The doors opened at Las Vegas Convention Center and the people flowed through them to experience the first day of the 2019 Consumer Electronics Show. After exploring both the North and Central Halls, here 5 takeaways from my adventure.

Automotive is Cool

Transportation is indeed getting exciting. Automotive technology is sophisticated and seems to entering a new golden age. And it's not just cars as we know them, but versatile robotic devices that can transport people and cargo in a variety of situations.

Polaroid and Kodak Refuse to Give Up

3-D Printing, instant photography, clever projectors, and a variety of fun imaging tools filled both booths. To be honest, they were a couple of the most fun places to hang out.

Full Frame Mirrorless is Just Too Big

I got a good look at the Panasonic S2, spent time in the Sony booth, checked out Nikon, and visited Canon. Most lenses for full frame mirrorless, especially the zooms, are just to dang big and heavy. In terms of size and weight, it feels like DSLRs all over again.

Sony Puts Pro Support on Display

Among all the glitz and glamor in the Sony booth, there was the Pro Support team working on cameras. Not sure whose they were, but the message was clear that Sony wants to be a player with professionals.

CES is Fun

There's a reason why the halls are crowded. CES is a fun event. It's thought-provoking, entertaining, and sometimes just plain whacky. But it's a treat for the senses, and it provides some insight into the direction of consumer technology for the year ahead.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #669, Jan. 8, 2019. Today's theme is "Making Photographs with Ibarionex Perello." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

The Candid Frame Podcast has been running as long as The Digital Story. And over those years listeners have enjoyed the insightful interviews conducted by Ibarionex. And now he has a new book titled, Making Photographs. Seems like a great time to have this long overdue visit with one of the great guys in our industry. Hope you enjoy the show.

Making Photographs with Ibarionex Perello

Ibarionex and I sit down to discuss his new book, Making Photographs, and our combined 25 years of podcasting.

The Portfoliobox Tip of the Week and Photo Contest

Tip of the Week

Set colors and fonts on your entire website at once - You can fine-tune your website and choose specific colors and fonts for every element of your Portfoliobox site: menu, logo, text, headers, links, etc. Or you can opt for the quick and easy way and change all of them at once by choosing one of the preset combos we've prepared for you. Go to Colors and Fonts and click on Color Scheme or Font combo.

Photo Contest: B&W Portraits

To enter, send your best B&W portrait to thenimblephotographer@gmail.com by Jan. 22, 2019. Subject Line: B&W Portrait Contest. Make sure you have permission from the subject. Entrant must have captured the image and performed all of the post production on it. Recommended size of the image is 2000 px on the longest edge. The selected image will be featured on TheDigitalStory and the photographer will receive a 1-Year Pro Account with Portfoliobox.

To create your own Portfoliobox site, click on the tile or use this link to get started. If you upgrade to a Pro site, you'll save 20 percent off the $83 annual price.

Short Movie - Chinatown Photo Shoot

Mike and I made this movie on the final day of last year's SF Street Photography Workshop. (Here's link as well.) It provides you with an inside look at our premier urban event. We're going to have just one more street photography workshop in SF, this coming April. And we'd like you to join us for the farewell to this long running gathering in the city.

If you do want to join us April 26-28, and I hope you do, please visit the Workshops Signup Page and place your $100 deposit. That will secure your ability to attend when official registration begins later this month. You can also read more about the event on the TDS Workshops page.

Updates and Such

Inner Circle Members: Our current Photo Challenge is Repetitive Pattern. Check your Patreon page for the details and prize. And thanks for supporting this podcast!

B&H and Amazon tiles on www.thedigitalstory. If you click on them first, you're helping to support this podcast. And speaking of supporting this show, and big thanks to our Patreon Inner Circle members:

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

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

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

Portfoliobox - Your PortfolioBox site is the best way to show off your best images.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

Coming off the holidays, we're very much in a group shot frame of mind. As we should be, right? Gathering people together is an efficient (and fun) way to document the event.

But we sometimes forget the value of individual family portraits as well. And over the years, these are just as valuable because they give us as photographers the opportunity to capture the essence of the person we know.

