This is The Digital Story Podcast #878, Jan. 17, 2023. Today's theme is "The Uncomfortable Reality of AI Generated Images." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

In many ways, Artificial Intelligence is a friend to photographers. This technology makes our cameras smarter and our software easier to use. But there's also an uncomfortable side that creates computer-generated images based on text input. I'll explore some of those issues in today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

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The Uncomfortable Reality of AI Generated Images

Last week I talked about the popularity of analog photography. In many ways, this could be a response to the relentless march of digital imaging supplanting hand-crafted images.

One surging aspect of digital technology is the AI-generated image. Current software such as Stable Diffusion, Jasper Art, Starry AI, Dream, and DALL-E 2 work by entering a text prompt into a text-to-image generator that produces visuals based on those prompts.

The output ranges from surrealist illustrations to hyper-realistic photos. Much of the artwork I've looked at feels like a really good video game.

Understandably, there has been some concern in the photography community about AI-generated art. Is this something that will eventually replace all of us?

The short answer is no. AI-generated photography will no more replace picture taking than photography replaced painting. They are different art forms.

But that doesn't mean that Artificial Intelligence won't disrupt segments of the photography world. I could see, for example, AI dominating stock photography at some point.

Imagine an art director being able to enter text prompts into a web interface and presented with a variety of options based on those words. That seems quite plausible to me.

I could also see Artificial Intelligence playing a role in social media where people have lots of ideas to communicate, but not necessarily the skills to illustrate them.

But when it comes to documentation, my belief is that photography will still rule the roost. Areas such as real estate photography, education, science, and even portraits will still lean heavily on the tools that we use now.

That being said, there are still some areas of concern for photographers. First of all, where do all those images come from that computers use for machine learning? It is likely that copyrighted work has been used to fine-tune the algorithms that are constantly improving.

And what about distinctive artistic styles? What if a style is learned from a specific photographer, then incorporated into output, but without credit or compensation to its creator? That's troubling.

Here's an interesting anecdote from the article, "Why AI Is a Threat to the Photography Industry" on DIY Photography.

Alex London has worked in Costume and fashion design in New York City for the last ten years. His work is intricate and detailed and a large portion of his work is spent working with Art Directors and photographers on editorial shoots and brand campaigns. He shared with DIYP how he had recently lost a job to AI.

There have also been stories in chats online about models being hired for a casting. When they arrived they were shocked to be told that in fact their likeness was being scanned to be used as data for AI software, to help the machines learn as it were. And it's this slightly underhand hiding the truth that is getting people upset. It's one thing to lose work to a computer, but when a whole industry and its related industries crash because of it, we could be in for a world of hurt.

Author Peter Dench expands on these points in his article, The Human Cost of Artificial Intelligence in Photography published in Amateur Photographer.

After less than an hour of my own exploration into image generation I'm frustrated and bored. I can see the potential but ethically it's questionable. Software like Stable Diffusion scrapes copyrighted images from the web, taking aspects from other people's work and recombining them. It's not straight up plagiarism but it feels uncomfortable and certainly doesn't feel like photography.

'There never was a time when this was created other than someone like me who has absolutely zero photographic skill, typing in text prompts and pumping out an image.'

I think that clearly some of these issues need to be sorted out. I don't think any of us want to be unwitting contributors to our own professional demise.

While we work through the copyright challenges, there are many AI benefits to our imaging work. I truly enjoy taking pictures with my iPhone and OM-1 mirrorless camera, both of which rely on computational photography.

Using object recognition for search in Apple Photos feels like magic at times. And text recognition is truly useful for fast lookup and information retrieval.

So if we can navigate the potential dark side to Artificial Intelligence in photography, and continue to develop the positives, then we may just survive this latest technology disruption.

NVIDIA's Live Streaming Software Can Digitally Fake Eye Contact

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.com.

NVIDIA Broadcast, the company's tool for live streaming and video conferencing, can now digitally alter a subject's eyes in real-time to make it seem as though they are looking directly into the camera.

One issue with shooting live-streamed video at home for professional use -- and it even crops up in simple video calls -- is that many people are uncomfortable staring directly into the camera instead of either on a script or at other people on screen. While doing so makes the user uncomfortable, not doing so breaks engagement with audiences.

To help solve this problem, NVIDIA has been developing a type of "deepfake" technology that can artificially adjust a subject's eyes to make them appear as though they are making contact with the camera. Called Eye Contact, it improves audience engagement with a subject by simulating eye contact.

"The new Eye Contact effect moves the eyes of the speaker to simulate eye contact with the camera -- achieved by estimating and aligning gaze.," NVIDIA explains. "The eyes retain their natural color and blinks, and there's even a disconnect feature in case you look too far away, to transition smoothly between simulated and real eyes."

Online Printing Workshop Scheduled for March 8, 2023

This inkjet printing workshop will help you tame your printer, enabling you to create beautiful prints and fine art greeting cards. We'll cover paper stocks, printer setups, project design, and even how to choose the best inkjet photo printer for you. Weekly printing assignments with class support will help you hone your skills.

March 8, 15, 22, 29, 2023 - Two Class Options Each Day. Each class is recorded and made available to participants. Plus, class members will have access to our growing online printing community on DerrickStoryOnline.

You can sign up for the printing workshop ($145) by visiting The Nimble Photographer. Inner Circle Members receive a 10 percent discount on all events.

DPReview Readers' Choice Awards 2022: Product of the Year

You can read the entire article on DPReview.com.

And the winner of our 2022 Readers' Choice Product of the Year award goes to the Fujifilm X-H2S, with 34.7% of the total vote. The X-H2S delivers the highest performance in an X-mount camera, thanks to its 26MP stacked sensor. Its much-improved AF system can track complex motion at high frame rates, and a large buffer makes high-speed shooting very usable.

It's also an impressive video tool: it can capture 4K/60p video (and even 6.2K/24p), includes internal ProRes LT recording, and can capture 14-bit video at up to 30p for slightly expanded dynamic range when using Fujifilm's new F-Log2 gamma profile. There's even an optional cooling fan for dedicated video shooters. It's no surprise that DPReview readers chose the Fujifilm X-H2S as their Product of the Year.

As always, thanks to everyone who voted in our polls. We appreciate your participation and couldn't do any of this without you!

