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Boinx Software has released FotoMagico 6, the latest version of their top-drawer slideshow authoring software. The bundle includes applications for both the Mac and the iPad, plus tons of extras including templates and royalty-free music tracks.

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The New Map Assistant

My favorite feature is the new Map Assistant that allows you to plot and animate a beautiful map that charts the journey of travel slideshows. Here's how to use it.

Start by going to Slideshow > Map Assistant. The first thing that you'll want to do is establish the map region.

With the Map tab highlighted, type the area that you want to illustrate in the Search box under Region. In this case, we entered Los Angeles, CA to move the blue rectangle to that part of the world. Our goal was to display a trip from LA to Las Vegas. So we adjusted the blue frame to cover that journey.

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The blue frame indicates which map region will be rendered. You can move it by dragging, or resize it by grabbing the corner points. A label will always display the map dimensions in pixels.

To set the various points of your journey, start by selecting the Route tab. Now click inside the blue box to add a location point in the desired area. It you want one or more of those locations to be Waypoints, then CTRL-click on them to establish that. CMD-click on a point to remove it. If that isn't working properly for you, double-check that the Route tab is highlighted.

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Before you click on Apply, return to the Map tab and choose your map style. There are a few different ones to pick from. Now you can click Apply.

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Here's where the fun begins. In the Options panel, you can enable animation by clicking the box that enables animations. Set the Duration for the execution of your route, then move down in the panel to Map and customize the line width, style, waypoints, and other variables.

You can also experiment with animation speed, effects, and more. To put your route in motion, click on the Play button in the middle toolbar. And remember, you can always click on the Edit Map & Route button in the Options panel to make further adjustments.

Other Notable Features

FotoMagico 6 also features professional Image Effects that allows you to quickly customize the appearance of a frame or frames in the presentation with color correction, monochrome, and more. You can apply similar enhancements to words with Text Effects.

Plus you have iPad integration via iCloud so that you can start a project on one device, then continue working on it with another. All of your changes are saved regardless of where you made them.

And there are new templates and music tracks as well.

Availability and Pricing

You can download a free trial from the FotoMagico website and try out all the new features I covered here. If you want to purchase the software, it is available in the Mac App Store or directly from Boinx for $7.99 a month subscription or for $79.99 for a year.

If you want to create professional presentations for publishing online or in person, this is the most powerful and easy to use software available.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #817, Nov. 16, 2021. Today's theme is "So, How Did It Go?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

When you've been away from them for a while, it's easy to forget the joy of an in-person workshop. That is, until you're all gathered there in a parking lot at a beautiful location getting your gear together for a short hike and a shoot. Then it all comes roaring back. This week we're going to look at the adjustments required, and the resulting rewards, of a physical workshop. And look ahead to 2022. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 817

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So, How Did it Go?

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I rolled in to Florence Oregon about 5 pm the night before our event began. I had the VW packed with food for breakfasts and lunches for the first two days, plus my outdoor gear and cameras.

Our headquarters had a great kitchen with a large island that we used to prepare and pack our lunches each day before heading out to a beautiful location.

In order to keep everyone as safe as possible, we had to wear masks when entering HQ and working in the kitchen. The first order of business was to wash hands every time you entered. If you were closer than 6' to another indoors, masks were required, including for all car rides.

I know it sounds like a lot, but it was easy, especially compared to what we got to do together. We shared breakfast every morning at HQ, ate our sack lunches in the field during our shoots, and even had a dinner bash on Thursday night with food provided by Mo's Seafood and Chowder there in Florence. And yes, the chowder was delicious.

We had rain everyday. But we were totally prepared for it and the result was dramatic photography that we shared with one another during the final presentations.

For vehicles, we had a Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and the VW ID.4. We took turns riding in the different cars.

After it was over, I gathered a couple of our Inner Circle Members, Dave and Michael, plus a few new folks, Cindy and Bill, to join Scott and me for a quick recap. Here's what they had to say.

Insert voice snippet from charging stop here.

On our TDS Facebook page, Kim added: "It was an awesome workshop, awesome fellowship, and awesome to be 'tested by the elements'!"

