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The Digital Story Photography Podcast

The Digital Story Photography Podcast

Written by: Derrick Story
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About this listen
 Where photography meets technology. Weekly podcasts, photo tips, equipment reviews, and more. Author and pro photographer Derrick Story shares his insights, experiences, and opinions.© & ℗ 2026 Story Photography Art
Episodes
  • If You Want to Use a Tablet Instead, You Should! - TDS Photo Podcast

    If You Want to Use a Tablet Instead, You Should! - TDS Photo Podcast
    Nov 10 2026
    This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,078, Nov. 10, 2026. Today's theme is, "If You Want to Use a Tablet Instead, You Should!." I'm Derrick Story. The latest crop of tablets from Microsoft, Samsung, and Apple are powerful, portable, and productive. And for photographers on the go, whether it be vacation or business travel, a tablet can get the job done both for work and play. Today we'll look at the top choices from Windows, Android, and Apple. All of that and more on this episode of the TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1078 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In If You Want to Use a Tablet Instead, You Should! Last week I went over to a friend's house to help him with his photography. He is a terrific shooter, with impressive images of landscape and wildlife. But he's never been comfortable with post-production. I told him how easy the Photos app is to use, and that I'd be happy to share with him my workflow and favorite tips. He loved the idea, and we set up a time to meet at his house. When I arrived, I was expecting to see a large desktop monitor or a late-model laptop. But instead, he had his iPad on the dining room table. And that's what he used for his work. As I was walking him through all the workflow steps, it was clear to me that this was a totally workable approach. I use my iPad all of the time for photography, but that's usually in coffee shops or hotel lobby. Not on my dining room table. In Photos, we organized his images, added star ratings, adjusted color and tone, and applied AI-powered tools. All operations were just as smooth as on my laptop. I thought to myself, "We've finally reached the point that if someone wants to use a tablet for serious work, they can." In the article titled, The best tablets for photo editing in 2026 on DigitalCameraWorld.com, authors Mike Harris and Gareth Bevan list their favorite tablets for photographers. I think that's a great place for us to start. (Derrick reviews the list of tablets in the article) Interestingly enough, my favorite tablet wasn't on the list: the 2026 iPad mini with A20 Pro Processor. I've been using the 2024 iPad mini for a couple years now, and to tell the truth, I'm perfectly comfortable working with my images on it. (Derrick covers some of the basic specs for the 2026 iPad mini.) Upcoming 2027 TDS Workshop Season Announcement It's that time of year when I announce our 2027 TDS Workshop Season. Rob and I have a terrific slate of Online Classes, Webinars, and In-Person events. And I can't wait to share them with you. Inner Circle Members will receive a notification on both our Patreon site and our Inner Circle space on DerrickStoryOnline for their sneak peek of the workshop season. They will be able to pre-register at that time for their chosen events. The general public announcement will be on Tuesday, Nov. 17, during our regularly-scheduled podcast. I will go over all of the highlights then, and Rob will join me for part of the show as well. If you're not an Inner Circle Member, and want to be part of the Sneak Peek, I would sign up right away by clicking on the Patreon tile that's on all the pages of TheDigitalStory. This Week in the News PixelMeter Now Lets You Compare Specs and Scores on Cameras and Lenses as featured on PetaPixel.com Peakto Launches Version 3.0: A Media Manager That Can Handle Millions of Assets as featured on FStoppers.com TA deep dive into the Sigma FP2's image quality finds a camera that's unconventional to its core as featured on DPReview.com Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. ...
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    35 mins
  • The Think Tank FocusPoint Crossbody 8L Review - TDS Photo Podcast

