There's been some chatter around Affinity Photo that's currently available as a free beta download. Most likely, it's garnering a bit of extra attention now that it's clear that Photos for OS X won't replace Aperture for most users.

I've downloaded it myself. And after some exploration, I think this high-end image editor for the Mac has promise. But I don't believe it's the heir apparent to Aperture.

The overarching reason why is because Affinity Photo is better suited to Photoshop users than those who prefer asset managers with editing tools. My perception is that Affinity aims to bring the power of Photoshop to Mac users with a UI and approach that's more akin to Apple design than Adobe's.

The editing tools are powerful, but they make more sense if you've spent time with a complex editor such as Photoshop. A photographer raised on iPhoto who progressed to Aperture might not feel very comfortable with Affinity... at least without some work.

You may disagree. The good news is, you can see for yourself by visiting Affinity Photo.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: The inside scoop on Photos for Mac OS X, and a closer look at the Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II - All of this and more on today's photo show with Derrick Story.

Story #1 - The Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark II, a beautiful upgrade to the camera that started it all for micro four thirds shooters. I had a hands-on preview of the E-M5 Mark II earlier this year at CES in Las Vegas, and I'm quite excited about what Olympus has done with this camera. I cover it in detail during the first segment of today's show.

Story #2 - Photos for Mac OS X - Over the last week, many details were revealed about the iPhoto/Aperture replacement for the Mac. As it turns our, Photos for OS X will be more of an iPhoto update than an application that Aperture users can migrate too. What does this all mean for Aperture users? I take a close look in the second segment of today's show.

From the Screening Room - The Traveling Photographer: Paris with David Hobby. David takes us on an envious adventure in Paris and talks about the City of Lights from a photographer's point of view.

You can watch David in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of Konrad's movies, plus every other title in the library (including over 20 by yours truly).

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2015 is "Good Bye". This is our last photo assignment. I discuss why in this segment.

News from SizzlPix: Our Presidents Day sale, the biggest we've ever run! 20 percent off on your SizzlPix!, any size AND 25 percent off on the entire shipment if you order more than 1! PLUS shipping is still free anywhere in the contiguous US. This is an exclusive offer for The Digital Story. Just write TDS 20 percent or TDS 25 percent in the comment space on the SizzlPix! order page.

And Finally...

Thanks to everyone who recently reviewed the TDS Podcast in iTunes!

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (34 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

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Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until May!

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The latest pair of Canon Rebels have evolved beyond what we would generally call "entry level." Both have new 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensors that provide more resolution than my 5D Mark II. And with price tags of $750 and $850, they both cost more than the Olympus OM-D E-M10 ($599) that I just used to document Cuba. But if I were debating between the T6i and the T6s, I would definitely spend the extra for the Canon EOS Rebel T6s.

For starters, the T6s provides the top deck LCD that I think is so useful on DSLRs. Having this control allows you to stay in "photographer mode" and not have to refer to the back panel LCD screen while taking pictures. The T6i does not have this feature.

And there are other T6s goodies too, as DP Review summed up nicely in their First Impressions Review:

"Although the price difference of $100 between the T6i and T6s (750D) is relatively small, paying the extra for the T6s does give you a little bit more. There's the top-plate LCD and rear control dial, obviously, plus an automatic viewfinder switch to turn off the rear display, but the T6s also has a more versatile movie mode, offering manual exposure control, 'HDR' movie capture, and servo AF. Ultimately, which camera you should buy comes down to how much $100 is worth to you."

I bring this up because a number of people have written me asking about the latest Canon cameras, and which ones do I recommend. So in the so-called entry level category, I'm definitely in the T6s camp.

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By the third day of our adventure in Cuba, I had earned the reputation as "the car guy." I was always the one craning my neck to watch a classic Fords and Chevys zip by.

One afternoon in Havana, we had just finished visiting the Museo de la Revolucion and were gathering to head back to the hotel. Some of us were taking this opportunity to capture a few more street shots while the group slowly congregated in this fascinating and beautiful part of the city.

I was working one shot when a fellow photographer called out, "Derrick, did you see that one?" I looked in their direction and saw this magnificent 1950's red Chevrolet with a bowtie hood emblem. It was parked against a colorful wall bathed in the late afternoon light.

And no one else was shooting it. I felt like they were saving it for me.

