Episodes

  • Episode 163: Photo Criticism
    May 17 2024
    Part of enjoying photography is understanding photography. What makes a “good” photo? How much of that is based on the circumstances around its creation? In this episode, we talk about looking at photography with a critical eye. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Sponsor: Nitro from Gentlemen Coders Nitro is the brand new photo editor and manager from the developer of RAW Power. Designed for every photographer and every photograph, Nitro combines flexible storage options, unmatched camera support, and professional editing tools. If you liked Aperture or RAW Power, you’ll love Nitro. On the editing side, Nitro includes full masking support with AI masks, gradients, and brushes. Remove dust blemishes and other imperfections using Clone and Spot Removal tools. And, just like RAW Power, you can apply raw-specific tone and tuning adjustments. Nitro gives you more control over Apple's RAW decoder than any other app. For organizing, your photos can live in Apple’s Photos library or in the file system, with support for XMP sidecars and synchronizing metadata and edits with iCloud Photo Library. Nitro also supports more cameras and formats than Photos, Darkroom, or Photomator, including compressed Fujifilm raw files. And while comparing shots, synchronize pan and zoom up to 16 images at a time. Try Nitro for free for 7 days without any obligation. No subscription signup, no nonsense. Check it out at https://nitrophoto.app (nitrophoto.app). Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-163-photo-criticism)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Episode 155: Favorites from The Photo Book (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-155-photo-book) Fotografiska Museum, Stockholm (https://www.fotografiska.com/) Rinko Kawauchi at Fotografiska (https://stockholm.fotografiska.com/en/exhibitions/rinko-kawauchi) John Berger: Ways of Seeing (https://amzn.to/3UGRDur) Ways of Seeing website (https://www.ways-of-seeing.com/) Understanding a Photograph (https://amzn.to/3UVWnhj) Geoff Dyer: See/Saw (https://amzn.to/3K5Dgeh) The Ongoing Moment (https://amzn.to/3WxWXDc) The Street Philosophy of Garry Winogrand (https://amzn.to/3WzEDcT) Susan Sontag: On Photography (https://amzn.to/44Dt9a2) Garry Winogrand: All Things are Photographable (https://weta.org/watch/shows/american-masters/garry-winogrand-all-things-are-photographable) Miles Davis, 1958, by Dennis Stock (https://store.magnumphotos.com/products/magnum-editions-miles-davis-usa-1958) Episode 144: Wrangling Libraries with Matthieu Kopp (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-144-kopp) Peakto Search for Lightroom Classic: Using AI to search the contents of your photos (https://www.dpreview.com/articles/0126352152/peakto-search-for-lightroom-classic-using-ai-to-search-the-contents-of-your-photos), DPReview Snapshots: Jeff’s snapshot: Peakto Search (https://cyme.io/peakto-search-plugin-lightroom/) Kirk’s snapshot: Jonathan Jones: Earthly Delights: A History of the Renaissance (https://amzn.to/3QJJIeL) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) 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 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) 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.
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    40 mins
  • Episode 162: Gear Acquisition Syndrome
    May 3 2024
    Gear Acquisition Syndrome (GAS) is a running joke among photographers (and musicians), but it's also a real thing that can spin us up with the desire to buy some new camera or lens. We look at what drives this compulsion, and try to be honest about whether it affects us as photographers. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Sponsor: Nitro from Gentlemen Coders Nitro is the brand new photo editor and manager from the developer of RAW Power. Designed for every photographer and every photograph, Nitro combines flexible storage options, unmatched camera support, and professional editing tools. If you liked Aperture or RAW Power, you’ll love Nitro. On the editing side, Nitro includes full masking support with AI masks, gradients, and brushes. Remove dust blemishes and other imperfections using Clone and Spot Removal tools. And, just like RAW Power, you can apply raw-specific tone and tuning adjustments. Nitro gives you more control over Apple's RAW decoder than any other app. For organizing, your photos can live in Apple’s Photos library or in the file system, with support for XMP sidecars and synchronizing metadata and edits with iCloud Photo Library. Nitro also supports more cameras and formats than Photos, Darkroom, or Photomator, including compressed Fujifilm raw files. And while comparing shots, synchronize pan and zoom up to 16 images at a time. Try Nitro for free for 7 days without any obligation. No subscription signup, no nonsense. Check it out at https://nitrophoto.app (nitrophoto.app). Show Notes: Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) The Next Track podcast (https://www.thenexttrack.com/) Episode 159: Fuji X100VI and the Appeal of Small Fixed-Lens Cameras (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-159-fuji-x100vi) Peak Design Sling Bags (https://www.peakdesign.com/products/everyday-sling) MPB.com (https://mpb.com/) Snapshots: Jeff’s snapshot: Photographer (https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/show/b77cf4bf-9ce1-4d42-94e0-11fcdc10cb03) documentary series Kirk’s snapshot: Riply (https://www.netflix.com/title/81678765) series Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) 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 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) 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.
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    35 mins
  • Episode 161: Nitro with Nik Bhatt
    Apr 5 2024
    Gentleman Coder Nik Bhatt returns to talk about Nitro, his all-new photo editor for macOS (and soon, iOS and iPadOS). As the successor to RAW Power, Nitro has a lot to live up to. Nik talks about what prompted him to build a new app from the ground up, adding new features like masking, supporting cameras that Apple ignores, and more. Guest: Nik Bhatt (https://gentlemencoders.com/) Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-156-story)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Nitro (https://www.gentlemencoders.com/nitro-for-macos/index.html) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) 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 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) 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.