Zach at 22 years old. Photo by Derrick Story. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with Olympus PRO 45mm f/1.2 at f/1.4, ISO 200. Processed in Capture One Pro 12.

Once you process the shoot, be sure to share a gallery with a variety of poses with your subject. Chances are good that the version they like will differ from your favorite. That's OK. They can use the images for social, resumes, etc. while you build the family archive.

Updating family portraits is an excellent creative project for 2019. After all, we don't want the shoe cobbler's kids to have bare feet.

More on Capture One Pro

To learn more about Capture One Pro, take a look at my online course: Capture One Pro Essential Training on LinkedIn Learning. You can also tune in on lynda.com if you prefer your training there. Either way, I have four hours of entertaining education that will help you master this excellent photo management and editing application.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #668, Jan. 1, 2019. Today's theme is "Happy New Year!." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

I want to take a moment to acknowledge our productive 2018 and express my optimism for the year ahead. I'm not going to take much of your time today - just a few thoughts before we get back into full swing next week.

Happy New Year!

Regular listeners know that I'm up late every Monday night putting the final touches on our weekly podcast before I call it a day. I'm going to be up late this Monday as well, but for once not producing the show, rather, bidding farewell to a challenging, productive, and sometimes exhausting 2018.

One of things that keep me energized this past year was this photography community. Knowing that no matter what happened in this crazy world of ours, we would get together once a week and focus only on the art and science of image making.

There have been weeks when this show was an island of calmness in an otherwise sea of madness. And for that, I thank you, each and every one of you.

Next week, we fire up the machine again and begin the year with an interview with Ibarionex Perello of the Candid Frame. I'll also be in Las Vegas for CES, and will be reporting on the things that I discover there. It's going to be a fast start to 2019. I'm so glad that you'll be there with me.

Do You Have a Film Camera that Needs a Good Home?

Over the last year, I've received donations from TDS members who have film cameras that need a good home. What I do is inspect the items, repair and clean as I can, then list them in TheFilmCameraShop where I can find a good home for them. If you're interested in donating, please use the Contact Form on TheNimblePhotographer site. And thanks for you consideration!

I've Booked Our Accommodations for the Joshua Tree Workshop this Coming March

We have two more spots on the reserve list for the Joshua Tree High Desert Adventure this coming March. Full itineraries go out this week to reserve list members.

The Adobe Rockpile is located conveniently on the way to Joshua Tree National Park,just minutes from the west entrance. Enjoy our Hammock,hot tub,views, and desert scenery!This Property is the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, nature, and high desert style.

The Adobe Rockpile is located in the most beautiful neighborhood in the hills of Yucca Valley. It feels like you are out in the national park, but are only one to two miles away from all the in-town amenities. Surrounded by open space, boulders and other custom homes with plenty of space in between, you will feel all the comforts of home and more in this neighborhood.

If you want to join us in March, If you want to join us in 2019, and I hope you do, please visit the Workshops Signup Page and place your $100 deposit. That will secure your ability to attend when official registration begins.

Updates and Such

Inner Circle Members: We have a new photo challenge: "Repetition of Pattern." Tune into your Patreon page for all of the details. Challenge runs through Jan. 15, 2019. The honoree receives an official Nimble Photographer water bottle made by Victorinox.

B&H and Amazon tiles on www.thedigitalstory. If you click on them first, you're helping to support this podcast. And speaking of supporting this show, and big thanks to our Patreon Inner Circle members:

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

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

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

Portfoliobox - Your PortfolioBox site is the best way to show off your best images.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

Skylum has released Luminar 3.0.1 for Mac and Windows that addresses a number of annoyances with the initial release of Luminar with Libraries.

The free update features:

Mac

• Stability improvements
• Fixed 20+ crash issues
• Fixed an issue with folder destination of the catalog
• Fixed crashing on quit

Windows

• Stability improvements
• 40+ crash issues fixed
• Fixed an issue with folder destination of the catalog
• Fixed internet connection issue
• Fixed crashes in Lightroom/Photoshop plugins
• Export/Share moved to file menu
• Fixed issues with duplicated images

To apply version 3.0.1 to your Mac, turn on automatic updates by going to Luminar > Check For Updates. If Luminar crashes, reinstall it with the previously downloaded installer. The latest version will install automatically

For Windows, go to Help > Check For Updates. Luminar always checks for updates when it starts. If Luminar crashes, rerun your downloaded installer. The current version will be installed automatically.

