
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

Jan 21, 2022 • 32min
Episode 109: Joe McNally Is The Real Deal
Joe McNally, a prominent photographer known for shooting everything from editorial pieces to the Olympic Games, shares captivating stories from his career. He discusses his groundbreaking 'Faces of Ground Zero' project, reflecting on the emotional depth of capturing first responders after 9/11. McNally also reminisces about his humble beginnings in 1970s New York, navigating the evolving landscape of photography. His insights on balancing creativity with editorial demands provide valuable lessons for aspiring photographers.

Jan 7, 2022 • 34min
Episode 108: Masking in Lightroom
The new masking features in Adobe Lightroom and Lightroom Classic make it much easier to apply selective edits to areas such as skies or subjects, without a lot of manual fiddling.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Adobe Lightroom
Pixelmator Pro
Episode #11 - Selective Photo Editing
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: MacBook Pro 2021
Kirk: Capture One 22
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.

Dec 10, 2021 • 39min
Episode 107: Simulated vs. Optical Background Blur
You shot a lovely portrait and realized later that the background could benefit from some artistic blur. It used to be that if you didn’t get it in camera, you were stuck. But now it’s possible to recreate that blur using AI features in software later. Or, if you captured the shot using the iPhone’s Portrait Mode, you can edit the effect whenever you want. Is the software option really worth doing?
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Episode 106: PhotoActive 2021 Gift Guide
Episode 20: The Blur-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named
Pixelmator Pro
Episode 105: Aaron Hockley and Computational Photography
Halide app
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Green Extreme batteries
Kirk: Expert Shield screen protector
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.

Nov 26, 2021 • 28min
Episode 106: PhotoActive 2021 Gift Guide
When they set out to produce a gift guide—the first one in three years—Kirk and Jeff chose items that really reflect how they approach photography, and items that hopefully aren’t on every other photo gift guide out there. This episode covers a gamut of price ranges and interests, so something is sure to appeal to you as the giver or the receiver this holiday.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Episode 29: Christmas Gift Guide
Photocombobulate Episode 8 Holiday Gift Guide
PhotoActive Episode 94: All About SD Cards
Mesh Laundry Bag
Peak Design Everyday Sling bags - 10L $150
Peak Design Cuff
William Eggleston: The Outlands - $385
The Real Deal, by Joe McNally (Get 40% off using the code CARLSON40.)
Apple Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader - $29
Biolite Rechargeable Headlamp
Alec Soth: Photographic Storytelling | Magnum Learn - $99
Apple Pencil
Balvenie Week of Peat Whiskey
YESPLZ Coffee Subscription
Kirk’s Books:
Take Control of macOS Media Apps
Take Control of Scrivener
Take Control of Audio Hijack
Take Control of Launchbar
Jeff’s Books:
Take Control of Apple Watch
Take Control of Your Digital Storage
Take Control of Managing Your Files
Take Control of Your Digital Photos
The Photographer’s Guide to Luminar AI (Get 40% off using the code CARLSON40.)
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.

Nov 12, 2021 • 46min
Episode 105: Aaron Hockley and Computational Photography
Artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational photography…whichever term you use, the technologies are here and touching almost every part of the photos you’re making. Our guest this week is Aaron Hockley, author of the book The Computer Ate My Photos: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Photography, and he’s here to help us unravel this brave new world (and convince us that he’s not a robot).
Guest:
Aaron Hockley (website, 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!
The Computer Ate My Photos: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Photography, by Aaron Hockley
AI Needs Regulating Before It’s Too Late, The Guardian
ImagenAI
Episode 104: The Leica Episode
Jeff’s Sierra Nevada Photo Trip, Photocombobulate Podcast
TechPhotoGuy, Aaron’s website
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Apple TV 4K (2021)
Kirk: Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
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.

Oct 29, 2021 • 40min
Episode 104: The Leica Episode
The day has arrived: Kirk finally purchased his dream camera, the Leica Q2 Monochrom. Why would someone pay for a camera that shoots only in black and white? In this episode, we talk about the advantages of a sensor without RGB, how shooting with the Q2 Monochrom is changing the way Kirk shoots, and processing the images in Capture One.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Leica Q2 Monochrom
Episode 92: Sensors and Megapixels with Richard Butler
Cycling through the crop lines
Capture One
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Shimoda Explore v2
Kirk: Eyes Wide Open! 100 Years of Leica Photography
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.

