The Digital Story Photography Podcast

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,062, July 28, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Lens on the Back Shelf." I'm Derrick Story.


Having just come off two workshops where participants experimented with gear and techniques outside of their comfort zone, I saw firsthand the wonderful, creative results that often follow. One technique along these lines that you can do at home is called the Lens on the Back of the Shelf. I'll tell you more about it on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1062


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The Lens on the Back Shelf

I had been urging my workshop folks to try something new, either with gear or technique. So now that everyone has gone home, I've decided to do the same with the Lens on the Back of the Shelf exercise.

I went to the photo cabinet and dug around in the back. I found the Kamlan 50mm f/1.1 II optic. I had bought it on Kickstarter years ago when I was experimenting with shallow depth of field for Micro Four Thirds cameras.

It was an affordable optic, and well-made too. Its manual focusing ring was smooth and well-dampened. The click-less aperture ring was well-marked and easy to adjust. It has a beautiful, large front objective lens, a screw-in metal hood, and a depth of field scale in meters and feet.

Since I needed to photograph the Panasonic L10 for a Live View article I was working on, I decided to take the Kamlan for a spin. I could do the article shot first, then play around with the wide-aperture stuff for my experimental fun.

I mounted the 50mm f/1.1 on my OM System OM-1 and switched to manual exposure mode. It was like looking into another world. For the product shot of the L10 I had to stop all the way down to f/16, and there was still some lovely fall off.

Then it was time to play. Even on a Micro Four Thirds sensor, f/1.1 is crazy shallow. I decided to focus on the very front of the L10 lens, then let everything else go its way.Now that I have the Kamlan on the OM-1, I'm going to leave it there for a while and try some flower shots in the morning. I had forgotten how much I like this optic. I'm so glad I followed my own advice, dug around in the back of the camera shelf, and retrieved this beauty.

This Week in the News

Is the camera industry waking up to enthusiast demand? as featured on DPReview.com

Viltrox's First Micro Four Thirds Lenses Promise Great Value as featured on PetaPixel.com

Jimmy Chin says bringing less gear makes you a better photographer as featured on DPReview.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 1,061, 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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Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In




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


Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!



Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

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.