
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

Jun 10, 2022 • 38min
Episode 119: WWDC and New Apple OSes
Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) wrapped up last week, and with it a lot of news about hardware like the M2-powered MacBook Air and what's coming in macOS Ventura, iOS 16, iPadOS 16, and watchOS 9. In this episode, Jeff and Kirk look at what struck their interest 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)
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2022 WWDC Keynote
MacBook Air M2
Compare Mac Models
Rediscovering the Mac: An iPad User’s Journey into macOS with the M1 Max MacBook Pro by Federico Viticci at MacStories
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Platypod Ultra
Kirk: CalDigit TS4
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 27, 2022 • 38min
Episode 118: Scott Kelby's Travel Tips
Scott Kelby joins us this week to talk about travel photography, using the years of experience he’s gained and now collected into his new book The Travel Photography Book. We often want to start by figuring out what gear to bring, but Scott makes that point that there are far more important things to consider first.
Guest:
Scott Kelby: Instagram, website
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!
The Travel Photography Book
ThinkTank Photo Turnstyle 10
Platypod Ultra
Topaz Sharpen AI
ON1 Resize AI
DJI Mini 3 Pro
500px
Pinterest
Spanish Synagogue
A Week with Jay Maisel
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: SanDisk 1TB Extreme PRO Portable SSD
Kirk: Smash His Camera
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 13, 2022 • 29min
Episode 117: John Cornicello on Lens Distortion
In episode 110, Kirk and Jeff talked about dealing with distortion when you’re editing your photos. Now we’re happy to welcome portrait photographer and educator John Cornicello to discuss distortion when you’re photographing. You know those grids of headshots that demonstrate how wide-angle lenses cause distorted features? They’re wrong, and John explains why.
Guest:
John Cornicello: Instagram, website
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!
Anatomy of a Studio Portrait, by John Cornicello
Episode 110: Distortion
Photographic Lenses and Shutters, 1940, by Richard W St Clair
Dolly vs Zoom and perspective in photography
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: AeroPress Go
Kirk: Cranberry Margarita
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 29, 2022 • 33min
Episode 116: iPad Photo Editing
Is an iPad good for photo editing? It can be great for slimming your amount of gear on a trip, but what tradeoffs are involved? In this episode, Jeff and Kirk look at using an iPad or iPad Pro in a photography workflow, from importing images to culling and sorting to editing the photos.
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!
USB-C and Thunderbolt: Understanding Ports and Cables for Macs and iPads - The Mac Security Blog
Apple USB-C to SD Card Reader
Best USB-C memory card readers, Macworld
Take Control of Untangling Connections, by Glenn Fleishman
Capture One for iPad
First impressions: ON1 360 is a cloud-based alternative to Lightroom's ecosystem, DPReview
Mylio
RAW Power
YINVA Cover Compatible with Apple Pencil Tips Silicone Nib Cap Accessories
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Fujifilm X100V
Kirk: Blind Gary Davis: Harlem Street Singer
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 15, 2022 • 37min
Episode 115: iPhone Camera Tips & Tricks
Millions of people take billions of photos using the built-in Camera app on their iPhones, so we wanted to do an episode all about the clever and sometimes hidden capabilities of this camera that’s always with you.
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!
Outsmart Your iPhone Camera's Overzealous AI
Episode 102: The iPhone 13 Pro Cameras
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: OWC 0GB Mercury Elite Pro Dual RAID USB 3.1 / eSATA Enclosure Kit
Kirk: Cocktail Codex
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 1, 2022 • 40min
Episode 114: Bryan Jones on Why Color Doesn't Exist
An offhand remark from our guest Bryan Jones when he was a guest on a previous episode stuck with us: “You know color doesn’t actually exist, right?” We had to invite him back to explain! Jones, a retinal neuroscientist, explains that color is really a shared hallucination and talks about how photographers can take advantage of this knowledge.
Guest:
Bryan William Jones: Instagram, website, Flickr
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!
Episode 90: Bryan William Jones on How We See
MacVoices #22054: Kirk McElhearn on Appreciating Black and White Photography (1)
The Camera, Ansel Adams
The Negative, Ansel Adams
The Print, Ansel Adams
CORONA satellite
Leica M8 Review, DPReview
Arts and Ideas podcast episode on color
Sanna Dullaway, artist who colorizes black and white photos
INCREDIBLE IMAGES: Artist adds color to famous black and white photos
Apple QuickTake Camera, Wikipedia
Wings of Desire, Wim Wenders
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: UCOMX Nano 3 in 1 Wireless Charger, Magnetic Foldable Charging Station
Kirk: Loupedeck Live
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 18, 2022 • 37min
Episode 113: Do Photographers Need the Mac Studio?
Apple announced the Mac Studio, a brand new M1-based desktop Mac that smokes the performance of even the Mac Pro. But is it a good machine for photographers? Jeff and Kirk discuss what’s interesting about the Mac Studio and the new Studio Display.
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!
Episode #16 - Buying and Selling Camera Gear
MPB
Mac Studio
iStatMenus
Studio Display
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Reincubate Camo
Kirk: DPReview TV: Fujifilm vs. Sigma X-mount prime lenses compared
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 4, 2022 • 35min
Episode 112: Dan Bracaglia on Rediscovering Joy
Dan Bracaglia joins us again to talk about that perennial problem: rekindling the joy of photography. Especially in winter, it’s easy to remain uninspired about photography, when in fact we know that there are image possibilities everywhere. We chat about some unusual steps to find fun in photography.
Guest:
Dan Bracaglia: Instagram, website
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!
More Than Fun, David DuChemin, A Beautiful Anarchy podcast
Opinion: Ode to the 'happy accident' or why film photographers have more fun, Dan Bracaglia, DPReview
Panda Lab
Episode 109: Joe McNally Is The Real Deal
Episode 36: Photographing with Constraints
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Shimoda Filter Wrap 100
Kirk: Modern Color, Fred Herzog
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 18, 2022 • 35min
Episode 111: The Glass App(roach) to Photography
Tom Watson and Stefan Borsje created the Glass app as a way to get back to the experience of enjoying photography, without the endless pursuit of engagement metrics and traffic and all the things other apps (cough Instagram cough) do that detracts from it. We talk to them about the Glass approach, the new iPad app, and the upcoming web version.
Guests:
Tom Watson (website)
Stefan Borsje (website)
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass
Kirk's 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!
Glass app
Glass on the Web preview
Jeff’s Glass Profile
Kirk’s Glass Profile
Glass on iPad
Glass Feedback Board
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Apple AirPods Max
Kirk: XP-PEN Deco mini7W Wireless Graphics Drawing Tablet
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 4, 2022 • 31min
Episode 110: Dealing with Distortion
What can you do when shooting with a wide lens introduces unwanted optical distortion in your photos? In this episode, Kirk and Jeff look at ways to correct for distortion, including correcting for horizontal and vertical planes, in apps such as Lightroom, Capture One, and Pixelmator Pro.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
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Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Adobe Lightroom
Capture One
Pixelmator Pro
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: HeroClip
Kirk: Hotshoe Magazine
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.