    The Think Tank FocusPoint Crossbody 8L Review - TDS Photo Podcast
    Nov 3 2026
    This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,077, Nov. 3, 2026. Today's theme is, "The Think Tank FocusPoint Crossbody 8L Review." I'm Derrick Story. I've been using photo backpacks for the last year. Not so much because I love backpacks, but because I hadn't found a shoulder bag that I liked for my Nikon kit. When I learned about Think Tank's FocusPoint Crossbody 8L with an alternative design, I was intrigued. And then I was thrilled. Find out why on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1077 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In The Think Tank FocusPoint Crossbody 8L Review Think Tank went back to the drawing board and reconceived the camera shoulder bag with the FocusPoint Crossbody 8L. Their version is a roll-once and buckle approach. So the roll-top isn't too deep like many are, yet, there's a little extra room when needed. They added two hybrid magnetic closure strips at the top that snap together stylishly sealing the bag closed when you're walking around. The upshot is a single-strap shoulder bag that always looks good, provides fast access to its contents, and can be secured with the magnets when working, or a parachute buckle when traveling from point-A to point-B. I've never tested anything like it. Specifications I'll get back to the features in a minute, but first here are the basic specs for the 8 liter model: Exterior: 11.75" W x 9" H x 6" DInterior: 9.5-11" W x 7" H x 5" DTotal Volume: 8LWeight: 1.6 poundsIncludes shoulder strap, interior dividers, and rain cover. Carrying the Bag There are two basic configurations determined by how you attach the single strap. For a traditional shoulder bag approach, attach the strap hooks to the loops on each end of the bag. For a crossbody carry, use the loops on the back of the bag. Of course, you can use any combination of the four loops and the adjustable strap to get just the right fit. I opted for a hybrid approach where I attached the strap to the loops on the ends of the bag, but carried it "crossbody" against my back. When I needed to access the gear, I simply swung the bag around. The strap has a long, thick pad that makes all-day carrying more comfortable. The backside has six loops to attach small accessories if you wish. Internal Access I absolutely love the wide opening of the roll-top, making it easy to retrieve cameras or lenses. There's no lid to get in the way, nor zippers or Velcro. Grab what you want, fold the flap once, and the magnets click together. This is as easy as it gets. Inside my FocusPoint I've stashed a Nikon Zf with a 24-50mm Nikkor zoom attached. In the center is the Nikkor 28-400mm zoom, and on the other end is a Fujifilm X100 V. A Nikkor 26mm pancake is stored snugly in the front pocket. For maximum room inside the bag, store the camera on end and point the lens outward to the side. This works because of the trapezoid design that has a smaller base than top. With the attached lenses pointing outward, it takes advantage of the bag's shape, allowing for efficient storage inside. As a result in my case, there was plenty of room for the 28-400mm zoom in the center compartment. The tradeoff is that you can't put anything thick in the outside end pockets because the lenses are pushing against the sides. I'm fine that. I'd rather have the interior room and use the outer side pockets for lens caps and filters. But, if nothing is pushing against the ends, you can store a hot shoe flash in the outer pocket. When you're done exploring and ready to move to the next location, the parachute bucket secures the top of the FocusPoint. This hardware looks great, and does its job well. Also, if you want to attach the FocusPoint to a roller suitcase, there's a luggage strap on the back. The front outside pocket is good for filters, batteries, spare cards, and in my case, a pancake lens too. The back pocket is smaller and is lined for smartphones and other devices, or can be used for additional accessories. For those who tote iPad minis (that would be me), there's an internal sleeve to keep it separate from the camera gear. Also, inside the front zippered pocket, there's a concealed AirTag sleeve that I absolutely love. In the Field I loaded up the FocusPoint 8L with the Nikon kit and X100V and headed up to Healdsburg for some autumn street photography around their downtown square. The air was a bit chilly when I arrived, so I was wearing my Nomatic Outset Soft-Shell Jacket to stay comfortable. But as the afternoon warmed up, I was able to roll up the jacket and stash it inside the FocusPoint bag, taking advantage of the extra space provided by the roll-top. After several hours, I was still light on my feet. The 8-liter model is the smaller of the two FocusPoints, but for me it's a great size, balancing capacity with weight on my left shoulder. Bottom ...
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    36 mins
  • Printing for the Holidays - TDS Photo Podcast

