

PhotoActive
Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 18, 2019 • 36min
Episode 34: Ben Long's Complete Digital Photography
Author, educator, photographer, and all-around knowledgeable guy Ben Long joins us this week to talk about the 9th — yes, ninth — edition of his comprehensive book “Complete Digital Photography.” We cover how photography and people’s expectations about photography have changed since the early versions of the book.
Sponsor
Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.photography
Guest:
Ben Long (Complete Digital Photography, Instagram)
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)
Production Note: We’ve decided to change the frequency of episode releases to fortnightly (every two weeks) due to current commitments we both have.
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Complete Digital Photography, Ninth Edition, by Ben Long
Pentti Sammallahti
Richard Misrach
Desert Cantos, by Richard Misrach
Jerry Uellsman
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey Aluminum Tripod Kit w/ AirHed Neo
Kirk: Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 Aluminum Tripod with SBH-100 Ball Head
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Jan 14, 2019 • 34min
Episode 33: The Language of Photo Editing
When we edit photos, we have a good idea of what the Exposure slider does—it makes everything brighter or darker throughout the image. But you’ll also find controls for Whites, Brightness, Brilliance, and others, depending on the software. What’s the difference? In this episode, Kirk and Jeff look at just what various editing controls do, so you have a better idea of which ones to use and how they affect your images.
Sponsor
Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.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!
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: OWC USB-C Travel Dock
Kirk: Use your iPhone light as a flashlight
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Jan 4, 2019 • 29min
Episode 32: New Year's Photo Ideas
What is 2019 going to look like? While we aren’t interested in making resolutions that are easily forgotten or ignored, we do have lots of ideas to spark your photographic creativity. Chief among those: Be less critical more often.
Sponsor
Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.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!
Episode #14 - Chris Marquardt Goes Wide-Angle
Leica M Monochrom
#chimping at Instagram
#shakespearehouse at Instagram
#kerryparkseattle at Instagram
Oblique Strategies cards
Obliques app (iOS)
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: The Photo Ark: One Man’s Quest to Document the World’s Animals, by Joel Sartore and Douglas H. Chadwick
Kirk: Apple Pencil 2
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Dec 28, 2018 • 33min
Episode 31: The Benefits of Digital Asset Managers
Do you store your photos in an application or in specific locations on your hard disk? In this episode, Jeff and Kirk talk about the advantages of using a Digital Asset Manager (DAM) such as Apple Photos, Lightroom, or Luminar.
Sponsor
Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.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!
Affinity Photo
Luminar
Adobe Lightroom CC
Adobe Lightroom Classic CC
Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan
Take Control of Lightroom CC
Alien Skin Exposure X4
Dropbox
First look: Skylum Luminar 3 adds support for photo libraries, Digital Asset Manager to follow, by Jeff Carlson, at DPReview
Luminar Roadmap, Skylum.com
The Photographer’s Guide to Luminar, by Jeff Carlson (forthcoming)
Buy Luminar using this link and help support PhotoActive (Affiliate link)
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Lumy app
Kirk: American Winter, by Gerry Johansson
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Dec 21, 2018 • 36min
Episode 30: Jason Snell Takes Control of Apple Photos
If you want to learn all about something, write a book about it. Or, to avoid yourself a lot of work, read someone else’s book about it! Jason Snell has written several versions of his book Take Control of Photos, and he joins us to talk about what’s new in Apple’s photo software and ecosystem for the Mac and iOS devices. We also talk about making print books and calendars, features that were removed from Photos earlier this year, and how machine learning is going to play a more important role in photo software.
Sponsor
Luma Labs - Everyone needs a camera strap that is both comfortable and practical. The Luma Loop lets you carry your camera as a sling or snug to your body when you’re not using it. The Luma Loop’s mounting hardware is custom designed so you don’t have to choose between a strap or a tripod mount. Get 10% off any purchase with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://luma-labs.com
Guest:
Jason Snell (SixColors.com, Twitter, Instagram)
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!
Take Control of Photos
iCloud Storage Plans and Prices
Samsung T5 Portable SSD - 2TB - USB 3.1 External SSD
Books and calendars in Photos for Mac: What are the best options?, SixColors.com
Motif
Mimeo Photos
Shutterfly
Luma Labs from the factory floor Instagram account
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Whoosh! Screen Shine ($13)
Kirk: SD Card Reader
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Dec 14, 2018 • 27min
Episode 29: Christmas Gift Guide
Jeff and Kirk do their first Christmas gift guide. But they don't choose (much) gear.