Just Released! Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training

With Photos for macOS, you can manage, enhance, and share photos in a variety of ways. It's evolved into a powerful, but easy to use imaging application. And it's free!

In this course, I take you on a detailed exploration of how to use Photos for both the Monterey and Ventura versions, plus tips for iOS as well.

I start with an exploration of the interface, then move into the new features. Noteworthy topics include how to remove duplicates from your library, different ways to use Live Text to transform your camera into a personal assistant, how to search for pictures by object type, copy images from messages to Photos, use Quick Notes with Photos, and automate common tasks with shortcuts and built-in Mac intelligence.

Also included are updates on some of the recent improvements to the importing process, with lots of useful tips for organizing and editing your pictures. (The editing tools are terrific!) Upon completing this course, you'll be working more effectively with Photos for macOS Monterey, Ventura, and iOS.

If you use a Mac and haven't explored Photos for a while, I think you'll be surprised by its power. Take a look for yourself by visiting Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training.

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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.

When Apple rolls out a new operating system, such as macOS Ventura, there are so many little improvements, that sometimes it takes a while to uncover all of the gems. The much-improved straighten tool in Photos is one of those. And it's terrific.

The improved Straighten tool in Photos for macOS Ventura.

Compared to what we had to work with in the Monterey edition of Photos, Ventura both improves the interface and adds vertical and horizontal adjustments. Plus the straighten command is so much easier to use. Just click on the Crop tab to reveal it.

Here's what we had in Monterey.

The Straighten tool in Photos for macOS Monterey.

First of all, the annoying "dial" is replaced by a more logical linear slider. Plus, we can correct buildings now with the vertical and horizontal sliders - a much needed tool.

iPhone photography just got a bit more versatile!

Learn More About the Power of Photos for macOS

If you use a Mac and haven't explored Photos for a while, I think you'll be surprised by its power. Take a look for yourself by visiting Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #877, Jan. 10, 2023. Today's theme is "Is Film Photography Really Making a Comeback?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

We keep seeing the headlines, but do we know what they really mean? And if indeed analog photography is making a comeback, how does that play out in the overall world of imaging? Thanks to my TheFilmCameraShop that I run on Etsy, I'm in frequent contact with those who fancy a fresh roll of Kodak Tri-X, and here's my take on the state of analog photography. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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Is Film Photography Really Making a Comeback?

I think a better way to frame this discussion is that analog cameras have become more in demand over the last two years. And I think there are some very logical reasons why.

• Outside of top-end models from Leica and Nikon, no one is making quality 35mm film cameras right now. So like oil and other finite resources, when they're gone, they're gone.
• We're seeing a pushback to the perfection of digital imaging. Some creatives are looking to film to create that artistic, somewhat imperfect look, while others are turning to old digital cameras.
• Film is expensive, but there is a wide variety of options that are truly intriguing. And we are seeing new film emulsions all the time.
• Film photography is easy. I know this sounds weird, but think about it. You don't need a computer, backup system, or have to learn software. Take the picture, send off the roll, and get back finished prints.
• And finally, film photography is cool. Most folks won't give you a second look if you say you like to take pictures. But if you say that you like to shoot film, they are interested.

You know it's interesting, film photography has become part of our cultural DNA. Just go to any used book store and dig around in the old magazine section. When you flip through the pages of Life, Time, and others, it's like looking back through your artistic ancestry. And the fact that we can create pictures like those today has an almost time machine feel to it.

The very first article that I wrote for Medium was Why Film Photography Won't Go Away. For a first effort, it was a hit.

But it wasn't my writing that grabbed the spotlight, it was the subject: Film Photography. People are interested in it, even if they never intend to shoot a single frame of Kodacolor 200.

There isn't a film photography resurgence, it never really went away. It's the fact that it's still here that impresses headline writers.

It feels like the Pentax K1000 should have been buried with 8-Track tapes and shag carpet. But here it is today, alive and well with its audio brother vinyl records.

You don't have to be popular to be good. You just have to be good. And film photography is indeed very good stuff.

New Eco-Friendly Film Lab Lets You Pick Which Photos to Print from a Roll

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.com.

The company says that it realized photographers are not likely going to want prints of every photo on a roll of film, which means that every time a photographer asks for prints to be mailed along with developed negatives, a large number of those prints will be discarded -- Analogue Wonderland estimates between 50% and 80%.

"This represents a huge environmental waste -- every one of those prints takes paper, ink, electricity, and shipping -- irrespective of the quality of the focus, colors, and composition," the company says.

"On the other extreme there are photographers who never choose prints, worried about the risk or lacking the confidence to bet that something magical will have been captured. This is an entirely different type of waste -- artistic instead of environmental -- but equally avoidable."

Its new system works like this: photographers order film and scans through Analogue Wonderland. After the film has been processed, customers are emailed a link to view those scans in their account. From there, the photos can be reviewed and the ones that a photographer actually wants to be printed can be selected. When the negatives are mailed, they include only the photos that a photographer specifically denoted as the ones that they wanted.

Analogue Wonderland says that this process is more eco-friendly, results in higher quality prints since its editing team has the opportunity to fine-tune color, contrast, and crop the image before sending it to the printer, and the system is no less convenient than other established methods and there is no requirement to download, change, or reupload images.

Analogue Wonderland is UK based. Hopefully we'll see a service like this in the States before too long.

Online Printing Workshop Overwhelming Favorite for March Addition

I polled our Inner Circle Members about topics for a potential March Online Workshop, and the overwhelming favorite was a redux of the Inkjet Printing Class.

So stay tuned while I pull together some details, and hopefully I can make an announcement next week.

You can sign up for any of our events by visiting our Photography Workshops Page. Inner Circle Members receive a 10 percent discount on all events.

Meet Luminar 100, a new 35mm color film stock made from Kodak Aerocolor IV aerial film

You can read the entire article on DP Review.com.

As the film revival continues strong, another new color film stock has been released, this time by Montreal-based Popho Camera Company. And unlike other respooled rolls of film, Popho Camera Company comes right out and says what its new Luminar 100 film stock is: respooled Kodak Aerocolor IV 2460, historically used for aerial surveillance.

Popho Luminar 100 is a daylight-balanced color negative film stock that Popho describes as having 'medium saturation and contrast' with 'warm tones, enhanced red sensitivity and a wide dynamic range.' Popho notes the film stock is 'well-suited for landscape and other general photographic applications.'