The thing that really jumped out at me was, how much I miss working with others in person. And now that we've got one under our belts, I'm ready to move forward with more in 2022.

So here's a preview of what I'm working on. I should have the schedule finalized by early December.

Humboldt Redwoods in April 2022 is a go.

Lassen Volcanic Park in July is going to be replaced with another physical event due to the extensive fire damage to the area.

Oregon Coast in October/November 2022 is a likely go at the moment. I'll know more about that in the coming weeks.

Patreon Members, stay tuned for an opportunity to suggest a location to replace the July workshop and possibly for a fourth event during the year.

We're also going to maintain a full slate of online events in 2022. That schedule will also be updated in December with new events added to our existing popular ones.

I am very excited about the prospects for the coming year for our photography community.

Nikon's new firmware updates for its Z50, Z5, Z6 and Z7 cameras improve AF performance

You can read the entire article on DP Review

Nikon has released minor firmware updates for nearly its entire Z mount mirrorless camera lineup. The Nikon Z6 and Z7 receive firmware version 3.40 while the Z5 and Z50 receive firmware versions 1.20 and 2.20, respectively.

Each of the firmware updates improve autofocus (AF) capabilities across the board, but the updates for the Z5 and Z50 aren't as substantial as those for the Z6 and Z7. For the Z5 and Z50, Nikon says both Face and Eye Detection autofocus modes have been improved when using a flash unit. The Z6 and Z7 receive that improvement, as well as improved eye detection performance when shooting with 'Auto-area AF' or 'Wide-area AF(L)' autofocus modes, and an increased refresh rate for the focus point displayed in the EVF when using face/eye-detection and subject-tracking autofocus modes.

All of the firmware updates also add support for Nikon's new FTZ II mount adapter and NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S lens. The updates are available to download today for their respective cameras.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts!

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 46 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

I think Michael, one of our workshop photographers, said it best: "It was fun to be tested by the elements."

oregon-worrkshop-1024.jpeg Our workshop team preparing for a photo shoot on the Oregon Coast.

We had plenty of wind and rain, and that only made the final presentIons more dynamic. The images each photographer produced were impressive. Of course, we were ready for these conditions. Those preparations were half the fun.

For me personally, it was a week with many different facets. This was my first physical workshop since the onset of the pandemic. This was also a 1,400 mile adventure into remote locations with an electric vehicle. And, the Oregon Coast Photography Workshop was the first time that I worked with Scott Davenport as a co-leader.

And as I sit here on my couch at home, I'm thrilled because of how well everything went.

Yes, there were masks and hand sanitizer and wind and rain. And great pictures. Remote Oregon was beautiful, and even though there were no high speed chargers for the car, and it all worked just fine. Working with Scott was terrific.

For me, Oregon was also a test to see what I'm going to endeavor in 2022. I can tell you right now, there will be more physical workshops. Stay tuned for the line up.

Because at the end of the day, there's still nothing better than hanging out with a bunch of geared-up photographers ready to capture whatever Mother Nature has ready for us. I can't wait for 2022.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #816, Nov. 9, 2021. Today's theme is "Can Electric Vehicles Cut It for Photo Road Trips?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Those of you who have been following the story about my transition from the VW Vanagon to the EV ID.4 for our official workshop transport, this is the week where the rubber hits the road. Is it too early to switch from ICE to EV? Tune in to this week's TDS Podcast to find out. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 816

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Can Electric Vehicles Cut It for Photo Road Trips?

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It is 561 miles from Santa Rosa, CA to Florence, Oregon, the location of our Oregon Coast Photography Workshop that begins Tuesday morning. Adding in travel to destinations during the workshop itself, total mileage for the week will be more than 1,300 miles.

In the Audi A3, that would work out to around 54 gallons of gas. That car requires premium, which is over $5 a gallon throughout California. The bill for fuel alone would be at least $270, and probably more if I had to fill out in remote locations.

Using my free account with Electrify America for the long hauls, I will only have to top off in Florence, which I can do for $4 a session at the public utility. That should mean a $12 fuel bill for the entire trip.

Now the question is: will the car make it? And if so, how long will it take?

