The Question I Receive Most Often

The current missteps by Adobe with Lightroom seem to have reinvigorated the conversation about photo management systems.  Those who are dedicated to Creative Cloud will most likely stay put. But there's a large group of disenfranchised photographers still looking for an answer in the post-Aperture era.

And many of them have visited my mailbox. "What is your go-to app?" is the most popular question I receive these days. And it's one that I don't have a solid answer for.

Like any working photographer, I need to deliver my product. And for those jobs I'm still depending on Aperture running on Mac OS X 10.10 Yosemite. Yes, Aperture works on El Capitan, but many of its plugins don't. And when I'm striving to deliver the best images possible, I need every advantage.

But I'm also a technologist and teacher. In that world I'm testing Capture One Pro, Photos for OS X, DxO OpticsPro, and mishmashes including Perfect Browse 9.

No, Lightroom isn't a leading candidate at the moment. I use it, primarily in concert with Lightroom Mobile and for HDR and panorama stitching. It definitely has some wonderful features. But I don't love it. And that's the problem.

Passion is what keeps me going. I'm not motivated by wealth or fame. As long as there's enough traffic to pay the bills, I'm content. But if I don't love the camera I'm using, the subjects I'm shooting, or the software that brings it all together, I'm not happy.

And that's why I haven't settled on an application beyond Aperture. I haven't fallen in love yet.

I sometimes feel like Walt Longmire, the Sheriff of Absaroka County, who pines for his deceased wife. He pushes forward. Sometimes with her ashes by his side.

For now, it's Aperture on Yosemite. Because as much as we hate to admit, it's hard to part with the things we love.

-Derrick

The Photo Assassin

Even though I'm not a violent person - firmly against murder for any reason - I've always been intrigued by those assassin kits we often see in espionage movies.

You've probably seen the same scenes. Some rough-looking guy opens a violin case with neatly arranged rifle components inside. In just a minute or two, he precisely assembles the parts resulting in a weapon  that can be employed for his evil intentions.

From this point on, I'm pulling for the intended victim. "Please, just quickly step to the left and avoid your demise!" (They only hear me half the time...) 

I was thinking about this today as I devised a grip system for my Olympus Air camera. I wanted a better way to hold the device, so I dug around in my photo junk box and found a flash grip from the late 90s. 

It's a classic "L" bracket that breaks into two pieces for easy transport. I mounted my ikan micro spot LED light in the hot shoe, and used the tripod socket to connect the Olympus Air to the bottom of the bracket. All that was left was to attach the iPhone 6S to the back of the Air.

My assembled kit includes the 16MP Olympus Air, zoom lens, adjustable LED light, iPhone 6S, and grip.

The rig balances extremely well in my hands, is light, and the large Retina Display on the iPhone is a joy to compose with. Originally, I was only using the Olympus Air for  GoPro-like action shots or for hanging off tree branches. But now, it's totally fun to shoot with handheld too. (The only drawback was when my wife called during video recording. I felt odd talking into my camera during the conversation.)

My disassembled kit ready for packing in my camera bag. (Photos by Derrick Story)

But here's the really cool part. When it came time to pack my rig and stash it in my camera bag, the parts took up hardly any space. I could fit the baseplate here, the light there, and slide the grip between those two thingies. 

Yes, I am the photo assassin.

I admit, I shoot people all the time. But I never hurt a soul. And I much prefer my Lowepro FastPack 150 to a violin case. 

But make no doubt about it... my aim is true.

-Derrick

Why Podcasting?

I just published the 500th episode of The Digital Story, a project that has spanned 10 years. 

At the time of the first show, October 2005, I was working for the publisher O'Reilly Media and writing photography books. My side business of shooting weddings and other events keep my photography sharp. And I had developed a good reputation in the Apple community as a writer for Macworld Magazine, speaker at Macworld conferences, and the editor for macdevcenter.com.

So, with all this going on, why get into podcasting?