I repositioned and pointed my Olympus OM-D E-M10 with Olympus 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 EZ zoom in that direction, then composed the shot at 42mm.

At first it wasn't quite right. There were too many people gathered around the car. I keep shooting because I never know what's going to happen next, and I want to come away with something. Frame number two was interesting, with the girl walking by in the green dress. But it still didn't feel spot on. Then, on the eighth and final frame, the composition came together.

All the people had cleared out except for a man and a woman at the rear of the car. They were in the shadows, and the car was in the light. I knew I could go with a larger composition using the backdrop of Havana architecture because the red Chevy was such a strong presence.

By the time I had captured the eighth frame, our group had come together. I saw them looking at me in the distance. I walked back over to them with my camera in hand.

"Did you get it?"

"Yes, I did!"

When I returned home, I posted a preliminary version of frame eight on my Flickr page. It was picked up for Flickr Explore. I've cleaned up the image a bit more and am featuring it in my fine art notecard set, The Cars of Cuba, which is available now for preorder in The Nimble Photographer Store. (You can see the current version of it there.) Those who preorder the set will receive two versions of "Red Car, Two People." One version will be signed by me on the back, and the other will be unsigned and ready for sharing.

More About Cuba

I've also published the following articles about Cuba:

• Downtown Havana, January 2015
• Snapshots from Cuba - Part 1
• Traveling Light in Cuba
• A Photographer in Cuba" - Digital Photography Podcast 464
• What's in My Bag for Cuba

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We knew there would be some compromise when Apple folded its high-end Aperture and consumer iPhoto applications in to one program. Now that we have an official preview of Photos for OS X, we can see the direction they're heading.

The first thing to keep in mind is that this is the first beta for developer review. We'll see the gold master of Photos for OS X in the spring. So missing items such as star ratings, file names, etc. will probably appear in later releases. In other words, don't interpret what you see now as what you'll have later this year.

We do see some indicators, however, of the direction Apple is taking with Photos. And hardcore Aperture users will surely miss its advanced editing tools. In this area, I would say that early versions of Photos will feel more like iPhoto than Aperture.

My advice is for Aperture photographers to think about a 2-part strategy: what to do for 2015, then 2016 and beyond. For the remainder of this year, we have the luxury of sticking with Aperture on Yosemite and playing with Photos for OS X when it's released. By the end of 2015, we all should have a pretty good idea of how the new software is going to stack up against Aperture.

At the end of 2015, I believe it's decision time. In my case, I'll look at the following possibilities:

• Continued support of Aperture with Mac OS X 10.11. If Apple continues to enable operating system compatibility, including systemwide RAW updates, then my job is easier. I can experiment with new workflows without having to overhaul my photo management system.
• Evolution of Photos for OS X. With its open architecture, there are many possibilities for this application. In terms of features, what we see in 2016 could be very different than in the spring of 2015.
• The competition. In addition to Adobe Lightroom, other applications such as DxO Optics Pro will continue to tempt Aperture users with their tool sets.

For the moment, I find this all very interesting. I'm looking forward to working with Photos for OS X and seeing how far I can push it. In the meantime, the current announcements (in terms of timing) are encouraging. We're going to see this application sooner than later.

Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture, check out my Aperture 3.3 Essential Training (2012) on lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

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Nothing like making something good just a bit better. The original Olympus 14-150mm optic was released in June 2010, and nearly 5 years later, we have an update.

This latest version features a more modern exterior design, plus ZERO (ZUIKO Extra-low Reflection Optical) coating on the front surface of the lens to eliminate scratches as well as reducing ghosting and lens flare. And the biggest bonus of all is the dustproof, splashproof construction, making this zoom a terrific match for the weather-sealed OM-D E-M1 and the OM-D E-M5. Great news for travelers.

For close-ups, this lens can capture subjects as close as 20 inches at all zoom settings (28-300mm, 35mm equivalent). That works out to a maximum shooting magnification of 0.22x.

And breaking with Olympus enthusiast lens tradition, the 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 II will include a custom lens hood and pinch-style lens cap.

Basic specs include: 15 elements in 11 groups, 75-8.2 degree angle of view, 7 aperture blades, 58mm filter ring, and 285 grams weight.

The M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 14-150mm f4.0-5.6 II lens will be available in March 2015, with an estimated street price of $599.99. You can preorder it now from B&H Photo.

