The Digital Story Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,074, Oct. 13, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Photographer's Guide to Moab and Its Surrounding Parks." I'm Derrick Story.


After having spent over a week in the Moab, Utah area, both scouting and leading a photography workshop, I can say with great confidence that it's one of the most photo-rich areas I've ever worked. But there's lots to know in order to maximize your experience there. And I'm going to cover just that on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1074


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




The Photographer's Guide to Moab and Its Surrounding Parks

I drove the VW ID.4, loaded with supplies for our workshop, from Santa Rosa, CA, across Northern Nevada, the great salt flats of Utah, then down Highway 191 to Moab where we set up our workshop headquarter. To the north of us was Arches National Park, to the Southwest was Canyonlands, and in-between was Dead Horse Point State Park. Here's what I learned and what I recommend. I hope you enjoy the show.

Before I get into the specific sites themselves, I'll start with a few basics. In early October, sunrise is a little after 7 am, and sunset is a bit before 7 pm. These times are important because you want to be at your chosen location before sunrise and sunset. After 9 am the light is contrasty and difficult to tame.

Our mornings generally went like this: Up at 4:30 am, coffee and protein shakes at 5:00 am, depart HQ at 5:30 am, be in position at our location at 6:30 am, continue field work until 11:00 am, head back to HQ for lunch and lab, then head out again at 4:30 pm for the waning light and sunset.

In addition to our cameras, mandatory gear included a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm, layered clothing, hiking boots, lots of water, snacks, and a flashlight. There are some areas where a trekking pole can be quite useful for balance.

Altitude does play a role. The Visitor Center at Arches is 4,085 feet and Delicate Arch is a strenuous hike up to 4,829 feet. I recommend arriving in the Moab area a couple days before you begin your trekking up trails.

Pets are not allowed on the trails. Drones are not allowed in the national parks, and stay on trails to protect fragile living soil crusts. I shouldn't have to say this, but no climbing on arches. Now, on to the locations themselves.

Arches National Park

Day 1: I recommend starting with the Windows at sunrise, then hiking over to Double Arch. Parking is in the middle of the park. You don't have to move the car to get from one area to the other. The hike up to the Windows is fairly easy. Along the way note Turret Arch to your right. It can yield many great compositions depending on the angle you're viewing it.

After the Windows, you can begin to work your way back. I recommend a stop at Balanced Rock, then Courthouse Towers, and wrap up the morning at Park Avenue Viewpoint. We could still get good shots there at 10:30 am. But by 11:00 it's time to get out of the sun and rehydrate and refuel.

Delicate Arch is the star of the park and is best viewed at sunset. There are 3 ways to do this ranging from easy to strenuous. If you want to stand in the presence of the arch itself, then hike all the way up the steep trail. Allow an hour for this trek and bring water. If you're not a seasoned hiker, I do not recommend this adventure.

An easier view is from the east side parking in the Lower/Upper Delicate Arch parking lot. From here, you can obtain a good view by hiking an easier trail that's about 500 yards. Bring a telephoto for this shoot, and you can frame some nice compositions.

Either way, you'll need a headlamp or flashlight for the walk back to the parking lot.

Day 2: I recommend another early start and a fairly easy hike to Landscape Arch. Allow about 30 minutes on the trail from the time you leave the parking lot. There's lots to explore in the entire Devil's Garden area including Pine Tree Arch, Tunnel Arch, and Skyline Arch.

Later that day, consider an evening shoot at Panorama Point which is excellent for night photography. You'll want to check the position of the Milky Way and moon. And for a good foreground subject drive a short distance to Balanced Rock.

Canyonlands and Dead Horse Point

Day 3: It's a bit longer drive from Moab, but Canyonlands National Park and Dead Horse Point State Park offer many stunning visual opportunities.

Start with a sunrise shoot at Mesa Arch. It's a quarter mile hike from the parking lot with moderate up and down. Be careful with your footing in the dark. It's much easier on the return trip in daylight.

You will have lots of company there, so arrive at least 45 minutes before sunrise so you can get a parking spot. You'll have to be patient with the other tourists when you arrive at the arch itself. It will be crowded. But it is worth it when the sun rises and lights up the underside of the arch. I would be prepared to shoot HDR to capture both the bright glow and the stunning canyon behind it.

After Mesa Arch, check out the Green River Overlook for a Grand Canyon-like experience. Be sure to include some foreground subjects for a maximum sense of depth. Green River Overlook is also excellent for sunset.

BTW: The Canyonlands Visitor Center is one of my favorites and is definitely worth a stop on the way out of the park. They have lots of great clothing, bandanas, and hats there.

For the sunset shoot, it's hard to top Dead Horse Point that is in the neighboring state park. You can also get great images there in the early morning, so it just depends on how you configure your day.

The state park has lots of covered picnic tables, so if your pack a lunch or snacks, you can extend your visit there when the light is too harsh for photography.

A great stop, especially if you have kids with you, is the Moab Giants park that's at SR 313 as you approach Highway 191. We called it Dinoland, and it's a blast. You can walk a half mile trail through time visiting real life sized dinosaurs. They are spectacular. And afterwards, enjoy a delicious lunch at the Giants Cafe.

