This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Lightroom's Monster Update; Fujifilm X-T1 Review; and Carousel by Dropbox - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: The top story this week is the Fujifilm X-T1 Review. "The X-T1 is probably Fujifilm's best camera to date, offering a compelling combination of intuitive handling, excellent image quality, and one of best electronic viewfinders we've seen. It also features one of the most impressive autofocus systems on any camera at this price level, both in terms of accuracy with fast lenses and tracking moving subjects. Over all it's a hugely engaging and capable camera, and one that's fundamentally a joy to use." Gold Award and 84 percent. (Source: DP Review)

In other news, Sigma announces price for 50mm f/1.4 Art lens. It's official: Sigma owns the 50mm space. We were hoping for less than $1,700 for this lens. Sigma announces $949. (Source: Imaging-Resource.com).

And finally, Canon's 7D Mark II Reportedly Delayed Due to Dual-Pixel Sensor Manufacturing Issues. The rumor mill is now predicting a late summer or early fall release for the update to the Sept. 2009 DSLR. (Source: PetaPixel)

Story #2 - Latest Lightroom Update is a Whopper! Not only do we get new Raw support, color profiles, and lens correction for a bundle of new optics in Lightroom 5.4, we also can use Lightroom on an iPad. I discuss my impressions in this segment of the show.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Shooting a Photo Essay: Telling a Family Story with Paul Taggart. This week we focus our attention on storytelling. Paul is a photojournalist by trade. And for this course he focuses his energy on his family, documenting his brother's activities over the course of a week.

You can watch Paul in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography computing titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - Carousel by Dropbox for iPhone and iPhoto Backup. Dropbox users finally have an easy-to-use interface to manage their stored photos. I cover the pros and cons in the fourth segment of the show.

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshop News: I've sent out invites to the Reserve List for the Fall Color with Safari West Workshop, October 24-26, 2014. You can learn about them both, plus request a reservation form by visiting the TDS Workshops Page and using the "Send Me Info" box.

Photo Assignment for April 2014 is "Flower Power".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (34 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: ISO Wars; Microsoft Makes the iPad; Lowepro Pro Roller x200 Winner; Eye-Fi Mobi goes desktop with Receiver; and Upcoming speaking engagements - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: The top story this week is the Sony announces Alpha 7S full-frame mirrorless. The alpha 7 has extreme ISO performance, up to 409,600. Sony limited resolution to 12 MPs on the full frame sensor in favor of low light performance. Interesting how the ISO war seems to be replacing the Resolution war. The camera is also a video beast, with 8-bit 4:2:2 4k video over HDMI at up to 30p, without the need for line skipping or pixel binning. (Source: DP Review)

In other news, Sigma's 50m f/1.4 DG HSM Art lens seems to be the real deal, topping Canon and Nikon in its first serious review (Source: PetaPixel).

And finally, SLRGear posted a helpful review of the Pentax 70mm f/2.4 Limited DA HD, a compact, relatively fast portrait lens that performed well in the lab.

Story #2 - The Lowepro Pro Roller x200 Giveaway winner is Mark Castleman of Westminster, CO. We've already shipped the microfiber clothes to the other 25 winners. Thanks to everyone who participated!

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Office for iPad First Look with Jess Stratton. This week we focus our attention on mobile computing. Now that Microsoft has brought Office to iOS, how does it work? This overview will bring you up to speed.

You can watch Jess in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other mobile computing titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - The Eye-Fi Mobi Desktop Receiver Adds New Possibilities. If you have an Eye-Fi Mobi card, this beta software may breath new life in to it.

Story #5 - Upcoming Speaking Engagements: Will present for SMOG (So Cal) on April 12, DVMUG on April 16, and the Chico Mac Users Group on April 17.

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshop News: I've sent out invites to the Reserve List for the Fall Color with Safari West Workshop, October 24-26, 2014. You can learn about them both, plus request a reservation form by visiting the TDS Workshops Page and using the "Send Me Info" box.