Kodak, in its data sheet for Aerocolor IV 2460, says the film uses the company's 3.9-mil (0.10mm) ESTAR Base with gel backing for 'flexibility, moisture resistance, high tear resistance, and excellent dimensional stability' and has an 'abrasion-resistant emulsion, an antihalation undercoat, and a dyed-gel backing.' Kodak also says the film doesn't have integral color masking,

Unlike many of the recent film stocks we've seen pop up, Luminar 100 isn't a limited release, meaning it should be around for years to come.

36-exposure rolls of Popho Luminar 100 are available to pre-order for $10.51 each. This isn't a crowdfunding campaign and the first units are produced and will be shipped out (without the paper box) by mid-January 2023. We have pre-ordered a roll and will feature the results once we shoot and develop the film after its arrival.

Limited Ricoh GR III 'Diary Edition' Debuts a New Film-Like Photo Mode

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.com.

Ricoh has announced the GR III Diary Edition, which features a different "warm gray" finish, comes with specially-designed accessories, and debuts a new image mode that provides "a negative-film finishing appearance."

Other than aesthetic changes, the GR III Diary Edition is the first Ricoh camera to receive a new image mode that the company says provides an appearance that is similar to negative-film.

"Based on the visual effects possible only with negative film, this mode produces an exquisite balance between rich colors and the uniquely discolored prints resulting from using negative film," the company says.

This new photo mode will be available for GR III and GR IIIx-series models via a firmware update that is scheduled to be released following the availability of the Diary Edition. At the time of publication, Ricoh did not provide any examples of what photos taken in this mode look like.

The Ricoh GR III Diary Edition Special Limited Kit will be available in late January 2023 from Ricoh's website for $1,149.95. The company says that it plans to sell the camera as a standalone (without the strap, ring cap, hot shoe cover, or case) in the spring.

Just Released! Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training

With Photos for macOS, you can manage, enhance, and share photos in a variety of ways. It's evolved into a powerful, but easy to use imaging application. And it's free!

In this course, I take you on a detailed exploration of how to use Photos for both the Monterey and Ventura versions, plus tips for iOS as well.

I start with an exploration of the interface, then move into the new features. Noteworthy topics include how to remove duplicates from your library, different ways to use Live Text to transform your camera into a personal assistant, how to search for pictures by object type, copy images from messages to Photos, use Quick Notes with Photos, and automate common tasks with shortcuts and built-in Mac intelligence.

Also included are updates on some of the recent improvements to the importing process, with lots of useful tips for organizing and editing your pictures. (The editing tools are terrific!) Upon completing this course, you'll be working more effectively with Photos for macOS Monterey, Ventura, and iOS.

If you use a Mac and haven't explored Photos for a while, I think you'll be surprised by its power. Take a look for yourself by visiting Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training.

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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 #876, Jan. 3, 2023. Today's theme is "Shoring Up My Backup System with the Synology DiskStation DS220+" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

In last week's show I discussed getting what I needed (instead of what I wanted). And now I've done exactly what I should have: shore up my backup system with the Synology DiskStation DS220+. This week, I talk about how I have this $299 workstation setup, and how it's working for my photography. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

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Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Shoring Up My Backup System with the Synology DiskStation DS220+

I've made tremendous progress filling the gap in my backup system. As you may recall from last week, my weakness was the immediate backup of working files and photo shoots. I really like the solution I settled on.

I now have running the Synology DiskStation DS220+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure with a pair of WD 8TB WD80EFZZ Red Plus SATA III 3.5" Internal NAS HDD internal drives.

After initial setup and testing, here are the reasons why I like this solution.

• Good Value for the Money - $299 plus hard drives feels like a good price for what I get.
• Can Run on My Network, But Don't Have To - I could plug the DiskStation directly into my router and use across the network, and even tap via the Internet. But after testing that, I've decided to plug directly in using Ethernet cables (RJ45 included) and the twin Gigabit Ethernet Ports.
• Good Choice or RAID Options - RAID 0, 1, JBOD, Synology Hybrid - I'm using RAID 1.
• Decent Read/Write Speeds - Reads up to 225.98 MB/s and Writes up to 192.21 MB/s.
• Tons of Supported Protocols - CIFS/SMB, CalDAV, FTP, HTTP, HTTPS, NFS, SMB 3.0, SNMP, and iSCSI.
• Good Admin Software - Easy to setup and easy to use.

Currently I have an iMac and MacBook Pro plugged directly into the DiskStation using RJ45 Ethernet cables. The iMac has an Ethernet port, so that's easy. And I purchased a uni RJ45 to USB C Thunderbolt 3 - Type-C Gigabit Ethernet LAN Network Adapter for $16 to use with the MacBook.

I use the Connect to Server > Browse > Synology DiskStation sequence to access the RAID unit. You can get there even faster if you add Network to your Finder Sidebar. Once you're connected, the DiskStation shows up as a Shared Disk on the Desktop.

The Synology DiskStation DS220+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure is easy to use, relatively fast, and I can have multiple computers connected to it simultaneously, even without getting the router involved. It solved my backup problem perfectly.

52Frames Weekly Photo Challenge: Improve Your Photography One Week at a Time

You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com.

Make 2023 a year of creative breakthrough. We all know the key to getting better is consistency. Doing something over and over again will eventually make you better at anything. 52Frames is a photography community that encourages you to improve by prioritizing consistency over perfection: a photo every week for a year. Photography, like any other skill, requires practice. It's like going to the gym: you need a training plan, with clear goals and ways to achieve them.

52Frames is an online community that helps people to engage in creative play and personal growth through a weekly photo challenge.

It is a friendly community of people who want to improve their camera skills in a fun and easy way. There is actually a hidden photography lesson behind each week's challenge. The challenges encourage the photographers (who call themselves "Framers") to feel creative freedom and express their own creative take on their submissions. Week 29 of this year, for example, was "Common Object," which allowed the Framers to take pause during the week and observe the many photographic opportunities around them that they would usually just pass by. Perhaps this is one of the beautiful things about 52Frames: everyone responds to the same brief in a different way. The result is like taking a virtual tour around the world through the album each week.