Going back to the Audi and gas, the estimated driving time for the trip is 9 hours, plus two 30 minute stops for refueling, bathroom, and leg stretching. 10 hours total if everything goes well.

Let's tackle the second question first. Based on my recent 900 mile road trip to Southern CA and back, I estimate I have to add an additional 15 percent for time with the ID.4 if things go as planned. My best guess is that it will extend my journey to around 12 hours.

As for the first question, will the car make it? Absolutely yes. Thanks to its room cabin, comfortable seats with massage, and advanced travel assist technologies, road tripping as more comfortable than ever. The car literally drives itself.

So it all comes down to recharging. Let's tune in to a refuel stop.

As for the viability during the week itself? I'll get some comments from workshop participants and share those in next week's show.

But on paper, here's what I'm looking at. 30 cubic feet of storage space in the back while seating 5 passengers. There's no floor hump, so the back floor is perfectly flat for the person sitting in the middle.

There are dual charging ports in the back as well as the front, providing a total of 4 USB-C outlets for passengers. Side door storage for everyone, plus dual pockets on the backs of the front seats. There's 38" of leg room and head room in the back, and even more of both in the front.

And finally, there is a full length panorama glass room on top with power sunshade if necessary. I think this will be a wonderful transport vehicle for participants.

Wish me luck. More on how it went next week.

OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm f/1.4 PRO Lens

Olympus just announced the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm f/1.4 PRO Lens for $799 due to be released in December.

Highlight features include:

  • 40mm (35mm Equivalent)
  • Aperture Range: f/1.4 to f/16
  • 11 Elements in 10 Groups
  • 1 Super ED, 3 ED, 2 Super HR Elements
  • 2 Aspherical Elements
  • ZERO Zuiko Extra-Low Reflection Coating
  • Movie & Still Compatible AF System
  • Weather-Sealed Construction
  • Rounded 9-Blade Diaphragm
  • Includes lens hood and lens wrap cloth

One feature that it's missing, that would push me closer to purchase is the snap focus option that allows the photographer to pull back the focusing ring to reveal a traditional distance scale with hard-stop infinity. This lens would be perfect for that, and why it's missing befuddles me.

If you don't already own the Panasonic 20mm f/1.7, this is a lens to consider.

Why I'm Not Packing Olympus in Oregon

After last week's podcast, some listeners asked me why I wasn't taking my Olympus kit to Florence. Here's the back story on that.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts!

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 46 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

OM System Feels Like the Real Deal

Sometimes a lens is more than just a lens.

A recent example was the announcement of the OM SYSTEM M.Zuiko Digital ED 20mm f/1.4 PRO. The optic itself looks terrific. But the real story is that it's the first tangible sign to the public that the Olympus Imaging Division has made the transition to OM System.

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For those of us in the press, there have been other positive indicators. We're working with the same people in media relations that we did in the Olympus days. The procedures are familiar, and in many ways, it's like nothing ever changed. That's a good thing.

The real test, however, will be a new camera. If OM System can produce a worthy follow up to the impressive OM-D E-M1 Mark III, that would truly throw down the gauntlet.

The Micro Four Thirds system is a good fit for modern enthusiast photography. It combines excellent image quality with portability and innovative technology. Pair a MFT body with a couple of your favorite optics and a current smartphone, and you're prepared to capture just about any opportunity the world presents.

At the moment, there are two players in the Micro Four Thirds arena: Panasonic and OM System. We need them both because they serve different needs. Panasonic is excellent at creating high performance video devices. And if making movies is just as important to you as still images, then they have the tools you need.

OM System leans a bit more in the photography direction. And if that's your primary focus, their camera bodies are the better choice. And if Micro Four Thirds is going to continue to flourish, we need both companies to be on top of their game.

So now we wait. I'm not sure if OM System can deliver the camera that many of us want by the end of the year. But if they could in the first quarter of 2022, then those of us who appreciate the advantages of Micro Four Thirds can breathe a sigh of relief.

And start 2022 with a new camera.

