

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

Jun 3, 2024 • 36min
Episode 164: M4 iPad Pro
Apple has released the new M4-powered iPad Pro, and Kirk bought one straightaway. Is it worth buying for photographers? Plus, we mention what’s changed in the new Lightroom releases and welcome a new sponsor: Photo Scout by Cascable!
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Sponsor:
Photo Scout from Cascable
Photo Scout is an app for people who love to take photos, but don’t love checking sunset calculators, aurora reports, and weather forecasts every single day. Simply tell Photo Scout what you want and it’ll keep an eye on everything for you and notify you when it’s time to go get that perfect shot.
Need a particularly vibrant sunset? The moon perched directly atop a mountaintop? The sun hitting that perfect spot in the sky? Photo Scout has you covered with all that and more - you say where, we say when. Check it out with a free trial today!
Find it at photo-scout.app.
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Snapshots:
Jeff’s snapshot: Fujifilm XF16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 LM WR Sample Gallery, DPReview
Kirk’s snapshot: Pen Tips
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 17, 2024 • 40min
Episode 163: Photo Criticism
Part of enjoying photography is understanding photography. What makes a “good” photo? How much of that is based on the circumstances around its creation? In this episode, we talk about looking at photography with a critical eye.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Sponsor:
Nitro from Gentlemen Coders
Nitro is the brand new photo editor and manager from the developer of RAW Power. Designed for every photographer and every photograph, Nitro combines flexible storage options, unmatched camera support, and professional editing tools. If you liked Aperture or RAW Power, you’ll love Nitro.
On the editing side, Nitro includes full masking support with AI masks, gradients, and brushes. Remove dust blemishes and other imperfections using Clone and Spot Removal tools. And, just like RAW Power, you can apply raw-specific tone and tuning adjustments. Nitro gives you more control over Apple's RAW decoder than any other app.
For organizing, your photos can live in Apple’s Photos library or in the file system, with support for XMP sidecars and synchronizing metadata and edits with iCloud Photo Library. Nitro also supports more cameras and formats than Photos, Darkroom, or Photomator, including compressed Fujifilm raw files. And while comparing shots, synchronize pan and zoom up to 16 images at a time.
Try Nitro for free for 7 days without any obligation. No subscription signup, no nonsense.
Check it out at [https://nitrophoto.app](nitrophoto.app).
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Episode 155: Favorites from The Photo Book
Fotografiska Museum, Stockholm
Rinko Kawauchi at Fotografiska
John Berger:
Ways of Seeing
Ways of Seeing website
Understanding a Photograph
Geoff Dyer:
See/Saw
The Ongoing Moment
The Street Philosophy of Garry Winogrand
Susan Sontag: On Photography
Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable
Miles Davis, 1958, by Dennis Stock
Episode 144: Wrangling Libraries with Matthieu Kopp
Peakto Search for Lightroom Classic: Using AI to search the contents of your photos, DPReview
Snapshots:
Jeff’s snapshot: Peakto Search
Kirk’s snapshot: Jonathan Jones: Earthly Delights: A History of the Renaissance
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 3, 2024 • 35min
Episode 162: Gear Acquisition Syndrome
Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) is a running joke among photographers (and musicians), but it's also a real thing that can spin us up with the desire to buy some new camera or lens. We look at what drives this compulsion, and try to be honest about whether it affects us as photographers.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Sponsor:
Nitro from Gentlemen Coders
Nitro is the brand new photo editor and manager from the developer of RAW Power. Designed for every photographer and every photograph, Nitro combines flexible storage options, unmatched camera support, and professional editing tools. If you liked Aperture or RAW Power, you’ll love Nitro.
On the editing side, Nitro includes full masking support with AI masks, gradients, and brushes. Remove dust blemishes and other imperfections using Clone and Spot Removal tools. And, just like RAW Power, you can apply raw-specific tone and tuning adjustments. Nitro gives you more control over Apple's RAW decoder than any other app.
For organizing, your photos can live in Apple’s Photos library or in the file system, with support for XMP sidecars and synchronizing metadata and edits with iCloud Photo Library. Nitro also supports more cameras and formats than Photos, Darkroom, or Photomator, including compressed Fujifilm raw files. And while comparing shots, synchronize pan and zoom up to 16 images at a time.
Try Nitro for free for 7 days without any obligation. No subscription signup, no nonsense.
Check it out at [https://nitrophoto.app](nitrophoto.app).
Show Notes:
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
The Next Track podcast
Episode 159: Fuji X100VI and the Appeal of Small Fixed-Lens Cameras
Peak Design Sling Bags
MPB.com
Snapshots:
Jeff’s snapshot: Photographer documentary series
Kirk’s snapshot: Riply series
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 5, 2024 • 39min
Episode 161: Nitro with Nik Bhatt
Gentleman Coder Nik Bhatt returns to talk about Nitro, his all-new photo editor for macOS (and soon, iOS and iPadOS). As the successor to RAW Power, Nitro has a lot to live up to. Nik talks about what prompted him to build a new app from the ground up, adding new features like masking, supporting cameras that Apple ignores, and more.
Guest:
Nik Bhatt
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Nitro
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 22, 2024 • 36min
Episode 160: Primed by Seeing
We were recently asked about where we find inspiration while making photos, which led Kirk and Jeff to muse on the idea of being primed to find photo subjects. It’s not enough to arrive at a destination with a blank slate—you’ll create better photos and enjoy the experience more if you prime yourself to see what’s in front of you. That can come from photo books, online photos of the same area, and more.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Behind the Gare Saint Lazare
Episode 155: Favorites from The Photo Book
Episode 157: Photos at the High End: Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C
Snapshots:
Jeff’s snapshot: Leica SL3 Sample Gallery, DPReview
Kirk’s snapshot: The Creative Act: a Way of Being, Rick Rubin
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 8, 2024 • 34min
Episode 159: Fuji X100VI and the Appeal of Small Fixed-Lens Cameras
The podcast discusses the hype around the Fujifilm X100VI camera, its predecessor's high demand, and backorders. They explore the appeal of compact fixed-lens cameras, limitations enhancing creativity, and the impact and supply challenges of the X100VI. Also, they talk about the joy of using small fixed-lens cameras for casual photography.