Photo Assignment for April 2014 is "Flower Power".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (32 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: How Memory Cards Work; FrankenPod: the Joby Ballhead X on the MeFOTO DayTrip Tripod; and the 10000 dpi film scanner - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Canon Reveals Plans for a Full Frame Sensor Smartphone. You thought Sony did the impossible with a large sensor compact camera. Well Canon has revealed that they are jumping on the mobile device bandwagon in a big way with a full frame sensor smartphone. Source: April Fools!

In other news, Olympus brings PEN style and 5-axis IS to Stylus SH-1 travel zoom. It looks like a PEN, but it's really a $399 compact camera. (DP Review).

And finally, Reflecta's New 35mm Scanner Promises Unprecedented Resolution. German manufacturer Reflecta has a new 35mm film scanner with a nominal resolution of up to 10.000 dpi, which is higher than anything you'll find on other consumer film scanners. In addition, the ProScan 10T promises a very high dynamic range of 3.9 DMax, which should be sufficient even for scanning such dense slide films as Velvia 50. Est. cost $650 US. (The Phoblographer).

Story #2 - How Memory Cards Work - We use them everyday, but do you know how your card manages its files? I'll cover erasing and formatting in this second segment.

Story #3 - The Nimbleosity Report - The MeFOTO DayTrip Tripod ($119) with the Joby Ballhead X. This super compact tripod weighs only 1.8 pounds and folds to 9.4". Combined with Ballhead X and the SideKick360, you have a versatile tripod solution for both cameras and smartphones. Does it belong in your Nimble Photographer bag? I'll tell you what I think in the third story.

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshop News: The Sonoma Coast Photography Workshop is scheduled for August 22-24, 2014. And the dates are set for the Fall Color with Safari West Workshop, October 24-26, 2014. You can learn about them both, plus request a reservation form by visiting the TDS Workshops Page and using the "Send Me Info" box.

Photo Assignment for April 2014 is "Flower Power".

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (32 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: The Olympus OM-D E-M10 Camera Review, new Leica 15mm f/1.7 lens for Micro Four Thirds, and Big B&W - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Samsung NX mini is announced. They write, "If nothing else, the NX mini is another option in a growing category of super-small interchangeable lens cameras. The Pentax Q7 and Panasonic GM1 appear to be the enthusiasts' best options in the field, while the mini joins the Nikon 1 J3 in targeting beginners." (DP Review)
In other news, Kodak is back in the news with the Pixpro S1 micro four thirds camera. (ePHOTOzine).
And finally, We have a tempting new Leica DG Summilux 15mm f/1.7 ASPH to resist. This micro 4/3 optic is equivalent to a 30mm lens on a 35mm camera, and features 9 elements in 7 groups, including 3 aspherical elements. Panasonic's Nano Surface Coating technology is adopted to minimize reflections. Should sell for about $550. (Photography Blog).

Story #2 - The Olympus Olympus OM-D E-M10 Hands On Review ($699 for body only)

I'm testing this little gem with the new Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ zoom ($349) and the Olympus Lens Cap Auto Open ($39). Highlight features include:

• 16MP Sensor, TruePic VII Processor
• Built-in Wi-Fi, Popup flash
• 3-Axis IS (with auto selection)
• 81 point Fast-AF, 8 FPS
• No anti-aliasing filter
• No weather proofing
• Uses same battery as the PENs, no the other OM-Ds
• No Accessory port
• Optional ECG-1 External Camera Grip available
• Live Composite, 2 HDR modes and HDR Bracketing, Color Creator, 999-shot Intervalometer, Time-Lapse Movie, Photo Story, Hand- Held Starlight Mode, Art Filters

I discuss what how this camera fits into the OM-D family and my shooting experiences with it.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Joseph Linaschke: Artist in Action: Joseph Linaschke's Large Scale Black-and-White Photograph. You might know this week's featured artist through his Aperture Expert website and work. But Joseph is also a fan of B&W printing. He combines these passions in this week's Screening Room.

