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Tripod Too Short? Use Your Car

One of my favorite pictures of Ansel Adams is with him on the roof of his panel truck using a tripod to make a picture. When I first saw that image, I thought, "That guy is cool."

Often the tripod I have with me is of the compact variety, such as the MeFOTO DayTrip that extends only 24". In city settings, this lack of height hasn't been a problem.

bay-bridge-sf-night-web.jpg "San Francisco Skyline with Bay Bridge" captured with the OM-D E-M1 and a MeFOTO DayTrip tripod sitting on the hood of my car. Photo by Derrick Story.

In many situations, like Adams, I use my car to extend the height of my sticks. This image of the San Francisco skyline with Bay Bridge was recorded by mounting an OM-D E-M1 on the MeFOTO, and using the hood of my car as the platform. Rubber feet don't scratch the paint. (I've also used newspaper machines, street barriers, steps, walls, ledges and anything else I can find.)

I'm not sure if others around me thought I was cool. But I did get the shot.


Join me on my Instagram site as I explore the world of mobile photography. And now Instagram features 15-second movies too.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Dealing with Drones, a chat with Storytag founder Nikki McKenna, huge savings on the Olympus OM-D E-M5 - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Snapshot - Pelican on Treasure Island. I try to arrive early for assignments in interesting places. Usually I'm rewarded with a few extra images. This was the case last week as I hung out with a Pelican in the marina on Treasure Island.

Weekly Update - $400 Savings on the Olympus OM-D E-M5 - Now available for $599 until inventory is depleted. The word on the street is that a replacement is coming in early 2015 - (Source: B&H Photo)

In other news, Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM becomes a reality - The lens itself is slightly taller, wider and heavier than the original (circa 1998, but the move to a rotating zoom design should resolve problems associated with dust being sucked in during operation. It also offers three image stabilization modes and offers 4 stops of stabilization compared to 1.5 in the previous model. Thew new lens will automatically lock the IS elements when it detects a tripod in use. (Source: DP Review)

And finally, Rumor: Sigma's Much Anticipated 24mm f/1.4 Art Lens May Finally Arrive Q1 of 2015 (Source: PetaPixel).

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Story #1 - Dealing with Drones: One of the most controversial tools in photography right now are those flying quad-copters and their brethren. After attending the DJI Launch Party for the Inspire-1 last week, I came away more conflicted than ever about drones. I discuss this in today's first feature story.

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Story #2 - A Chat with Storytag Founder Nikki McKenna - Storytag is about helping you to tell your story, one chapter at a time. You know the richness of  conversation that happens when you flip through old pictures with your grandparents, and you spend the time to ask questions? Nikki has figured out how to provide that service to all of us, and she explains how in the second segment of today's show. 

Story #3 - First Annual Nimble Store Sale - To celebrate one year of online nimbleosity, we're in the middle of a doozie of a sale. For example, our popular Walking Man Shoulder Bag and Stainless Steel Water Bottle Kit is on sale for $29.95. That's over 30 percent off for a quality Wenger hiking bottle and the classic shoulder bag. Sale ends on Monday, Nov. 24th.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for November 2014 is "Layers".

Red River Paper News! - Save 10 percent off your next order of inkjet paper and greeting cards. Good one per customer. Use discount code STORY10X - Ends 1/15/15.

A Note from SizzlPix

Special for TDS listeners, a 20% discount on all SizzlPix ordered, now through end of November. Using the comment space on the newly streamlined SizzlPix order page, write "TDS 20 percent discount."

And Finally...

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.

Download the Show

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (39 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 May!

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What initially attracted me to Kenu Stance was that it did not require an adapter or special case to mount to an iPhone. Its MicroMount inserts directly into the iPhone's Lightning port. Combined with the Stance's lightweight (1.2 ounces) and compact (3.1") design, you can carry it with you anywhere.

The Stance can also be configured as a stand for watching videos on the iPhone. And its ball head allows for versatile positioning for photography.

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And if all of that wasn't good enough, the Stance includes a bottle opener. So when it's time to celebrate your great shot with a sip of your favorite microbrew, you're opener will already be in hand.

The Stance is available directly from the Kenu site for $29.95.


Nimble Photographer Logo

The Kenu Stance has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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Considering Affiliates for Your Website

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Many of us in photography and technology maintain web sites in addition to our work on social networks. Running our own blog, for example, provides us with complete control over the presentation of the content, including any ads or promotions that we might choose to share.

We probably won't attract the likes of Ford Motor Company for our personal sites. But that doesn't mean that we can't form strategic partnerships with like-minded companies. Often the easiest way to accomplish this is through an affiliate program.

How do these work? First, find a company that you like. My most recent partnership was formed with Rocky Nook Publishing that has an excellent Affiliate Program. I'll use them as an example for this article.

You sign up, providing basic information about yourself and your site. In most cases, you're setting up an affiliate account with the company. An agreement is finalized, and you're ready for business. Now you have access to the assets they provide to their partners, usually through an affiliate area that you can log in to.

Since not every website qualifies, getting this far is a stamp of approval. You can leverage this acknowledgement by placing a promotional tile on your site. Site visitors recognize that you're serious about your publishing and those with whom you choose to associate.

All affiliate content, whether it's a tile or a link, contains your account ID. This gives you credit for any resulting transactions with your business partner. In the case of Rocky Nook, you earn 10 percent commission on purchases made through affiliate links.

This creates a passive revenue stream, which means that you didn't have to do a specific task to earn money. Instead, you've created an environment that generates revenue through everyday use. Passive revenue streams are the holy grail of independent publishers.

We are often judged by the company we keep. Be choosy about who you partner with online. In my opinion, the co-branding is at least as important as the revenue. When you look at The Digital Story home page, you'll see tiles for c't Digital Photography, Rocky Nook, Red River Paper, SizzlPix, lynda.com, B&H Photo, and Amazon. These are all companies that I like and respect. And I'm thrilled to be associated with them.

If you want to learn more about Rocky Nook's affiliate program, which I think is a good starting point, then take a look at their Affiliate FAQ page.

Carefully choosing affiliates for your online publishing can be a positive experience for both parties involved.

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Facing the Sun - Again

One of the techniques we worked on at a recent TDS Photography Workshop was shooting in to the sun. I had an other opportunity yesterday while on assignment at Treasure Island in San Francisco.

Looking-in-to-the-Sun-SF-web.jpg Looking In to the Sun - SF. Photo by Derrick Story.

Using the LCD on my Olympus OM-D E-M1 with a Panasonic Lumix G X Vario 12-35mm f/2.8 zoom set to 12mm, I used the sun and its reflection on the water as a key part of the composition.

The ISO was 200, at f/11, and 1/640th of a second. This image was sampled down from a in-camera Jpeg in Superfine mode.


Nimble Photographer Logo

The Olympus OM-D has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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Have you been waiting to get your Walking Man Shoulder Bag? Or maybe step up to the stylish Nimble Messenger Bag that holds a 15" laptop? Or how about one of my favorites: the Walking Man Cap?

If that's the case, you may want to take advantage of The First Annual Nimble Store Sale. Terrific price reductions on many of your favorite items. Sale prices are good from now until November 24th. These will be the best prices of the season.

Check it out for yourself at The Nimble Photographer Store.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Special Edition: Amazing Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Snapshot - Elissa writes, "I'd say I'm a very intermediate photographer at best, so I was disappointed when Apple announced they were going to stop developing Aperture a while ago.  Since then, I've learned a lot about Lightroom (thanks to Lynda.com!) because iPhoto didn't have enough editing tools, and it didn't make sense to invest any time learning Aperture.   But I also hate the cumbersome workflow that comes with Lightroom, and miss the simplicity of the Aperture/iPhoto combo. Can you shed some light on this?"

Story #1 - Amazing Holiday Gift Guide for Photographers. Here's a hand-selected list for photographers ranging from $5.95 to $249. And I even wrangled a few special deals for our listeners.

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  • Nimble Stylus Pen Gift Set ($5.95) - The popular dual-function Nimble Stylus Pen in a handsome leather case - It's the perfect holiday gift for that special tablet-toting someone in your life. One device, two functions. Soft stylus tip works great on iPads, iPhones, and Phablets of all sizes. Keep the glass surface clean, yet tap and drag just like with your finger. Handy for restaurant reading. When it's time to sign the check, just click the top button and a black-ink pen tip emerges from the stylus.
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  • Focus Digital Grey Card Set & Lanyard ($6.50 )- Here's a terrific stocking stuffer. This set of white, gray, and black laminated cards with lanyard are perfect for white balance settings and exposure readings. They hardly take up any space in the camera bag.
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  • Nimble Fingerless Gloves ($12.99) Soft, 100 percent acrylic gloves with exposed fingertips enabling you to adjust devices and keep your hands warm. Rubberized dots on the palm side assist with gripping tripods and light stands. High-wrist design ensures that gloves stay within jacket sleeves, even during activity.The Walking Man logo is embroidered on top of each wrist with silver thread providing a classic look. Designed for men's hands, all sizes.
  • 2-for-1 Subscription of c't Digital Photography Magazine with eBook Chapter One from "The Essence of Photography" by Bruce Barnbaum - Engineered in Germany, this quarterly photographic publication provides deep dives into gear reviews, techniques, and artists. There's no publication like it in North America, and for a limited time, you can give a subscription and garner one for yourself. The best deal of the year!
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  • Nanuk 903 Case ($30) - It's like a mini-Pelican case that you can carry inside backpacks and duffels. The Nanuk is waterproof and impact resistant with 100 percent stainless steel hardware and automatic pressure release valve. The cases come in a variety of sizes and colors. I'm using the 903 to protect my Olympus OM-D E-M10 with pancake zoom lens on camera and the 12-50mm zoom by its side.
  • Olympus 9mm f/8.0 Fisheye Body Cap Lens ($99) - Mounts on both Olympus and Panasonic Micro Four Thirds cameras, this petite lens takes very big pictures. It features a constant f/8 aperture and a 35mm equivalent focal length of 18mm. I carry one with me everywhere.
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  • Lexar Professional Workflow 256GB SSD USB 3.0 Storage Drive ($129) - Leveraging USB 3.0 speeds, the drive provides read transfer speeds up to 450MB/s and write speeds up to 245MB/s. I copied a 37GB Aperture library to the Lexar and the process only took 2 minutes, 46 seconds. Once the library was copied to the drive, I ran Aperture from it, and the performance was terrific. Small size (2.9" x 2.4" x 0.9") and very light. Kit includes USB 3.0 cord. Integrates with Workflow HR1 and HR2 USB and Thunderbolt 2 hubs. PC and Mac compatible.
  • 35 Percent Off Rocky Nook eBooks - Choose from an extensive library of great photography books and download and give instantly. The perfect "last minute" gift idea. Use discount code: Thanks2014 at checkout.
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  • Canon EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM lens ($149) - Providing a 38mm-equivalent focal length, this lens takes on a slightly wider-than-normal perspective to benefit its use in a broad variety of shooting situations. A stepping motor AF system pairs well with cameras featuring the Movie Servo AF mode, where it will deliver fast, smooth, and nearly silent focusing performance that can instantly be manually overridden at any time. It's not often we can photographers a lens as a gift, this is a terrific one at an amazing price.
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  • WD 1TB My Passport Wireless hard drive ($179) - Incredible device that includes an SD card reader, 1 TB of storage, and a built-in WiFi access point. Works with iPad, iPhone, and Android mobile devices, as well as Mac and Windows computers. Allows for photo backup on the road, even without a computer. Plus it wirelessly serves and can receive content using its built-in WiFi - one cool hard drive.
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  • The Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW ($199) camera/laptop backpack. The real standout feature of this backpack is its versatility. Lowepro has designed access to your gear from the top, back, and both sides. Everything stays organized and easy to get to. Great for mirrorless and DSLRs. Accommodates a 13" laptop. One of the best backpacks I've ever tested. (You can read my full review of the ProTactic 350AW here.)
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  • Canon PowerShot S110 compact camera ($249) - The PowerShot S110 is an advanced compact digital camera with a 12MP resolution 1/1.7" CMOS sensor, redesigned high speed autofocus, built-in WiFi, and 3" touchscreen display. It also shoots Full HD video and RAW files in several aspect ratios. Its 5x optical zoom lens has the 35mm equivalent of a 24-120mm focal length, while the built-in Control Ring allows for easy access to functions and settings. It's a wonderful camera.

