The Digital Story Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,072, Sept. 29, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Panasonic L10 in Action - At My Son's Wedding." I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,071, Sept. 22, 2026. Today's theme is, "DxO PhotoLab 10 - Plays Nice with Others." I'm Derrick Story. 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'...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,070, Sept. 15, 2026. Today's theme is, "Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro?" I'm Derrick Story. 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....

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,069, Sept. 10, 2026. Today's theme is, "The OM System PEN Review." I'm Derrick Story. 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 Photo...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,068, Sept. 8, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Week of Photography Announcements, Part 1." I'm Derrick Story. 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 wi...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,067, Sept. 1, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Last Time I Used a Tripod." I'm Derrick Story. 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 abo...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,066, August 25, 2026. Today's theme is, "Camping Out with the Sony RX10 V - A Field Review." I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,065, August 18, 2026. Today's theme is, "Where Do You Go for Inspiration?" I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,064, August 11, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Conversation About Lightroom." I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,063, August 4, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Most Important New Camera Feature." I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,062, July 28, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Lens on the Back Shelf." I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,061, July 21, 2026. Today's theme is, "Dawn Patrol." I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,060, July 14, 2026. Today's theme is, "Pardon My LUTs" I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,059, July 7, 2026. Today's theme is, "Bridge Cameras Are Coming Back!" I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,058, June 30, 2026. Today's theme is, "5 Things I Like About Costa Rica." I'm Derrick Story. 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 t...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,057, June 23, 2026. Today's theme is, "When B&W Is Better (and when it isn't)" I'm Derrick Story. 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. I hope you enjoy the show.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,056, June 16, 2026. Today's theme is, "Nighttime Is the Right Time for Smartphone Photography" I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,055, June 9, 2026. Today's theme is, "Capture vs Post Production: What's More Important?" I'm Derrick Story. 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 perf...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,054, June 2, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Brilliant Compact Flash - Godox iT30." I'm Derrick Story. A flash as compact as your camera. Weighing in at 4.2 ounces and a mere 2" high, the Godox iT30 Pro Flash 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'...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,053, May 26, 2026. Today's theme is, "How Photography Can Help Us Appreciate the Good Things in Life." I'm Derrick Story. 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...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,052, May 19, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Most Exciting Compact of the Year." I'm Derrick Story. 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 t...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,051, May 12, 2026. Today's theme is, "Traversing the Canadian Rockies." I'm Derrick Story. 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,...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,050, May 5, 2026. Today's theme is "Best of TDS - An Interview with Mom." I'm Derrick Story. With Mother's Day this coming Sunday, and with me still exploring the Canadian Rockies, I thought this would be a great time to rebroadcast one of our all-time most popular shows recorded in December 2018, an interview with my mother, who has since passed on, but whose l...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,049, April 28, 2026. Today's theme is, "Announcements at NAB, for Photographers." I'm Derrick Story. Of course Broadcasting was the focus of the recent NAB show in Las Vegas, that's what the "B" stands for. But among the video rigs, microphones, and soundboards were some gems for photographers. And this week, I'm going to share my 5 favorite announcements from l...

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,048, April 21, 2026. Today's theme is, "Packing for the Canadian Rockies." I'm Derrick Story. Kamloops, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, and Calgary - The Canadian Rockies by train, van, and even motorcycle sidecar. I've been getting ready for this adventure and this week I'm going to share how I prepare to explore some of the most beautiful scenery in North America....