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #815, Nov. 2, 2021. Today's theme is "Preparing for an Inclement Photo Shoot." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

In just a few days I leave for the Oregon Coast to co-lead a weeklong workshop. There are preparations on many fronts including travel route, photo gear, and apparel. As part of that process, I've noted that the long range weather forecast predicts plenty of precipitation. This definitely has an impact on my packing, and today I'm going to discuss how I prepare for a wet-weather photo shoot. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 815

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Preparing for an Inclement Photo Shoot

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When I first started thinking about this workshop, I was leaning toward an entirely different backpack full of gear. But now that I see that rain is in the forecast, I've rethought all of my initial plans. Here are my priorities now.

Scale Back - Bad weather makes me want to travel even lighter than in good conditions. I want fewer moving parts a and smaller bag. As a result I'm taking much less.

Weather Resistant is King for the Backpack - Everything has to be able to take the rain. I'm starting with the relatively compact Lowepro ProTactic BP 350 AW that is weather resistant to begin with, plus has a built-in rain cover if conditions worsen. There is fast access on both sides and top so I don't have to open the entire bag to retrieve a camera or lens. So I can grab one thing and everything else stays dry.

Going with my Toughest Camera - My best bad weather camera is the Pentax KP with a handful of weather resistant lenses. I don't like working with rain covers and prefer just to have the camera in my hands, even in the rain. Pentax cameras are amazingly tough and reliable, as are their WR lenses. I put protection filters on everything so I can wipe them off quickly and often.

Absorbent Cloths and Big Microfibers - One of the most important things I learned shooting in Iceland was that you need extra cloths to wipe down your gear. Everything gets soaked fairly fast, so backups are required over the course of the day.

Appropriate Clothing - Start from the bottom up with shoes that provide great footing and are water friendly. I'll be sporting a pair of Merrell Men's CHOPROCK Sieve Water Shoes that have Vibram MegaGrip rubber outsoles with water-friendly mesh and woven uppers. Working upwards with rain repellant pants and layered uppers with an Eddie Bauer rain jacket with hood and ventilated sleeves.

Pack an Extra Baseball Cap - I wear one cap so that the hood doesn't go down over my eyes, then a second baseball cap in my bag to put over my camera when it's sitting on the tripod. Of all the covers I've tested over the years, a simple baseball cap is easiest to use.

Start a Week Ahead of Time - Over the course of time, you'll continue to remember little things that you want to add to your bag, such as a small first aid kit, rubber bands, headlight (with night-vision red), for example. Allow yourself the time to remember these.

Trekking Sticks to Help Maintain Balance - You want to feel confident to explore areas where great images may be waiting for you. In addition to proper shoes, I recommend a trekking stick that will help you maintain balance and can serve as a monopod if you get one with a camera mount. A nice one, for example, is the Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Pole - Carbon Fiber Monopod Walking or Hiking Stick with Accessories Mount and Adjustable Quick Locks for $39.

One of my favorite sayings is: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing," by Alfred Wainwright. So true for photographers! Starting getting your gear together and get out there in the rain to make some wonderful images.

Fujifilm Instax Link Wide Printer

Live life WIDE The exciting INSTAX LINK WIDE Smartphone Printer has landed. Creating the largest prints in the INSTAX product line-up, this wide-format Smartphone Printer is overflowing with 'must-have' features to make sure nothing is lost.

Connect your Smartphone to the printer wirelessly via Bluetooth, and you're able to add text to your photos, resize, apply a filter, play with the contrast - the options are endless. Swipe up on your Smartphone photo and print. Select your image preference. You can choose between two image color modes - INSTAX-Rich mode for rich colors and INSTAX-Natural mode for a natural image quality.

Personalize your photo and choose from over 30 editable templates to create greeting cards, invitations and much more. Apply a QR code to your photo to link to a URL, hear sounds you recorded and view secret messages and locations - just by scanning the QR code with your Smartphone. And that's not all! Be creative with the Sketch, edit & print feature to import text and sketches as you customize your photos. With the Collage Print feature, add multiple images together to create fun collages. Also, choose from over 1,600 "stickers" in the app to apply to your photo! Available in Ash White and Mocha Gray. Live life Wide

Note: The Link Wide printer is also compatible with Fujifilm's X-S10 mirrorless camera from last year, allowing you to print directly without a phone. Of course, you can print photos taken with other cameras by uploading them to your phone and then to the Instax Link app.