Each week, 52Frames issues a challenge, which often is a new opportunity to explore outside your comfort zone and learn something new. The challenges may be centered around a technique, like a principle of composition, or it may be something more creative and story-driven, like "Red." Levitation Week inspired the members to learn layer masking in Photoshop. Fast Shutter Speed Week was an opportunity to capture fast-moving subjects and learn to work with your shutter controls. One challenge that stood out to me personally was Portrait of a Stranger. Being a studio photographer, I am mostly comfortable with my subjects. In short, they know why they are there, and I simply need to photograph them. Going out on the street and asking a stranger to take their photograph is a whole different ball game.

The 2023 TDS Photography Workshop Lineup

• Inkjet Printing Workshop for Photographers Online Workshop - Nov/Dec 2022 and Nov/Dec 2023. SOLD OUT
• Maximizing Your Micro Four Thirds Camera Online Workshop - Feb. 2023. SOLD OUT
• Ultimate B&W Photography Online Workshop - April 2023. SOLD OUT
• Pt. Reyes In-Person Photography Workshop - May 16-19, 2023
  Pt. Reyes and its surrounding areas (Tomalas, etc.) provide a wealth of landscape and wildlife photography - and we will explore both!
  This four-day photography adventure takes you to rugged Northern California coastline, rolling hills, seashore wildlife, Tule Elk, tranquil inlets, and so much more.
  This is the perfect getaway to relax, breath fresh air, enjoy the company of your fellow photographers, eat good food, and fill your memory cards with beautiful images.
• Infrared Photography Online Workshop - July 2023
• Sedona Arizona In-Person Photography Workshop - Oct. 2023. SOLD OUT
• Wine Country in Autumn In-Person Photography Workshop - Nov. 2023

You can sign up for any of these events by visiting our Photography Workshops Page. Inner Circle Members receive a 10 percent discount on all events.

Do's and don'ts to building a great portfolio

You can read the entire article on PhotoFocus.com.

Just Released! Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training

With Photos for macOS, you can manage, enhance, and share photos in a variety of ways. It's evolved into a powerful, but easy to use imaging application. And it's free!

In this course, I take you on a detailed exploration of how to use Photos for both the Monterey and Ventura versions, plus tips for iOS as well.

I start with an exploration of the interface, then move into the new features. Noteworthy topics include how to remove duplicates from your library, different ways to use Live Text to transform your camera into a personal assistant, how to search for pictures by object type, copy images from messages to Photos, use Quick Notes with Photos, and automate common tasks with shortcuts and built-in Mac intelligence.

Also included are updates on some of the recent improvements to the importing process, with lots of useful tips for organizing and editing your pictures. (The editing tools are terrific!) Upon completing this course, you'll be working more effectively with Photos for macOS Monterey, Ventura, and iOS.

If you use a Mac and haven't explored Photos for a while, I think you'll be surprised by its power. Take a look for yourself by visiting Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training.

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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.

The latest version of the robust photo manager for the Mac, Peakto 1.3, features faster performance, improved AI categorizing, and a few user interface tweaks.

AI view showing how Peakto sorts photos into categories.

My install is running on a 2017 iMac with the latest version of Ventura. Upon launch, it takes Peakto a few moments to get up to speed. But once it's rolling, performance is quite good, even on a 5-year-old computer.

What's New in Peakto 1.3

Highlights in the update include:

• A new filter bar provides easy access to the structure of any photo catalog, from people identified in the images, to sorting of pictures by keywords or dates.
• AI automatically gathers images under categories (portraits, nature, wildlife, architecture...). The new interface now makes aesthetic scores, and is more quickly accessible. Peakto's AI now recognizes documents, memes and drawings. It has also been trained to identify blurs, unusual white balance, and the presence of a haze.
• Find all versions of the photo more easily. Peakto can group all the modified versions of the same photo together, no matter which editing software was used (Lightroom, Capture One, Luminar or Apple Photos). This function is now accessible from all views of the software, in the status bar.

Different Options for Viewing

Instants view that reduces the clutter of multiple versions. You can control this view with the bottom toolbar.

Versions view. If you want to see all of the versions, you can, with the click of a mouse at the bottom toolbar.

I find Peakto particularly useful for viewing my old Aperture libraries on the Ventura iMac. Not only do I have the confidence that my photos are still alive and well on the Drobo drives, but when I want to retrieve one, I can easily get to it.

Retrieving Images Once Your Find Them

There's a nice Export function that works well. Although one of my nits is that it doesn't remember my preferred destination folder and keeps defaulting to the Pictures directory.

The Export dialog box.

Over time, what I've found is easier is to use the "Show Master Image in Finder" command, then simply drag and drop the picture from my external hard drive to the Desktop. This is a great option for single retrieval. The Export is handy for outputting multiples or changing file format during output.

Bottom Line

Peakto is evolving in the right direction, and each release is more enjoyable to use. For me, it's an Aperture library lifesaver. And the fact that I can point it to multiple libraries created with a variety of applications enhances its value even more.

It's still not perfect. But without Peakto, I would be missing out on years of my photography.

Peakto 1.3 is available now as a perpetual license for $189 or as a subscription for $99 a year. They also offer a free 15 day trial.

Product Links and Comments

There are product links in this article that contain affiliate tags. The Digital Story may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #875, Dec. 27, 2022. Today's theme is "Investing in What Your Need, Not What You Want" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

What I need and what I want are not always the same things. It's wonderful when the two line up. But when they don't, I have to make a decision. Today was one of those days. This week I discuss my final equipment purchase of 2022. And how it was what I truly needed. And how I was able to resist what I really wanted. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

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Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

Investing in What Your Need, Not What You Want

Back in August with Podcast 854, I discussed our collective backup systems and how many photographers in our community weren't totally satisfied with their systems.

I was among the "somewhat satisfied" group and fading quickly. My two Drobos were still running fine, but their software dashboards were no longer being updated and not compatible with macOS Ventura.

My twin-drive RAID enclosure died. And even though I didn't lose any data, I didn't have a replacement moving forward. I found myself once again cobbling together a backup system based on random hard drives and iCloud. I knew I needed to fix this.

Fast forward to the end of 2022 with no progress. I had a little money left over in the budget and wanted to make a year-end purchase for tax purposes. Here's where it got interesting.