Story #2 - Book of the Month: Photography as Meditation - Tap the source of your creativity. Use discount code: PMED at RockyNook.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for November 2014 is "Layers".

Pano Cards from Red River

Inkjet Pano Cards are guaranteed to turn heads and get friends, family, and clients to take notice of your work. Pano Cards are perfect for your your landscapes and wide angle shots. Try something new and make a tall crop for your work printing on the card vertically. Unfolded, the pre-scored sheets are 8" x 9". When folded, the Pano Card is 9" x 4". The Pano Card uses a standard #10 business envelope. Learn more at Pano Card FAQ page.

A Note from SizzlPix

They've ramped up their capacity, so we can go for volume for the holidays.

Special for TDS listeners, a 20% discount on all SizzlPix ordered, now through end of November! Using the comment space on the newly streamlined SizzlPix order page, write "TDS 20 percent discount."

SizzlPix! 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 May 2015! "Hang your SizzlPix before Christmas, and pay nothing until Mothers Day!"

And Finally...

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.

Download the Show

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (36 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 May!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

I have a new favorite travel bag. The Lowepro ProTactic 350 AW ($199) holds my 13" MacBook Air, iPad mini, Olympus OM-D, FujiFilm X20, lenses, hard drives, and accessories, yet fits neatly under the seat in front of me while flying, or easily in the overhead compartment.

Lowero ProTactic 350 AW

The real standout feature of this backpack is its versatility. Lowepro has designed access to your gear from the top, back, and both sides. Everything stays organized and easy to get to.

I've been testing the ProTactic 350 AW, and have published a detailed review with lots of photos on c't Digital Photography Magazine. If you're interested in an all-in-one carrying solution, then this backpack is worth a look.


Nimble Photographer Logo

The ProTactic 350 AW has a solid Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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If you haven't updated your Google Nik Collection of plugins for a while, you might be greeted with an unhappy surprise after migration to Mac OS X Yosemite.

In my case, I was asked to reregister. And when I did, the software wouldn't accept my code. What caused this is incompatibility between the new operating system and an older version of the Nik suite.

silver-efex-2pt2.jpg Everything is working fine again now that I have the latest version of Silver Efex Pro 2.

I contacted tech support and asked them to call me. Within a few minutes I learned that the most current version (2.2.x) of the Nik Collection seems to work well with Lightroom, Aperture, and Photoshop running on Yosemite. Google is working on an updated version of the suite that will ensure full compatibility. We should see that before too long.

If you haven't checked your Nik apps since upgrading to Yosemite, you might want to do so now. That way, you can get everything straightened out before you're in a time crunch.

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Frederick Van Johnson and I got together in the Panasonic booth during PhotoPlus Expo and drilled deep into the world of Nimble Photography. This is a terrific conversation that covers the foundation of "traveling light with plenty of might."

Thanks to Frederick, Tom Curley, and the entire Panasonic team for producing this informative, entertaining, video.

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This interview has a high Nimbleosity Rating. What does that mean? You can learn about Nimbleosity and more by visiting TheNimblePhotographer.com.

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