Oct 15, 2021 • 41min
Episode 103: Posing People with Lindsay Adler
Does the thought of posing people for portraits make you nervous? Our guest this week is fashion and portrait photographer Lindsay Adler, whose book The Photographer’s Guide to Posing will calm your nerves and give you the tools to make beautiful photos of people. Lindsay talks about how she prepares for a portrait shoot, techniques to encourage great poses, working with everyday people compared to working with models, and much more.
Guest:
Lindsay Adler (website, 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!
The Photographer’s Guide to Posing, by Lindsay Adler
Photographing Challenging Features class, CreativeLive
Episode 35: Martin Parr Shot My Portrait
Lindsay Adler Photography site
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Anker Power Strip Surge Protector, 12 Outlets & 3 USB Ports with Flat Plug, 6ft Extension Cord, PowerIQ
Kirk: Peak Design Everyday Sling
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.

Oct 1, 2021 • 38min
Episode 102: The iPhone 13 Pro Cameras
It’s Apple’s best iPhone ever! Well, yes, they say that every year, but this time around the camera improvements are more exciting than in the past. In this episode, we look at what’s new, from the sizes of the lenses and sensors themselves to the Cinematic and Macro modes, in the iPhone 13 Pro.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
On set with iPhone 13 Pro Featuring 2x Oscar® Winner Kathryn Bigelow | Apple
iPhone 13 Pro camera switching issue
Episode 92: Sensors and Megapixels with Richard Butler
Why we're excited about the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, DPReview TV
What Does Cinematic Really Mean?
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: 2020 Unmasked
Kirk: Godox TT350
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.

Sep 17, 2021 • 42min
Episode 101: Practicing Photography with Ben Long
What does it mean to really practice your craft? In this episode we welcome back photographer and educator Ben Long to PhotoActive to talk about his wonderful new book The Practicing Photographer: Essays on Developing Your Photographic Practice. We talk about why practice involves more than grabbing your camera every once in a while, about getting out of creative ruts, and the value of studying other photographers’ works.
Guest:
Ben Long (Complete Digital Photography, 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!
The Practicing Photographer: Essays on Developing Your Photographic Practice, by Ben Long
Insta Repeat
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: Spigen S350 Apple Watch Stand
Kirk: Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema
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.

Sep 3, 2021 • 31min
Episode 100: One Hundred
In the very early days of the PhotoActive podcast, when Jeff was a nervous first-time podcast host, Kirk said to him, “It’s OK. Once you do a hundred of these, you’ll be better.” Well, here we are! Episode 100! To celebrate, we’re showcasing some of our favorite episodes and sharing what we’ve learned from them.
Hosts:
Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account
Show Notes:
(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)
Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Intego Mac Podcast
The Next Track Podcast
Write Now with Scrivener Podcast
Take Control of Scrivener 3
Episode 44: Minimalist Photographer Michael Kenna
Episode 74: Michael Kenna and His New Book 'Buddha'
Episode #8 - Gordon Laing on Taking Great Photos In Camera
Episode #10 - Quintin Lake's Long Photo Walk
Episode 82: Quintin Lake Returns
Episode 35: Martin Parr Shot My Portrait
Episode 70: One-Light Portraits with Sandra Coan
Episode 79: Professional Retouching with Lisa Carney
Episode 78: Everyday Photo Retouching
Episode #5 - Wenmei Hill Interview
Episode 43: Autofocus with Rishi Sanyal
Episode 54: Product Photography with Dan Bracaglia
Episode 85: Film Camera Love with Dan Bracaglia
Episode 65: Barney Britton on the Future of the Camera Industry
Episode 67: Chris Niccolls on Making Videos about Photography
Episode 86: Jordan Drake on Shooting Video
Episode 92: Sensors and Megapixels with Richard Butler
Episode #26 - RAW Power 2.0
Episode 38: Levels and Curves with Nik Bhatt
Episode 62: Photos App Extensions with Nik Bhatt
Rocky Nook
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.