PhotoActive

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**PhotoActive**

Jeff Carlson and Kirk McElhearn discuss photography and the Apple ecosystem. We cover using an iPhone or any other camera with Apple hardware and software, and we welcome photographers to discuss their work.

Latest Episodes:

**Episode 108: Masking in Lightroom** Jan 07, 2022
Show notes

The new masking features in Adobe Lightroom and Lightroom Classic make it much easier to apply selective edits to areas such as skies or subjects, without a lot of manual fiddling.

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

Adobe Lightroom

Pixelmator Pro

Episode #11 - Selective Photo Editing

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: MacBook Pro 2021

Kirk: Capture One 22

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

**Episode 107: Simulated vs. Optical Background Blur** Dec 10, 2021
Show notes

You shot a lovely portrait and realized later that the background could benefit from some artistic blur. It used to be that if you didn’t get it in camera, you were stuck. But now it’s possible to recreate that blur using AI features in software later. Or, if you captured the shot using the iPhone’s Portrait Mode, you can edit the effect whenever you want. Is the software option really worth doing?

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

Episode 106: PhotoActive 2021 Gift Guide

Episode 20: The Blur-That-Shall-Not-Be-Named

Pixelmator Pro

Episode 105: Aaron Hockley and Computational Photography

Halide app

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: Green Extreme batteries

Kirk: Expert Shield screen protector

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

Foreground and background blur. Photo by Kirk McElhearn.

Episode 106: PhotoActive 2021 Gift Guide Nov 26, 2021

Show notes

When they set out to produce a gift guide—the first one in three years—Kirk and Jeff chose items that really reflect how they approach photography, and items that hopefully aren’t on every other photo gift guide out there. This episode covers a gamut of price ranges and interests, so something is sure to appeal to you as the giver or the receiver this holiday.

Hosts:

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram
Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram
Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Kirk’s Books:

Jeff’s Books:

Take Control of Apple Watch
Take Control of Your Digital Storage
Take Control of Managing Your Files
Take Control of Your Digital Photos
The Photographer’s Guide to Luminar AI (Get 40% off using the code CARLSON40.)

Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.

Episode 105: Aaron Hockley and Computational Photography Nov 12, 2021

Show notes

Artificial intelligence, machine learning, computational photography…whichever term you use, the technologies are here and touching almost every part of the photos you’re making. Our guest this week is Aaron Hockley, author of the book The Computer Ate My Photos: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Photography, and he’s here to help us unravel this brave new world (and convince us that he’s not a robot).

Guest:

Aaron Hockley (website, Instagram)

Hosts:

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!
The Computer Ate My Photos: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Photography, by Aaron Hockley
AI Needs Regulating Before It’s Too Late, The Guardian
ImagenAI
Episode 104: The Leica Episode
Jeff’s Sierra Nevada Photo Trip, Photocombobulate Podcast
TechPhotoGuy, Aaron’s website

Our Snapshots:

Jeff: Apple TV 4K (2021)
Kirk: Apple MagSafe Battery Pack

Disclosure: Sometimes we use affiliate links for products, in which we receive small commissions to help support PhotoActive.

**Episode 104: The Leica Episode** Oct 29, 2021
Show notes

The day has arrived: Kirk finally purchased his dream camera, the Leica Q2 Monochrom. Why would someone pay for a camera that shoots only in black and white? In this episode, we talk about the advantages of a sensor without RGB, how shooting with the Q2 Monochrom is changing the way Kirk shoots, and processing the images in Capture One.

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

Leica Q2 Monochrom

Episode 92: Sensors and Megapixels with Richard Butler

Cycling through the crop lines

Capture One

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: Shimoda Explore v2

Kirk: Eyes Wide Open! 100 Years of Leica Photography

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

Photo by Kirk McElhearn

Photo by Kirk McElhearn

Photo by Kirk McElhearn

Photo by Kirk McElhearn

Before and After in Capture One

Photo by Kirk McElhearn

Photo by Leica

**Episode 103: Posing People with Lindsay Adler** Oct 15, 2021
Show notes

Does the thought of posing people for portraits make you nervous? Our guest this week is fashion and portrait photographer Lindsay Adler, whose book The Photographer’s Guide to Posing will calm your nerves and give you the tools to make beautiful photos of people. Lindsay talks about how she prepares for a portrait shoot, techniques to encourage great poses, working with everyday people compared to working with models, and much more.