The Fujifilm Instax Link Wide Printer that prints 3"x5" photos is available now for $149.

Nikon and the Z9 Are the Photo Industry's Comeback Story of the Decade

You can read the entire article on PetaPixel.com.

When the Sony Alpha 1 was announced, I remember being really impressed but not surprised. Sony had been the brand to beat and had been continuously pushing the envelope. What Sony did was impressive, but not shocking. The Nikon Z9 has shocked me.

Nikon, the company that had been in third place behind Sony and Canon in the full-frame mirrorless market (and it wasn't a close third place), has not only caught back up but has outright passed them technologically by a considerable margin. My expectations for the Z9 were to at least compete, to just bring Nikon back up to par. That would have been good enough.

But the Z9 reads like a camera where "good enough" was not good enough. No, Nikon wanted to send a statement with the Z9 and that message has been received.

It's hard to fathom how Nikon did this, given how slow it was to shift from DSLRs to mirrorless all while Sony was dedicating huge resources to developing its own expectation-shattering cameras. It felt like Sony was driving an F1 and Nikon a Honda Civic, and Sony got to have a head start as well. That kind of gap is monumentally difficult to make up ground on, let alone surpass, and yet here we are.

Nikon and the Z9 are without question the comeback story of the decade in the camera industry. There is a new top dog, and for Nikon, it's a return to a seat that the company has not occupied for some time. Canon and Sony will see what Nikon has done and have to work just that much harder. Sony won't just sit idly by as Nikon surpasses them, and neither will Canon. The race is back on, and I could not be more excited.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts!

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 46 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

For years I've advocated taking pictures of signs instead of writing travel notes, and now Live Text takes that practice to a whole new level.

IMG_0707.jpeg A visit to Coppola Vineyards, yes take a picture of the sign.

IMG_0708.jpeg Want to know more about it? Live Text can help.

I use Live Text two basic ways. First, to provide data to Siri to learn more about the subject. And second, like an OCR scanner for text embedded in pictures so I can use the text separately.

For the first method, Live Text works in realtime or with a picture already in your Photos library. If you haven't played with it yet, 9TO5Mac has published an excellent how-to article.

Yes, you could type the same information in to your web browser and look it up, but this technology saves you a couple steps, and a fair amount of time.

The second use I find even better: as an OCR reader for words embedded in photos.

IMG_0710.jpeg What a great saying! Too bad it's trapped in a ho-hum a picture.

IMG_0711.jpeg Now it's an entry in my Notes app as well thanks to Live Text

For more detailed signage with lots of words, Live Text becomes a true time saver. It works wonderfully in tandem with the Notes app, and just about anywhere else on your phone.

I did all of my testing with iOS 15 on an iPhone 12 Pro Max. And Live Text has added yet another useful dimension to my already handy travel companion. Give it a try!

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #814, Oct. 26, 2021. Today's theme is "Inside a Live Photo Critique." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Have you ever wondered what actually goes on when a bunch of photographers critique the work of their peers? This week, you'll have that chance. I'm going to share a conversation from our recent class presentation for the Infrared Photography Workshop. Plus, I'm going to talk about Instagram and my favorite iPhone accessory. All of that, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast.

Digital Photography Podcast 814

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Inside a Live Photo Critique

VW-Podcasting-1024.jpeg This show was recorded inside my VW ID.4 on a rainy day in Southern California using a Zoom portable recorder and my iPad mini on a steering wheel tray.

The class presentation is the highlight of any TDS workshop, online or physical. The segment I'm going to play for you now is from our recent Infrared Photography Workshop. I think you'll find it entertaining and illuminating.

Instagram Now Allows Photo Upload from Desktop

I just posted my first IG image uploaded from the desktop of my Mac. The workflow isn't bad at all.

I started by going to my IG page via the Safari web browser. I then clicked on the new "+" icon that appears in the toolbar.

