I've been on the road for a week now. And having moved from one island to another with lots of exploration along the way, how does the iPhone fit in with the rest of the gear I've packed?.

Beach Bike - iPhone X back dual camera 6mm f/2.4 - Photo by Derrick Story

As it turns out, the iPhone plays quite nicely with the other kids, but not in the ways that you might think. First, it has been a wonderful reference camera. In other words, if I'm shooting a scene with the Leica Type 109, then I also record it with the iPhone to capture the location data so that the Leica images are organized correctly in the Photos library.

Cairns on the Manoa Falls Trail. (Gaelic for heap of stones.) Leica D-LUX. Photo by Derrick Story.

For example, I know that I captured the image of the cairn on the Manoa Falls Trail because I have an iPhone image with a similar timestamp and the location data. Speaking of timestamps, it's imperative that all the cameras are in sync for this system to work. So in essence, the iPhone becomes my journal for all the photographs I capture, regardless of which camera I use for the final image.

I've also been transferring shots from all the cameras to the iPhone via WiFi for social sharing. The images you've seen over the last week on Instagram were recorded with other cameras. I've been shooting RAW+Jpeg, and I love the flexibility of being able to share any photo, from any camera, online virtually from anywhere. And the iPhone is the hub that makes it all work.

I'll also use it to document my film project, which starts this week. So anything that I shoot with the 35mm Contax, gets recorded with the iPhone, and organized in a journal with notes about the subject. I've been using Day One as my journal app for nearly two years now, and I love it.

I do take the occasional final picture with the iPhone itself. It's inconspicuous and handy. But with all the great gear that I get to use for work, my smartphone is more of a facilitator than it is the star of the show.

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

Even though I'm a street photographer at heart, I sometimes want to go off-road and capture the world in less-camera-friendly environments. Honolulu is a perfect example of interesting subjects on sandy terrain.

That's when the Olympus Tough cameras can be your best choice. The Olympus TG-5 ($349) is a compact, go anywhere camera that's perfect for sand photography. I carry it in my board shorts when on the beach or in the water. It makes no difference to this capture device. Plus it includes built-in GPS, so the location data for my adventures are captured as well.

If you're planning some off-road activities this coming summer, and you don't want to worry about sand, dirt, dust, temperature, or water, then consider a Tough. Shoot in RAW+Jpeg, turn on GPS, and don't let yourself be limited by the environment.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #628, March 27, 2018. Today's theme is "The 50-50 Rule." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

Digital photography has had a tremendous impact on our workflow. Now, not only are we creatives behind the camera, we must also be technicians in front of the computer. But how much of each? In this week's podcast, I explore the division of labor during the process of creating artistic images. And I explain what I call the 50-50 Rule.

The 50-50 Rule

When I used to shoot weddings with my 35mm film cameras, we would work like dogs all day and into the evening. But once we were finished shooting, I would put all the film in a giant envelope, drop it off at my lab, and go have a 1am breakfast before falling into bed.

Then we began the transition to digital. And before long, I found myself spending hours in front of the computer, long after the wedding had completed, finishing the job. I didn't get paid any more, and in fact, prices began to fall. And that's when I realized that digital photography was going to change my life as a creative.

I agonized over learning Photoshop. Fortunately, apps like Aperture and Lightroom burst on to the scene to save me. But to this day, I know that if a photo is going to be competitive with others online, it will require post production.

And when I started to think about it, I realized that photography is now a 50-50 proposition. Half the creative process is at capture, and the other half is post. Most of us are stronger at one side or the other. And one of our challenges as an artist is to identify the aspect that requires the most improvement, then take the steps to improve in that area.

Rumor: Canon full-frame mirrorless already 'being used by select pro photographers'

DP Review reports that "a full frame mirrorless camera is well into its development cycle," and is in fact being used by "select Canon pro photographers" in the field." Canon Rumors is "very confident we're going to see something announced before the end of Q1 in 2019," while other outlets have predicted something for Photokina in September.

Apple's Camera Shutter Sound Was Recorded From a Canon AE-1

F-Stoppers reports: "In a recent interview with CNBC, the Apple sound designer behind many of the iconic beeps and bloops on the Mac, Jim Reekes, shares the origin of their naming and compositions. As it turns out, it's a film camera from the 1970s that was personally owned by Reekes since high school behind the ubiquitous iPhone camera click and screenshot sound effect on Mac. It was recorded from a Canon AE-1 and then slowed down to create the custom sound we know today. Even to this day, Reekes still seems to not be used to his recording being played everywhere he goes."

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!

Dates Announced for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. Here's more about it.

Aerial Photography Workshop Update

Public registration is now open for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

Updates and Such

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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.

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.

The checklist of things that I want to accomplish on the road over the next two weeks is substantial. Overall, I'm looking to create new content, both visually and with words. Plus there are certain day-to-day operations that I need to maintain. After all, I am a one-man shop.