You can watch Joseph take his images from Aperture to the wall by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - My 3-day event coverage with the Urban Reporter 150 and mirrorless cameras.

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshop News: The Sonoma Coast Photography Workshop is scheduled for August 22-24, 2014. And the dates are set for the Fall Color with Safari West Workshop, October 24-26, 2014. You can learn about them both, plus request a reservation form by visiting the TDS Workshops Page and using the "Send Me Info" box.

Lowepro Pro Roller x-200 Giveaway: Follow Derrick_Story on Twitter, TheDigitalStory on Facebook, or DerrickStory on Instagram, then by March 31, 2014, send an email to: derrick@thedigitalstory.com with the Subject line: Roller Giveaway and your name and social network addition in the body of the email. Please include your shipping address.

Photo Assignment for March 2014 is HDR.

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (32 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: 5 Steps to Restore Old, Faded Photos; The Story of Two Lenses (and how they invigorated cameras I wasn't using); and Flickr Redesign in the Works - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Calumet Photographic closes U.S. stores (DP Review)
In other news, Looks like we have a Flickr redesign coming within a few weeks. My favorite part of this is that the intrusive Yahoo nav bar will be eliminated. (PetaPixel).
And finally, Michael Reichmann posted an essay on The Luminous Landscape titled, Why the Camera Industry is in The Dumper And What Can be Done About It. He cites buyer fatigue among the reasons. It's an interesting ready whether you agree with his points or not. (The Luminous Landscape).

Story #2 - 5 Steps to Restore Old Faded Photos

That's me sitting on the couch with a camera. My sister looks pretty bored, and my Mom doesn't seem to be in a portrait mood.

Both Aperture and Lightroom have the image editing tools to breath new life into the scans of your faded family photos. Here's a quick overview.

• Remove Cast with Temperature and Tint
• Improve Contrast
• Add Vibrancy
• Fix Blotches with the Retouch Brush
• Increase Definition and Sharpness

For more detail about these adjustments, see my article, How to Restore Old Photos in Aperture.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Mikkel Aaland - Travel Photography: Seaside Road Trip Setting the Stage. This week's featured artist is veteran photographer Mikkel Aaland. I picked this title because Mikkel knows travel (I spent a week in Iceland with him), and we're coming in to the time of year where many of us have trips planned.

You can watch Mikkel in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Story of Two Lenses (and how they invigorated cameras I wasn't using).

Virtual Camera Club News

Workshop News: The Sonoma Coast Photography Workshop is scheduled for August 22-24, 2014. And the dates are set for the Fall Color with Safari West Workshop, October 24-26, 2014. You can learn about them both, plus request a reservation form by visiting the TDS Workshops Page and using the "Send Me Info" box.

Lowepro Pro Roller x-200 Giveaway: Follow Derrick_Story on Twitter, TheDigitalStory on Facebook, or DerrickStory on Instagram, then by March 31, 2014, send an email to: derrick@thedigitalstory.com with the Subject line: Roller Giveaway and your name and social network addition in the body of the email. Please include your shipping address.

Photo Assignment for March 2014 is HDR.

If you haven't done so already, please post a review for The Digital Story Podcast in iTunes.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (32 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Lowepro Pro Roller x200 AW Grand Prize; From the Screening Room: Ben Long: Shooting and Processing HDR; and on the Workshops Update: Sonoma Coast Photography Workshop Open for Business - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Getty and Flickr to cease partnership (DP Review) Even though the 6-year partnership ends, "Your status as a contributor to Getty Images is unchanged by this news. Your current agreement with Getty Images remains the same and agreements will NOT be terminated by us as a result of this change, no matter how few images you have on gettyimages.com."