Once I selected the image I wanted, I had basic cropping options, some filters, and a few adjustments as well. I could add location and description too.

The upload went well, and the shot looks great on all my devices. A welcome addition to the Instagram workflow.

The Moment Multi-Threaded Mount - My Favorite iPhone Accessory Ever

You can read the entire article on The Digital Story.

I'm surprised at how often I want to connect an iPhone to some sort of tripod. Yes, it's a mobile device, but it's so good at so many things.

And if you're a photographer who appreciates the imaging athleticism of the iPhone 12 and 13, then you realize that their capabilities can stretch into areas that we traditionally used a tripod for, such as time-lapse, video interviews, panoramas, and night photography.

The problem was, until a week ago for me, that I hadn't discovered a satisfactory way to connect my iPhone 12 Pro Max to any type of 3-legged beast, large or small. That is, until I found the Moment Multi-Threaded Mount for MagSafe (best deal: $29.95).

This machined disc that feels like a slim hockey puck has a powerful magnet on one side that attaches to the MagSafe connector on the back of an iPhone 12 (or later), and an array of 3/8" and 1/4" female threads on the other. Now I can attach my iPhone to practically anything.

I can use the adapter with a MagSafe compatible case on, or just on the phone itself, making it the simplest and most versatile mobile photo accessory that I've to date. Just pop it on and it stays put.

In addition to attaching the phone to a tripod, I can also use the adapter to connect flash adapters, microphone holders, magic arms, and anything else that uses a 1/4" thread. I can even hitch the iPhone to a camera.

If you're serious about iPhone photography, then you'll want one of these on your pocket tripod.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts!

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 46 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

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I'm surprised at how often I want to connect an iPhone to some sort of tripod. Yes, it's a mobile device, but it's so good at so many things.

And if you're a photographer who appreciates the imaging athleticism of the iPhone 12 and 13, then you realize that their capabilities can stretch into areas that we traditionally used a tripod for, such as time-lapse, video interviews, panoramas, and night photography.

The problem was, until a week ago for me, that I hadn't discovered a satisfactory way to connect my iPhone 12 Pro Max to any type of 3-legged beast, large or small. That is, until I found the Moment Multi-Threaded Mount for MagSafe (best deal: $29.95).

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This machined disc that feels like a slim hockey puck has a powerful magnet on one side that attaches to the MagSafe connector on the back of an iPhone 12 (or later), and an array of 3/8" and 1/4" female threads on the other. Now I can attach my iPhone to practically anything.

I can use the adapter with a MagSafe compatible case on, or just on the phone itself, making it the simplest and most versatile mobile photo accessory that I've to date. Just pop it on and it stays put.

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In addition to attaching the phone to a tripod, I can also use the adapter to connect flash adapters, microphone holders, magic arms, and anything else that uses a 1/4" thread. I can even hitch the iPhone to a camera.

If you're serious about iPhone photography, then you'll want one of these on your pocket tripod.

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.

This is The Digital Story Podcast #813, Oct. 19, 2021. Today's theme is "The New M1 MacBook Pro for Photographers." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Apple showed off its next generation of Apple Silicon processors for two new laptops, and they are impressive. Not only the speed bumps, but the actual designs of the computers are improved as well, especially for photographers. And that's our lead story for today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 813

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!


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The New M1 MacBook Pro for Photographers

Apple hardware presentations are usually interesting to watch. But today's unveiling of the new 14" and 16" MacBook Pros with M1 Pro processors was truly impressive. Let's take a look at the notable features for the 14" models, which I think is ideal for most photographers.