More Olympus Announcements

Be sure to check out my post on the brand new OM-D E-M5 Mark II, complete with photos from all sides. You can also preorder the E-M5 Mark II from B&H Photo.

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We recently discovered that "early 2015" really means any time this year. Yes, the Aperture/iPhoto replacement, Photos, has been pushed back to April (at the earliest). Am I concerned?

Just a bit.

I'd certainly feel more comfortable if I knew why. Because knowing what I know about Apple, there are a few possible explanations. And some are certainly more encouraging than others. Let's start with the possible discouraging reasons.

The Possible Bad

At the top of the bummer list is priority, or I should say, lack of it. iPhone sales are booming, and the Apple Watch is waiting in the wings. All hands on deck.

Software? Sure, if it's an operating system, we're all for it. But a productivity app? Not so much.

The big possible bad is too small of a developer team, and lack of engaged coordination with the other groups. I'm hoping with all fingers crossed that this isn't the reason for the new date.

The Possible Good

Apple has always been good at product launches on their own terms. "When it's ready, we'll release it." They don't seem to care about beating the competition to the punch because they're confident they will punch them silly when the public sees Apple's version.

If the development team felt that the V1 release of Photos was a bit too basic, and that it should have more tooth to it, than that would be a good reason for the delay.

First impressions are important. There are a lot of folks hanging on to Aperture and iPhoto anticipating a strong Photos release. I'm one of them.

In the Meantime

Aperture and iPhoto are running just fine on Mac OS X Yosemite. And if you feel like a change, Adobe has created some nice tools to help ease the transition to Lightroom. Plus relative newcomers such as DxO Optics Pro 10 provide excellent tools for image processing. So you have options.

Personally, I'm not in the mood to upset my Apple cart at the moment. I'm too busy. So, let's see what the spring brings.

Aperture Tips and Techniques

To learn more about Aperture, check out my Aperture 3.3 Essential Training (2012) on lynda.com. Also, take a look at our Aperture 3 Learning Center. Tons of free content about how to get the most out of Aperture.

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This week on The Digital Story Photography Podcast: Photos.app delay, Lexar Professional Workflow HR2, Westcott Omega Reflector Kit, Book Giveaway, Big SizzlPix Sale, Last Photo Assignment - All of this and more on today's show with Derrick Story.

Weekly Update - New pricing for the Canon EOS-1D C will go into effect in North America February 1st, taking the retail price from $11,999 down to $7,999. The camera is coming up on its third birthday, introduced in April 2012. The 18MP full-frame sensor is capable of 4K video. The EOS-1D C also offers 1080 HD video, dual CF card slots and a 61-point AF system. (Source: DP Review)

In other news... "Apple delays release of its Aperture replacement app, set for a late April release" - Apple made changes to its website last week, taking down the preview pages and all mentions of its vague release date. But despite the removal of said information, Apple CEO Tim Cook made mention of the Photos app for OSX during Tuesday's quarterly earnings call, saying it was still on track to be completed by the end of April. (Source: Imaging-Resource.com)

And finally... Looks like we have a big announcement from Olympus coming. Stay tuned here, and we'll cover it in depth in next week's show.

Story #1 - The Lexar Professional Workflow HR2 Hub - Lexar's Workflow HR2 hub is a good choice for fast data transfer of images to your photo management application. The hub features four bays that accept a variety of accessories including high speed card readers and SSD drives. I talk about my testing of it in the first feature of today's show.

Story #2 - The Westcott Omega Reflector Kit - One of the most versatile lighting accessories that we've tested lately is the Westcott Omega Reflector Kit. The collapsable reflector sports a unique design that allows you to shoot through it as well as using it as a standard fill light. I've used it on a couple shoots, and I'll share my impressions in this segment of the show.

Story #3 - From the Screening Room - Shooting Aerial Panoramas with a Quadcopter with Eric Harris. Eric has a great approach to ariel photography, and he really knows his stuff when it come to DJI quadcopters.

You can watch Eric in action by visiting the TDS Screening Room at lynda.com. While you're there, you can start your 7 day free trial to watch all of Konrad's movies, plus every other title in the library (including over 20 by yours truly).

