PhotoActive - Episodes Tagged with “Photo Guide”

Episode 78: Everyday Photo Retouching

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 14:00:00 -0700

You may think of “retouching” as a high-end photo skill for professionals—and it is—but there are also many types of retouching that every photographer will run into. In this episode, Jeff covers many of the techniques he uses, from removing dust spots in clear skies to erasing unwanted objects from photos, as well as portrait retouching that’s accessible to anyone. This is an extra-long episode with lots of example images, so don’t forget you can view the photos in some podcast players (like Apple Podcasts or Overcast), and of course you can also view them at PhotoActive.co.

Hosts:

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Our Snapshots:

Jeff: Share Apple Watch Photos Face
Kirk: Ted Lasso

Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.

If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.

Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Episode 62: Photos App Extensions with Nik Bhatt

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:30:00 -0800

Gentleman Coder Nik Bhatt returns to help explain a complicated topic with Apple’s Photos app: Photos Extensions. If you want to use another tool to edit images beyond what Photos offers, you can load that software’s editing tools within Photos. It seems straightforward, but soon gets tricky if you want to go back and adjust some of your edit settings or even if you perform a minor edit in Photos first. If you’ve ever been confused about the differences between Photos Extensions and the “Edit with” feature (which do two very different things), especially for raw files, this is the episode for you.

Guest:

Nik Bhatt

Hosts:

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Subscribe to the PhotoActive Instagram account
Join the PhotoActive Facebook group

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
RAW Power app
The Ins and Outs of Non-destructive Editing in Photos for Mac and iOS, by Nik Bhatt at TidBITS
The DNG format, Adobe
Linear DNG, Barry Pearson

Our Snapshots:

Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Episode 52: iPhones 11 and Semantic Rendering

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 00:30:00 -0700

Kirk and Jeff both bought the latest models of Apple’s digital camera - sorry, we mean the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. Does adding a third camera make a difference? Is the ultra-wide camera just a gimmick? And what is “semantic rendering” anyway? We explain why nothing is really real, and yet these might be the best-looking photos people create.

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Our Snapshots:

Jeff: Anker Wireless Charger, PowerPort Wireless 5 Stand
Kirk: Todd Hido: House Hunting

If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more.

Episode 48: Adventures with Dan Bailey

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 02 Aug 2019 12:45:00 -0700

Photographer Dan Bailey is our guest this week to talk about his book FUJIFILM X Series Unlimited: Mastering Techniques and Maximizing Creativity with Your FUJIFILM Camera—though we’re not focusing on Fujifilm cameras. We’re more interested in questions such as how many of your camera’s features you should understand, whether technical details really matter, and how Dan became a pro photographer and expert in the first place.

Guest:

Giveaway:

We’re giving away a copy of Dan’s book, FUJIFILM X Series Unlimited: Mastering Techniques and Maximizing Creativity with Your FUJIFILM Camera, to two PhotoActive listeners! To be eligible, simply subscribe to our newsletter that we use to announce new episodes: the form is at the bottom of every PhotoActive page. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered.

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Glazer’s Camera in Seattle

Far Side: Devil cartoon

Fuji X-Forum
Galen Rowell, Mountain Light Photography
Michael Kenna Rouge gallery
Joseph O. Holmes “Custom Machinery”
Joel Meyerowitz Empire State photos

Our Snapshots:

Jeff: Replacement lens caps: 39mm, 67mm
Kirk: Rouge, by Michael Kenna

Episode 47: Jeff Becomes an Event Photographer

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 19 Jul 2019 00:00:00 -0700

Recently, Jeff was the event photographer for the CreativePro Week 2019 conference in Seattle, a task that requires a different approach to making photos. You've probably been asked to shoot some type of event, so we talk a little about specific gear to deal with low-light situations and catching candid shots in a crowded setting.

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
CreativePro Week
CreativePro Week 2019 Daily Highlights photo album at Facebook (Photos by Jeff)
CreativePro Week Instagram Account
Luma Loop straps
Fujifilm X-T3 body
Fujifilm Fujinon XF50-140mm F/2.8 R LM OIS WR
Fujifilm Fujinon XF16-55mm F/2.8 R LM WR
Our Snapshots:
Jeff: BorrowLenses.com [Use this affiliate link to get $30 off a rental; new customers, minimum purchase of $119]
Kirk: Flotato

Episode 45: Editing Photos in Desktop Apps

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 21 Jun 2019 01:30:00 -0700

Maybe you've used Apple Photos and are looking for more editing features, or perhaps you're in the Lightroom ecosystem and weary of subscription pricing. In this episode, Kirk and Jeff chat about other photo editing applications you may not be aware of.