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    39 mins
  • Episode 160: Primed by Seeing
    Mar 22 2024
    We were recently asked about where we find inspiration while making photos, which led Kirk and Jeff to muse on the idea of being primed to find photo subjects. It’s not enough to arrive at a destination with a blank slate—you’ll create better photos and enjoy the experience more if you prime yourself to see what’s in front of you. That can come from photo books, online photos of the same area, and more. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-160-primed)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Behind the Gare Saint Lazare (https://aboutphotography.blog/blog/2019/9/30/behind-the-gare-saint-lazare-by-henri-cartier-bresson-1932) Episode 155: Favorites from The Photo Book (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-155-photo-book) Episode 157: Photos at the High End: Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-157-hasselblad) Snapshots: Jeff’s snapshot: Leica SL3 Sample Gallery, DPReview (https://www.dpreview.com/sample-galleries/4112142540/leica-sl3-preview-sample-gallery/6898963578) Kirk’s snapshot: The Creative Act: a Way of Being, Rick Rubin (https://amzn.to/3ILZfpY) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) 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 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) 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.
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    36 mins
  • Episode 159: Fuji X100VI and the Appeal of Small Fixed-Lens Cameras
    Mar 8 2024
    The entire Internet - yes, the whole thing, trust us - is going crazy for the new Fujifilm X100VI compact fixed-lens camera. What’s the appeal of this not-inexpensive camera? Its predecessor was in such demand that Fujifilm just stopped manufacturing it because it couldn’t keep up...for more than a year. And now the X100VI is backordered until summer. Is it all just influencer hype? [Main photo credit: Fujifilm] Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-159-fuji-x100vi)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Fuji X100VI (https://fujifilm-x.com/en-us/products/cameras/x100vi) Photos at the High End: Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-157-hasselblad) The internet's NEW favorite camera? (Fuji X100VI) (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNb4hPvLWYQ), The Studio The Fujifilm X100VI Is (Nearly) Everything We Wanted! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ve4jogLG9is), PetaPixel Opinion: The joy of fixed-lens cameras | Popular Photography (https://www.popphoto.com/gear/joy-of-fixed-lens-cameras/) Snapshots: Jeff’s snapshot: - The Dog Sitter Detective (https://amzn.to/3uVCTz1), by Antony Johnston Kirk’s snapshot: Hokusai's Fuji (https://amzn.to/3Pa4hQL) Lego Great Wave (https://amzn.to/3ToHByL) Original Soundtrack: The Great Wave – LEGO Art (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izOjkApDNFA) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) 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 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) 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.
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    34 mins
  • Episode 158: AI Revisited
    Feb 23 2024
    In five years, will our cameras look anything like today’s cameras? We’ve seen staggering advancements in AI technologies in photography, so in this episode we stretch our imaginations to think about where things are headed. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-158-ai-revisited)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Episode 157: Photos at the High End: Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-157-hasselblad) Samsung Argues That There is ‘No Such Thing as a Real Picture’ (https://petapixel.com/2024/02/05/samsung-argues-that-there-is-no-such-thing-as-a-real-picture/) Back to the Future Deep Fake (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OJnkJqkyio) Snapshots: Jeff’s snapshot: Padcaster Parrot Pro Teleprompter (https://padcaster.com/products/parrot-pro-teleprompter-kit?variant=40283701313622) Kirk’s snapshot: Retrobatch 2 (https://flyingmeat.com/retrobatch/) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) 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 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) 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.
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    35 mins
  • Episode 157: Photos at the High End: Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C
    Feb 9 2024
    What would you do with 100 megapixels? Jeff recently had the opportunity to shoot with the new Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C, a medium format camera in the form factor of Hasselblad’s classic film bodies. This $8,200 (body only, of course) system made him rethink the photographic muscle memory he’s developed over the years, as well as the mental-muscle-memory of how to approach making photos. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-157-hasselblad)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Hasselblad 907X/CFV 100C (https://www.hasselblad.com/v-system/907x-cfv-100c/) Hasselblad 907X/CFV 100C sample gallery (https://www.dpreview.com/news/9388608295/hasselblad-907x-cfv-100c-sample-gallery) at DPReview What’s so special about this $8,200 Hasselblad? (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRbODU9Tz_g), Becca Farsace at The Verge One of the most UNIQUE cameras I’ve ever used (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VAwY5mGgaz4), Manny Ortiz Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) 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 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) 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.
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    33 mins
  • Episode 156: The Rescue Mission with Derrick Story
    Jan 26 2024
    It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking the photos on your old hard drives are perfectly safe. But are they really? Our guest Derrick Story needed to extract 200,000 images saved in Apple’s discontinued Aperture software on an old Drobo storage array. Using a combination of an old MacBook that could run Aperture and modern software like Peakto for organizing the extracted images, he was able to restore them all. Guest: Derrick Story (https://thedigitalstory.com/) Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-156-story)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) The Digital Story (https://thedigitalstory.com/) (Derrick’s site, newsletter, podcast, photography, and more) The Rescue Mission (Medium Guest Link) (https://medium.com/live-view/the-rescue-mission-b5dfe377d7d3) Peakto (https://cyme.io/peakto-photo-organizer-software/) Mylio (https://mylio.com) Episode 144: Wrangling Libraries with Matthieu Kopp (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-144-kopp) Our Snapshots: Jeff: Moonfire: The Epic Journey of Apollo 11 (https://amzn.to/42a5Aol) Kirk: Harry Potter: The Complete 8-Film Collection (https://amzn.to/3SdW3YD) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) 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 (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) 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. ALT: An old church door with large trees growing against the wall flanking the door. Black and white image.
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    39 mins