B&H Photo was running some screaming sales. One in particular that caught my eye was the FUJIFILM GF 35-70mm f/4.5-5.6 WR lens for $499 - a savings of $500! This optic would give me an equivalent of 28mm-55mm for my GFX 100S. I didn't own a zoom for that camera, and especially a zoom in my favorite range. And for only $499!

I left that catalog page open for two days. But I never added the lens to my cart. Why? Because what I really needed was a 2-drive RAID enclosure with a couple of 8TB drives. And yes, that rig costs about the same as the lens.

So you can see my dilemma. What I really wanted was the new lens to play with rather than the new backup drive system.

Finally, today, I ordered the Synology DiskStation DS220+ 2-Bay NAS Enclosure with a pair of WD 8TB WD80EFZZ Red Plus SATA III 3.5" Internal NAS HDD internal drives. Thanks to discounts and PayBoo's "no sales tax," then entire setup cost me $550. Well within my $600 budget.

How did I get to the point of choosing what I should invest in over what I wanted? Here's how:

• Time - Waiting and debating over 48 hours instead of making an impulse purchase.
• Pros and Cons List - This is where I have to be very honest with myself about the true benefits of each product.
• Acknowledging I May Be Able to Get What I Want in the Future - If this lens went on sale once, odds are good it will happen again. And maybe next time I will be in a better position to purchase it.

Photography is the toughest area for me to resist tempting new purchases that I don't absolutely need. But if I stick to my system for vetting potential new gear, I almost always make the right choice. Whether I like it or not.

FILM NEWS: A NEW FILM CAMERA FROM PENTAX?

You can read the entire article on JapanCameraHunter.com.

Big breaking news. Over on the Pentax Japan website they have released a statement and a video, a pretty important one at that. Just have a wild guess what it is about? Yes, that is right, calm yourselves. A new film camera from Pentax. Or at least the intention to start earnest work on researching one. Now if that doesn't sound great then I don't know what will make you happy. So let's have a delve into it.

As many of you may know, Pentax and Ricoh are now the same company, and although the announcement was made by the Ricoh CEO Noboru Akahane, it was made under the umbrella of Pentax. Which inevitably leads to a few interesting thoughts. They could have gone with Ricoh, which would have almost certainly meant a compact camera, but with the announcement under Pentax, that opens the possibility of a new SLR or even a medium format camera. This is very exciting indeed. The official title for the announcement is "Film Camera Project", which sounds like music to my ears.

The camera project states there are two initiatives for this project. To begin considering the development of a new film camera, using the experience of veteran engineers to work with young designers and engineers. This could lead to some very interesting ideas, with new and more modern materials and techniques.

The second initiative is work with film fans to find out what they want from a new camera, utilizing social media and events to aid the development. This is a very nice touch, it shows that not only are they listening, but they are open to feedback. This is a breath of fresh air for a traditional Japanese company like Ricoh.

Both Pentax and Ricoh bring a real wealth of heritage and experience to the table. If any company in Japan can make a new film camera it will be these two. When I was asked if a Japanese company ever make another film camera, Pentax and Ricoh were the only ones I really thought that would have the onions to do it. And well, now they have announced that they are going to give it a crack of the whip.

The 2023 TDS Photography Workshop Lineup

• Inkjet Printing Workshop for Photographers Online Workshop - Nov/Dec 2022 and Nov/Dec 2023. SOLD OUT
• Maximizing Your Micro Four Thirds Camera Online Workshop - Feb. 2023. SOLD OUT
• Ultimate B&W Photography Online Workshop - April 2023. SOLD OUT
• Pt. Reyes In-Person Photography Workshop - May 16-19, 2023
  Pt. Reyes and its surrounding areas (Tomalas, etc.) provide a wealth of landscape and wildlife photography - and we will explore both!
  This four-day photography adventure takes you to rugged Northern California coastline, rolling hills, seashore wildlife, Tule Elk, tranquil inlets, and so much more.
  This is the perfect getaway to relax, breath fresh air, enjoy the company of your fellow photographers, eat good food, and fill your memory cards with beautiful images.
• Infrared Photography Online Workshop - July 2023
• Sedona Arizona In-Person Photography Workshop - Oct. 2023. SOLD OUT
• Wine Country in Autumn In-Person Photography Workshop - Nov. 2023

You can sign up for any of these events by visiting our Photography Workshops Page. Inner Circle Members receive a 10 percent discount on all events.

Photographer Behind Instagram's Most Liked Photo Doesn't Like The Crop

You can read the entire article on Petapixel.com.

Getty Images shooter Shaun Botterill took the photo that's officially recorded as the most-liked Instagram post of all time with 71 million likes as of publication.

Botterill says that it's impossible to plan for a trophy lift with so much chaos going on. "It is quite a weird feeling, it's a bit surreal, you go: 'Holy s**t,' he's right there where you want him to be and that doesn't happen often," the photographer says"Even his hands coming up [with the trophy], I think the way he's holding it and smiling, he's definitely got a moment with the fans."

Botterill says that he prefers the original horizontal crop and not the square one that Messi shared on his Instagram. He believes the wider view provides better context and better captures the adulation the soccer legend was receiving.

Botterill doesn't have any social media accounts and initially was unaware that his photo had smashed the all-time record for likes on Instagram. Mark Zuckerberg reposted the photo, confirming that it had taken the record previously held by an egg. "That's the funny thing for me because I'm not on Instagram, I wouldn't even know how to crop an Instagram picture," Botterill says.

Just Released! Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training

With Photos for macOS, you can manage, enhance, and share photos in a variety of ways. It's evolved into a powerful, but easy to use imaging application. And it's free!

In this course, I take you on a detailed exploration of how to use Photos for both the Monterey and Ventura versions, plus tips for iOS as well.

I start with an exploration of the interface, then move into the new features. Noteworthy topics include how to remove duplicates from your library, different ways to use Live Text to transform your camera into a personal assistant, how to search for pictures by object type, copy images from messages to Photos, use Quick Notes with Photos, and automate common tasks with shortcuts and built-in Mac intelligence.

Also included are updates on some of the recent improvements to the importing process, with lots of useful tips for organizing and editing your pictures. (The editing tools are terrific!) Upon completing this course, you'll be working more effectively with Photos for macOS Monterey, Ventura, and iOS.

If you use a Mac and haven't explored Photos for a while, I think you'll be surprised by its power. Take a look for yourself by visiting Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training.

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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 #874, Dec. 20, 2022. Today's theme is "What's It Going to Be in 2023?" I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Just when I thought I had everything dialed in, 2022 happened. The enclosure for my backup RAID died, Capture One took another step toward a subscription model, and I was banned from Twitter. This seems like a good time to take a step back and reexamine my entire photography ecosystem. And if you're interested in doing the same, listen on. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

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Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

What's It Going to Be in 2023?

As I'm planning for the new year that's right around the corner, I thought I'd start with a pros and cons list - what are the aspects of my workflow that are in good shape, and what are the areas that need attention.

I'm dividing my workflow into five areas: Capture, Organization, Processing, Backup, and Sharing.

Pros and Cons

Capture - Good Shape - OM System OM-1, Fujifilm X100V, and Pentax KP. Will see what the iPhone 15 looks like in the Fall.

Organization and Processing - OK for 2023, but not sure beyond - Have a perpetual license for Capture One Pro 23, so I don't have to make any decisions right now. But will be watching this landscape closely because a change might be in the works for 2024 depending on what everyone does. Photos for macOS Ventura is fantastic for my mobile photography work.

Backup - Flirting with Danger - My Drobos are aging and not supported by macOS Ventura and my RAID enclosure died. I do have Dropbox and the 1TB iCloud plan, so I'm not totally screwed. But need to shore this up in 2023

Sharing - Moving Away from Social - The Twitter permanent suspension was a real eye-opener. I had been using Twitter for daily photography updates to the TDS site via a sweet little API. That's gone now, and we're trying to figure out a new solution.

I could go to Facebook, but not a real fan of that platform beyond what we already use it for. And Instagram seems pretty volatile. I'm looking at Mastodon and Tumblr, but not really sure about any of them.

In the meantime, I'm going to put energy into our Nimble Photographer newsletter on Substack, maintain our The Digital Story Facebook page, and keep an eye peeled.

Bottom Line - I definitely have some things to work out this year? Will keep you posted as I navigate through them. But clearly, there's work to be done in 2023.

What Are the Best Alternatives to the Adobe Photographer Plan?

You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com.

Adobe ruled the waves for image processing. However, evermore people are jumping that ship in favor of alternative methods. Most have similar functions, and each has its advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking about changing, here are some alternative combined digital asset management, photo development, and editing options.

This article is a brief introduction to the various programs out there. When choosing what you need, there is a balance to be achieved between cost and functionality. All these packages include DAM (digital asset management) and raw development. Not all include advanced image editing, although most raw developers have some degree of local adjustments and simple tools like spot removal and graduated filters. Some features are common to many programs, but not all: HDR processing, panorama stitching, focus stacking, sky replacement, watermarking, and time-lapse creation. Some come with integrated AI-based noise control and sharpening. Others rely on external plugins to do those functions.

I am also writing this for desktop (or laptop) editors. Consequently, I only concentrate on computer-based programs and not comparing the cloud services that some offer, nor the phone and tablet apps.

I'll mention the unique selling points of each, but this isn't an in-depth review. If you want a DAM program, they all work. If you want raw development, then they all do that too. Some allow advanced image editing, while others require you to open a different program. The workflow of each is unique too. Therefore, making direct comparisons is difficult.

Adobe Made $17.61 Billion in 2022, $10.46 Billion on Creative Cloud Alone

You can read the entire article on PetaPixel.com.

Adobe's Fiscal Year 2022 earnings have been released and the company achieved a record revenue of $17.61 billion, which represents a 15% year-over-year (YoY) growth. Creative Cloud revenue grew to 10.46 billion on its own.

The financial results for the Silicon Valley-based software company are, in a word, impressive. Adobe achieved revenue of $4.53 billion in its fourth quarter (Q4) of fiscal year 2022, which represents a 10% year-over-year growth. Additionally, record cash flows from operations were $2.33 billion, and the Digital Media segment -- the part of the business that contains all of Adobe's creative applications -- pulled a revenue of $3.30 billion or 14% YoY growth.

Creative Cloud alone represented $2.68 billion in revenue in Q4, representing 13% YoY growth that continues to show that Adobe's choice to switch from a model of annual perpetual software releases to subscriptions has been a massive boon for the company's profits.

Adobe's annual numbers are staggering. The Digital Media segment saw revenue of $12.84 billion, which represents 11 percent year-over-year growth. Within that, Creative Cloud revenue grew to $10.46 billion, representing 10 percent year-over-year growth. Both the Document Cloud and Digital Experience segments also saw double-digit YoY growth, highlighting a set of multiple divisions that saw monumental profits in 2022.

Looking at just the revenue for Adobe Creative Cloud, it's no wonder that Capture One is strongly pushing to shift its business model to subscriptions. Adobe has seen wild, incredible growth basically every year since it did away with the Creative Suite and moved to the Creative Cloud, and any business in this segment is obviously going to look at Adobe's strategy in order to remain competitive.

Photographers can ask for perpetual software until they're blue in the face, but no company is going to turn down this kind of revenue.

The 2023 TDS Photography Workshop Lineup

• Inkjet Printing Workshop for Photographers Online Workshop - Nov/Dec 2022 and Nov/Dec 2023. SOLD OUT
• Maximizing Your Micro Four Thirds Camera Online Workshop - Feb. 2023. SOLD OUT
• Ultimate B&W Photography Online Workshop - April 2023. SOLD OUT
• Pt. Reyes In-Person Photography Workshop - May 2023
• Infrared Photography Online Workshop - July 2023
• Sedona Arizona In-Person Photography Workshop - Oct. 2023. SOLD OUT
• Wine Country in Autumn In-Person Photography Workshop - Nov. 2023

You can sign up for any of these events by visiting our Photography Workshops Page. Inner Circle Members receive a 10 percent discount on all events.

Just Released! Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training

With Photos for macOS, you can manage, enhance, and share photos in a variety of ways. It's evolved into a powerful, but easy to use imaging application. And it's free!

In this course, I take you on a detailed exploration of how to use Photos for both the Monterey and Ventura versions, plus tips for iOS as well.

I start with an exploration of the interface, then move into the new features. Noteworthy topics include how to remove duplicates from your library, different ways to use Live Text to transform your camera into a personal assistant, how to search for pictures by object type, copy images from messages to Photos, use Quick Notes with Photos, and automate common tasks with shortcuts and built-in Mac intelligence.