I've been using Luminar 3.0.1 for the last day on my Mac, and I'm having a good experience with it. So I'm getting things set up now for adding it to my overall photography workflow in 2019.

Luminar with Libraries Special Offer

New users can purchase Luminar 3 for $59 ($49 with coupon code THEDIGITALSTORY). That's $20 off the standard $69 price. This special offer is good from Sunday, December 30 through Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

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

If you didn't get your photography gear itch scratched during the holidays, here are five great deals that you might want to take advantage of right now. They are good through Saturday, Dec. 29.

Kodak Photo Printer Mini - $49.99 ($50 off) - Create fun snapshots as you wander the world or hang out with your friends with the portable and battery-powered white Photo Printer Mini from Kodak. This compact and lightweight printer connects directly to your smart device using Wi-Fi and can perform a one-touch connection thanks to built-in NFC. From here users can then open a mobile app for their iOS or Android device and print from a variety of sources quickly and easily. Using D2T2 dye diffusion thermal transfer technology, the Photo Printer Mini can then produce a full-color credit-card sized 2.1 x 3.4" photo in about one minute. It also places and overcoat on the image that will protect the image from damage, including by being fingerprint and water resistant.

Joby GripTight POV Kit - $9.99 ($30 off) - Enhance your smartphone photography with the Joby GripTight POV Kit. This kit consists of a Joby Impulse Bluetooth Remote and the Joby GripTight POV, which fits devices 2.2 to 3.6" wide. The GripTight POV also features a cold shoe adapter and a poseable handle, which can be removed and used with pin-joint style accessories for action cameras like the GoPro. The remote connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and acts as a remote trigger from up to 90' away.

Lowepro ProTactic BP 250 AW Mirrorless Camera and Laptop Backpack - $49.95 ($100 off) - Inspired by the urban landscape, yet at home wherever you may roam, the black ProTactic BP 250 AW Backpack from Lowepro is designed to store and protect your mirrorless camera with mounted lens, 3-4 extra lenses or flashes and accessories. Larger items are stored in the main compartment and organized with padded, touch-fastening dividers. Opposite the main compartment is a lid with two, zippered clear mesh pockets for smaller accessories, and a large CradeleFit laptop pocket for an up to 11" MacBook Air. (Terrific backpack!)

SLR Magic 8mm f/4 Lens for MFT - $119 ($230 off) - Ultra wide and ultra lightweight at just 3.9 oz, the 8mm f/4 Lens from SLR Magic can easily find a home on your drone or gimbal stabilizer. Designed for these demanding applications, this lens offers a 16mm equivalent focal length with minimal distortion and high sharpness, ideal for vast landscapes, tight interiors, and architectural work. Also, it has an f/4 aperture that allows for the lens to remain extremely compact.

MeFOTO BackPacker Air Travel Tripod (Red) - $29.95 ($50 off) - The red BackPacker Air Travel Tripod from MeFOTO is a sturdy, lightweight, and compact aluminum alloy support designed for the modern enthusiast and smartphone photographer.

Happy browsing!

And here's one bonus item that everyone needs right now...

Panasonic Eneloop CC55 Quick Charger Kit - $34.99 ($20 off) - The Eneloop CC55 Quick Charger Kit from Panasonic contains eight Ni-MH AA batteries with a capacity of 2000mAh and four AAA batteries with a capacity of 800mAh. The batteries have been pre-charged by solar power, so they are ready to use out of the package. The included CC55 charger has four charging bays with individual LED charge indicator lights, which shows how much each battery has charged. To charge a fully depleted battery, it can take between three and four hours, and once all the batteries are fully charged, the charger will automatically shut off for overcharge protection.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #667, Dec. 25, 2018. Today's theme is "The Inside Scoop on Luminar 3 with Libraries." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

On Dec. 18, Skylum released the long-awaited Luminar with Libraries. What was originally perceived by customers as a Lightroom replacement proved to be an asset manager of a different type. Some love it, others are disappointed. Where you land on this spectrum depends on your needs. Helping you determine that is the focus of today's TDS Photography Podcast.

