PhotoActive

Fujifilm’s new X-Half camera is a curious hybrid: a digital camera with analog feel but a modern price. We also discuss news of OM Systems possibly using AI upscaling in future cameras to boost resolution and look at a few changes in the latest versions of Lightroom. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-190-x-half)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) How to keep your camera safe when using sunscreen and bug spray (https://www.dpreview.com/articles/1160162529/how-to-keep-your-camera-safe-when-using-sunscreen-and-bug-spray) Fujifilm X half Review: As Close to Film as Digital Can Get (https://petapixel.com/2025/05/21/fujifilm-x-half-review-as-close-to-film-as-digital-can-get/) Digital Camera World: Fujifilm X Half sample gallery (https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/compact-cameras/fujifilm-x-half-sample-gallery-real-world-samples-from-this-quirky-little-compact-camera) Has the film photography resurgence finally run its course? (https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/cameras/film-cameras/has-the-film-photography-resurgence-finally-run-its-course) Leica Monopan 50, black and white 35mm film stock announced (https://amateurphotographer.com/latest/photo-news/leica-monopan-50-black-and-white-35mm-film-stock-announced/) Leica D-Lux 8 (https://leica-camera.com/en-GB/photography/cameras/d-lux/d-lux-8) OM System Is Considering AI Upscaling as a Solution to Low Resolution Sensors (https://petapixel.com/2025/07/03/om-system-is-considering-ai-upscaling-as-a-solution-to-low-resolution-sensors/) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

It’s the night before you leave for vacation and you need to choose which camera gear goes and stays. Do you reach for the 300mm telephoto, knowing it can get great photos but is large and bulky? Or do you take the smallest camera you can carry to ensure you have it with you at all times? And what else needs to come along? In this episode, Jeff and Kirk think about being on vacation, equipment they’ve taken on past trips, and what they would take now. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-189-travel)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Let's Go (https://www.letsgo.com/) Episode 121: Jeff's European Photo Adventures — PhotoActive Podcast (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-121-jeff-europe) How the Beatles gave us the CT scan, and what it tells us about innovation - The Long and Short (https://thelongandshort.org/enterprise/how-the-beatles-revolutionised-medical-imaging) Snapshots: Jeff: DJI Mic Mini (https://amzn.to/4lftAiu) Kirk: Nomad Tracking Card (https://amzn.to/3TcxWdY) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is always the first glimpse at what we can look forward to with new Apple software, including a peek at the photo capabilities of the next iPhones. And with iOS 26 and the Liquid Glass interface, things are going to look a lot different in the fall. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-188-wwdc25)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) WWDC 2025 Keynote (https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2025/101/) The Illusion of Thinking: Understanding the Strengths and Limitations of Reasoning Models via the Lens of Problem Complexity (https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/illusion-of-thinking) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

We know, it seems like we just talked about AI in photography, but the field is moving pretty fast. Google announced improvements to their generative AI models, which are both impressive and sloppy at the same time. We also look at new AI-based landscape masking tools in Lightroom, speculate on what WWDC could bring to Apple’s Photo app, and more. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-187-more-ai)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Notebook LM (https://notebooklm.google.com) Google I/O ‘25 Keynote (https://io.google/2025/explore/google-keynote-1) Google SynthID (https://deepmind.google/science/synthid/) Lightroom Landscape AI Masking (https://jkost.com/blog/2025/04/ai-masking-for-landscape-photography-in-lightroom-classic.html), Julieanne Kost MacWhisper (https://goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/macwhisper) Skylum Luminar Mobile (https://skylum.com/luminar-mobile) Kai's Power Tools 3.0 - Macintosh Repository (https://www.macintoshrepository.org/18362-kai-s-power-tools-3-0) Snapshots: Jeff: Anker 737 Power Bank (https://amzn.to/4dKyPUz) Kirk: Steve Reich: Collected Works (https://amzn.to/43qZAsg) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

It’s another photo book! We’re joined by photographer Markus Naarttijärvi and publisher Daniel Agee to talk about Markus’s new book A Surrender. When we last talked to Daniel, he was at photo service Glass, but now he’s struck out on his own to form the publishing company Good Fight, and A Surrender is the first title. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Guests: Markus Naarttijärvi: Glass (https://glass.photo/tmn) Daniel Agee: Glass (https://glass.photo/daniel/) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-186-surrender)) A Surrender (https://www.goodfight.co/a-surrender), by Markus Naarttijärvi Good Fight (https://www.goodfight.co/) Markus’s “Sad Boy” Playlist, Arctic Noir (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6uRmhYSTeuhUDccjrRnmre?si=NdbxnNvPQr2MSBwG2CSjSQπ=nv3x68i8S_GC3) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Quintin Lake traversed the Coast of Britain over several years, photographing and documenting the journey. Now, he’s turned his well-received project into a new photo book called The Perimeter. We welcome Quintin back to PhotoActive not just as a guest, but as an in-person guest with Kirk in his house in the UK. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-185-perimeter)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) The Book: The Perimeter, by Quintin Lake (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463388/the-perimeter-by-lake-quintin/9781529154450), Penguin UK The Perimeter, by Quintin Lake (https://amzn.to/3RL93Fy) Book (Amazon US) The Perimeter, by Quintin Lake (https://amzn.to/4jZAgjC) Book (Amazon UK) The Project: Quintin Lake home page (http://quintinlake.com) Quintin Lake on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/quintinlake/) The Perimeter project (http://www.theperimeter.uk) The Perimeter FAQ (https://theperimeter.uk/faq/) Episode 10: Quintin Lake’s Long Walk (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-10-quintin-lake) Episode 82: Quintin Lake Returns (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-82-quintin) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

The US government has begun to impose high tariffs on goods brought in from nearly every country in the world. Since most camera gear is made in Japan and China, what does this mean for the industry and, more important, for your own purchasing decisions? Since the policies are changing by the day, we decided to release this episode a week early. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-184-tariffs)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

With the bonkers success of the Fujifilm X100VI, it seemed only a matter of time before Fuji made a compact camera based around its GFX medium format line. That’s the recently-announced GFX100RF, a new compact-ish, 100 megapixel, fixed-lens, $5,000 camera. We look at the inventions and the tradeoffs incorporated into this high-res entrant into the compact field. (Image: Fujifilm) Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-183-fuji-gfx100rf)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Fujifilm GFX100RF (https://www.fujifilm-x.com/en-us/products/cameras/gfx100rf/) Episode 157: Photos at the High End: Hasselblad 907x/CFV 100C (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-157-hasselblad) Fujifilm GFX100RF review: one sensor, nine cameras (https://www.theverge.com/reviews/633769/fuji-gfx-100rf-review-medium-format-compact-camera), The Verge Fujifilm GFX100RF Review: An X100 All Grown Up (https://petapixel.com/2025/03/20/fujifilm-gfx100rf-review-an-x100-all-grown-up/), PetaPixel Leica Q3 vs. FujiFilm GFX100RF size comparison (https://leicarumors.com/2025/03/23/leica-q3-vs-fujifilm-gfx100rf-size-comparison.aspx/), Leica Rumors Episode 159: Fuji X100VI and the Appeal of Small Fixed-Lens Cameras (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-159-fuji-x100vi) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Adobe has released Photoshop for iPhone, a bonafide version of real Photoshop, not to be confused with Photoshop Express or other earlier variations. We take a look at this new app with one main question in our minds: Who is this for? A programming note: Toward the end of the episode we talk about using the Remove tool in Photoshop and Lightroom, but Jeff forgot to take screenshots. When he tried to reproduce the same actions later, he didn’t get the same results as described while we were doing it. So we apologize that we don’t have visuals to accompany what we’re describing. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-182-ps-iphone)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Photoshop on iPhone (https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/app.html) Episode 181: Leica Lux Grip and App for iPhone (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-181-leica-lux) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Two episodes ago Jeff expressed cynicism about iPhone add-ons that try to make the phone more like a traditional camera. And yet here we are looking at Kirk’s new Leica LUX Grip accessory...and not hating it? Learn about why this could be the camera grip for the iPhone that succeeds where others falter, and how the Leica LUX app does some very smart things in the name of photography. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-181-leica-lux)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Fjorden Grip (https://shop.fjorden.co/en-us) Leica LUX Grip (https://leica-camera.com/en-US/mobile/lux-grip) Leica LUX App (https://leica-camera.com/en-US/photography/leica-apps/leica-lux) Episode 179: iPhone Camera Accessories (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-179-iphone-add-ons) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