But I refuse to schlep around a trunk full of gear. So I've been testing my current travel setup over the last week, and I've finally settled on a packing list. I thought you might want a peek inside the bag

Here's the packing list:

• Lowepro Fastpack BP 150 AW II
• Apple 13" MacBook Pro
• G-Technology 500GB G-DRIVE slim USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II mirrorless camera with 14-42mm EZ zoom
• Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 lens
• Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. lens
• Olympus Fisheye Body Cap 9mm f/8 lens
• Olympus Tough TG-5 digital camera
• Leica D-LUX (Typ 109) digital camera
• Contax 159mm 35mm SLR with Zeiss 45mm f/2.8 Tessar lens
• Zeiss 28-70mm Vario-Sonnar f/3.5-4.5 zoom lens (for the Contax 159mm)
• Kodak Gold 200 35mm negative film (3 rolls)
• Lowepro Dashpoint 30 camera pouch
• iPhone X with AT&T LTE - also serves as my Internet connection when hotel connectivity fails me.
• Apple iPad mini - With Verizon 4G LTE to give me access to a different cellular network than my iPhone.
• Zoom H1n Digital Handy Recorder
• The typical accessories such as batteries, memory cards, backup flash drives, etc.

Final weight after this week's adjustments is a bit over 13 pounds. This bag will fit under the seat in front of me on an airplane, in an overhead bin on a bus, and on the floor between my feet in a restaurant. I can have it with me where ever I go.

Now, for the content creation itself. I'll let you know when I land.

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

Not only are layers easy to use in Luminar 2018, they are fun as well. Using an adjustment layer to replace a boring sky is a perfect example.

In this free video, I show you how to create a new adjustment layer, then add and adjust a dynamic sky to improve a scenic photo. This technique only takes a few minutes to learn. And it can really improve some of your images.

Use an image layer to replace a sky from Luminar Essential Training by Derrick Story

In the past, you may have thought that layers weren't for you. With Luminar 2018 and my training videos, you may just change your mind about that.

Rock Luminar with my new Essential Training

You learn all the ins and outs of Luminar 2018 via my Essential Training on lynda.com and on LinkedIn Learning. It's fun, and I promise, you will learn a lot.

I like families with colorful members. Apparently, Kingston does as well. They've recently announced a flashy new trio of memory cards using the Canvas moniker. And I've had a chance to try them out.

All three family members are built tough. They feel good when inserting and ejecting from the camera. The Write Protect switch is firm and won't accidentally disable your card. This is a frustration I've experienced too many times with other brands.

The real difference among the models is speed. Canvas Select cards, the most affordable, are rated 80MB/s read and 10MB/s write. Canvas Go cards are 90MB/s read and 45MB/s write. While the top of the line Canvas React cards are 100MB/s read and 80MB/s write.

You can preorder a 64GB SDXC Canvas React for $34.95, a very reasonable price for a card of this caliber. And if your speed needs are more modest, you can save money with the 64GB Canvas Select for $26.50. Card capacities range from 16GBs to 256GBs. You can visit the Kingston site for more details about each family member.

I'm using the Canvas Select in the Olympus Tough TG-5, and the Canvas React in the Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II. It feels good to have fresh memory cards in them both.

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

This is The Digital Story Podcast #627, March 20, 2018. Today's theme is "An Office on the Road." I'm Derrick Story.

Opening Monologue

One of the great things about being a Nimble Photographer is the ease at which I can travel. In just a few days I will be on the road for a couple weeks. It will be an opportunity to add new images to my library and enjoy a change of scenery for my work. Yes, that's right, my work. And in this week's show I'll explain how I'm going to pull that off.

An Office on the Road

I'll be bouncing around to a few locations in the Hawaiian Islands. And because I'm on the go so much, I want to push my nimbleosity to the limits.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 with 14-42mm EZ zoom lens and the Lowepro Dashpoint 30 pouch.

My gear bag is already packed, and I'm testing it here at home. I'm using a Lowepro Fastpack 150AW that is extremely compact. It fits anywhere, under any seat, in any overhead compartment, and easily next to me in a restaurant. Since I will always have my bag with me, it must be light and thin.

Speaking of light, it weighs in at 12.5 pounds for my entire kit, and that includes a 13" laptop. Here are the contents:

• Lowepro Fastpack BP 150 AW II
• Apple 13" MacBook Pro
• G-Technology 500GB G-DRIVE slim USB 3.1 Gen 2 Type-C External SSD
• Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II mirrorless camera with 14-42mm EZ zoom
• Olympus M.Zuiko Digital 45mm f/1.8 lens
• Panasonic Lumix G 20mm f/1.7 II ASPH. lens
• Olympus Tough TG-5 digital camera
• Leica D-LUX (Typ 109) digital camera
• Contax 159mm 35mm SLR with Zeiss 45mm f/2.8 Tessar lens
• Lowepro Dashpoint 30 camera pouch
• iPhone X
• Zoom H1n Digital Handy Recorder
• The typical accessories such as batteries, memory cards, backup hard drive, etc.

