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

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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.

I've been recording audio as well as pictures while on assignment. Why? Because have both the sounds and the images allow me to create full-bodied presentations when I return home.

This doesn't mean that you have to carry a big sound rig in your camera bag. In fact, you might already have an audio recording device in there and don't know it. I cover all of this in this week's podcast.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Competition is this month's photo assignment. With the Olympics dominating the sports scene this month, competition seems like a good topic. Your event can be more personal, and doesn't even have to be sports related. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is August 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Capture Sound Too." 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.

My two weeks in Beijing were filled with photo opportunities and travel challenges. In this week's podcast I talk about my experiences in Beijing, the Summer Olympics, how well my packing survived, a peek inside the Main Press Center, and more. It's a fun show.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Competition is this month's photo assignment. With the Olympics dominating the sports scene this month, competition seems like a good topic. Your event can be more personal, and doesn't even have to be sports related. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is August 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Beijing Debrief." 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!

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

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

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

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

The Olympic Media Center has over 200 workstations set to help journalists share Olympic moments with the world. In this podcast, I'll provide some insights about this "city within the city," which will also be my home for the next 10 days.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Competition is this month's photo assignment. With the Olympics dominating the sports scene this month, competition seems like a good topic. Your event can be more personal, and doesn't even have to be sports related. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is August 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Visit to the Olympic Media Center." 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!

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

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

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

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

Tom Hogarty gives an inside perspective on Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 2 during this interview in San Jose, CA. Tom is the product manager for Lightroom, and he is joined by Frederick Johnson who is the marketing manager.

I said up front that I wanted to get right to the good stuff. Tom accommodated nicely and began talking about his favorite features in this major release of Adobe's photo management software. By the end of the interview, we hear dozens of insights and tips about Lightroom 2.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Competition is this month's photo assignment. With the Olympics dominating the sports scene this month, competition seems like a good topic. You event can be more personal, and doesn't even have to be sports related. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is August 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Lightroom 2." 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!

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

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

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

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

The difference between good glass and great glass, is, well, quite glaring. I recently had a chance to work with both in the same conditions. I was on the tennis courts at Stanford University in Northern California for the Bank of the West Classic. I started the day shooting with kit lenses that come with the impressive Olympus E-520. But then I got my hands on some of the Olympus pro glass. Oh my. What fun was that.

In this podcast I talk about my experience on the hardcourt using these different types of lenses. This shot, for example, was captured with the beautiful Zuiko 150mm f-2 (which is equal to 300mm when mounted on the E-520). I loved shooting with that lens.

Photo by Derrick Story with an Olympus E-520 and Zuiko 150mm f-2 lens.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Fire is this month's photo assignment. With Fourth of July behind us, plus wild fires raging across the Northern California landscape, fire is top of mind for me. As always, there are many ways to interpret this assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is July 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Go with the Better Glass." 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!

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

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

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

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

Layers adjustments have been a cornerstone of nondestructive image editing in the modern Photoshop era. But are they always the best way to work on your pictures? In this podcast I explain how to work more efficiently in Adobe Camera Raw, saving the layers workflow for only the specific images that need it.

Monthly Photo Assignment

Fire is this month's photo assignment. With Fourth of July behind us, plus wild fires raging across the Northern California landscape, fire is top of mind for me. As always, there are many ways to interpret this assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Submissions page. Deadline for entry is July 31.

Listen to the Podcast

Now that I've piqued your curiosity, it's time to listen to today's audio show titled, "Photoshop Layers vs Adobe Camera Raw." 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!

Events! See the TDS Event Calendar for photography workshops, speaking engagements, and trade show appearances.

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

Lowepro Bags for Photographers On the Go -- Lowepro gear for every type of camera rig, every type of photographer.

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