On this week’s episode we welcome David Young, photographer and author of the new book A Brief History of Photography: From the Very Beginning to the Age of Digital. It may feel like photography is only a little more than a hundred years old, but the principles of the art, from lens design to chemistry, have been around for centuries. We had a great conversation about things that surprised David while researching the book, the long obsession with ultra-wide apertures, and more. Author photo courtesy of Alex Hurst (Ireland). Guest: David Young (https://furnfeather.ca/Contact.html), Flickr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/155735425@N05/), Book (https://furnfeather.ca) Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-180-young)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) A Brief History of Photography (https://rockynook.com/shop/photography/a-brief-history-of-photography/ref/251/?campaign=PhotoActive), by David Young (RockyNook.com). Use code YOUNG40 at checkout for 40% off! A Brief History of Photography (https://furnfeather.ca/), by David Young (other resellers) Snapshots: Jeff's snapshot: Black Doves (https://www.netflix.com/title/81682935) Kirk's snapshot: Bloom: Living World (https://www.enoshop.co.uk/bloom), Brian Eno Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

Photographers love to accessorize their cameras, and the iPhone is no different. A case is one thing, but what about other photo-centric add-ons? Should you buy an extra-wide or telephoto lens that snaps in front of the built-in cameras? What about grips and shutter buttons that make the iPhone feel more like a traditional camera? We weigh in with our opinions and experiences with these types of embellishments. (And Jeff accidentally uses the B-word.) Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-179-iphone-add-ons)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Peak Design Everyday iPhone Case (https://www.peakdesign.com/collections/mobile) Fjorden Grip (https://shop.fjorden.co/en-us) Alice Camera (https://www.alice.camera) Moment MagSafe Tripod Mount (https://www.shopmoment.com/products/moment-pro-tripod-mount-for-magsafe) Best iPhone Camera Accessories for Pro Photos and Videos (https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/best-iphone-camera-accessories-photo-video-15-pro-max/) Profoto B10 Flash (https://www.profoto.com/us/en/shop/products/lights/monolights/profoto-b10x-us/) Moment Lenses and Cases (https://www.shopmoment.com) DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal (https://www.dji.com/products/handheld-imaging-devices#om-series) Ultralight 1/4" Magnetic Tripod Phone Mount Adapter (https://amzn.to/4hwAZbk) Russell Preston Brown (https://www.instagram.com/dr_brown/) Finding Vivian Maier (https://findingvivianmaier.com) (documentary) And here’s the AI-generated ode to microfiber cloths: Oh humble microfiber, soft and true, A silent savior in all that you do. With threads so fine, a wondrous weave, You banish dust and dirt, make surfaces breathe. No stain too stubborn, no smudge too sly, Your magic touch makes grime comply. From glass to wood, from screen to steel, You polish and shine with effortless zeal. A guardian of gadgets, protector of screens, In your fibers lies the cleanest of dreams. No harsh chemicals, no wasteful spree, Eco-friendly warrior, you set us free. Oh microfiber cloth, so light yet strong, In your service, we find where we belong. For every streak erased, every speck undone, You are the unsung hero of everyone. So here’s to you, oh fabric divine, A marvel of science and design. May your threads endure and ever thrive, For in your care, our homes come alive. Snapshots: Jeff's snapshot: Vivian Maier: Street Photographer (https://amzn.to/4gAezoq) Kirk's snapshot: Microfiber cloth Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

The recent devastating fires in Los Angeles have created a lot of fire photography, and some of it compelling both for its content and its artistry. We talk about the challenges of photographing such extreme situations. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-178-la-fires)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Jake Sullivan Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sullyfoto/) Stuart Palley Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/stuartpalley/) The Gear Photographer Stuart Palley Uses to Shoot Wildfires (https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/tools/gear-photographer-stuart-palley-uses-shoot-wildfires/), Outside Magazine Joel Meyerowitz, Aftermath (https://www.joelmeyerowitz.com/aftermath) Los Angeles Fire and Citizen Journalism (https://www.aphotoeditor.com/2025/01/14/the-daily-edit-los-angeles-fire-and-citizen-journalism/), The Daily Edit Snapshots: Jeff's snapshot: Always (https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/always-1989) Kirk's snapshot: SAS Rogue Heroes (https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/sas-rogue-heroes) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

We’ve been looking at various AI-related photography topics in recent episodes, such as using the Clean Up feature in the Photos app to remove unwanted items or the bigger question of “What is a photo?” Now it’s time to look broadly at what AI can offer photographers and where we think it’s going. Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson), Jeff on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jeffcarlson.bsky.social) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn), Kirk on Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/kirkville.com) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-177-ai-in-2025)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Perplexity.ai (https://perplexity.ai/pro?referral_code=72WCKEY5) Write Now with Scrivener, episode 37, Debbie Urbanski, Science Fiction Author (https://podcast.scrivenerapp.com/37) Conjure Drawings from Sketches Using Image Wand (https://www.cnet.com/how-to/conjure-drawings-from-sketches-using-image-wand-in-apple-intelligence-on-your-iphone-or-ipad/), CNET Letraset (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letraset) Snapshots: Jeff's snapshot: SmallRig 35"/90cm Softbox LA-O90 Quick Release Octagon Soft Box for Bowens Mount COB Lights (https://amzn.to/3BQIdY4) Kirk's snapshot: Megalopolis (https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/megalopolis) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

As we wrap up 2024, we’re realizing our photo libraries have grown quite a bit—in Jeff’s case, almost filling his cloud storage. So as we anticipate some holiday downtime, we’re turning our attention to strategies for cleaning up our photo libraries. Note that we’re taking the next episode off to celebrate Christmas, so our next scheduled episode is January 10, 2025. Happy holidays! Hosts: Jeff Carlson: website (https://jeffcarlson.com), Jeff's photos (https://jeffcarlson.com/portfolio/), Jeff on Instagram (http://instagram.com/jeffcarlson), Jeff on Glass (https://glass.photo/jeff-carlson), Jeff on Mastodon (https://twit.social/@jeffcarlson) Kirk McElhearn: website (https://www.kirkville.com), Kirk's photos (https://photos.kirkville.com), Kirk on Instagram (https://instagram.com/mcelhearn), Kirk on Glass (https://glass.photo/mcelhearn), Kirk on Mastodon (https://journa.host/@mcelhearn) Show Notes: (View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co (https://www.photoactive.co/home/episode-176-clean-libraries)) Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast! (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) Take Control of Your Digital Photos (https://www.takecontrolbooks.com/digital-photos/) by Jeff Carlson Take Control Books (https://www.takecontrolbooks.com/), publisher of fine ebooks by both Kirk and Jeff (and other authors) Peakto (https://cyme.io/peakto-photo-organizer-software) Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site (https://photoactive.co) to be notified of new episodes and be eligible for occasional giveaways. If you’ve already subscribed, you’re automatically entered. If you like the show, please subscribe in iTunes/Apple Podcasts (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/photoactive/id1391697658?mt=2) or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/photoactivecast/) to discuss the podcast, share your photos, and more. Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.