    Printing for the Holidays - TDS Photo Podcast
    Oct 27 2026
    This is The Digital Story Podcast 1,076, Oct. 27, 2026. Today's theme is, "Printing for the Holidays." I'm Derrick Story. One of the best parts about printing your holiday gifts is that you can create something that has meaning for the recipient, and at the same time let's you share your skills as an artist. But there are a few things to keep in mind for these types of gifts, and I'm going to cover those on today's TDS Photography Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show. Digital Photography Podcast 1076 Tune-In Via Your Favorite Podcast App! Apple Podcasts -- Spotify Podcasts -- Stitcher Podbean Podcasts -- Podbay FM -- Tune In Printing for the Holidays At first, you might think that no one would be interested in one of your prints for a holiday gift. But that's not necessarily the case, especially if you keep these few things in mind Getting the Right Dimensions People tend to be choosy about what they hang on the wall. And rightly so. It is their personal space. That's why presenting a framed 16x20 print as a gift puts them in an awkward position. Even though the image might be absolutely lovely, it's probably not something they would choose themselves for the living room. Generally speaking, smaller framed prints, such as 5"x7"s in a frame that can sit on a desk or occupy an unspoken for area of wall space tend to be more welcome. Subjects Are Important You may be very proud of the portrait of the Great Blue Heron that you captured during a summer outing, but as pretty as it is, it might not resonate with a person who wasn't there at the time. But a candid of a mom and her daughter at a birthday party, a father congratulating his son at a wedding, parents holding hands during a family gathering - those special moments, preserved in a framed 5x7 print, can mean the world to the recipient. Practical and Beautiful I'm a big fan of fine art note cards, especially when pulled together in a set of six with envelopes. There are the traditional rectangle formats, but there are also square formats that feel even more special. A beautiful series of flowers or landscape shots are wonderful subjects for note cards. And they can be passed along as a thank you note or recognition of a kindness. Think About the Person Receiving the Gift The bottom line is, if you think about meaningful things for the person receiving the gift, and choose something along those lines your handcrafted offering, it can be truly wonderful. But the time to start thinking about it is now... Not Confident in Your Printing Skills? I can help with that too. Our Inkjet Printing Workshop for Photographers begins on Tuesday, Nov. 3, at 4pm Pacific/7pm Eastern time. We will cover the ins and outs of inkjet printing, have a Q&A with Drew Hendrix of Red River Paper, and prepare your for fine art and holiday gift printing. Sign Up Today and join us. This Week in the News Sigma FP2: everything is better for the second-gen modular mirrorless camera as featured on DPReview.com Apple Just Gave the iPad mini Its 'Biggest Update Ever' as featured on Petapixel.com Absolutely magnificent 50s and 60s photos by the unparalleled genius Richard Avedon - the man who revolutionised fashion as featured on AmateurPhotographer.com Virtual Camera Club News Listener Reviews - I noticed that we haven't had a new review for a while on the Apple Podcasts app. If you listen to our show there, I would very much appreciate you posting a brief review. It helps potential listeners know that our show is alive and well Ready to Buy New Gear? - I have affiliate tiles for B&H Photo and Amazon on every page of The Digital Story. If you're ready to pull the trigger on some new gear, would you be so kind to stop by TheDigitalStory.com first, click on the appropriate tile, then navigate to your desired camera, lens, or accessory? Remember, they also carry all brands or computers, hard drives, memory cards, and more. Thank you so much! Workshops! The 2026 TDS Photography Workshop Season. We are featuring webinars, online workshops, and in-person events focused on creating impactful images in the company of those who love photography as much as you. Our workshops are like no others, and we think you will throughly enjoy the camaraderie and the tips and techniques. Stop by The Nimble Photographer Workshop Page and reserve your spot today. Inner Circle Bold. Sign up for the Annual Membership that's only $75.60 a year, you will receive all of the regular Inner Circle benefits, plus a coupon for your choice of a 2026 Online workshop hosted by me. Great Photography Articles on Live View - If you check out our publication and appreciate what you see, be sure to follow us and clap for those authors. You can find us at medium.com/live-view. If you're interested in writing for Live View, drop me a line at dstory@gmail.com. The Nimble Photographer Newsletter is now publishing every Thursday. Readers will enjoy a variety of content spanning from short photo essays,...
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    33 mins
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