The Inside Scoop on Luminar 3 with Libraries

After being through the beta testing program, monitoring the online Skylum Public Photography Group, and preparing for my recent Nimble Classroom on the subject, I feel like I have a good handle on the first release of Luminar 3 with Libraries. I cover the highlights in the first segment of today's show.

The Portfoliobox Inspirational Photographer

I got to thinking about some of the great PortfolioBox photographers out there, and how they could inspire us both artistically, but also in terms of our presentation online. So I started digging.

Each week for the month of December, I'm going to feature an inspirational photographer who uses Portfoliobox as his/her platform for presenting their work. This week I want to point you to www.luigiquarta.com/. Luigi Quarta is a conceptual photographer, who uses photography as a means of expression to represent concepts, feelings, and moods.

He writes about Portfoliobox, "Portfoliobox has a modern design that I like a lot and is very easy to use. It's really a great platform to open your personal website."

If you've signed up for a Portfoliobox Pro account, and have published at least one page, then send me the link to that site. Use the Contact Form on the Nimble Photographer and provide your name, the link, and the subject of the page or site you've published. I will add it to our PortfolioBox Pro Directory.

To create your own Portfoliobox site, click on the tile or use this link to get started. If you upgrade to a Pro site, you'll save 20 percent off the $83 annual price.

What Are Your Real Life Shots of 2018?

As photographers, we have this unique opportunity to see our lives in ways that others cannot. Find those real life moments, look at them, then think about what you want to do this coming year. Here's why.

I've Booked Our Accommodations for the Joshua Tree Workshop this Coming March

We have two more spots on the reserve list for the Joshua Tree High Desert Adventure this coming March. Full itineraries go out this week to reserve list members.

The Adobe Rockpile is located conveniently on the way to Joshua Tree National Park,just minutes from the west entrance. Enjoy our Hammock,hot tub,views, and desert scenery!This Property is the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, nature, and high desert style.

The Adobe Rockpile is located in the most beautiful neighborhood in the hills of Yucca Valley. It feels like you are out in the national park, but are only one to two miles away from all the in-town amenities. Surrounded by open space, boulders and other custom homes with plenty of space in between, you will feel all the comforts of home and more in this neighborhood.

If you want to join us in March, If you want to join us in 2019, and I hope you do, please visit the Workshops Signup Page and place your $100 deposit. That will secure your ability to attend when official registration begins.

Updates and Such

Inner Circle Members: We'll start a new Photo Challenge after Christmas. Stay tuned to your Patreon page for upcoming details and the prize.

B&H and Amazon tiles on www.thedigitalstory. If you click on them first, you're helping to support this podcast. And speaking of supporting this show, and big thanks to our Patreon Inner Circle members:

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

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

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

Portfoliobox - Your PortfolioBox site is the best way to show off your best images.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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

Most photographers are this wonderful mix of artist and historian. But many of the images that we share online tend to be more from the artistic nature rather than the storytelling. That's OK. Nothing wrong with impressing our peers with our creative chops.

"Trip to the Vet" - Sylvester had developed a constant sneeze that needed attending to. I took her to the vet for advice. While we were waiting, I noticed the photo of another Tuxedo cat on the wall. I really liked the juxtaposition of Sylvester in the foreground against the image on the wall. BTW: Sylvester is fine now. We treated her with some meds, and she's back in the pink. And she has been one of my many blessings this year. Photo by Derrick Story. iPhone X.

But here's an exercise that I think you will really enjoy. Go back through your photo collection from 2018, and mark the "real life" images. You know, those snapshots from gatherings, home repair, pets, kids, tough moments, family members, and friends.

Put those images in a collection, and build a simple slideshow with them. Be sure to add a dash of your favorite music. Then, on New Year's Eve, share that collection with any friends or family who you happen to be with. And if you're flying solo, share it with yourself.

Regardless of how good or bad you're feeling at the moment, I promise that a faint glow will come over you. If the images are challenging, then know that you met that adversity and made it through the year. If the pictures are heartwarming, then give thanks for your blessings. For many of us, it will be a mix of both.

