
PhotoActive
Jeff Carlson and Kirk McElhearn discuss photography and the Apple ecosystem. We cover using an iPhone or any other camera with Apple hardware and software, and we welcome photographers to discuss their work.
Latest episodes

Jun 5, 2020 • 40min
Episode 69: What to Print, with Rick LePage
The last time we talked with Rick LePage, he gave us the basics of printing your own photos. We’re pleased to welcome him again as a guest to go deeper into the topic, starting with the question: How do you choose what to print? It sounds like an easy query, but we discuss not just what you put on your walls (and which walls), but also how printing helps define you as an artist.
Guest:
Rick LePage
Rick's Instagram
Complete Digital Photography
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Do. The. Work., RickLePage.com
Episode 23: Printing Photos with Rick LePage
West Series 1, RickLePage.com
Episode 2: Managing Photo Libraries
Episode 68: Revisiting Geotagging with HoudahGeo 6.0
Bay Photo
5x7 Glossy and Lustre paper from Red River Paper
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Use your DSLR or Mirrorless camera with Zoom 5 without capture card
Kirk: Minor White, Manifestations of the Spirit, by Paul Martineau
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

May 22, 2020 • 38min
Episode 68: Revisiting Geotagging with HoudahGeo 6.0
With photographers finding themselves with unexpected time on their hands at home, it's a great time to update the location data in the photos in your library. Pierre Bernard joins us again to talk about the new features in his Mac app HoudahGeo 6.0, indulging our lazy photographic habits, and...how HoudahGeo supports scuba divers?
Sponsor
HoudahGeo -- If you want to take photos and remember where they were shot, and your camera doesn't have built-in geotagging, use HoudahGeo 6.0 on the Mac to attach GPS coordinates and location names to your photos. Get 25% off HoudahGeo 6.0 with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://www.houdah.com/houdahGeo/buy.html?coupon=PHOTOACTIVE
Guest:
Pierre Bernard
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
HoudahGeo 6.0
Episode 40: Location Exploration with HoudahGeo
This is What the Crowd of Photographers Looks Like During ‘Firefall’ in Yosemite, PetaPixel
Crisis in our national parks: how tourists are loving nature to death, The Guardian
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Shoot with a Pro, YouTube
Kirk: The Zen of Creativity
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

