The Digital Story Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,061, July 21, 2026. Today's theme is, "Dawn Patrol." I'm Derrick Story.


We agreed to meet at the TDS Headquarters at 3:30 am. The gates open at 4 am for the Sonoma County Hot Air Balloon Festival. That would give us enough time to scout out the area, have some coffee, and be ready for the Dawn Patrol Balloon Glow. After that, we would continue working on site to capture as many meaningful images as possible. Today, you'll hear from the participants about their experiences covering this event. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1061


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Dawn Patrol

Photo by Harry Telegadas

Interviews with the photographers who covered the Sonoma County Hot Balloon Festival.

Richard Bahl

Harry Telegadas

Delwyn DeVries

Henry Heerschap

Lauren Heerschap

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

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 1,060, July 14, 2026. Today's theme is, "Pardon My LUTs" I'm Derrick Story.


Film simulations, photo styles, and LUTs aren't gimmicks. They are artistic tools to help photographers better match the mood of their images to the subject material they are capturing. This past weekend, I did exactly that during a visit to the classic baseball stadium, Oracle Park in San Francisco. The resulting images convey the feelings I had there spending time there with my family. I'll explain more, plus industry news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1060


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Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




Pardon My LUTs

Surprise, surprise! No sooner did I publish last week's podcast that included a note about my delayed Panasonic L10, then I received a shipping notice from them and had the camera the next day. Maybe I should complain about not winning the Lottery as well.

The camera itself is fantastic, in part because Panasonic has created an entire ecosystem around it including the Lumix Lab app and its library of photo and video LUTs that we can download for free. I dug in right away.

We had a family gathering scheduled for Sunday at the beautiful Oracle Park in San Francisco. No doubt that the L10 would be hanging around my neck. But I wanted to create images with it that captured the warmth of the situation combined with the classic brick design of the ballpark.

I downloaded a dozen LUTs from Lumix Lab and transferred them to the L10. On of them in particular seemed perfect for the upcoming outing: Fresh Bright by Jiemo. Here's what the description said:

This Japanese-inspired bright and fresh LUT is specifically designed to create vibrant, light-hearted portraits. By brightening shadows, reducing contrast, and enhancing colour depth, it produces a clean, transparent visual quality. Whether capturing sunny outdoor scenes or well-lit interiors, it effortlessly infuses your work with a refreshing vitality and gentle atmosphere, effortlessly conveying a lively and soothing Japanese lifestyle aesthetic.

Perfect. Before I left the house, I set up the L10 with the Fresh Bright LUT in the HEIF format. No RAW+Jpeg. I wanted to be all in with my choices.

The SF Giants colors are orange and black. Those accents are everywhere around the park, including with the hats and shirts that the fans wear. This color palette is placed against the red brick design of the ballpark, and the blue, summer sky above.

Applying the Fresh Bright LUT to this setting produced a lovely Kodachrome-like color palette, but with shadows that had more detail and a luminosity that was cheerful and upbeat.

I took pictures of everything that grabbed my eye, the architecture of the stadium, the Jumbotron that showed a realtime wedding proposal, and of course my two boys and Theresa. The L10 performed well. It looked great around my neck. But the real joy was when I reviewed the pictures later that night.

The shots were exactly what I wanted: warm, cheerful, heartfelt. The color palette was finishing touch to the photographs.

At the same time, Theresa was taking pictures with her iPhone 17. This is something she's really good at: capturing the action from a different perspective. Her shot were bright and colorful, but completely different than mine. And by comparison, much cooler. It was amazing how different the two sets of photos felt.

Every camera I own has this ability in one form or another: OM System, Fujifilm, and Nikon. I also know that Sony and Canon have this capability. Generally speaking, you can download film simulations or photo styles and load them on your camera. I highly recommend this.

I know this is a priority for Panasonic because there is a dedicated LUT button on the back of the camera. It's a great call.

I'm going to print my favorite from the San Francisco series and hang it in the studio. It's a shot of Max, Zach, and Theresa, after the game while we were hanging out in the City. It has everything I want in that photo. And I'll be enjoying it for years to come. I'll share it in the Show Notes.

This Week in the News

Free Mac App Unravels All Your Annoying USB-C Cable Mysteries as featured on PetaPixel.com

A Fast, High-End Nikon Camera Is Reportedly Weeks Away as featured on FStoppers.com

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

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 1,059, July 7, 2026. Today's theme is, "Bridge Cameras Are Coming Back!" I'm Derrick Story.


Back in May, I talked about the Panasonic FZ300 and wondered out loud where are all the new bridge cameras? Given the strides in technology, they should be more desirable than ever. Well guess what? There's a brand new one coming down the pike, and it looks like a beauty. I'll talk about it, and other industry news, on this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1059


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




Bridge Cameras Are Coming Back!

A lot has been going on in the world of photography while I was out of the country. And I think we should take a few minutes today to catch up. I'd like to lead off with the news about the upcoming announcement of the Sony RX10 bridge camera. And then we'll just keep rolling from there.