**Guest:**

Lindsay Adler (website, Instagram)

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

The Photographer’s Guide to Posing, by Lindsay Adler

Photographing Challenging Features class, CreativeLive

Episode 35: Martin Parr Shot My Portrait

Lindsay Adler Photography site

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: Anker Power Strip Surge Protector, 12 Outlets & 3 USB Ports with Flat Plug, 6ft Extension Cord, PowerIQ

Kirk: Peak Design Everyday Sling

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

Lindsay Adler Photography website

**Episode 103: Posing People with Lindsay Adler** Oct 15, 2021
Show notes

Does the thought of posing people for portraits make you nervous? Our guest this week is fashion and portrait photographer Lindsay Adler, whose book The Photographer’s Guide to Posing will calm your nerves and give you the tools to make beautiful photos of people. Lindsay talks about how she prepares for a portrait shoot, techniques to encourage great poses, working with everyday people compared to working with models, and much more.

**Guest:**

Lindsay Adler (website, Instagram)

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

The Photographer’s Guide to Posing, by Lindsay Adler

Photographing Challenging Features class, CreativeLive

Episode 35: Martin Parr Shot My Portrait

Lindsay Adler Photography site

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: Anker Power Strip Surge Protector, 12 Outlets & 3 USB Ports with Flat Plug, 6ft Extension Cord, PowerIQ

Kirk: Peak Design Everyday Sling

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

Lindsay Adler Photography website

**Episode 102: The iPhone 13 Pro Cameras** Oct 01, 2021
Show notes

It’s Apple’s best iPhone ever! Well, yes, they say that every year, but this time around the camera improvements are more exciting than in the past. In this episode, we look at what’s new, from the sizes of the lenses and sensors themselves to the Cinematic and Macro modes, in the iPhone 13 Pro.

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

On set with iPhone 13 Pro Featuring 2x Oscar® Winner Kathryn Bigelow | Apple

iPhone 13 Pro camera switching issue

Episode 92: Sensors and Megapixels with Richard Butler

Why we're excited about the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, DPReview TV

What Does Cinematic Really Mean?

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: 2020 Unmasked

Kirk: Godox TT350

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

Cinematic mode (Source: Apple)

Macro mode (Source: Apple)

**Episode 102: The iPhone 13 Pro Cameras** Oct 01, 2021
Show notes

It’s Apple’s best iPhone ever! Well, yes, they say that every year, but this time around the camera improvements are more exciting than in the past. In this episode, we look at what’s new, from the sizes of the lenses and sensors themselves to the Cinematic and Macro modes, in the iPhone 13 Pro.

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

Follow the PhotoActive Instagram account

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

On set with iPhone 13 Pro Featuring 2x Oscar® Winner Kathryn Bigelow | Apple

iPhone 13 Pro camera switching issue

Episode 92: Sensors and Megapixels with Richard Butler

Why we're excited about the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro, DPReview TV

What Does Cinematic Really Mean?

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: 2020 Unmasked

Kirk: Godox TT350

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

Cinematic mode (Source: Apple)

Macro mode (Source: Apple)

The Practicing Photographer, by Ben Long — **Episode 101: Practicing Photography with Ben Long** Sep 17, 2021
Show notes

What does it mean to really practice your craft? In this episode we welcome back photographer and educator Ben Long to PhotoActive to talk about his wonderful new book *The Practicing Photographer: Essays on Developing Your Photographic Practice*. We talk about why practice involves more than grabbing your camera every once in a while, about getting out of creative ruts, and the value of studying other photographers’ works.

**Guest:**

Ben Long (Complete Digital Photography, Instagram)

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

The Practicing Photographer: Essays on Developing Your Photographic Practice, by Ben Long

Insta Repeat

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: Spigen S350 Apple Watch Stand

Kirk: Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

Insta Repeat

**Episode 101: Practicing Photography with Ben Long** Sep 17, 2021
Show notes

What does it mean to really practice your craft? In this episode we welcome back photographer and educator Ben Long to PhotoActive to talk about his wonderful new book *The Practicing Photographer: Essays on Developing Your Photographic Practice*. We talk about why practice involves more than grabbing your camera every once in a while, about getting out of creative ruts, and the value of studying other photographers’ works.

**Guest:**

Ben Long (Complete Digital Photography, Instagram)

**Hosts:**

Jeff's website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram

Kirk's website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

The Practicing Photographer: Essays on Developing Your Photographic Practice, by Ben Long

Insta Repeat

**Our Snapshots:**

Jeff: Spigen S350 Apple Watch Stand

Kirk: Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema

**Subscribe to the PhotoActive podcast newsletter** at the bottom of any page at the PhotoActive web site 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 or your favorite podcast app, and please rate the podcast. And don't forget to join the PhotoActive Facebook group 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.*

Insta Repeat

Episode 100: One Hundred Sep 03, 2021

Show notes

In the very early days of the PhotoActive podcast, when Jeff was a nervous first-time podcast host, Kirk said to him, “It’s OK. Once you do a hundred of these, you’ll be better.” Well, here we are! Episode 100! To celebrate, we’re showcasing some of our favorite episodes and sharing what we’ve learned from them.

Hosts: