As the Photography Evangelist for Lowepro, I get to test all the new gear they produce. And when I say test, I mean load it up and hit the road.

Inside a Lowepro Pro Runner 300 AW. My current favorite mid-sized backpack.

I've traveled to Washington DC with a Fastpack 250, Germany with a Pro Trekker 300 AW, Bermuda with a Pro Runner 300 AW, Kauai with a Exchange Messenger, and on and on.

Over the months, I've become very fond of some of these bags. I have many that I like, but there are 5 that I would not want to live without. I posted an article about them on the Lowepro blog. You might want to hop over there and read the post and check out the links. I'll also list them here for you:

• Lowepro Fastpack 250 (Arctic Blue) $89
• Lowepro Pro Runner 300 AW DSLR Backpack (Pine Green) $129
• Lowepro Classified Sling 180 AW Backpack (Black) $129
• Lowepro Classified 160 AW Shoulder Bag for DSLR and 1-2 Lenses (Sepia) $129
• Lowepro Exchange Messenger Camera Bag (Gray) $19

As I said, there are others I use all the time and like, but these are my current favorites.

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"As winter was getting nearer in Madrid, the last insects were running for their lives," writes Michel Bricteux. "So was this wasp, feeding on cured ham. Note the wasp's tongue between the two mandibules shaped to cut the food."

"Wasp Meal" by Michel Bricteux. Click on image for larger version (Do it! It's worth it.)

Michel captured this compelling image with a Nikon D3X with a Nikon 105mm f/2.8 lens. ISO was set to 320 with a shutter speed of 1/200th.

This is our 205th Grab Shot! Wow. If you want to review the collection that began back in 2006, go to our Grab Shots page.

If you have a candid you'd like to share, take a look at our Submissions page, then send us your Grab Shot. We'll try to get it published for you on The Digital Story.

And you can view more images from our virtual camera club in the Member Photo Gallery.

The Digital Story Podcast App is the best way to stream or download weekly TDS podcast episodes. No more syncing your iPhone or iPod Touch just to get a podcast. And there's more! Tap the Extras button for free passes and discounts and the current Grab Shot by our virtual camera club members. Each podcast episode has its own Extras button, too, that contains more goodies such as pro photo tips. And the best part is, The Digital Story Podcast App is your way to help support this show.Download it today!

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You're working in cold conditions and get a call on your iPhone. So you have to quickly yank off a glove to use the touchscreen before the ringing stops. Very stressful!

Well, it doesn't have to be that way thanks to the makers of FIVEPOINT Gloves. Their specially-designed conductive fingertips let you touch, tap, stroke, slide and pinch your touch-screen gadgets in any way you choose. This includes iPhones and iPads. Plus, they are nimble enough to use with your camera too.

You can order FIVEPOINT Gloves directly from the etre shop in either medium or large sizes for the following prices: £24.99 GBP (That's about $39.33 USD or €29.52 EUR.). They ship worldwide.

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On a crisp, autumn day in Sonoma County, I took the IR modified Olympus E-P1 on a walk. I used an Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 14-150mm F4.0-5.6 zoom lens for this shot. Settings were ISO 400, f/9 at 1/400th of a second.

"Wisteria Lane"- Infrared shot captured with a modified Olympus E-P1. Photo by Derrick Story. Click on image for larger version.

I'll have more information soon on these modifications.

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Photographers aren't the easiest people to buy gifts for. It's not that there isn't anything they want, but who can afford to get a loved one $1,400 DSLR body? I can help. Here are 10 great gifts for $50 or less that should thrill that favorite shooter in your life.

The Gift List

• PhotoVision 14" Target $40
• Giottos MM9750 4-Section Aluminum Monopod $45
• Lowepro Exchange Messenger Camera Bag (Gray) $20
• Flickr Pro Account $25
• Multidisc 5-in-1 22" Collapsible Reflector $50

• Gary Fong Lightsphere Universal Cloud (Translucent) $50
• iLife '11 including iPhoto and iMovie $50
• Sanyo eneloop Ni-MH Power Pack Kit $40
• Joby GP2-D1EN Gorillapod Flexible Tripod for Digital SLR Cameras with Bubble Level $25
• Giottos AA1900 Rocket Air Blaster Large (Black) $13

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (28 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

High ISO is the November 2010 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Nov. 30, 2010. Entries must be recorded at ISO 800 or above.