This Week in the News

Sony is bringing its RX10 bridge camera back from the dead! New monster-zoom Cyber-shot compact camera launches this week! as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Lightroom Classic 15.4 Adds a Duplicate Finder and Smarter Group Culling as featured on FStoppers.com

Adobe upscales its AI capabilities with Topaz Labs acquisition as featured on DPReview.com


I'm a photography educator who disregarded Micro Four Thirds for wildlife photography. I don't mind admitting when I'm wrong as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

How I Pack Less Camera Gear on Vacation (And How You Can, Too) as featured on PetaPixel.com

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

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 1,058, June 30, 2026. Today's theme is, "5 Things I Like About Costa Rica." I'm Derrick Story.

As I'm sitting here on my back porch in the Cloud Forest, after spending a week with a great group of photographers, I'm thinking about the things I like about Costa Rica. Spending time here, with camera in hand, is unlike any other place I've worked. So this week, I'd thought I'd share five of those favorites with you, in no particular order.

Digital Photography Podcast 1058


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




5 Things I Like About Costa Rica

The Wildlife - From scarlet macaws squawking above, to howler monkeys, to red-eyed tree frogs, Costa Rica seems to present a new photo opportunity around every bend.

From Coast to Clouds - We start in the low lands and explore the beaches, fishing villages, and national parks, then head up the mountain into the cloud forest. Each world is unique and beautiful on its own.

The Challenging Photography - Trying to capture birds in flight, monkeys portraits high in trees, the essence of a working fishing village, and every other opportunity Costa Rica presents is both a challenge and a huge reward.

The Efficient Lifestyle - The accommodations are uncluttered and elegant, meals feature local foods, and overall there seems to be very little waste.

The People - We are visitors to their land and our goal is to be respectful. But I know there are times when we fall short of our goal, and we are typically greeted with warmth and patience.

This is a wonderful place for photography, Central American culture, and an opportunity to slow down a bit and experience nature and culture. This is my third visit to Costa Rica, and I know it will not be my last.

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

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 1,057, June 23, 2026. Today's theme is, "When B&W Is Better (and when it isn't)" I'm Derrick Story.


During an interesting walk through a graveyard with dappled lighting, I was reminded of how powerful B&W photography can be. And at the same time, when it absolutely fails. Join me for a stroll so we can figure this out together. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1057


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




When B&W Is Better (and when it isn't)

A few days ago we had a family hike that led us to a historic graveyard atop a hill in western Sonoma County. I was carrying my OM System OM-3 with the Olympus 14-42mm EZ zoom. It was the perfect camera for this day - compact, light, creative.

One of the things that I like about the OM-3, and the Nikon Zf, is that they both have physical dials that makes it easy to toggle back and forth between color and B&W photography. This made it easy to creatively approach the weathered statues and gravestones beneath the canopy of trees in the morning light.

At first, I began with color only. I looked for juxtapositions of flowers and objects against the monochrome tones of the graveyard. Then I would see a splash of light break through the tree canopy and switch to B&W to better highlight the illuminated object.

Some of my compositions worked, and others did not. Afterward, while examining the entire shoot on my MacBook Air, I drew some conclusions about when color was the better choice, or when monochrome shined.

Object Separation was a key factor. When a beam of light broke through the trees and illuminated a statue, for example, then B&W worked very well. The contrast of the darker background with a bright subject worked great. Monochrome held the highlight detail better and provided some dramatic images.

But when the lighting was more consistent, the shots sometimes looked too busy in B&W. Tree branches and leaves were the same tones as the headstones and it was difficult to distinguish one subject from another without resorting to a telephoto lens and wide aperture, which I did not have with me.

But in color, there were distinct differences between foliage greens, purple flowers, leaves on the ground, and tokens left behind by visitors. Even the gravestones and statues were a variety of shades of brown, green, and gray. I could better draw the viewer's eye to the main subject using color differences.

That being said, my hero shots were the dramatic B&Ws. And the entire shoot was a good reminder to be open to both approaches. Both monochromes and color produced good shots, just not on the same scenes.

Preparing for Costa Rica

When you're listening to this, I'll be in Costa Rica with Rob and 10 of my best friends. I'll file a field report from the cloud forest for next week's show. But in the meantime, here's a bit about my preparations for the trip.

This Week in the News

Discovering and Using the Unique Features of OM System Cameras as featured on PetaPixel.com


Fujifilm X100VI vs. Panasonic Lumix LX10: Which Compact Is Actually Better for Travel? as featured on FStoppers.com

The Case for Micro Four Thirds Sensors in 2026g as featured on FStoppers.com

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

Lightroom Power Tools Online Workshop - Led by Rob Knight, Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, 2026

Adobe Certified Expert Rob Knight will be showcasing some powerful editing tools that have recently been added to Adobe's raw editing in this new workshop. As the tools improve, the work gets easier.

Rob will go over the ins and outs of the improved masking tools, point color adjustments, color grading, AI noise reduction, and more.

Each session is recorded and made available to all registered participants.

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.