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  • Battery Life - 17 hours video playback, 11 hours of wireless web browsing.
  • SSD Speed - Up to 7.4GB/s or two times the previous generation speed. Can open thousands of RAW photos at once. The base SSD is now 512 GB with an options for 1, 2, 4, or 8 TBs.
  • Display - Liquid Retina XDR with Extreme Dynamic Range and ProMotion with refresh rates of up to 120Hz. The resolution for the 14.2" is 3024x1964, 5.9 million pixels at 254 ppi (1 billion colors).
  • Video Conferencing - 1080p camera with three studio quality mics using directional beamforming to ensure a loud and clear voice. BTW: A 6-speaker sound system with spatial audio is also part of this setup.
  • Ports and Connections - SDXC card reader, direct HDMI output, a 3.5 mm headphone jack that detects and automatically adjusts for high‑impedance headphones, 3 Thunderbolt 4 ports, and they brought back the MagSafe port (and you still can charge via Thunderbolt as well, includes a USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable). You can connect up to two Pro Display XDRs with M1 Pro.
  • Improved Keyboard - Magic Keyboard brings a full‑height function key row to MacBook Pro -- with the tactile feel of mechanical keys that pros love. It includes new keyboard shortcuts for Spotlight, Siri, Dictation, and Do Not Disturb. And Touch ID has a new, tactile ring that guides your finger for a fast, easy, secure way to unlock your Mac.
  • Processor - Apple M1 Pro chip with 8-core CPU with 6 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores, 14-core GPU.
  • Media Engine - Hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, Video decode engine, Video encode engine, and ProRes encode and decode engine.
  • Price - 14" M1 Pro with 16 GB Unified Memory and 512 GB SSD is $1,999 or $2,499 for the 1 TB model with 10-Core CPU ad 16-Core GPU.

Bottom line: this is an incredible laptop for photographers.

Infrared Photography Showcase from Our Recent Workshop

For the past month, our workshop photographers have been learning and practicing techniques for producing infrared images. Our class presentation was on Saturday, and I wanted to share a sample of the wonderful work they produced.

You can see the gallery here.

During the class presentation, each photographer talked about his or her images, shared the processes they used to create them, and discussed their plans for future work.

And because these are online events, we have participants from all over the world, ranging from England, to the U.S. east coast, the midwest, and California. So not only do they bring their unique artistic visions, but also a sense of where they live and what life is like there.

If you want to learn more about our online classes, visit The Nimble Photographer Workshops page. Among the other events, our next infrared photography workshop is scheduled for May 2022.

Apple's Most Tricked-Out M1 Max-Powered MacBook Pro Costs $6,099

You can read the entire article on PetaPixel.com.

The most tricked-out 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max will cost $6,099 which is significantly more than the max price of $2,300 for the first M1 13-inch MacBook Pro announced last year.

While Apple said that the 16-inch M1 Max-powered machine starts at $3,500, it's not hard to almost double that. Jumping from 32GB of unified memory up to 64GB of unified memory adds $400, and moving to 8TB of SSD storage capacity up from 1TB adds a whopping $2,200. Together, that brings the final price to $6,099.

Luckily, most won't need that much internal storage thanks to the abundance of Thunderbolt ports that support blazing fast external storage. If the base 1TB SSD isn't touched, the most powerful MacBook Pro Apple has ever made costs a much more approachable $3,900. That's not anything close to cheap, but if Apple is to be believed, this computer is set to make the M1, which already roasted much of the competition, look slow by comparison.

Sony teases the Sony a7 IV, confirms October 21 announcement

You can read the entire article on DP Review.

Sony has announced the forthcoming premiere for a new Alpha camera set to debut in just three days, at 10am EDT / 15:00 BST / 22:00 SGT on October 21.

As tends to be the case with many of these YouTube premiere teasers, Sony doesn't reveal any details about the camera in the video's description or in the placeholder image. That is, aside from the confirmation it will be a Sony Alpha camera system and its announcement date.

October 21 should prove to be an exciting day for Sony full-frame mirrorless camera fans.

Virtual Camera Club News

Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! (And welcome to our new members.)

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 46 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

The New Donation Kit for Carefree Shipping of Found Film Cameras - If you've discovered a film camera that's no longer being used, our new Donation Kit makes it easy to pack and ship. Just visit the Contact Form on thenimblephotographer.com, click the box next to Donating a Film Camera, and let me know what you have. In your note, be sure to include your shipping address.

Affiliate Links - The links to some products in this podcast contain an affiliate code that credits The Digital Story for any purchases made from B&H Photo and Amazon via that click-through. Depending on the purchase, we may receive some financial compensation.

Red River Paper - And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. In some cases, depending on the product, The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.