Story #4 - Book Giveaway! Win a copy of Creative Flash Photography (304 pages | Soft Cover, 8 x 10 in.), a $44.95 value, by posting a comment about this week's podcast on the TDS Facebook post about the show. You have until Thursday, Feb. 5th, 11:59 PM to participate. I'll announce the winner on Friday.

Snapshot - "My Sunday Camera" Sundays are my only day off, and I have a special camera that I carry on that day.

Virtual Camera Club News

Photo Assignment for February 2015 is "Good Bye". This is our last photo assignment. I discuss why in this segment.

News from SizzlPix: Our Presidents Day sale, the biggest we've ever run! 20 percent off on your SizzlPix!, any size AND 25 percent off on the entire shipment if you order more than 1! PLUS shipping is still free anywhere in the contiguous US. This is an exclusive offer for The Digital Story. Just write TDS 20 percent or TDS 25 percent in the comment space on the SizzlPix! order page.

And Finally...

Thanks to everyone who recently reviewed the TDS Podcast in iTunes!

BTW: If you're ordering through B&H or Amazon, please click on the respective ad tile under the Products header in the box half way down the 2nd column on thedigitalstory.com. That helps support the site.

In addition to subscribing in iTunes, you can also download the podcast file here (35 minutes). You can support this podcast by purchasing the TDS iPhone App for only $2.99 from the Apple App Store.

More Ways to Participate

Want to share photos and talk with other members in our virtual camera club? Check out our Flickr Public Group. And from those images, I choose the TDS Member Photo of the Day.

Podcast Sponsors

lynda.com - Learn lighting, portraiture, Photoshop skills, and more from expert-taught videos at lynda.com/thedigitalstory.

Red River Paper -- Keep up with the world of inkjet printing, and win free paper, by liking Red River Paper on Facebook.

SizzlPix! - High resolution output for your photography. You've never seen your imagery look so good. SizzlPix.com. SizzlPix! now is qualified for PayPal "Bill Me Later," No payments, No interest for up to 6 months, which means, have your SizzlPix! now, and pay nothing until May!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

For the Dec. 2014 Photo Assignment, TDS shooters pulled on their mittens and ventured out into the cold. See for yourself in our gallery, Frozen. And which one will be the SizzlPix Pick of the Month?

Photo by Lori Rowland. Lori writes, "I had seen frozen bubble images on the Internet and decided to try some of my own. First I had to experiment with bubble recipes. You want a bubble that won't instantly pop. I used my patio table with snow on it as a platform. I moved my table to a location where I liked the background.

I shot this with a Pentax *ist DS, Pentax FA Macro 50mm Lens, ISO 200, Æ’11, 1/250, RAW. I processed with Adobe RAW and cropped it down a bit."

See all of the great images from this month's assignment by visiting the gallery, Frozen.

Note About Metadata

I noticed that Google Gmail was stripping the metadata out of your images when I saved them via right-click. Unfortunately, I didn't discover this until I had assembled the gallery. But I will work around it next time.

Participate in This Month's Assignment

The Feb. 2015 assignment is "Good Bye." (This will be our last photo assignment...) I'll talk about this in Tuesday's podcast. Details for submission can be found on the Member Participation page. Deadline is Feb. 28, 2015. No limit on image size submitted.

Please follow the instructions carefully for labeling the subject line of the email for your submission. It's easy to lose these in the pile of mail if not labeled correctly. For example, the subject line for this month's assignment should be: "Photo Assignment: Feb. 2015." Also, if you can, please don't strip out the metadata. And feel free to add any IPTC data you wish (These fields in particular: Caption, Credit, Copyright, Byline), I use that for the caption info.

Gallery posting is one month behind the deadline. So I'm posting Dec. 2014 gallery at the end of Jan., the Jan. gallery will be posted at the end of Feb., and on and on.

Good luck with your February assignment, and congratulations to all of the fine contributors for December.

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While I was in Cuba photographing the cars, people, and buildings, an American delegation was in Havana for an initial round of talks with the Cuban government.

I thought that I should capture a standard street scene in downtown Havana. Who knows what it will look like five years from now?

"Downtown Havana - January 2015" Photo by Derrick Story.

More About Cuba

I've also published the following articles about Cuba:

• Snapshots from Cuba - Part 1
• Traveling Light in Cuba
• A Photographer in Cuba" - Digital Photography Podcast 464
• What's in My Bag for Cuba

Want to Comment on this Post?

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