The cameras are all packed in individual tight-fitting cases inside the Lowepro backpack. I can grab any individual camera as I'm dashing out the door for a bite to eat or to run an errand. I also save space by using wrist straps instead of longer neck straps. You might not think it makes that much difference, but it does.

With this kit, I can handle all of my work over the next two weeks, and all I need is an Internet connection and occasional power.

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!

Dates Announced for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop

We have our cabin reservations secured for Sept. 27-29, 2018 for the Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic National Park Workshop. Here's more about it.

Aerial Photography Workshop Update

Public registration is now open for the Sonoma Country Hot Air Balloon and Drone Photography Workshop, June 8-10, 2018. We're combining two very fun aerial activities into one workshop. Be sure to get on the Reserve List for this one!

Come Join me at the Skylum Photography Public Group

I'm now moderating the Skylum Photography Public Group, and I would love to have interested members from our audience join me there.

Updates and Such

You can become a member of our Inner Circle by clicking on this link or by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on every page of The Digital Story.

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.

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.

The Think Tank Storyteller 8 is a well-designed combination of high quality materials and compact design at an affordable price: $69.

This nimble shoulder bag is perfect for a day outing when you want to travel light and work quickly. The top flap provides quick access to all of your gear, yet it shields the contents of the bag from those around you.

It's big enough to accommodate a DSLR and a couple lenses, or a substantial mirrorless kit. I tested it with a PEN-F, 14-42mm EZ zoom, Pentax KP, 18-50mm DA zoom, and Olympus PRO 45mm f/1.2 prime. All of these items fit easily in the main compartment of the Storyteller 8.

On the inside of the top flap there are two memory card holders and a very nice zippered pocket that allows you to see its contents. There's also a handy backside pocket on the outside that's perfect for subway tickets and other quick access items. And the front pocket area has all sorts of nooks and crannies for your accessories.

Here's a more complete list of the bag's features:

• StoryTeller 8 fits an 8" tablet in front pocket
• Adjustable padded shoulder strap
• Secure closure for main compartment
• Two memory card pockets to separate empty and full cards
• Zippered pocket for valuables
• Expandable front pocket fits additional gear
• Stretchable side pocket fits a water bottle
• Premium quality materials ensure durability
• High quality YKK RC zippers
• Seam-sealed rain cover included in front pocket

I found the Storyteller 8 a very easy bag to work out of. I wore it cross-shoulder while exploring the city. When I saw a shot, I would swing it around, open the top flap, grab the camera and shoot - all in one easy motion.

The bag is constructed of very high quality materials. And it does include a rain cover if the weather turns on you.

I liked the Storyteller 8 so much that I procured two of them to give away at our upcoming San Francisco Street Photography Workshop on April 26. (All photographers will get a bag, but two very lucky ones will receive their own Storyteller 8s.) It's the perfect companion for urban adventure.

It's no secret that I'm a huge fan of Luminar for revealing the artistic soul trapped inside my images. And now to help others master this application, I have a new training on both lynda.com and on LinkedIn Learning.

Highlights of this movie title include:

• Providing you with a Quick Start chapter that gets you up and running in just minutes.
• Showing you how to quickly enhance your images with Luminar's beautiful presets.
• How to build your own custom workspace tailored to your individual needs.
• Explaining how to master Layers for professional image editing results.
• And delving into the world of creative techniques with LUT mapping, B&W, and more.

I hope you stop by and spend some time with me and Luminar.

Rock Luminar with my new Essential Training

You learn all the ins and outs of Luminar 2018 via my Essential Training on lynda.com and on LinkedIn Learning. It's fun, and I promise, you will learn a lot.

When you open a Live Photo in Photos for macOS High Sierra, you have a number of creative possibilities. With that original content, you can create an animated GIF or simulate a long exposure, such as with water. I show you how to tap this resource in this movie.

Apply Live Photo effects from Photos for macOS High Sierra Essential Training by Derrick Story

Live Photo adds yet another creative possibility to iPhone photography. Learn about it, and so many more things, in my Photos for macOS High Sierra Essential Training.

New Photos for macOS High Sierra Training!

Is it time for you to learn the ins and outs of the latest version of Photos? Take a look at Photos for macOS High Sierra Essential Training on LinkedIn Learning, or on lynda.com. Maximize your iPhone photography and complement the work you do with your mirrorless cameras as well. You'll love your cameras even more...

Also be sure to check out my new book, The Apple Photos Book for Photographers, 2nd Edition. It's completely up to date!

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