PhotoActive

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

We (good-naturedly) wade back into the question of “What makes a REAL photographer?” In this case, we’re talking about shooting using entirely manual controls or using the auto or semi-automatic modes on your camera. (Spoiler: Anyone with a camera is a real photographer.) We discuss when each approach works, and the advantages of knowing how shutter speed, aperture, and ISO all work together. 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) Episode #21 - HDR (High Dynamic Range) Photography Aperture Priority mode (Wikipedia) Shutter Priority mode (Wikipedia) The Exposure Triangle - A Beginner’s Guide (PhotographyLife.com) Episode #8 - Gordon Laing on Taking Great Photos In Camera f/8 and Be There - What We Can Learn from WeeGee’s Philosophy Our Snapshots: Jeff: Road to Seeing, by Dan Winters Kirk: iPhone XS Max 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.

Do you print your photos? Although we know we should make prints, but getting from screen to paper isn’t always easy. It turns out, though, that printing is much easier today than it used to be. In this episode, we welcome photographer and publisher Rick LePage to talk about printing photos at home, from hardware to paper to inks. 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: 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) Kirk's Canon printer Printerville archives Red River Paper Moab Paper Fracture Hahnemuhle FineArt Glossy Inkjet Paper Sample Pack MOAB General Sampler Canon Pro Paper Samples Pack Our Snapshots: Jeff: Moo.com Business Cards Kirk: Magnum square print sale 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.

We’ve talked about using an iPhone as a camera, but what about as a photo editor? The iPhone and iPad have come a long way since the early models, and they’re now quite capable digital darkrooms. But can you do “real” editing on them? Jeff and Kirk reveal how they use their devices with their photos, and cover some of the top editing apps for iOS. 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) The iPad for Photographers, Jeff’s book Photoshop for iPad (Adobe) "Finally: Real Photoshop on the iPad,” The Verge Color Management (Wikipedia) Snapseed Affinity Photo for iPad Review: Affinity Photo for iPad, DPReview Lightroom CC mobile VSCO Our Snapshots: Jeff: USB Camera Battery Charger (be sure to search for a model that supports your camera’s battery) Kirk: Stalker, directed by Andrei Tarkovsky; Kirk's article about Stalker

“HDR” used to bring to mind surreal landscapes with garish colors and very few shadows. Fortunately, high-dynamic range photography has matured beyond those early days, and is a useful technique for getting more detail out of any scene. The latest iPhone and other smartphone cameras use HDR liberally to create good shots in all types of situations. We talk about making HDR photos using traditional cameras and techniques and also the new iPhone's computational methods. 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: Photos of Chipping Campden (Google images) Graduated neutral density filter (round) Graduated neutral density filter (rectangular, requires a holder) Aurora HDR: A Photoversity Guide, Jeff’s book Trey Ratcliffe's HDR The Best Camera Lens Filters, Flashes, and Accessories for Taking Great Photos The iPhone XS is a leap forward in computational photography, Jeff’s article at DPReview Lightroom Classic CC Lightroom CC (which does not have HDR capability) Affinity Photo for desktop Aurora HDR 2019 Our Snapshots: Jeff: SanDisk Rescue Pro software Kirk: Hoya Pro 1 Polarizing filter. (Be sure to search for the diameter that matches your lens.) 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.