In other news, Ultra-high def Panasonic GH4 ships this May at a price enthusiasts can justify - $1,700 body alone and $3,300 with camera and interface unit together, which adds 4K HD-SDI output with timecode, XLR audio, and DC power, as well as a stereo levels display and physical levels controls. Should ship in May. (Imaging-Resource).

And finally, iOS 7.1: The changes we love (and the ones we don't) Includes HDR auto, the camera automatically detects when an image might be improved by HDR, and shoots in that format. (Macworld Magazine).

Story #2 - Lowepro Pro Roller x200 AW Grand Prize

This is a sweepstakes for podcast listeners only. The goal is to bring you into our family of social network sites, so you can stay better informed about what's going on in our virtual camera club community. (Lots of TDS news isn't covered in the weekly show.)

Participation is easy. All you have to do is join one or more of our social network sites, and let me know which one(s) via email. Here are your choices:

• Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/thedigitalstory)
• Follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/Derrick_Story)
• Join us on Instagram (instagram.com/derrickstory)
• The send an email to derrick@thedigitalstory.com with the Subject line: Roller Giveaway and your name and social network addition in the body of the email. Please include your shipping address.

If you're already a member of all three social sites, send the email and say so. Be sure to include your shipping address.

Twenty-five randomly selected participants will receive the brand new "I have a high nimbleosity rating" microfiber camera cleaning cloth. One participant will receive the Lowepro Pro Roller x200 AW camera bag.

Only rules are that your email has to be date stamped before March 31, 2014, and if these sort of things are not allowed where you live, then I can't change that. In other words, void where prohibited.

I hope you toss your hat in the ring. I can't wait to send out those cool Nimble microfibers, and of course the Pro Roller X200.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Ben Long: Shooting and Processing HDR. This week's featured artist is expert photographer and all around great guy, Ben Long. Ben shows you the ins and outs of High Dynamic Range Photography in this week's title.

You can watch Ben in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - Workshops Update - The Sonoma Coast Photography Workshop is scheduled for August 22-24, 2014. And let me tell you why this is such a wonderful event for enthusiast photographers.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for March 2014 is HDR.

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (31 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Sigma Takes on Zeiss with its New 50mm f/1.4 Art lens; Apple TV Review; From the Screening Room: Tim Grey: Photoshop CC Raw Workshop; and on the Nimbleosity Report: PhotoSync for iOS and Mac - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Olympus OM-D E-M10 shooting experience and studio tests published (DP Review) "Live Composite, new to the E-M10, captures a series of long exposures, analyzing each frame to keep the brightest pixel in each location and creating a single composite image. In plain terms, it captures light trails without overexposing the rest of the frame, taking the guesswork out of long exposure photography. You get to preview the effect as the exposure builds up on screen and choose when to stop."
In other news, Sigma wasn't bluffing: 50mm f/1.4 Art appears to match Zeiss Otus ($3,990) on sharpness, beats it on contrast (Imaging-Resource).
And finally, Fujifilm Discontinues Neopan 400 PRESTO 35mm and Fujicolor PRO 400 120 Film (PetaPixel).

Story #2 - Apple TV Review

Now that Apple has declared that Apple TV is no longer a hobby, I thought it might be a good time to check in with the Internet-connected hockey puck.

The positives can be boiled down to a few basic features:

• AirPlay Mirroring - I can share just about anything from an iPhone, iPad or current Mac via AirPlay. Great for showing off your pictures or videos to a small audience.
• Apple Content - Movies, TV shows, music, iTunes Radio, and podcasts are easily accessible.
• Some Interesting 3rd Party Content - Sky News, YouTube, Vimeo, Flickr, Vevo, HBO Go, Netflix, hulu, PBS,and others round out a variety of content that has something for just about anyone.
• Remote Control App - Using the iPhone or iPad to enter searches and passwords is much simpler that the Apple TV interface.
• Bluetooth Keyboard Compatible - You can even connect your Apple wireless keyboard to the Apple TV.

