The Digital Story

There are important new features in Photos for macOS 27, and they aren't just eye candy. They are very useful and one in particular we've been waiting years for. Plus, we get new RAW profiles too. I've done some testing and will report my findings on this week's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/10/beefed-up-photos-app-for-macos-27-is-impressive-photography-podcast.html

After having spent over a week in the Moab, Utah area, both scouting and leading a photography workshop, I can say with great confidence that it's one of the most photo-rich areas I've ever worked. But there's lots to know in order to maximize your experience there. And I'm going to cover just that on today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/10/the-photographers-guide-to-...

I think most of us like to believe that our latest is our greatest. And that may be true, technically speaking, but maybe not in terms of content. I'm going to share a story today about a photographer rediscovering his images from decades ago, and the impact they're having on his life today. All of that, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/10/your-old-ph...

Black suit, black tie, white shirt, and new shoes - I was dressed to celebrate my son's marriage at the Silverado Resort in Napa, CA. But I had two other precious accessories: a beautiful Waltham watch that was my father's, and the Panasonic L10 that I used to capture memories over the weekend celebration. I'll talk about the latter during this week's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalst...

For those who have used DxO PhotoLab, you already know that it is a terrific RAW processor allowing you to squeeze every drop of quality from your files. I indeed like it for that, but I also appreciate how nicely it plays with others. I'll explain how in today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/09/DxO-PhotoLab-10-compatibilty-photography-podcast.html

The iPhone Duo is getting a lot of headlines, but for photographers, the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max are the more applicable tools. I will briefly cover the Duo, but today's focus will be on the new Pro handsets, including the variable aperture main camera. All of this, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/09/is-the-iPhone-18-a-worthwhile-upgrade-photography-po...

No, it's not the PEN-F II; it's just the PEN - a compact, well specified, Micro Four Thirds camera for everyday life adventures. It will fit in your purse, backpack, or jacket pocket. It has IBIS, an EVF, and computational intelligence. And it costs $1,000. On today's TDS Photography Podcast, we'll take a closer look at this latest offering from OM System - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/09/the-...

There's so much going on right now in the photography world. We've just had a few industry announcements, which we will cover today, with a couple more arriving on Wednesday, which I will cover in part 2 of this week's podcast. So let's get the ball rolling with the recent new releases - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/09/a-week-of-photography-announcements-part-1-photography-podcast.html

Last Thursday night I was standing in a school parking lot with the Sony RX10 around my neck preparing to take pictures of the lunar eclipse. As I was waiting for a break in the clouds, I wondered, "When is the last time I used a tripod?" It's a question that says a lot about cameras these days, and it's the top story of this week's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/08/the...

My short checklist for this week's campout was: Tent, check; Food, check; Sony RX10, check. I wanted to see if just one camera, with one (impressive) zoom lens, could capture everything I wanted during the trip. I was surprised by its performance, and that's what I'm going to talk about, along with the news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/08/Sony-RX10-V-F...

Inspiration is a magical thing. The flow of creative energy moves us to work a little harder, go a little farther, and not settle as quickly for an average photograph. Sometimes we find ourselves in a zone where compositions present themselves where there had seemed to be nothing before. So where do we find this inspiration? I'll share my favorite tips on today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://...

Having just completed two workshops with lots of lab work, I thought it would be a great idea to compare notes with Lightroom expert, Rob Knight, about the evolution of the software, how we can use those changes to improve our workflows, and how advanced techniques mean less work in front of the computer, not more. All of that on this week's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/20...

Is there a single feature that drives your decision when considering a new camera - that one thing that is a go/no go factor? I know what mine is, but I was curious about the thoughts from those in our community. So I asked them. And in the first segment of today's TDS Photography Podcast, I share what they have to say - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/08/the-most-important-new-camera-feature-pho...

Having just come off two workshops where participants experimented with gear and techniques outside of their comfort zone, I saw firsthand the wonderful, creative results that often follow. One technique along these lines that you can do at home is called the Lens on the Back of the Shelf. I'll tell you more about it on today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/07/the-lens...

We agreed to meet at the TDS Headquarters at 3:30 am. The gates open at 4 am for the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival. That would give us enough time to scout out the area, have some coffee, and be ready for the Dawn Patrol Balloon Glow. After that, we would continue working on site to capture as many meaningful images as possible. Today, you'll hear from the participants about their experie...

Film simulations, photo styles, and LUTs aren't gimmicks. They are artistic tools to help photographers better match the mood of their images to the subject material they are capturing. This past weekend, I did exactly that during a visit to the classic baseball stadium, Oracle Park in San Francisco. The resulting images convey the feelings I had there spending time there with my family. I'll expl...

Back in May, I talked about the Panasonic FZ300 and wondered out loud where are all the new bridge cameras? Given the strides in technology, they should be more desirable than ever. Well guess what? There's a brand new one coming down the pike, and it looks like a beauty. I'll talk about it, and other industry news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/07/bridg...

As I'm sitting here on my back porch in the Cloud Forest, after spending a week with a great group of photographers, I'm thinking about the things I like about Costa Rica. Spending time here, with camera in hand, is unlike any other place I've worked. So this week, I'd thought I'd share five of those favorites with you, in no particular order - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/06/5-things-I-like-a...

During an interesting walk through a graveyard with dappled lighting, I was reminded of how powerful B&W photography can be. And at the same time, when it absolutely fails. Join me for a stroll so we can figure this out together - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/06/when-BW-is-better-and-when-it-isnt-photo-podcast.html

Smartphones are good at a lots of things. And they are really good at night photography. And when you want to escape the hot, contrasty glare of summer days, let the evening roll in, grab your phone, and go make some stunning pictures. I'll share my favorite tips for just that on today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/06/nighttime-is-the-right-time-for-smartphone-photog...

Cameras today include a variety of tools, such as built-in film simulations and LUTs, to help us put our creative stamp on every picture we capture. At the same time, post production apps are more powerful than ever, and easier to use. So, what's the perfect mix of creative capture and image editing? I explore this question on today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/06/c...

A flash as compact as your camera. Weighing in at 4.2 ounces and a mere 2" high, the Godox iT30 Pro is available for OM System, Panasonic, Fujifilm, Leica, Sony, Nikon, and Canon. Yet it includes pro features, a gorgeous LCD screen and a $75 price tag. If you're looking to brighten up your photography, this review is for you - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/06/a-brilliant-compact-flash-Godox-iT3...

We've talked a lot about the value of taking pictures of those who are important to us. But what about everything else? If you browsed my photo catalog, you'd see a lot of simple things that might cause you to ask, "Why did he take a picture of that?" I will answer that question, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/05/how-photography-can-help-us-apprecia...

Some cameras I just know right away that they are a winner. And the minute I laid my eyes on the Panasonic LUMIX L10, I knew it was for me, and most likely many of you as well. This week, we'll take a closer look at the most exciting compact camera announcement of the year. I hope you enjoy the show - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/05/the-most-exciting-compact-camera-of-the-year-photo-podcast.ht...

There was one moment, while immersed in the magnificence of the Icefields Parkway, I realized I had never seen anything like this before, not even in Alaska. We were 5 days into our trip with more to come, but at that moment, I just wanted to stop time. I'll cover it all, from Vancouver to Calgary, in today's TDS Photography Podcast - https://thedigitalstory.com/2026/05/traversing-the-canadian-roc...