This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,040, Feb. 24, 2026. Today's theme is, "Snapseed Sprouts a New Camera, and It's Beautiful" I'm Derrick Story.
Just when you think it's dead, Snapseed springs to life with additional editing tools, a refreshed UI, and a new camera app. And just like with some of our favorite mirrorless brands, we can capture images choosing from a variety of film simulations. And just like that Snapseed is relevant again. More about that, plus other interesting stories, on today's TDS Photography Podcast.
Digital Photography Podcast 1040
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Snapseed Sprouts a New Camera, and It's Beautiful
I think we'll start out by taking a look at this article on PetyaPixel.com, titled, Snapseed's New Built-In Camera Has Film Simulations, Including Portra and Superia by Jaron Schneider. He provides an excellent overview. Then I will dig in with my own experiences using this latest version of Snapseed.
Sky Replacement Follow Up, What Our Listeners Say
In last week's podcast, Is Sky Replacement OK If It's Your Sky?, I said that I was going to pose this question to our Inner Circle Members. Here's what they had to say.
- 36 percent said: For artistic images, I'm fine. But I use my sky pictures.
- 26 percent said: No problem at all. I will use whatever I can find.
- 21 percent said: I'm against it, and I would never engage in such activity.
- 15 percent said: I've never really thought about it much.
Some comments included:
"I don't have any problems with sky replacement using personal or 3rd party asset... go for it, use what you like. But I think the photographer should disclose the modification, if/when selling the image. I would refer to the modified photograph as photo art. Similar to the 60s/70s photo art that was created by artists that painted highlights on monochrome photos. I have not done any sky replacement, might give it a go one day." Darin.
"I think it's fine if you want to do it, but I feel strongly that it needs to be labeled as such - as a photo collage, or something similar. To not mention that your image is a composite of multiple images is deceptive in my book." Lawrence.
"I have used it once, to replace a blank sky on a drone shot of a mountain valley. My instinct is not to use it, but if I do, I would use whatever appropriate sky I could find. That's mainly because I haven't made a collection of my own. In theory, it's hard to find a logical reason to be against it. Landscape painters have always been free to interpret all aspects of an image, and we alter the other aspects of photographic landscapes unrealistically all the time ( white balance, contrast, dodging and burning), so why draw a line here? Yet most of us do. A conundrum." Michael A.
"I don't think I've ever replaced a sky in my personal/ artistic work. I think of a photo as capturing a particular moment, and I work with what was there. I don't have any particular judgement about the process, it's just not something I do for my images.
Commercial work is another story... for real estate, advertising, etc, anything is fair game. The final product for the client is the point, and I use all the tools at my disposal to get the desired results. Replacing the sky can mean the difference between a drab exterior shot of a house and a dramatic image that stops buyers in their tracks." Rob
"I have numerous opinions and thoughts on this, but the one that I keep coming back to lately is this.... If I have to think about replacing the sky to make a photo more interesting, perhaps that photo is not worth the effort and I should just work on making a better photo, or at least figure out what my subject really is and compose for that." Michael B.
This Week in the News
Tamron's latest F2.8 zoom resurrects an idea from the 90s as featured on DPReview.com
The Depth of Field Advantage No One Mentions About Micro Four Thirds as featured on FStoppers.com
Zeniko ZA12 Dual Dial Flash review - clever auto metering for any camera as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com
Virtual Camera Club News
Workshops!
The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques.
We now have the dates set for the Hot Air Balloon Classic and Micro Brewery Photography Workshop that begins on July 17th and ends on July 20th. We'll go behind the scenes at the Balloon Classic for an inside look at how these beautiful aircraft are designed, maintained, and piloted. We'll photograph the Dawn Patrol launch, the big bash, and even rise up in a balloon if you want. We'll also explore the vibrant Micro Brewery culture in Sonoma County, home for Russian River Brewery, Lagunitas, and more. And if you add on to your adventure, there are days and days of photographic opportunities from majestic redwoods, to rugged coasts, to hillside vineyards. What a wonderful getaway. Place your deposit today!.
This week I want to feature the Becoming a More Creative Photographer online workshop. It's easy to study the technical aspects of photography to improve your camera skills. There are endless books, videos, classes, etc that cover aperture, shutter speed, and ISO, but what about creativity? What techniques can we employ in order to create more compelling and expressive photos? This course will seek to answer those questions. The first session is on March 5, 2026. Online participation begins a week before that.
Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today.
Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me.
Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view.
If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com.
The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays, to commentary on weekly events, to reviews of the latest and coolest photo gear.
Inner Circle Members: A big thanks to those who support our podcast and our efforts! We are having a blast at our new Inner Circle hangout, the private group I've set up at DerrickStoryOnline. We'd love it if you join us. You can become an Inner Circle Member by signing up at our Patreon site. You will automatically be added to the new hangout.
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!
You can share your thoughts at the TDS Facebook page, where I'll post this story for discussion.