May 8, 2020 • 42min
Episode 67: Chris Niccolls on Making Videos about Photography
This week we’re joined by Chris Niccolls, co-host (with Jordan Drake) of DPReview TV, one of our favorite video resources about photography. Yes, there are hundreds of photographers on YouTube, but we’ve long enjoyed Chris’s and Jordan’s friendly and knowledgable approach to reviewing photo gear and educating viewers about all aspects of photography and videography.
Guest:
Chris Niccolls, Instagram
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Join the PhotoActive Facebook group
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
DPReview TV, hosted by Chris Niccolls and Jordan Drake
The Camera Store TV
Canon EOS R5: Go big, or go home, DPReview
Fujifilm Acros II Film Review (vs. Acros film simulation)
Leica M10 Monochrom Hands-on Review
FujiFilm X RAW Studio
DPReview TV: The gear that changed my life
The Art of Photography
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Annie Leibovitz at Work
Kirk: USB-C Cable
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Apr 24, 2020 • 34min
Episode 66: Manual Focus Lenses and Jeff's New Luminar Book
The autofocus capabilities in today’s cameras are amazing, so why would anyone buy a lens that offers only manual focus? Jeff and Kirk talk about situations where autofocus isn’t a consideration, such as buying inexpensive fast lenses or using an adapter to mount one brand’s lenses on another brand’s camera (like Nikon lenses on a Fujifilm body). We also chat about Jeff’s just-released book, The Photographer’s Guide to Luminar 4. We’ll be giving away a few copies to subscribers of the PhotoActive mailing list, and we also have a 40% discount code to share.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Examples of SX-70 photo manipulations at Flickr
Peter Gabriel album cover. The photo was taken with a Polaroid SX-70 instant camera. The sleeve's designer Storm Thorgerson said: "Peter himself joined with us at Hipgnosis in disfiguring himself by manipulating Polaroids as they 'developed' ... Peter impressed us greatly with his ability to appear in an unflattering way, preferring the theatrical or artistic to the cosmetic."
Episode #16: Buying and Selling Camera Gear
Fotodiox Pro Lens Mount Adapter, Nikon G Lens to Fujifilm X Camera Body (X-Mount), $60, the adapter Jeff owns
Fringer EF-FX PRO II EOS to Fujifilm FX Adapter, a Canon adapter that works with autofocus
Fujinon XF56mmF1.2 R
Fujifilm interview: 'We will get through this crisis together’
The Photographer’s Guide to Luminar 4
Episode 59: Luminar 4 and Its AI Emphasis
Luminar 4
Jeff Carlson Luminar 4 Rocky Nook Webinar: YouTube, WebinarJam
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Tripod Boom Arm
Kirk: Sofa Sessions: Conversations with Martin Parr
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Apr 10, 2020 • 50min
Episode 65: Barney Britton on the Future of the Camera Industry
Camera sales worldwide have steadily decreased over the past several years, and now COVID-19 has thrown everything into disarray. Where is the camera industry headed? Special guest Barney Britton, Senior Editor at DPReview, joins Kirk and Jeff to talk about the factors that are contributing to these shifts. It’s not all grim news, though, and we also talk about what changes and advancements we might see in the near future.
Guest:
Barney Britton, website, Instagram
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Join the PhotoActive Facebook group
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Camera Sales Are Falling Sharply, Om Malick
Alec Soth | Photographer (video)
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: A Photographer's Guide to Navigating the Pandemic, Colby Brown
Kirk: I Know How Furiously Your Heart is Beating, Alec Soth
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Mar 20, 2020 • 41min
Episode 64: Creativity Is Problem Solving, with David duChemin
Creativity Is Problem Solving, with David duChemin
A few months ago when we invited David duChemin to return as a PhotoActive guest to talk about his new book The Heart of the Photograph, we had no idea it would be at the disruptive beginning of a global pandemic. We talk with David about being creative in this new situation, and how creativity can translate into resiliency. Then we focus on his book, and the questions it raises for how we approach making and working with photographs.
Guest:
David duChemin
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Join the PhotoActive Facebook group
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
The Heart of the Photograph, David’s new book
A Beautiful Anarchy podcast, Better Questions? episode
Ellsworth Kelly, Photographs
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Exify app
Kirk: Time to step back and take a deep breath.
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Mar 13, 2020 • 33min
Episode 63: Sharing Photos
Photos are meant to be shared, but with digital photos the options multiply. In this episode, Kirk McElhearn and Jeff Carlson look at several ways to share photos with friends and family.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Mail Drop limits, Apple
How to Use AirDrop to Securely Share or Transfer Files
Use Shared Albums in Photos, Apple
Inside iOS 12: Photos Encourages More Engagement
How to remove GPS location data from photos on iPhone or Mac
How to Easily Share Lightroom Photos to a Group, CreativePro
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Focos app, revisited
Kirk: Plex
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Feb 28, 2020 • 36min
Episode 62: Photos App Extensions with Nik Bhatt
Gentleman Coder Nik Bhatt returns to help explain a complicated topic with Apple’s Photos app: Photos Extensions. If you want to use another tool to edit images beyond what Photos offers, you can load that software’s editing tools within Photos. It seems straightforward, but soon gets tricky if you want to go back and adjust some of your edit settings or even if you perform a minor edit in Photos first. If you’ve ever been confused about the differences between Photos Extensions and the “Edit with” feature (which do two very different things), especially for raw files, this is the episode for you.
Guest:
Nik Bhatt
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Join the PhotoActive Facebook group
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
RAW Power app
The Ins and Outs of Non-destructive Editing in Photos for Mac and iOS, by Nik Bhatt at TidBITS
The DNG format, Adobe
Linear DNG, Barry Pearson
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Mesh Laundry Bags
Kirk: Zen Camera: Creative Awakening with a Daily Practice in Photography
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Feb 14, 2020 • 40min
Episode 61: Choosing What to Photograph
A listener in the PhotoActive Facebook group asks a great question, “How do I choose a subject to shoot?” In this episode, Kirk and Jeff explore how they approach a scene, with groups of photos from deliberate photo shoots that seek to answer that question.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Jeff's Photo gallery for this episode
Kirk’s Photo gallery for this episode
Episode #13: Aspect Ratios and Why They’re Important
Clise Mansion, Marymoor Park
Fujinon XF 27mm f/2.8 lens
Fujinon XF 50mm f/2.0 lens
Kirk was mistaken about the Vermeer painting. It's Study of a Young Woman
The Colourful Mr Eggleston documentary
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: MILK Photo Books
Kirk: Ellsworth Kelly, Photographs
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Jan 31, 2020 • 36min
Episode 60: Machine Learning with Andrius Gailiunas and Pixelmator Pro
On this week’s episode, we’re joined by Andrius Gailiunas of Pixelmator to talk about machine learning and how it powers some of the features in Pixelmator Pro. In particular, we’re impressed with ML Super Resolution, a way to enlarge photos beyond their original dimensions while retaining quality and crispness.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Pixelmator Pro
Pixelmator Photo on iPad
Pixelmator Pro’s ML Super Resolution Feature Offers Quality Upscaling, Kirkville.com
All about the new ML Super Resolution feature in Pixelmator Pro, Pixelmator.com
Leica M10 Monochrom review – Amateur Photographer
Snapshots:
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Neewer 24 inches / 60 Centimeters 5 in 1 Collapsible Triangle Multi Camera Lighting Reflector Diffuser Kit with Grip and Carrying Case for Photography (Translucent, Silver, Gold, White and Black)
Kirk: Leica M10 Monochrom
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.
Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.