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)
Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Wipes
Henri Cartier-Bresson: The Decisive Moment
Pete Souza: Obama: An Intimate Portrait
Georgia O'Keeffe: One Hundred Flowers
Seagate Expansion 2TB Portable External Hard Drive
Michael Kenna: Huangshan: The Yellow Mountain
Michael Kenna's gallery of his Huangshan photos
Peak Design Everyday Backpack or Everyday Messenger Bag
Planet Earth II / Blue Planet II
Peter Lik
Amazon (or other) gift cards
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Dec 7, 2018 • 27min
Episode 28: Low-Light Photography
The winter months are dark for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, so how do you create good photos in dimly lit environments? Your camera wants to make the best exposure possible, but in low-light situations, that can lead to long shutter speeds and blurry camera motion. Kirk and Jeff cover the many options for dealing with dark scenes in this episode.
Sponsor
Luma Labs - Everyone needs a camera strap that is both comfortable and practical. The Luma Loop lets you carry your camera as a sling or snug to your body when you’re not using it. The Luma Loop’s mounting hardware is custom designed so you don’t have to choose between a strap or a tripod mount. Get 10% off any purchase with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://luma-labs.com
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!
Amazon Basics Monopod
An Introduction to the Inverse Square Law, Digital Photography School
Episode #21 - HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography
Luma Labs from the factory floor Instagram account
Night Sight camera update for Pixel 3 is awesome, CNET
Leica M10 Sample Images
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Strobist
Kirk: Grant Simon Rogers (Instagram)
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Nov 30, 2018 • 29min
Episode 27: Flying High with Ian Schray and Drones
In traditional photography, a great piece of advice is to “zoom with your feet,” or, move yourself closer to a subject. What happens when the subject is 400 feet high? Or you want a unique viewpoint that wouldn’t be possible without a crane? This week we talk to Ian Schray about flying drones: quadcopters outfitted with cameras.
Guest:
Ian Schray (Twitter)
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!
The Committed Podcast
DJI Drones
DJI Pantom 2 V2.0 Quadcopter
DJI Phantom 4 Quadcopter (Ian’s model)
DJI Mavic Pro 1 (Jeff’s model)
DJI Mavic Pro 2
FAA Unmanned Aircraft Systems information
DJI Fly Safe information
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Fstop Labs Accessories for DJI Mavic Pro/Platinum/Alpine White - Transport Clip Controller Transmitter Joystick Protector
Kirk: 133 Countries from Above, by Yann Arthus-Bertrand
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Nov 23, 2018 • 37min
Episode 26: RAW Power 2.0
This week we’re joined by Nik Bhatt, former developer of Aperture and iPhoto at Apple and now a distinguished gentleman at Gentlemen Coders. Using his deep knowledge of how Apple’s raw photo editing engine works, Nik has just released RAW Power 2.0, an app for macOS and iOS. We talk about RAW Power’s unique features and learn some of the fascinating ins and outs of raw image processing.
Sponsor
Gentlemen Coders, RAW Power 2.0 lets you process raw files on your Mac with full control over Apple’s raw engine, offering features previously available only in Aperture. It has exceptional highlight recovery, as well as noise reduction, capture sharpening, gamut mapping, and more. RAW Power also works with JPEGs, TIFFs, and other standard image formats. RAW Power 2.0 runs as an extension in Apple Photos or as a standalone app. RAW Power 2.0 for iOS is a full photo library app that offers the same features, and works with your existing Photos library. Learn more at rawpower.app.
Guest:
Nik Bhatt
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!
RAW Power for macOS
RAW Power for iOS
Episode #6 - Raw vs. JPEG
Hands-on: RAW Power for iOS, DPReview
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2018)
Kirk: Any Tripod
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.

Nov 16, 2018 • 32min
Episode 25: Understanding iCloud Photo Library
If you use Apple’s Photos app on your Mac or iOS device, are you also synchronizing your images via iCloud Photo Library? In this week’s episode, Jeff and Kirk talk about the pros and cons of Apple’s cloud service for photos. Why should you consider it? What are the downsides? And if you have your images in the cloud, is that considered a backup? (No, it’s not. We explain why.)
Sponsor
Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.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!
Take Control of Your Digital Photos, by Jeff Carlson
The Next Track podcast
Set Up and Use iCloud Photos, Apple
Manage your photo and video storage, Apple
Buy more iCloud storage, Apple
Spect app
Photo browser utilities for the Mac: Quickly sort through a photo shoot, Macworld
Inside iOS 12: Photos Encourages More Engagement, TidBITS
iMazing HEIC Converter
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Mini Gaffer Tape Rolls
Kirk: Everyday Photography Every Day podcast by Michael Rubin and Suzanne Fritz-Hanson
Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list 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 to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.
If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes 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.