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

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Episode 44: Minimalist Photographer Michael Kenna
The Composition of Michael Kenna’s Photographs: Leading Lines
Lightroom
Affinity Photo
Luminar
Pixelmator Pro
Capture One Pro
Alien Skin Exposure
Picktorial
ON1 Photo Raw
RAW Power
The Ins and Outs of Non-destructive Editing in Photos for Mac and iOS, by Nik Bhatt at TidBITS
Picktorial 4.0 Review, by Jeff in Macworld
Capture One Pro 8.3 review: Aperture replacement light on library features, strong on editing tools (old version)
Episode 38: Levels and Curves with Nik Bhatt
Episode 26: RAW Power 2.0

Our Snapshots:

Jeff: TPE, PeakVisor
Kirk: Holga

Episode 42: Memory Cards

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 10 May 2019 01:45:00 -0700

Your camera stores photos on memory cards, but trying to understand them is a confusing mess of acronyms, speed claims, and marketing. What’s the difference between a UHS-I SD card and a UHS-II card? We break it all down, including why you may not want the fastest (and more expensive) cards available.

Sponsor

Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.photography

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Migrate Your Aperture Libraries to Photos or Adobe Lightroom Classic (Apple)
Take Control of Your Digital Photos, by Jeff Carlson
Best USB-C memory card readers, Macworld, by Jeff Carlson
SD memory cards: The features and specifications to look for, Macworld, by Jeff Carlson
SanDisk 64 GB Extreme PRO SDXC UHS-I Card, 170 MB/s Read
SanDisk 64 GB Extreme PRO SDHC UHS-II Card, 300 MB/s Read
Sony 32 GB SHDC UHS-II Card, 300 MB/s Read
Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Digital Camera (Body Only) - Silver, the camera Jeff bought.

Our Snapshots:

Jeff: Fuji X Secrets, by Rico Pfirstinger
Kirk: Tonality Mega B&W Pack

Episode 39: Tripods with Mason Marsh

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 29 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0700

Many photo situations call for stability, and that means setting up a tripod. But the options when choosing one quickly become complicated: height, weight, materials, price, and don’t forget the head that holds the camera. To help sort it all, we welcome photographer, educator, and former photojournalist Mason Marsh to the show.

Sponsor

Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.photography

Guest:

Mason Marsh

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Production Note: We’ve decided to change the frequency of episode releases to fortnightly (every two weeks) due to current commitments we both have.

Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Jeff’s recent tripod: 3 Legged Thing Punks Corey Mag Alloy Tripod Kit w/AirHed Neo
Kirk’s tripod: Vanguard Alta Pro
3 Legged Thing Albert
Peak Design Cuff, which Mason uses to secure his camera to the tripod as backup protection

Mason’s tripods:

Small: Really Right Stuff TFA-01 Ultra Pocket ‘Pod

Medium: Really Right Stuff TVC-23 MK2

Large: Gitzo Tripod Systematic Series 3 XL (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Clamp: Really Right Stuff Travel Clamp Kits

Mason’s Ballheads:

Small: Really Right Stuff BH-40 Ballhead

Large: Really Right Stuff BH-55 Ballhead

Panorama Head: Really Right Stuff PG-01 Compact Pano-Gimbal Head Head

Platypod: Ultra (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Our Snapshots:

Jeff: 3 Legged Thing Toolz Multi-Tool
Kirk: The Fujicron quartet (16mm f2.8)

Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast mailing list at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed to the mailing list, you’re automatically entered.

Episode 38: Levels and Curves with Nik Bhatt

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 00:00:00 -0700

We welcome back Nik Bhatt, of Gentlemen Coders and RAW Power fame, to pick his brain on editing photos using levels and curves: what the differences are between the two tonal adjustment tools, and how to use them. We also talk about understanding the histogram, and touch on editing white balance and why we may be using the eyedropper tool wrong.

Sponsor

Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.photography

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Production Note: We’ve decided to change the frequency of episode releases to fortnightly (every two weeks) due to current commitments we both have.

Our Snapshots:

Jeff: White Wall AR, iOS app
Kirk: White Balance Gray Cards

Episode 34: Ben Long's Complete Digital Photography

Jeff Carlson & Kirk McElhearn — Fri, 18 Jan 2019 00:00:00 -0800

Author, educator, photographer, and all-around knowledgeable guy Ben Long joins us this week to talk about the 9th — yes, ninth — edition of his comprehensive book “Complete Digital Photography.” We cover how photography and people’s expectations about photography have changed since the early versions of the book.

Sponsor

Masters of Photography, online masterclasses with the greatest photographers in the world. Get 5% off any course with the code PHOTOACTIVE. https://mastersof.photography

Guest:

Ben Long (Complete Digital Photography, Instagram)

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Production Note: We’ve decided to change the frequency of episode releases to fortnightly (every two weeks) due to current commitments we both have.

Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
Complete Digital Photography, Ninth Edition, by Ben Long
Pentti Sammallahti
Richard Misrach
Desert Cantos, by Richard Misrach
Jerry Uellsman

Our Snapshots: