The Digital Story Photography Podcast

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


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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


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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.

This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,069, Sept. 10, 2026. Today's theme is, "The OM System PEN Review." I'm Derrick Story.


No, it's not the PEN-F II; it's just the PEN - a compact, well specified, Micro Four Thirds camera for everyday life adventures. It will fit in your purse, backpack, or jacket pocket. It has IBIS, an EVF, and computational intelligence. And it costs $1,000. On today's TDS Photography Podcast, we'll take a closer look at this latest offering from OM System. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1069


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The OM System PEN Review

For a moment, suspend all of your expectations and breathe in the goodness of modern day photography. I present to you 14 ounces of joy to capture the moments of your life that you treasure and wish to remember.

These moments can be rendered in soft film-like colors, or rich, vibrant hues, or even in moody monotone grays. If you want blurred motion, you shall have it. Do you prefer to suspend a water droplet in mid air, that too can be yours.

The OM System PEN is as cute as a giggling 2-year-old, as smart as your math teacher, and as faithful as any companion you wish to always have at your side.

This may not be a camera that you need or want. And that's perfectly fine. We all have plenty of cameras. But you may know someone who could benefit from this latest offering from OM System. And so, with that open mind, you may want to listen to my experiences with it.

Let's start with the basic specs.

20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS Sensor

TruePic IX Image Processor

5-Axis In-Body Image Stabilization

Up to 30 fps RAW & JPEG Burst Shooting

4K 24p Video & 1-120p in S&Q Modes

3" 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD

2.36m-Dot OLED Electronic Viewfinder

121-Point AF, AI-Based Subject Detection

IPX1 Weather-Sealed Design

M.Zuiko 14‑42mm f/3.5‑5.6 III Lens

What I like

It feels great in the hands. The front grip and the back thumb rest work wonderfully in tandem for one-handed shooting if you like, or very comfortable all day treks.

The buttons and dials are well-placed and operate well with nice clicks and knurled rings. The fully-articulated LCD allows for shooting at any angle and then folds nicely against the back of the body for protection.

The SD card slot is on side. The electronic viewfinder is bright and colorful. There's a nifty color switch on the front that makes it easy to switch to the profile you want.

Part of the joy of the PEN is that it only weighs 14 ounces (393 grams) and measures 5 x 2.9 x 1.7". If you put the 14-42mm EZ pancake zoom lens on the body, it's probably the smallest, full featured camera in your arsenal. Yet, you get a ton of technology.

Advanced technology features

121-point all cross-type On-chip Phase Detection AF

The PEN series' first AI Subject Detection AF for people and animals (cats and dogs)

Starry Sky AF

A dust reduction system that removes dust from the image sensor, allowing lens changes without the need to worry about dust appearing in photographs

AUTO mode, which automatically detects the scene being shot and captures images using the optimal settings

24 SCN modes with 6 themes which supports shooting more complex scenarios, such as starscape photography

16 types of Art Filters for expanded creative expression

Pro Capture shooting (records up to 12 previous frames at a maximum of 30 fps beginning with the moment when the shutter button is fully pressed, RAW sequential shooting is compatible)

Set custom mode name for easy recall (up to 12 alphanumeric characters)

Easily record cinematic video in OM-Cinema1 or OM-Cinema2 picture modes specifically designed for videos

Supports vertical video and S&Q (slow/quick motion)

There is a new battery, the BLS-7, that's a 1,285 mAh lithium ion rechargeable. It provides approximately 410 shots can be taken on a full charge (based on CIPA testing). Some OM System photographers will be disappointed that they can't use any of their existing cells in the PEN, but OM System wanted a new battery that was compact and as powerful as possible.

A few complaints

There are a few nits, however. The SD card slot supports UHS-I, not UHS-II, which is surprising this day in age. Also, existing Olympus shooters won't be able to use their super-compact FL-LM3 flash with the PEN. It isn't compatible, which is a shame. I did test my Godox iT30 Pro, however, and it fit great in the hot shoe and the TTL functions worked well.

And finally, and this really is a nitpick, but the ON switch is multifunctional, also enabling video and S&Q, but I find myself in video mode sometimes when I first turn it on. I would prefer a single-function On/Off lever.

Color Profile Control

The Color Profile switch on the front of the PEN allows the photographer to set up a favorite look, then switch to it quickly. It looks simple, but actually is quite sophisticated. The saturation of 12 separate colors can be adjusted in 11 levels to achieve the ideal tones.

This can also be combined with Highlight & Shadow Control or shading effects for an expanded range of expression. OM System offers four preset types: Film Rich Color, for rich, deep tones; Film Vivid, for vivid saturation and rich colors; Film Soft Tone, which delivers light, soft tones; and Standard (Natural).

Four monochrome presets are also available, that can also be customized, including Film B&W, which makes use of a film grain effect; Film IR, which emphasizes a red color filter effect that looks like infrared film; Film Low Contrast, which reduces the contrast for a soft impression; and Standard (Monotone).

You can see photo examples in my Live View article, If You Like Compact Cameras, You're Going to Love the New OM System PEN.

In my testing, I preferred the Color 1 profile, which is labeled Film Rich Color. It was vibrant without being oversaturated. For B&W work, I like Mono 4, the standard monochrome profile.

The best way to use the switch in front is to figure out (or customize) the profile you want, switch to on, and set that profile. The PEN will remember your preferred preset the next time you use the switch.

Bottom Line

The OM System PEN is a versatile, affordable, smart camera that can be the one that's with you when the others are too big, too limited, or too long in the tooth. It is a joy to shoot with.

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 1,068, Sept. 8, 2026. Today's theme is, "A Week of Photography Announcements, Part 1." I'm Derrick Story.


There's so much going on right now in the photography world. We've just had a few industry announcements, which we will cover today, with a couple more arriving on Wednesday, which I will cover in part 2 of this week's podcast. So let's get the ball rolling with the recent new releases. I hope you enjoy the show.

Digital Photography Podcast 1068


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A Week of Photography Announcements, Part 1

So here's what we're going to do. I'll start with four recent announcements that I can report on, and then on Thursday, I'll cover the new releases from Apple and OM System. That should keep us busy. So let's start with what we know right now.

Fujifilm rounds out its sports and wildlife trio with a 400mm F4.5 as featured on DPReview.com

DXO Releases PhotoLab 10 with Depth Masks, Advanced Color Grading, and New AI Tools as featured on FStoppers

Leica's new Summicron 66mm F2 is a tribute to a military lens M shooters have never been able to buy as featured on DPReview.com

GoPro has been acquired and is getting into 'defense, government, robotics and aerospace' as featured on TheVerge.com

GoPro's Founder Promises It Isn't Done Making Consumer Cameras as featured on DPReview.com

OK, that brings us up to speed right now. See you on Thursday, Sept. 10 for coverage of the OM System and Apple Announcements.

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.

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 1,067, Sept. 1, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Last Time I Used a Tripod." I'm Derrick Story.


Last Thursday night I was standing in a school parking lot with the Sony RX10 around my neck preparing to take pictures of the lunar eclipse. As I was waiting for a break in the clouds, I wondered, "When is the last time I used a tripod?" It's a question that says a lot about cameras these days, and it's the top story of this week's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

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The Last Time I Used a Tripod

Normally, when photographing a lunar eclipse, I wouldn't be using a Sony RX10 V with a 1" sensor. But I have this unit on loan and wanted to see how far I could push it.

If you want to read the entire story about this endeavor, with photos of the event itself, check out my Live View article, How Far Can You Push a 1" Sensor.

Traditionally speaking, the camera choice wasn't the most unusual thing that evening. The fact that I had no tripod with me, was.

The last time I photographed the eclipse was May 2021. We were in the middle of the COVID pandemic and standing out in the chilly night air at 4:30 in the morning was one of the few photo activities available at the time.

I remember getting ready for the shoot. I selected my Olympus 40-150mm f/2.8 zoom and mounted the rig on one of my tripods. The ISO was set at 1600 for a 1/15th of a second exposure. Fortunately, the sky was clear that night and I got a great shot. It's hanging on the wall at home.

That wasn't the last time I used a tripod, however. Later that year, in November, we were photographing the Heceta Head Lighthouse on the Oregon Coast at dusk. Everyone was using telephotos and long exposures, including me. I don't remember which tripod I had, but I did need one to get the effect I wanted.

After that, there was a long stretch without my 3-legged friend. Then, in September 2025, a former client of mine asked my to shoot executive portraits for her current employer. I wasn't taking on business assignments any more, but I agreed to help as a favor. She had been a great client for years.

We set up in a back room at their offices. I had a backdrop, four lights, and yes, a tripod. Business head shots was the only time I used tripods for portraits because we were usually shooting many different subjects in a short period of time, and it was more efficient having everything dialed in and locked down. The portraits looked great.

And I think that was the last time I used a tripod.

Quite honestly, I don't enjoy using them. I came up through the ranks as a photojournalist. After that, I started my own business photographing weddings and events. These days it's outdoor life, street photography, and workshops. None of those situations require tripods.

The amazing image stabilization in my OM System cameras have further distanced me from the three-legged beast. Not to mention computational magic like Live ND. The Nikon Zf also has great sensor-based IS. And I really like traveling light and working fast.

Now don't get me wrong: I'm not anti-tripod. Some of my best friends use them. And generally for good reason. It's difficult to line up the perfect architecture shot without them.

But they're just not for me. I've had a Peak Design Aluminum Travel Tripod in the back of my ID.4 for a year that I haven't pulled out once. Even it, in all of its beautiful nimbleosity, is ignored.

So, going back to Thursday night, standing in the school parking lot looking up at the solar eclipse, it was just me and my two legs. I jacked the ISO up to 12,800, extended the telephoto to 300 mm at f/4, held the camera steady, and fired away whenever I could get a glimpse of the moon peaking at me behind the light cloud cover.

The next morning, I updated Lightroom so it could decode the RX10 V RAW files, applied Denoise to my favorite shot and wrote an article about the adventure.

The technology we have on both sides of the photographic equation - capture and post processing - is amazing. I can't believe that I came away with a publishable shot that evening.

Maybe someday I'll put that Peak Design Tripod to use. Maybe.

This Week in the News

Ricoh confirms hotly-anticipated "x" version of the GR IV enthusiast compact as featured on DPReview.com

OM System Teases New Pen Series Camera Launch on September 9 as featured on PetaPixel.com

Mark your calendars: Apple's next event is September 9th as featured on DigitalCameraWorld.com

Compacts and APS-C mirrorless are the only growing camera categories - does this prove that price and portability beat picture quality? 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.

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.