Final Thoughts

Moab itself is a wonderful place to hang out. There's lots of good dining there and the meals are relatively affordable. There are plenty of motels and places to stay. I recommend securing your reservations ahead of time, however, because the entire town will sell out during popular times of the year.

If you drive an EV, there's a big Electrify America lot at Lions Gate Park. And there's Tesla charging as well in town.

I could have easily stayed another week. Moab is a great place to establish your basecamp for days and days of adventure in the parks.

Virtual Camera Club News

Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well

Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!

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.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,073, Oct. 6, 2026. Today's theme is, "Your Old Photos May Be More Valuable Than You Realize." I'm Derrick Story.


I think most of us like to believe that our latest is our greatest. And that may be true technically speaking, but maybe not in terms of content. I'm going to share a story today about a photographer rediscovering his images from decades ago, and the impact they're having on his life today. All of that, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1073


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




Your Old Photos May Be More Valuable Than You Realize

On DigitalCameraWorld.com, Tom May published a story about a student photographer wandered the streets of Detroit with a camera in 1972, then left the negatives in storage for four decades. What he rediscovered years later is a valuable lesson for us all. I'm going to share that story with you now.

This Week in the News

OM System PEN studio scene: see how much image quality you can carry with you as featured on DPReview.com

Kodak Detected the First Atomic Bomb Test Because Its Film Kept Fogging as featured on FStoppers.com

Viltrox Spark Z3 flash review - cool quirky styling, but how well does it work? as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well

Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!

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.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,072, Sept. 29, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Panasonic L10 in Action - At My Son's Wedding." I'm Derrick Story.


Black suit, black tie, white shirt, and new shoes - I was dressed to celebrate my son's marriage at the Silverado Resort in Napa, CA. But I had two other precious accessories: a beautiful Waltham watch that was my father's, and the Panasonic L10 that I used to capture memories over the weekend celebration. I'll talk about the latter during this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1072


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




The Panasonic L10 in Action - At My Son's Wedding

All photos by Derrick Story with the Panasonic Lumix L10.

I'm not sure what was most popular during my son's wedding weekend in Napa: my father of the groom speech at the reception, or the Panasonic LUMIX L10 hanging around my neck.

I chose the L10 to cover this important event because of its great looks that went well with my formal attire, its Micro Four Thirds sensor with 20 MP of resolution, the Leica 24-75mm f/1.7-2.8 zoom lens, the 2200 mAh lithium batter for all day endurance, and the creative color profiles I could use to capture the mood I wanted.

Speaking of which, I selected the Fresh Bright LUT for my film look and added the K&F CONCEPT 43mm Black Diffusion 1/8 Filter to compliment the color profile. The result was a warm glow with diffused highlights that captured the mood perfectly.

During the twilight, outdoor reception, my ISO settings ranged from 400 to 1600, and I was generally shooting around f/4, but would open up or stop down a bit depending on the scene.

I did use the Olympus FL-LM3 clip on flash when I needed a bit of fill light.

I've read some online reviews where the reviewers felt that the power zoom lens operated too slowly for event work. But that wasn't my experience during the weekend. So my feeling is that this is a personal judgment based on your shooting.

The HEIF files provide plenty of quality, were editable if I wanted to, and keep the file size to around 5 MB.

I used the SmallRig Half Case and the SmallRig Thumb Grip to protect the camera and to facilitate a solid grip while shooting.

Not only did the pictures turn out wonderfully, I had so much fun using the L10 and talking with others about it who were curious about what I had hanging around my neck. It was a great choice for wedding weekend.

The Panasonic LUMIX L10 current sells for $1,498 from B&H and other authorized retailers.

This Week in the News

Nikon Z5 IIC Review: Smaller, Prettier, and Mostly Capable as featured on PetaPixel.com

Leica's Lux iPhone app gets a Steve McCurry Artist Look, and its grip now comes in silver as featured on DPReview.com

SmallRig's Optical Viewfinders Solve Problems Both Real and Imagined as featured on PetaPixel.com

The best compact cameras in 2026: Portable powerhouses that (might) fit in your pocket! as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well

Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!

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.

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.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,071, Sept. 22, 2026. Today's theme is, "DxO PhotoLab 10 - Plays Nice with Others." I'm Derrick Story.


For those who have used DxO PhotoLab, you already know that it is a terrific RAW processor allowing you to squeeze every drop of quality from your files. I indeed like it for that, but I also appreciate how nicely it plays with others. I'll explain how in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1071


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




DxO PhotoLab 10 - Plays Nice with Others

I've been using DxO PhotoLab 10 to process the RAW files from my Panasonic LUMIX L10. And it's been doing a great job. But that's only part of the PhotoLab story for me.

I've also appreciated at how well it integrates with the other apps I like to use. I'll give you an example of a workflow to help illustrate my point.

