PhotoActive

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn
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Aug 4, 2023 • 31min

Episode 147: Is Photo Editing Too Difficult?

Exploring the complexities of photo editing software, the evolution from analog to digital tools, and the impact of advanced editing software on photography. Contrasting tailored features of software like Lightroom with broader toolsets like Photoshop. Discussing simplified editing for amateurs with Apple Photos and the constraints of Apple's editing features. Exploring DJI Air 3 drone features and challenges with the Peak Design Micro Clutch camera grip.
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Jul 21, 2023 • 41min

Episode 146: Tea and Coffee

When we record PhotoActive, Kirk is at the end of his day in the U.K. and Jeff has just begun in Seattle, which means we both start off with steaming mugs of our favorite caffeinated beverages. For a change, we thought we’d make this the tea and coffee episode, essential ingredients for any photographer. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! YESPLZ coffee subscription Creama.co coffee subscription Morning coffee ritual article Jeff’s Coffee Gear: Acaia Black Pearl scale, ~$250 Cosori Pour Over, $30 La Pavoni Europiccolo, $1000 OXO Brew Gooseneck Kettle, $100 Rancilio Rocky grinder, $440 Timestamped content: 00:01:40 Coffee and tea's importance in photography. 00:03:49 Tea: a delicious beverage that enhances experiences. 00:07:30 College student finds love in caffeine-infused coffee. 00:12:53 Espresso in Italy and ritual of coffee. 00:15:45 Types of tea: white, yellow, green, oolong, black. 00:20:16 First flush harvest of Darjeeling tea. 00:24:40 Tea: A daily ritual with segmented breaks. 00:26:33 Instant coffee has improved in taste. 00:30:52 Bad matcha, learn to make it. Expensive or insipid if not done right. 00:35:29 Try different teas, don't be scared. 00:38:11 Chinese jasmine tea: hint of jasmine, good. Bad: bitter, visible flowers. Earl Grey: interesting, bergamot. Flavored teas: like cheap wine, added fruits. 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.
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Jul 7, 2023 • 36min

Episode 145: Kirk Simplifies with One Camera

He really went and did it. When Kirk decided to simplify his photography setup, he sold all of his Fujifilm cameras and lenses, put the Leica Q2 Monochrom up for sale, and bought a brand new Leica Q3. In this episode, we talk about the reasons behind such a drastic move and the advantages of simplifying your gear. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! Leica Q3 Leica Q3 Initial Review, DPReview Episode 137: Zoom Lenses with Chris Niccolls Episode 68: Revisiting Geotagging with HoudahGeo 6.0 Our Snapshots: Jeff: ON1 Photo Keyword AI Kirk: Dark Passage movie 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.
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Jun 23, 2023 • 35min

Episode 144: Wrangling Libraries with Matthieu Kopp

If you’re like Jeff and Kirk, you probably have multiple photo libraries spread across your disks. Whether it’s because you use several editing apps, or some libraries are tied to outdated applications (RIP Apple Aperture), you don’t want to lose track of all those photos. This week, Matthieu Kopp of CYME joins us to talk about converting and managing multiple libraries using CYME’s utilities Avalanche and Peakto, and why both tasks aren’t as simple as you might think. Guest: Matthieu Kopp, CYME 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! Avalanche Peakto Special deal! CYME is offering a 20% discount on their utilities Peakto and Avalanche until July 23, 2023 using the code PHOTOACTIVE20 at checkout when purchasing from CYME. Our Snapshots: Jeff: Greg Williams Photo Breakdowns: The Stories Behind 100 Portraits Kirk: Kindle Scribe 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.
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Jun 9, 2023 • 37min

Episode 143: Mike Shaw Wants You to Enjoy the Stars

The weather is warming up, the skies are clearing, and we point our eyes and cameras to the sky. But capturing the night sky well requires more than just snapping a photo of the heavens. Mike Shaw, author of the new book The Beginner’s Guide to Astrophotography, joins us to talk about what gear you need—yes, you can do it with a smartphone!—and how to make stunning star photos. Guest: Mike Shaw, Instagram 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 Beginner's Guide to Astrophotography, by Mike Shaw. Use code SHAW10 when buying from Rocky Nook to get 10% off. International Dark Sky Association [The World At Night (TWAN)](twanight.com) Planit Pro app Our Snapshots: Jeff: Skylight Forecast Kirk: That Stunning ‘Succession’ Emotional Set Piece Was Shot as a Single 27-Minute Take 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.
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May 26, 2023 • 36min

Episode 142: Photomator

The folks behind Pixelmator Pro have just released Photomator for Mac, iPhone, and iPad, and it’s won us over. Designed as a straightforward photo editor (versus the can-do-everything that is Pixelmator Pro), Photomator is surprisingly deep for an app that on the surface is non-intimidating. In this episode, we look at the new Mac version and why it’s likely to become Kirk’s main photo editor. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! Photomator Pixelmator Pro Acorn Episode 141: You Say You Want a Resolution Episode 140: Denoise and Healing Tools Our Snapshots: Jeff: Tetris movie on Apple TV+ Kirk: Peak Design Micro Clutch Kickstarter 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.
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May 12, 2023 • 31min

Episode 141: You Say You Want a Resolution

Camera resolution is easy, right? More pixels, more quality, more options, more better! But as soon as you start digging into it, from the iPhone 14 Pro’s 48 megapixels to Sony sensors with 60 megapixels, all sorts of considerations make themselves known. Do you need that much resolution? How did we survive with less than 20 MP in the recent past? We pixel-peep and also look at the big picture. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! Leica M11 Monochrom Episode 140: Denoise and Healing List of Fujinon XF Lenses that Get Maximum Benefit from Fujifilm X-H2 (and X-T5) with 40 Megapixel Resolution, FujiRumors Episode 137: Zoom Lenses with Chris Niccolls How To Solve The 3x3 Rubik's Cube The Speed Cubers - Netflix Our Snapshots: Jeff: UES APSC-16 DSLR and Mirrorless Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning Kits Kirk: GAN 356 M, 3x3 Magnetic Speed Cube 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.
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Apr 29, 2023 • 30min

Episode 140: Denoise and Healing Tools

Photography enthusiasts discuss the latest AI denoise tools in Lightroom and Photoshop, exploring noise reduction challenges, healing tools advancement, and removing people effortlessly from photos. They highlight a handy camera sensor magnifier and the launch of PhotoMator software with AI features for enhanced editing.
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Apr 14, 2023 • 33min

Episode 139: The Rant Episode

It’s time to rant. Are photographers spending too much energy in front of the computer instead of behind the camera? Does posting a photo to a public forum make it an invitation for criticism? And is there actually a good street photo of a woman looking at her cell phone amid all the copycats out there? This isn’t just curmudgeonly banter—we dig into some photographic issues that have been gnawing at us. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! The Ex-It Plan, PiXimperfect video Joel Meyerowitz - Shoes in the Street (we can't link to an individual photo on his site, but here's the street photography page) Our Snapshots: Jeff: Lightroom’s Content-Aware Healing Tool and The Ex-it Plan with AI and Photoshop, PiXimperfect Kirk: Ember Mug 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.
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Mar 31, 2023 • 33min

Episode 138: DPReview and AI Photography

We had an entirely different topic planned for this episode and then learned just before recording that the website DPReview is being shut down after 25 years of covering digital photography and being the best resource for camera reviews. At about the same time, Adobe announced Firefly, its generative AI tool for making photos and artwork by typing text prompts. What does it all mean for photographers? Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! PetaPixel TV Samsung’s Moon photos are fake — but so is a lot of mobile photography Jeff's Photo AI Newsletter Our Snapshots: Jeff: Adobe Firefly Kirk: To Photograph Is to Learn How to Die, Tim Carpenter 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.

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