
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

Jul 27, 2018 • 33min
Episode 9: Instagram for Photographers
In this episode, we turn our attention to something that often takes too much of our attention: Instagram. It's an annoying time trap filled with hucksters, motivational imagery, and so, so many selfies; while also being one of the world's richest resources for experiencing all kinds of photography.
Sponsor
Take Control Books. Get 30% off any Take Control Books purchase with the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE. Go to www.takecontrolbooks.com/photoactive
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
#catsofinstagram
rouxroamer
Joel Meyerowitz
Kirk’s Shakuhachi picture
#britishshorthair
#giantpandacubs
@natgeo
@magnumphotos
@somewheremagazine
@our.magazine
@fujifilmglobal
#fujifilmglobal
@photobookstore
@therealpeterlinburg
Kirk's article How to Post to Instagram from Safari on a Mac
Apple iPhone Photos
#shotoniphone
Instagram reaches 1 billion active users, DPReview
Our snapshots:
Jeff: Palette System; Palette system review in DPReview
Kirk: A macro lens (any brand); mine is the Fuji 60mm
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.

Jul 20, 2018 • 40min
Episode 8: Episode #8 - Gordon Laing on Taking Great Photos In Camera
We chat with Gordon Laing about how to take great photos without post-processing, by taking advantage of the capabilities of your camera.
Guest
Gordon Laing, Camera Labs
Gordon Laing on Instagram
His book In Camera
Sponsor
Charcoal Book Club. Get 10% off a membership to regularly receive photo books. Go to www.charcoalbookclub.com and use the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE to get the discount automatically.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
Fujifilm film simulations
Our snapshots:
Jeff: Cable Matters 480 GB Thunderbolt 3 SSD
Kirk: LFI Magazine
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.

Jul 13, 2018 • 36min
Episode 7: Do You Really Need All That Gear?
We all end up carrying too much gear. In this episode, we discuss the mistakes that we've made with gear, and when and why we need certain types of gear.
Sponsor
Take Control Books. Get 30% off any Take Control Books purchase with the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE. Go to www.takecontrolbooks.com/photoactive
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
Peak Design Everyday Messenger Bag
Camera bag insert that can go in any bag
Peak Design Everyday Backpack 20L
GorillaPod
Popa
Anker portable battery pack (one of many models available)
A set of neutral density filters and mount
Zeiss lens wipes
Collapsible reflectors
The iPad for Photographers: Master the Newest Tool in Your Camera Bag
WD 250GB My Passport Wireless SSD External Portable Drive with SD Card Slot
Take Control of Your Digital Storage
Our snapshots:
Jeff: The Photographer's Ephemeris
Kirk: Helping Hands
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.

Jul 5, 2018 • 31min
Episode 6: Raw vs. Jpeg
We explain what raw image files are, and discuss the balance between shooting in raw, jpeg, or both. And explain how to shoot in raw on the iPhone.
Sponsor
Charcoal Book Club. Get 10% off a membership to regularly receive photo books. Go to www.charcoalbookclub.com and use the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE to get the discount automatically.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
Halide Camera
Adobe Lightroom CC
Raw bit depth is about dynamic range, not the number of colors you get to capture
How to Work with RAW and JPEG Files in Apple’s Photos App
Our snapshots:
Jeff: Fotodiox Pro Lens Mount Adapter (Nikon to Fuji X)
Kirk: Readly
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.

Jun 29, 2018 • 34min
Episode 5: Wenmei Hill on Personal Photo Projects
We welcome Wenmei Hill to talk about her work as Editorial Manager at DPReview, volunteering with the organization Soulumination, and inspiring and helping women become better photographers as part of Mamas with Cameras.
Sponsor
Take Control Books. Get 30% off any Take Control Books purchase with the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE. Go to www.takecontrolbooks.com/photoactive
Guest:
Wenmei Hill
Wenmei Hill on Instagram
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
DPReview
Soulumination
Mamas with Cameras
Our snapshots:
Anatomy of a Studio Portrait, by John Cornicello
Peak Design Cuff
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.

Jun 22, 2018 • 31min
Episode 4: Mastering iPhone Photography
We talk about the many advanced features that the iPhone's camera contains, and explain some tips and shortcuts that can make your iPhone photos better.
Sponsor
Charcoal Book Club. Get 10% off a membership to regularly receive photo books. Go to www.charcoalbookclub.com and use the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE to get the discount automatically.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
Specs for each iPhone model
Use Portrait mode on the iPhone
Apple Doesn't Want Coders Messing With iPhone Buttons — Sometimes (article about the Camera+ app using the volume buttons to trigger the shutter)
Take and edit Live Photos
Jeff's iPhone 8 Plus sample gallery
HDR is enabled by default on the iPhone 8 Plus, and that's a really good thing
PhotoActive Facebook group; find the secret word you need to join the group at the end of the podcast.
Our snapshots:
Apple how to Shoot on iPhone videos
Mont St. Michel, by Michael Kenna
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.

Jun 15, 2018 • 33min
Episode 3: Black & White
Jeff Carlson and Kirk McElhearn chat about black and white photos: the history of black and white photography, the various ways you can convert your photos to black and white, and how you can shoot and think in black and white.
Sponsor
Take Control Books. Get 30% off any Take Control Books purchase with the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE. Go to www.takecontrolbooks.com/photoactive
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
Kodachrome (Wikipedia)
Joel Meyerowitz Towards Color: 1962-1978
Joel Meyerowitz: Cape Light
Aperture
Joel Meyerowitz, color street photography
Leica M Monochrom
Red Dot Forum review of first version of the Leica M Monochrom "Henri", review of second version "Elliot"
Thorsten Overgaard review of first version of the Leica M Monochrom; review of second version
PhotoActive Facebook group; find the secret word you need to join the group at the end of the podcast
Our snapshots:
Bitcam
Black and White Photography magazine
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.

Jun 8, 2018 • 32min
Episode 2: Managing Photo Libraries
Jeff Carlson and Kirk McElhearn discuss why you want some sort of photo library in place, such as Photos or Lightroom, and their different approaches to managing their images. We dig into software, keywords, machine learning-based search, and the advantages (and annoyances) of cloud-based libraries.
Sponsor
Charcoal Book Club. Get 10% off a membership to regularly receive photo books. Go to www.charcoalbookclub.com and use the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE to get the discount automatically.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
Jeff's book Take Control of Your Digital Photos
Jeff's book Take Control of Lightroom CC
iCloud Photo Library
“I only ever take one picture of one thing. Literally. Never two. So then that picture is taken and then the next one is waiting somewhere else.” William Eggelston
The Next Track: a podcast about how people listen to music today
iCloud storage plans and pricing
Adobe Creative Cloud
Luminar 2018
Affinity Photo
PhotoActive Facebook group; find the secret word you need to join the group at the end of the podcast
Our snapshots:
William Eggleston: Los Alamos exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (now closed) “I am at war with the obvious."
Kirk's review of Los Alamos Revisited
Todd Hido, Intimate Distance
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.

May 30, 2018 • 34min
Episode 1: Introducing the PhotoActive Podcast
Jeff Carlson and Kirk McElhearn introduce PhotoActive, a podcast about photography and the Apple ecosystem. We explain what we plan to cover in this podcast, and how you can participate.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Sponsor
Take Control Books. Get 30% off any Take Control Books purchase with the coupon code PHOTOACTIVE. Go to www.takecontrolbooks.com/photoactive
Show notes:
See the full show notes, including photos, screenshots, and more, here.
Jeff's article from 2006 about his experience shooting photos in South Africa; with a 6 megapixel camera
Canon PowerShot S3
Olympus OM-10
Olympus OM-D E-M1
Michael Kenna: Holga
PhotoActive Facebook group; find the secret word you need to join the group at the end of the podcast
Our snapshots:
Focos app
Peak Design Cuff Camera Wrist Strap
If you like the show, please [subscribe in iTunes](LINKTK) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.