As you may know, I don't pull all of my pictures off the memory card after a shoot. I like the plug the card into my MacBook Air, browse and rate the images in Nitro, edit the ones I like, then send them to Photos for Cloud backup and storage. At some point, I back up the entire SD card on my Synology RAID drive in case I ever need to tap any of the other photos.

For the Panasonic L10, Nitro can't process those Raw files yet. Neither can Photos. But DxO PhotoLab can. So with the card still plugged into the computer, I star rate the images in Nitro (love its browser!), then switch over to DxO for image editing. Since it can read the star ratings from Nitro, I just pick up where I left off.

If I want to augment my processing with an app from Nik Collection, I simply click on the Export to Nik Collection button in PhotoLab, work on the picture in let's say Color Efex, then click the Apply button to return to PhotoLab. Nothing has been saved to my computer hard drive. All the XMP files are on the SD card.

Once I have my favorite shots the way I want them, I click on the Export button in PhotoLab, it opens an Export dialog box for Photos, I set my parameters, and the file is copied to Photos and iCloud.

When I backup the SD card to my Synology RAID, all of the XMP files are included. So if I open any of the adjusted images in DxO Photolab, all of my settings are included, and I can pick up right where I left off.

Now, I am not suggesting this workflow for anyone else. I'm unusual because I use a variety of apps as part of my job to keep up with what's going on. But I do want to say that DxO PhotoLab is more than just a great RAW processor. It also integrates easily with a variety of workflows. And that's something that I don't think gets talked about enough.

This Week in the News

Canon EOS R8 Mark II review - Canon's entry-level full-frame camera finally grows up as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com

Ricoh's limited 30th anniversary edition GR IV is coming in October for $1799 as featured on DPReview.com

Women and Younger Photographers Are Behind Fujifilm's Meteoric Rise as featured on PetaPixel.com

ACDSee Photo Studio Ultimate 2027 Keeps Most of Its AI on Your Own Machine as featured on FStoppers.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well

Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!

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.

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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,070, Sept. 15, 2026. Today's theme is, "Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro?" I'm Derrick Story.


The iPhone Duo is getting a lot of headlines, but for photographers, the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max are the more applicable tools. I will briefly cover the Duo, but today's focus will be on the new Pro handsets, including the variable aperture main camera. All of this, and more, on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1070


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




Is the iPhone 18 Pro a Worthy Upgrade to the 17 Pro?

Before we get to the Pro, let's take a quick look at the Duo. Two cameras, the main and ultra wide.

iPhone Duo Camera Overview

48MP Fusion Main: 26 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization. Also enables 12MP optical-quality 2x Telephoto: 52 mm, ƒ/1.6 aperture, sensor‑shift optical image stabilization, Hybrid Focus Pixels.

48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120° field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)

Digital zoom up to 10x

48MP macro photography

Image formats captured: HEIF and JPEG (No RAW)

The 256 GB Duo is $1,999.

Decent enough specs, but really nothing compared to the Pro models. Let's take a look at them.

iPhone 18 Pro Max

48MP Pro Fusion camera system

48MP Fusion Main with variable aperture (ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8, ƒ/4.0): 24 mm, second-generation sensor-shift optical image stabilization, super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)

48MP Fusion Ultra Wide: 13 mm, ƒ/2.2 aperture and 120 degrees field of view, Hybrid Focus Pixels, super‑high‑resolution photos (24MP and 48MP)

48MP Fusion Telephoto: 100 mm (4x), ƒ/2.8 aperture, Hybrid Focus Pixels, 3D sensor‑shift optical image stabilization and autofocus, tetraprism design, super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Also enables 12MP optical-quality 8x Telephoto: 200 mm, ƒ/2.8 aperture

Pro controls for lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and viewing histogram

ProRAW

Image formats captured: HEIF, JPEG, and DNG

Comparing the iPhone 18 Pro with the iPhone 17 Pro

Some comparisons between iPhone 17 Pro Max and the iPhone 18 Pro Max

Smaller Dynamic Island (iPhone 18)

A20 Pro 2nm (18) vs A19 Pro 3nm (17) - more computing power without increasing energy consumption.

C2 modem (18) vs Snapdragon X80 modem (17) - Apple's more efficient modem.

Variable aperture for the 48MP main camera (18)

5567 mAh battery (18) vs 5088 mAh (17) - nearly 10 percent larger.

So, there are plenty of improvements in the Pro Max 18 over the last year's 17 model. Are they enough to warrant an upgrade? For most photographers, probably not, especially considering this year's phone starts at $1,299 for 256 GBs and climbs to $1,499 for 512 GBs. BTW: the 2 TB model costs $2,499!

I like seeing that Apple is continuing to improve their handsets for photographers. And it's also nice not having to upgrade every year.

This Week in the News

The iPhone 18 Pro has a variable aperture camera lens - why don't all phones? as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Bon voyage: OM System PEN means every kind of photographer has a travel option as featured on DPReview.com

Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold Review: Some New Looks but the Same Old Phone as featured on PetaPixel.com

OM System PEN Review - best-in-class features and style at an unbeatable price as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com

Virtual Camera Club News

Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well

Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much!

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.

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.