One thing I had learned in my years of technology, is that you can't stand pat. A lot of people hate this reality. But as I watched companies like Netscape rise and fall, I knew that this possibility applied to me too. My position at O'Reilly and in the Mac community had an expiration date. And it came sooner than I thought.

I embraced podcasting because I felt it was the best way for me to become a legitimate publisher on my own, not depending on anything other than the Internet and unfolding news. I would build the site, record the shows, and syndicate them using RSS and the new capacity that the iTunes Store added for podcasters. That decision turned out to be a good one.

Months later, I was laid off from O'Reilly, followed by severe cutbacks at Macworld Magazine, and the closing of the Macworld Conference. I was now on my own, whether I wanted to be or not.

The Digital Story became my career lifeline. Its popularity secured press passes to major events, access to manufacturers and their products, and raised my standing in the photography community. It bought me time while I reinvented myself once again.

Even though the show is free to download, it gives back in so many ways. That's why I love to thank listeners for their support.

Now I'm working on a new endeavor: The Nimble Photographer Show. I'm taking a different approach with it, and I look forward to sharing the details with you soon. 

I'll continue with The Digital Story for as long as the audience supports it. I like that show. And The Nimble Photographer podcast will start a new chapter in my continued effort.

Which is as always, to ride the winds of change. And try not to be swept way in the process.

-Derrick

El Capitan is a Breath of Fresh Air

September ended on a high note. Apple released their latest version of Mac OS X, El Capitan, and it's a beauty.

I installed it on my test machine, a 2012 MacBook Pro 15", and put it through its initial paces. So far, only one application is incompatible: the software that communicates with my Transporter. After uninstalling it, everything else is running fine - even Aperture survived to fight another day (except for one minor casualty).

Aside from faster smoother performance all the way around, the big news for me is a refreshed Photos for OS X app. This latest version accepts Photo Extensions. They're applications in their own right, but they integrate seamlessly with Photos. I posted about them on The Digital Story.

Even with the first few Extensions available, I can see the potential for this approach. Because the integration is so smooth, in large part because the workflow is totally nondestructive, Photos for OS X can become just about anything that the developer community envisions.

We'll still need some help from Apple on the front end of the workflow with organization. El Capitan did not bring improved ratings for pictures or better metadata handling. Apple needs to un-dig its heels on those issues and give enthusiast photographers the organizing tools they need.

But the editing front is promising. And I can't wait to see what developers bring to Photos. If OneON and Nik/Google join the party, we're going to have some serious fun.

But for the moment, I'm going to enjoy the new tools we have. With an iPhone 6S in hand and a revitalized computer, this Fall looks more promising than ever.

-Derrick

Capturing Moments with Modern Cameras: The Super Moon

The eclipse of the super moon last night was the perfect finish to a lovely weekend. I wandered outside during an advertising break after the Putin interview had concluded on 60 Minutes and observed the phenomenon with my binoculars. Now that's what I call a quality commercial.

I hadn't originally planned to take a photo. I was just going to enjoy the moment with my binoculars, then head back to the couch for the Donald Trump interview. But the moon was so pretty. I felt so good standing outside on a quiet, temperate evening watching this rare phenomenon. I changed my mind. I wanted a picture to commerate the night.

I went back inside and dug around in my camera bag. I had the Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark II with me. My longest fast lens with me was the Olympus 60mm f/2.8 prime. I was hoping that I had the 75mm with me, but no luck. It was back at the studio. I'd make this work.

I took the E-M10 with the 60mm back outside. The eclipse was just starting to recede. Perfect. I raised the ISO to 3200, lowered the EV to -0.3, leaned against the car to steady the camera, and recorded a few frames at 1/10 second at f/2.8. I then used the digital zoom to increase the magnification to 2X. So pretty!

I know I could have been more serious about the photo, getting out the tripod, making sure I had a longer lens, and finding a better location. But not that night. I just wanted a momento in my Dropbox that reminded me of this lovely evening. And thanks to the imaging technology in today's cameras, I could do that... even when the subject is an amber moon hanging in the night's sky down the end of my street.

-Derrick