Feb 23, 2024 • 35min
Episode 158: AI Revisited
In five years, will our cameras look anything like today’s cameras? We’ve seen staggering advancements in AI technologies in photography, so in this episode we stretch our imaginations to think about where things are headed.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Episode 157: Photos at the High End: Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C
Samsung Argues That There is ‘No Such Thing as a Real Picture’
Back to the Future Deep Fake
Snapshots:
Jeff’s snapshot: Padcaster Parrot Pro Teleprompter
Kirk’s snapshot: Retrobatch 2
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 9, 2024 • 33min
Episode 157: Photos at the High End: Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C
What would you do with 100 megapixels? Jeff recently had the opportunity to shoot with the new Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C, a medium format camera in the form factor of Hasselblad’s classic film bodies. This $8,200 (body only, of course) system made him rethink the photographic muscle memory he’s developed over the years, as well as the mental-muscle-memory of how to approach making photos.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Hasselblad 907X/CFV 100C
Hasselblad 907X/CFV 100C sample gallery at DPReview
What’s so special about this $8,200 Hasselblad?, Becca Farsace at The Verge
One of the most UNIQUE cameras I’ve ever used, Manny Ortiz
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 26, 2024 • 39min
Episode 156: The Rescue Mission with Derrick Story
It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the photos on your old hard drives are perfectly safe. But are they really? Our guest Derrick Story needed to extract 200,000 images saved in Apple’s discontinued Aperture software on an old Drobo storage array. Using a combination of an old MacBook that could run Aperture and modern software like Peakto for organizing the extracted images, he was able to restore them all.
Guest:
Derrick Story
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
The Digital Story (Derrick’s site, newsletter, podcast, photography, and more)
The Rescue Mission (Medium Guest Link)
Peakto
Mylio
Episode 144: Wrangling Libraries with Matthieu Kopp
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Moonfire: The Epic Journey of Apollo 11
Kirk: Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection
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.
ALT: An old church door with large trees growing against the wall flanking the door. Black and white image.

Dec 15, 2023 • 36min
Episode 155: Favorites from The Photo Book
To wrap up the year, we thought we’d turn our attention to selections from The Photo Book, a massive, rich collection of photography from some of the best photographers throughout the history of the art form. Out of hundreds of images, we each picked five photos and explain what about them caught our eyes.
Hosts:
Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Order your copy of The Photo Book, Second Edition
Pete Souza episode - Photocombobulate podcast (Jeff confused his podcasts; he talked to Pete Souza on his other podcast Photocombobulate.)
Jeff’s Picks:
Lessing, Erich: Erich Lessing's best photograph: Eisenhower raises his hat to peace
Meisel, Steven: Untitled, 1996
Pinkhassov, Gueirgui: Tokyo, Japan, 1997
Salgado, Sebastião: Serra Pelada Goldmine, Pará, Brazil, 1986
Bubley, Esther: Greyhound Bus Terminal, New York City, 1947
Kirk’s Picks:
Carjat, Etienne: Charles Baudelaire, 1978
Sammallahti, Pentti: Ristisaari, Finland (Frog in Water), 1974
Erwitt, Elliot: USA, New York City, 1974
Moriyama, Daido: Woman, Yokosuka, 1970
Larrain, Sergio: Passage Bavestrello. Valparaiso, Chile. 1952
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.