TDS Spring 2011 Photography Workshop

We're making plans now for the Spring 2011 TDS Photography Workshop. If you want your name on the reserve list, just drop me a line.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.

iPhoto '11 gets a lot of coverage for its online output services, but if you have an inkjet printer, you might be impressed with what it can do at home too. The trick is to first open the regular print dialog box (File > Print), then click on the "Customize" button. Go to Full Screen Mode, and you've got an entire print center at your fingertips.

Click the "Custom" button in the iPhoto '11 print dialog box to reveal a whole new world. Notice the Adjust panel controls just for that print job. Click on image for larger version.

You have a variety of themes, backgrounds, and borders to choose from. If you want to print multiple photos at one, you can also select from a handful of layouts. But my favorite feature is the Adjust panel of controls that only affect the print job, not the photo in your library.

To enable this, click on the photo itself (in the custom print work area), then click on the Adjust button. You have an entire set of image adjustment sliders, plus 3 presets. This allows you to fine tune the photo for the print job without worrying about changing the image that resides in the iPhoto library.

If you want to make a more permanent adjustment, double-click on the image, and you get iPhoto's 3-tabbed adjustment panel. Now the edits you make will affect the library version too.

One last tip while working in the custom print dialog box. Click on the photo and you'll see a zoom slider appear. You can zoom in on parts of the photo, then drag it to reposition it in the frame. Very handy for last minute composition adjustments.

If you want to save a digital version of the image you've customized, click Print, then click the PDF button and choose the option you want. Using that control, you can even return a Jpeg version of your creation to the iPhoto library. Nifty!

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Sure, a new MacBook Air with fit in practically any bag designed for laptops. But for nimble photographers on the go, can it squeeze into a regular DSLR camera bag? I tested two of my favorites, the Lowepro Classified Sling 180 AW ($115) and the Lowepro Versapack 200 AW ($99). How do they work? See for yourself in this short video report.

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It may be just in time for the holidays, but the gifts are for you. Red River Paper wants you to have the opportunity to print with your very own Canon ip4820 Photo Inkjet Printer. And it couldn't be easier to participate.

All you have to do is subscribe to their newsletter or become a Fan of their Facebook page. (If you do both, that's two entries!) In order to qualify for prizes, first visit The Digital Story landing page on the Red River site. The links for contest entry are there. It will take you less than one minute.

For your effort, you will have the opportunity to win:

• Canon ip4820 Photo Inkjet Printer - A top pick for printing Red River note cards
• Red River Greeting Card Sampler Kit
• $100 Gift Certificate for use at Red River's website

This event is to celebrate Red River's fantastic selection of greeting card paper that you can use to create fine art gifts (at a very affordable price).

So, let's have a strong turnout for our longest running sponsor (who has so much to do with keeping the TDS podcast on the air). Enter to win today!

Congrats to Mike Kennamer for his landscape shot from the Great Smoky Mountains as part of the Saturated Photo Assignment.

For his efforts, Mike will receive a free SizzlPix of his image. If you've ever seen one of these high definition images printed on aluminum, you know that Mike is in for a treat.

The current Photo Assignment for Nov. 2010 is "High ISO." If you want to enter an image and be eligible for a free SizzlPix, then send in your photo (captured at ISO 800 or above) by the end of the month. Details for the Photo Assignment are available on the Member Information page.

Thanks to our wonderful sponsor, SizzlPix, and to Mike Kennamer for sharing his good work.

I've always been a fan of infrared photography. But never has it been as much fun to create as with this modified Olympus E-P1 digital camera. Even with the dense 89B filter over the lens, I can shoot at 1/200th at f/8 in late afternoon light. In this week's podcast, I talk about this new rig that I'm testing from Ventura, CA where I'm recording an iPhoto '11 Essential Training for Lynda.com. I'm using the built-in mic on the MacBook Air for this episode. Tune in and see what you think.

"Rest Stop, I5 CA" - Captured with an IR-modified Olympus E-P1 camera. Photo by Derrick Story. Click on image for larger version.

Listen to the Podcast

You can also download the podcast here (15 minutes). Or better yet, subscribe to the podcast in iTunes. You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

Monthly Photo Assignment

High ISO is the November 2010 Photo Assignment. You can read more about how to submit on our Member Participation page. Deadline for entry is Nov. 30, 2010. Entries must be recorded at ISO 800 or above.

TDS Spring 2011 Photography Workshop

We're making plans now for the Spring 2011 TDS Photography Workshop. If you want your name on the reserve list, just drop me a line.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. It's a blast!

Podcast Sponsors

Red River Paper -- Try the $7.99 Sample Kit.

Make Your Photos Sizzle with Color! -- SizzlPix is like High Definition TV for your photography.