Also included are updates on some of the recent improvements to the importing process, with lots of useful tips for organizing and editing your pictures. (The editing tools are terrific!) Upon completing this course, you'll be working more effectively with Photos for macOS Monterey, Ventura, and iOS.

If you use a Mac and haven't explored Photos for a while, I think you'll be surprised by its power. Take a look for yourself by visiting Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training.

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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.

With Photos for macOS, you can manage, enhance, and share photos in a variety of ways. It's evolved into a powerful, but easy to use imaging application. And it's free!

In this course, I take you on a detailed exploration of how to use Photos for both the Monterey and Ventura versions, plus tips for iOS as well.

The power of Photos in macOS Ventura and on your iPhone from Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training by Derrick Story

I start with an exploration of the interface, then move into the new features. Noteworthy topics include how to remove duplicates from your library, different ways to use Live Text to transform your camera into a personal assistant, how to search for pictures by object type, copy images from messages to Photos, use Quick Notes with Photos, and automate common tasks with shortcuts and built-in Mac intelligence.

Also included are updates on some of the recent improvements to the importing process, with lots of useful tips for organizing and editing your pictures. (The editing tools are terrific!) Upon completing this course, you'll be working more effectively with Photos for macOS Monterey, Ventura, and iOS.

The lessons are divided into easy to digest short movies that average between 2-4 minutes. You can work along with the techniques by using the included example Photos library. The entire course runs just 1 hour 37 minutes.

If you use a Mac and haven't explored Photos for a while, I think you'll be surprised by its power. Take a look for yourself by visiting Photos for macOS Ventura and iPhone Essential Training.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #873, Dec. 13, 2022. Today's theme is "I Am Worn Out by Subscriptions." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I think a little something inside of me snapped the other day when I read that Capture One was beginning the process of migrating us over to a subscription based model. For some reason, I'm not sure why, it was the final straw. And now I'm standing back and looking at everyone who insist on reaching into my pockets every month in exchange for a service. What I discovered is the lead story on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

I Am Worn Out by Subscriptions

In our last Nimble Photographer Newsletter, I wrote about Capture One moving to a subscription-based service, and how I'm not sure how that's going to effect my future with them.

This topic was already tumbling around in my head. Earlier this month I created a Numbers spreadsheet with all of the subscriptions that I currently maintained.

It's a simple 3-column spreadsheet that has a checkbox in column one, subscription name in the second, and the monthly amount in the third column.

If a subscription is checked, its monthly amount is added to the total. Unchecked, it is not. This allows me to manage my bottom line by checking and unchecking subscriptions.

Currently, my subscription list has 18 items. Most of these are for work, such as the Adobe Photography Plan, Mighty Networks, Vimeo, and Squarespace. Others are personal such as Netflix, Apple TV+, and NY Times.

When I began the exercise, every box was checked for a total of $610 a month for both personal and business subscriptions. If I unchecked the personal items, my business total is $313 per month. That left me with $297 a month in fees for personal subscriptions. That was just too much.

On my first pass, I was able to remove $80 in subs that I just didn't need. I will take a crack at a second pass later this month.

So you can imagine my joy about the Capture One news.

So here's my view on why I like perpetual licenses vs. monthly subscription fees. With a perpetual license, I can decide whether to upgrade on a release by release basis.

Sticking with our Capture One example, If I don't plan to add any new cameras in a given year, and I don't absolutely have to have the latest set of features, I can opt out of the update and stand pat with what I have. And to be honest, I could probably do that every other year.

Capture One had been charging $199 for a perpetual license upgrade. If I updated every other year, that would work out to be far less than the subscription model that forces me to pay on a regular basis.

And I don't mean to be picking on Capture One, because this is happening everywhere. Even new cars want subscriptions for specific add on features.

I understand why businesses want subscriptions. They have our money no matter what. But that seems somewhat uncompetitive to me. They don't really have to earn our purchase anymore with dazzling new features.

In my business, I have resisted subscriptions. The TDS Photography Podcast is free. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is also free. Online and physical workshops are a set price.

If you want to support the work I do beyond attending a workshop, you can pledge $54 a year through Patreon. I love the folks who do that. Because they recognize that it takes a lot of work to publish a weekly podcast and a weekly newsletter. And they choose to help me keep that going.

Services who constantly reach for customers' wallets for every little thing better be careful. Because at some point customers might just decide to go somewhere else. And that number is 0$ a month in subscriptions.

DxO Offers More Than 1,700 New Optics Modules and FOV Enhancements for PhotoLab 6.1

You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com.

Now, DxO is announcing the immediate availability of 1,700 new DxO Optics Modules, consisting of three new cameras and 18 optics, including the highly anticipated Canon RF 15-30mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens. The total number of DxO Optics Modules now exceeds 78,000 camera and lens combinations. These updates apply to the newest edition of Photolab 6.1, which is also available now.

For example, there's the new Canon RF 15-30mm lens at 16mm: DxO says that generic raw conversion software will typically crop 10% or more of the image. For photographers who want to avoid losing precious detail from the edge of the frame, DxO's corrections maximize the lens' field of view while also delivering superior corrections to sharpness and distortion.

The company also claims another unique benefit of working with DxO Optics Modules is the fully automatic correction of lack of lens sharpness uniformity across the entire image. DxO uses an exclusive lens sharpness calibration that delivers tailor-made adjustments and corrections across each lens' field of view. Unlike competitors, sharpening is applied at different levels, specific to a lens' idiosyncrasies. For instance, sharpening might increase towards the edge of the frame to balance any radial softness. This achieves superior results when compared to applying general sharpening across the entire image -- an approach taken in lesser software.

DxO PhotoLab 6.1 (Windows and macOS) is now available for download on the DxO website at the following prices:

DxO PhotoLab 6.1 ESSENTIAL Edition: $139
DxO PhotoLab 6.1 ELITE Edition: $219

A free 30-day trial is available. Owners of DxO PhotoLab 6 can update for free from within the software.

Also, throughout December, DxO has a special holiday gift: photographers save 30% when they buy two or more DxO software titles.

$71 Coat Makes Wearers Invisible to AI Security Cameras

You can read the entire article on PetaPixel.com.

