't. I think you're going to love it.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Quiet is this month's photo assignment. As summer begins to wind down, it's time to change gears a bit and enjoy a few quiet moments. You have lots of latitude for your interpretation of this assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Sept. 30.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Top 10 Photoshop CS4 Features." You can download the podcast here (29 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

How far is too far when it comes to portrait retouching? Do you smooth the skin, brighten teeth, and add sparkle to the eyes? Is it OK to reduce the size of the nose, make the eyes bigger, and take off a few pounds here and there?

Here's a photo of an attractive woman. She looked pretty in the original shot. And because I liked her bone structure, I used her portrait as a retouching example in my upcoming book, The Photoshop Companion. How does this shot look to you? Is it natural, or can you tell that I've done some touch up work in Photoshop?

This is what I grapple with in this week's podcast. I thought by bringing up the topic, you too would figure out where the line is for you when it comes to retouching.

Portrait and Photoshop retouching by Derrick Story.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Quiet is this month's photo assignment. As summer begins to wind down, it's time to change gears a bit and enjoy a few quiet moments. You have lots of latitude for your interpretation of this assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Sept. 30.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Portrait Retouching-Where Do You Draw the Line?" You can download the podcast here (22 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Now Available! The Digital Photography Companion. The official guide for The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club.

• 25 handy and informative tables for quick reference.
• Metadata listings for every photo in the book
• Dedicated chapter on making printing easy.
• Photo management software guide.
• Many, many inside tips gleaned from years of experience.
• Comprehensive (214 pages), yet fits easily in camera bag.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Photoshop World is the biannual gathering of digital manipulation geeks and gurus. I just returned from the latest congregation in Las Vegas. This report covers goodies I saw on the Expo floor, classes, and the Keynote.

If you depend on Photoshop for any part of your workflow, I think you'll find this Photoshop World report useful.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Quiet is this month's photo assignment. As summer begins to wind down, it's time to change gears a bit and enjoy a few quiet moments. You have lots of latitude for your interpretation of this assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Sept. 30.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Photoshop World Gems." You can download the podcast here (31 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Now Available! The Digital Photography Companion. The official guide for The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club.

• 25 handy and informative tables for quick reference.
• Metadata listings for every photo in the book
• Dedicated chapter on making printing easy.
• Photo management software guide.
• Many, many inside tips gleaned from years of experience.
• Comprehensive (214 pages), yet fits easily in camera bag.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

We toss around terms like 50mm, 16mm, and 200mm like everyone knows what they mean. But what are the inherent differences that accompany different focal lengths? In this podcast I spend some time talking about this aspect of lenses.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Quiet is this month's photo assignment. As summer begins to wind down, it's time to change gears a bit and enjoy a few quiet moments. You have lots of latitude for your interpretation of this assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is Sept. 30.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Focal Length." You can download the podcast here (29 minutes). You can also subscribe to the podcast in iTunes

The Digital Story podcasts are available for direct download from Apple iPhones. I've created a special mobile download page here. Just load the page in Safari, browse the podcast line-up, and click on the one you want to listen to.

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our new Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Now Available! The Digital Photography Companion. The official guide for The Digital Story Virtual Camera Club.

• 25 handy and informative tables for quick reference.
• Metadata listings for every photo in the book
• Dedicated chapter on making printing easy.
• Photo management software guide.
• Many, many inside tips gleaned from years of experience.
• Comprehensive (214 pages), yet fits easily in camera bag.

Technorati Tags: digital photography, podcast, technique, Technology, The Digital Story, tips

Add Magic to Your Slideshows -- FotoMagico presentations are so amazing that your audience will be asking how you did it.

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.