As photographers, we have this unique opportunity to see our lives in ways that others cannot. Find those real life moments, look at them, then think about what you want to do this coming year.

Happy Holidays and Peace on Earth.

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

What were your most popular Instagram shots of 2018? You can find out by visiting TopNine.co. They will compile your most popular images, then send them to you via email as a Jpeg.

You can also download the iOS app Top Nine for Instagram 2018 or the Android Top Nine and get this on your smartphone as well.

You do have to provide your email. So if you're uncomfortable with that, then this might not be for you. But I've done this in the past without any ensuing problems. Speaking of email delivery, Gmail will probably place your TopNine delivery in the Promotions tab, so look for it there.

If you do seek your TopNine, I think you'll discover a few surprises that made the cut. It's a great reminder that we can't always identify our most popular work. Notice that I said "popular," not best. It's good for perspective as we continue to evaluate our photography. And... it's fun.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #666, Dec. 18, 2018. Today's theme is "A Visit to Mom's." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Every year at this time, I like to talk about the importance of photography during family gatherings. This year, instead of just discussing it, I'm bringing you along to a visit at my Mom's house in Southern California. We're going to ask her about the importance of family, photography, and staying in touch with your roots. I hope you enjoy the show.

A Visit to Mom's

There's 8 hours of highway between my Mom's house and mine. I don't make the trek as often as I should, and she will probably mention that during our chat. But seeing her is very important to me, and I look forward to our visits.

I thought listening to her perspective about the holidays and family would be interesting to the family historians in our podcast audience. I hope you enjoy our visit, sitting around the family table that I've know since childhood.

The Portfoliobox Inspirational Photographer

I got to thinking about some of the great PortfolioBox photographers out there, and how they could inspire us both artistically, but also in terms of our presentation online. So I started digging.

Each week for the month of December, I'm going to feature an inspirational photographer who uses Portfoliobox as his/her platform for presenting their work. This week I want to point you to www.luigiquarta.com/. Luigi Quarta is a conceptual photographer, who uses photography as a means of expression to represent concepts, feelings, and moods.

He writes about Portfoliobox, "Portfoliobox has a modern design that I like a lot and is very easy to use. It's really a great platform to open your personal website."

If you've signed up for a Portfoliobox Pro account, and have published at least one page, then send me the link to that site. Use the Contact Form on the Nimble Photographer and provide your name, the link, and the subject of the page or site you've published. I will add it to our PortfolioBox Pro Directory.

To create your own Portfoliobox site, click on the tile or use this link to get started. If you upgrade to a Pro site, you'll save 20 percent off the $83 annual price.

Luminar with Libraries Releases Today

If you already own Luminar 2018, you will automatically be upgraded to Luminar 3 with Libraries.

I've Booked Our Accommodations for the Joshua Tree Workshop this Coming March

The Adobe Rockpile is located conveniently on the way to Joshua Tree National Park,just minutes from the west entrance. Enjoy our Hammock,hot tub,views, and desert scenery!This Property is the perfect blend of comfort, convenience, nature, and high desert style.

The Adobe Rockpile is located in the most beautiful neighborhood in the hills of Yucca Valley. It feels like you are out in the national park, but are only one to two miles away from all the in-town amenities. Surrounded by open space, boulders and other custom homes with plenty of space in between, you will feel all the comforts of home and more in this neighborhood.

If you want to join us in March, If you want to join us in 2019, and I hope you do, please visit the Workshops Signup Page and place your $100 deposit. That will secure your ability to attend when official registration begins.

Updates and Such

Inner Circle Members: Night Shot is our current photo challenge. More details on our Patreon page.

B&H and Amazon tiles on www.thedigitalstory. If you click on them first, you're helping to support this podcast. And speaking of supporting this show, and big thanks to our Patreon Inner Circle members:

And finally, be sure to visit our friends at Red River Paper for all of your inkjet supply needs.

See you next week!

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

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

Portfoliobox - Your PortfolioBox site is the best way to show off your best images.

The Nimbleosity Report

Do you want to keep up with the best content from The Digital Story and The Nimble Photographer? Sign up for The Nimbleosity Report, and receive highlights twice-a-month in a single page newsletter. Be a part of our community!

Want to Comment on this Post?

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