Students in China have invented a $71 "invisibility cloak" that hides wearers from artificial intelligence (AI) security cameras. Developed by a team of students at Wuhan University, the "InvisDefense" is a low-cost coat that can be worn day or night to evade detection from security AI camera systems.

To the naked eye, it looks like any other ordinary camouflage pattern coat. However, during the day the coat's customized camouflage prints which is designed through an algorithm effectively blind visible light cameras. At night, the coat's embedded thermal devices emit unusual heat signals to confuse infrared cameras.

"Security cameras using AI technology are everywhere. They pervade our lives," Wei tells Vice World News. "Our privacy is exposed under machine vision. We designed this product to counter malicious detection, to protect people's privacy and safety in certain circumstances."

The 2023 TDS Photography Workshop Lineup

• Inkjet Printing Workshop for Photographers Online Workshop - Nov/Dec 2022 and Nov/Dec 2023. SOLD OUT
• Maximizing Your Micro Four Thirds Camera Online Workshop - Feb. 2023. SOLD OUT
• Ultimate B&W Photography Online Workshop - April 2023. SOLD OUT
• Pt. Reyes In-Person Photography Workshop - May 2023
• Infrared Photography Online Workshop - July 2023
• Sedona Arizona In-Person Photography Workshop - Oct. 2023
• Wine Country in Autumn In-Person Photography Workshop - Nov. 2023

You can sign up for any of these events by visiting our Photography Workshops Page. Inner Circle Members receive a 10 percent discount on all events.

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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 #872, Dec. 6, 2022. Today's theme is "5 Handmade Photo Gifts that People Will Love." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

When it comes to the holiday season, I say, "Use your talents for good!" And what better way to share your photography than creating memorable gifts for friends and loved ones? Today, I'll share with you 5 great ideas that you can pull together quickly for this time of giving. I hope you enjoy the show.

Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App!

---

Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher

Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In

5 Handmade Photo Gifts that People Will Love

Handmade fine art greeting cards by photographer John Hershey.

What do you give people who have everything they want? Something they didn't realize they needed. Photographers are in a unique position to create a variety of holiday treasures. Here are a few to consider for your loved ones.

• A Personalized Family Portrait - Not just any department store group shot, but one in a location that has meaning photographers by someone who knows all the players.
• A Family or Friends Treasure Board - Chances are very good that you have a catalog of images of friends and family. How about creating a framed treasure board with those images that show the history of these folks over the years?
• 2 Hours of Tech Support - This can be an especially nice gift for older family members who just can't get anyone to help them with their phones, computers, or cameras.
• Set of Fine Art Notecards with Blank Interiors - Notecards are wonderful to have on hand for quick thank you notes and special acknowledgements. And if you include matching postage stamps, this gift is sure to wow.
• Hand Me Down Camera - To a budding photographer.

A nice touch to any gift you give is handmade wrapping paper. You can use a number of textured photos and print them in a pattern on lightweight paper. It's a wonderful finishing touch!

Adobe Stock Will Now Let Contributors Sell AI-Generated Artwork

You can read the entire article on PetaPixel.com.

Adobe has announced that its stock photography service, Adobe Stock, is now accepting illustrations created using generative artificial intelligence (AI) such as those created by OpenAI's Dall-E or Stable Diffusion.

In a blog post, the company says that the choice to allow generative AI onto its platform came after it "deeply considered" questions of ethics and proper use of the technology. The result it that while it is accepting artwork created with AI, it has also created a new submission policy that it believes will ensure generated artwork is used responsibly by creators and customers both.

"While early generative AI technologies have raised valid concerns, Adobe is committed to helping lead the evolution that will come from this technology into tools that empower artists, while never seeking to replace human imagination," the company writes.

"Properly built, used, and disclosed to viewers, generative AI can be a powerful tool to enhance creativity, accelerating the creative process to benefit both consumers of digital assets and the community of contributors who produce those assets."

Pantone Just Announced Its 'Unconventional' Color of the Year for 2023

You can read the entire article on FStoppers.com.

Today is the day we learn which color will take the crown as the color of the year for 2023. Are you ready to start seeing the unconventional new shade everywhere?

All eyes are on Pantone, the worldwide standard for color communication, as they announce their hotly anticipated color of the year for 2023. Last year's shade was PANTONE 17-3938 Very Peri and chosen in part to reflect the optimism in the air post-pandemic. For 2023, however, PANTONE 18-1750 Viva Magenta is the color chosen and is described as an unconventional shade for an unconventional time. Viva Magenta is claimed to be able to communicate power and demonstrate strength.

If you're not too familiar with Viva Magenta as a color, think of a bold magenta shade with a pink undertone. While I do appreciate a company declaring a color of the year could look like just another marketing gimmick, Pantone doesn't just pluck a random color out of thin air. Instead, they look to creative industries, from entertainment to fashion, to interiors and design to make an educated guess about what shades will be important in the coming 12 months. For photographers that operate in these creative circles, it can only be a good thing to know what the color of the year is. I know when I've mentioned the selected shade to various art directors, designers, or commercial clients, they have always been impressed I even knew what it was.

The 2023 TDS Photography Workshop Lineup

• Inkjet Printing Workshop for Photographers Online Workshop - Nov/Dec 2022 and Nov/Dec 2023. SOLD OUT
• Maximizing Your Micro Four Thirds Camera Online Workshop - Feb. 2023.
• Ultimate B&W Photography Online Workshop - April 2023
• Pt. Reyes In-Person Photography Workshop - May 2023
• Infrared Photography Online Workshop - July 2023
• Sedona Arizona In-Person Photography Workshop - Oct. 2023
• Wine Country in Autumn In-Person Photography Workshop - Nov. 2023

You can sign up for any of these events by visiting our Photography Workshops Page. Inner Circle Members receive a 10 percent discount on all events.

OM-1 Firmware Update 1.3

Update your OM-1 camera's firmware today for these benefits.
- Improved performance of C-AF when shooting still images.
- Improved performance of C-AF when recording videos.
- Stability of other operations has been improved.
Updating for the first time? Watch our instructional video to learn how to update your firmware.

You can learn more here about the update.

Virtual Camera Club News

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.

My Writing on Medium.com: I now have 51 published articles on Medium.com. And if you haven't visited the site, and enjoy good writing on a variety of topics, I suggest that you may want to take a look. You can just go to the home page and enter "Derrick Story" in the search field. And if you like what you read, then follow me!

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.