There are a handful of shortcomings too:

• No iOS Apps - If apps were enabled, I could do things such as run Olympus Share on the Apple TV and view my photos in HD, streamed directly from the camera.
• Pesky Subscriptions - I find something interesting to watch, only to learn that I need a cable subscription or that from a particular service in order to view. So that Apple TV channel isn't really a channel, but an advertising tile.
• Spotty Performance - I have screaming bandwidth at my studio, but many of the 3rd party services are slow to load and often stall while in progress.

Bottom Line: I think the Apple TV is a terrific device for $99. I use AirPlay Mirroring often, and I enjoy listening to podcasts and watching movies with the device.

But it has a long ways to go, as I'm sure even Apple will admit. iOS apps could open many doors for Apple TV. That is the top request on my list.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Tim Grey: Photoshop CC Raw Workshop, Image Sharpening. This week's featured artist is Photoshop veteran, Tim Grey. Tim tackles a variety of techniques in this week's featured title, including image sharpening.

You can watch Tim in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - Super handy PhotoSync for iOS and your Mac.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for March 2014 is HDR.

The SizzlPix! Head to Head Challenge

Order a SizzlPix! using the image from which you've already made your best print. If, when you receive your SizzlPix!, you don't feel that it's the best version of your image ever, return yours within 30 days for a full refund.

Oh, and BTW: SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (32 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition tops the Weekly Update; Taking the Transporter Sync for a Spin; From the Screening Room: Chris Orwig, Lightroom 5 Essentials; and on the Nimbleosity Report: the Square Perfect Backdrop System- All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Hands-on with the GoPro Hero 3+ Black Edition (DP Review) Supports 4K, 2.7K, 1440p & 1080p Video. "It has better battery life, quicker Wi-Fi speeds with longer range, is more compact with the new case, has a significantly improved microphone, and the best image quality I've seen from a GoPro to date." In other news, Adobe Camera Raw release candidate supports 14 new cameras including Sony A6000, Fuji X-T1 (but no corresponding Lightroom update). (Imaging-Resource). And finally, Olympus Patents Impressive 12 and 14mm f/1.0 Ultra-Wide AF Lenses (PetaPixel).

Story #2 - Taking the Transporter Sync for a Spin.

I've been testing the Transporter Sync ($99) for an upcoming Lynda.com title that I'm working on for backing up your mobile photos. I'm still in the early stages of learning about this device, but I have a few things to share with you now.

This is the standalone version of the transporter that doesn't include a hard drive. The thinking is that you add your own USB hard drive and it becomes a transporter.

One of the first things to note, is that whatever drive you use has to be completely erased by the transporter before it's available for storage. Once the Transporter has finished configuring the drive is then available for use.

You can access content on the drive the a desktop application, web browser, or iOS or android device. Right now I have a portable drive connected to the transporter that uses USB fo its power. I might switch to a drive with its own power supply to see if that increases performance.

The iOS app was more basic than I had anticipated. You can add images from your camera roll to your Transporter via your iPad or iPhone. But you can't do anything with them such as rename the file names put them in folders organize them things like that. And in fact, you can't even browse the images by icon. So all you end up with is a list of filenames without any indication of what the subject for the photo is.

At this point, I don't see the Transporter replacing services such as Loom that I think have more functionality for mobile photographers. It could be used as a straight back up solution, and I'm exploring that more and will report once I come to some conclusions about it.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Chris Orwig, Lightroom 5 Essentials. This week's featured artist is The enthusiastic Chris Orwig, who is an excellent Lightroom instructor. Chris shows you the things that you need to know to really master the basics of Lightroom 5.

You can watch Chris in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - The Square Perfect Backdrop Background Support Stand. This backdrop frame allows you to set up just about anywhere you have 10 feet of room. Plus it's affordable at lesson $70. And it breaks down to a pretty compact package. I talk more about it in the final segment of today's show.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2014 is Smartphone.

