The Digital Story Photography Podcast

Digital photography has had a tremendous impact on our workflow. Now, not only are we creatives behind the camera, we must also be technicians in front of the computer. But how much of each? In this week’s podcast, I explore the division of labor during the process of creating artistic images. And I explain what I call the 50-50 Rule.

One of the great things about being a Nimble Photographer is the ease at which I can travel. In just a few days I will be on the road for a couple weeks. It will be an opportunity to add new images to my library and enjoy a change of scenery for my work. Yes, that’s right, my work. And in this week’s show I’ll explain how I’m going to pull that off.

I have three lenses sitting on my drafting table at the studio: 28mm, 45mm, and 85mm. And each day, when I go for my walk to deliver orders from TheFilmCameraShop, I pick one. And everything that I shoot for the next 40 minutes is with that focal length. In today’s TDS podcast, I discuss why I think this practice has made me a better photographer.

Social media has revealed something about photographers that we suspected before, but have now confirmed: They are more interested in receiving likes than suggestions. Some say this is an addiction. I think it’s human nature. And I explore this topic on today’s TDS Photography Podcast.

The Canon EOS M50, Pentax K-1 Mark II, and Fujifilm X-H1 are all very different cameras. But the one thing they have in common is that they are all recent announcements. Can we speculate about where the camera industry is going by examining these? We take a closer look in today’s TDS Podcast.

I've been thinking about how the camera industry could better combat the encroaching smartphone phenomenon that is eroding their marketshare. Should Nikon, Canon, Sony, Olympus, and Fuji tap computational photography for their devices? Or would another approach make more sense? I address this issue on today’s TDS podcast.

Some of the most interesting photo essays that I’ve seen over the years are those where the photographer is allowed inside someone’s life in their home. It’s fascinating to peer behind the curtain of their life, and to think about how it compares to mine. But what if we told our own story, from our personal point of view? I talk about this project that anyone can do, with any camera, on this week’s photography podcast.

One of the joys of mirrorless photography is that the cameras typically have an extensive feature set, including an interval timer for time-lapse photography. But, once we’ve captured the frames, what’s an easy way to render the movie? Did you know that Lightroom can handle it? It can, and I explain how in today’s TDS photography podcast.

Digital photography is this murky mix of technology and art. We see a picture, press the shutter, and record it. Then what? Unless we’re using a smartphone, something else needs to happen. And that something is firing up a computer to complete our image. Since it’s a noteworthy part of the process, why do we treat it like tires on a car? I explore that in today’s TDS podcast.

Assumptions aren’t always a bad thing. In our fast-paced world, they can save us time as we move from decision to decision. But we also know that assumptions can get us in trouble, or at least lead us down the wrong path. Photography is not immune to this shortcoming, and that’s the topic for today’s show.

Evolving as a photographer is a journey of many small steps. We start with the basics, then spend the rest of our lives perfecting our technique. And along the way, we may discover a small bit of information that results in a big improvement. Today, I have five tips that may help you take the next step.

The Consumer Electronics Show is one of the few remaining technology events where press still receives the red carpet treatment. We enjoy a well-stocked media center, excellent PR events with substantial refreshments, and lots of access to the stars of the show. And this week I’m going to take you behind the scenes as we junket together to CES.

We spend a lot of time discussing the art and science of photography. As we should. This is our chosen craft. But to be a truly effective artist, we need to address issues beyond aperture settings and sensor size. I've identified 5 key areas that can help us become more efficient and effective in 2018. And as a result, better content creators as well.

My father loved family history and spent countless hours researching every branch of our family tree. Now that he’s moved on, I’m the family historian. Chances are, that’s a role that you have for your clan, whether you realize it or not. And that’s the focus of this week’s TDS photography podcast.

This coming year features new adventure workshops, nimble classrooms, portfolio reviews, and more. I explain all the opportunities in today’s TDS photography podcast.