The SizzlPix! Head to Head Challenge

Order a SizzlPix! using the image from which you've already made your best print. If, when you receive your SizzlPix!, you don't feel that it's the best version of your image ever, return yours within 30 days for a full refund.

Oh, and BTW: SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (24 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: Sony a7R full review tops the Weekly Update; Build Your Own DIY Slide Digitizer; From the Screening Room: Julieanne Kost on Photoshop CC Essential Training; and on the Nimbleosity Report: How I dropped my iPhone from the top of the bleachers, and what happened after that - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Full Review of the Sony a7R (DP Review) "When it comes down to it, the Sony a7R's image quality, created by a combination of its high-resolution sensor and premium quality optics, make it an impressive image-maker." Next, Nikon facing potential class action lawsuit due to D600 sensor oil issues (Imaging-Resource). And finally, we've got some specs and price information for the upcoming Pentax 645D CMOS Medium Format camera. It's going to cost about $10,000 and sport a 40-50-megapixel sensor (PetaPixel).

Story #2 - How to make a high quality slide digitizer with an old projector and a new camera. I'm getting excellent results with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 and the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 macro lens coupled to an old Leica P 150 projector. I cover why I chose to go this route, and how I assembled it. There'sd also a companion article titled DIY Slide Digitizer with Olympus OM-D and Leica Projector with how-to pictures and sample scans.

Original image captured in 1992 on Fuji 100 slide film.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Julieanne Kost: Photoshop CC Essential Training. This week's featured artist is one of the best Photoshop instructors I've ever listened to. Julieanne is an excellent photographer, so she knows the capture side of the equation too. And when she teaches, she's precise and adds plenty of wit and humor.

You can watch Julieanne in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - The Nimbleosity Report - The Story of my Dropping an iPhone 5S from the top of the gym bleachers.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2014 is Smartphone.

The SizzlPix! Head to Head Challenge

Order a SizzlPix! using the image from which you've already made your best print. If, when you receive your SizzlPix!, you don't feel that it's the best version of your image ever, return yours within 30 days for a full refund.

Oh, and BTW: SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (33 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

This week on The Digital Story photography podcast: the Panasonic GH4 tops the weekly update; The inside scoop on c't Digital Photography Magazine; From the Screening Room: David Hobby on The business of photography; and on the Nimbleosity Report: Pro HDR for iOS - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Weekly Update: Panasonic announces 4K-capable Lumix DMC-GH4 (DP Review) Are you ready for 4K video? (4K has a horz. resolution of 4,000 pixels compared to 1,920 for HD). Speaking of Panasonic, looks like Olympus is using their sensors, not Sony's in the flagship OM-D E-M1 (Imaging-Resource). And finally, it looks like the Nikon D4s will be officially released soon. The body alone will run you about $6,000 (PetaPixel).

Story #2 - The Inside Scoop on c't Photography Magazine. It all began with a conversation in Germany in 2012. More than a year later, I'm an Associate Editor with this technical photo magazine based in Germany. (You can subscribe for $39.96 using this special URL.) Here's what I'll be doing for this terrific publication.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - David Hobby: Insights on Building a Photography Business. This week's featured artist is also known as Strobist. In this movie titled, "Determining your career compass point," David talks about his own career evolution and how establishing a compass point facilitates the process.

You can watch David in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com/thedigitalstory. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch other photography titles, plus every other topic in the library.

Story #4 - Pro HDR ($1.99) for iOS. High Dynamic Range photography is fun, but it's also a fair amount of work... that is unless you're using Pro HDR on your iPad or iPhone. I explain why in this fourth segment today.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2014 is Smartphone.

The SizzlPix! Head to Head Challenge

Order a SizzlPix! using the image from which you've already made your best print. If, when you receive your SizzlPix!, you don't feel that it's the best version of your image ever, return yours within 30 days for a full refund.

Oh, and BTW: SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until August!

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

Listen to the Podcast

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (30 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com.

Want to Comment on this Post?

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