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:

208-davinci-resolve — **Episode 208: DaVinci Resolve, Lightroom Killer?** Apr 27, 2026
Show notes

The well regarded video editor DaVinci Resolve just introduced a Photos module inside the app, making some people wonder whether the free software could replace traditional photography tools like Lightroom. We also talk about a book of passport photos, photos that change history and film simulations.

*(Image: Black Magic Design)*

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

Book Review: 'Passport Photo Service,' by Philip SHarkey, NYTimes

Occasionally a picture can change the course of history, The Guardian

DaVinci Resolve

The color grading tool used by Hollywood now supports still photos - and it’s free, Digital Camera World

The film simulation rabbit hole: Why digital photographers are obsessing over analog looks, Digital Camera World

Episode #8 - Gordon Laing on Taking Great Photos In Camera

The difference between drinking coffee and tea

Parachute Backup at Mac App Store

Episodes on Backups

**Jeff’s Snapshot**

EPSON inkjet printer cleaning sheet A4 size 3 pieces MJCLS

**Kirk’s Snapshot**

Parachute Backup app

**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.*

207-gr-iv-mono-sensor — **Episode 207: Monochrome Sensors, DNG, and Apple 50th** Apr 11, 2026
Show notes

We remain fascinated by monochrome cameras, and this week we discovered just how tough it is to source the sensors used by the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome. We also talk about DNG, Adobe’s universal raw format, becoming an official image standard (and why the big camera companies probably won’t adopt it). And if you hadn’t heard, Apple turned 50!

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

The GR IV Monochrome Is Expensive Because the Sensor Is Hard to Source

GR IV Monochrome

Nvidia CEO's Defense Of DLSS 5 Gets Contradicted By One Of His Employees

After Over 20 Years of Efforts, DNG Is Now the Official RAW Image Standard

Apple's Best Products in Its 50 Year History, According to CNET

'Restoring' Old Photos With AI Is a Fundamentally Broken Concept

Abraham Lincoln colorized

**Jeff’s Snapshot**

Take Control of iPhone Photography

**Kirk’s Snapshot**

David Pogue Writes the History of Apple

**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.*

206-stonehenge-bay-bridge — **Episode 206: You Can’t Trust Photos Anymore** Mar 30, 2026
Show notes

So it’s come to this. Generative AI has quickly gotten so good that it’s hard to distinguish real photos from generated ones. So where do we go from here? We talk about C2PA authentication, trusting your sources, and more.

(Image: Generated with Adobe Firefly)

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

Inspiring International Garden Photographer of the Year Winners (PetaPixel)

Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA)

Google Thinks AI Can Make You a Better Photographer: I Dive Into the Pixel 10 Cameras

Fujifilm will explore the potential of 1-inch sensors, Digital Camera World

Fujifilm Instax Mini 13

AirPods Max 2

My Original AirPods Max Stopped Working, So I Put Them in the Freezer. Really

**Jeff’s Snapshot**

Anker Soundcore Space One

**Kirk’s Snapshot**

Logitech MX Creative Console

**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.*

205-spec-goblins — **Episode 205: Spec Goblins and the MacBook Neo** Mar 14, 2026
Show notes

Apple has announced the MacBook Neo, a $600 laptop running on the same A18 Pro processor that was used in the iPhone 16 Pro. Oh, and it has 8GB of RAM and starts at 256GB of storage. Believe it or not, lots of people on the Internet take issue with those specs, so we look at it from the point of view of whether it could be a good machine for photographers who blew all their money on a $10,000 Leica f/1.2 lens.

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

MacBook Neo

You Probably Don't Need an f/1.2 Lens

Leica Leitzphone

**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 204: Storage Prices Mar 01, 2026

Show notes

The prices of digital storage are set to climb this year because AI is eating up all the available inventory. And modern photography is entirely dependent on storage, whether it's the SD cards that store the captured images, the internal solid-state memory that stores data on your computer, or the external SSDs and traditional hard drives that keep your archive of photos.

Hosts:

Jeff Carlson: website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky
Kirk McElhearn: website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

Show Notes:

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

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.

203-10k-to-spare — **Episode 203: Do You Have $10,000 to Spare?** Feb 14, 2026
Show notes

The best-selling compact camera in Japan is from... Kodak? We’ve talked about compact cameras in the past, but it remains a fascinating part of the photo marketplace as people look for something different than mirrorless and DSLR cameras. By the way, do you have $10,000 to spare on a new 35mm lens? Leica’s Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH was just announced at that eye-watering price. Lastly, Jeff covers some new Lightroom features in the latest versions.

(Photo: Leica)

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

I Asked AI to Predict the Weather. It's About as Reliable as a Groundhog - CNET

Compact Camera Sales More Than Doubled Last Year in Japan | PetaPixel

Regarding the price of the Ricoh GR cameras, Kirk was thinking of the prices in the UK. In the US, the prices are $1,600 and and $2.200.

Noctilux-M 35 f/1.2 ASPH. | Leica Camera US

Leica 35mm Noctilux-M f/1.2 ASPH Review: A Long Time Coming | PetaPixel

Adobe Lightroom Classic release notes

Aftershoot

Thomas Pynchon: Vineland (Kirk said it was published in 1980; that should be 1990)

How 'One Battle After Another' Shot the Car Chase Scene Like a Gritty '70s Film - YouTube

**Jeff’s Snapshot**

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe

**Kirk’s Snapshot**

One Battle After Another

(Compact cameras. Credit: PetaPixel)

**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.*

203-compact-cameras-petapixel — **Episode 203: Do You Have $10,000 to Spare?** Feb 14, 2026
Show notes

The best-selling compact camera in Japan is from... Kodak? We’ve talked about compact cameras in the past, but it remains a fascinating part of the photo marketplace as people look for something different than mirrorless and DSLR cameras. By the way, do you have $10,000 to spare on a new 35mm lens? Leica’s Noctilux-M 35mm f/1.2 ASPH was just announced at that eye-watering price. Lastly, Jeff covers some new Lightroom features in the latest versions.

(Photo: Leica)

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

I Asked AI to Predict the Weather. It's About as Reliable as a Groundhog - CNET

Compact Camera Sales More Than Doubled Last Year in Japan | PetaPixel

Regarding the price of the Ricoh GR cameras, Kirk was thinking of the prices in the UK. In the US, the prices are $1,600 and and $2.200.

Noctilux-M 35 f/1.2 ASPH. | Leica Camera US

Leica 35mm Noctilux-M f/1.2 ASPH Review: A Long Time Coming | PetaPixel

Adobe Lightroom Classic release notes

Aftershoot

Thomas Pynchon: Vineland (Kirk said it was published in 1980; that should be 1990)

How 'One Battle After Another' Shot the Car Chase Scene Like a Gritty '70s Film - YouTube

**Jeff’s Snapshot**

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe

**Kirk’s Snapshot**

One Battle After Another

(Compact cameras. Credit: PetaPixel)

**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.*

202-pixelmator-returns-head — **Episode 202: Pixelmator Pro Returns** Feb 03, 2026
Show notes

Now we know what Apple is doing with Pixelmator Pro after its acquisition of Pixelmator: it’s part of the new Apple Creator Studio bundle. Also, we celebrate the latest black and white camera to hit the market, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, and ponder large-format photographer Sally Mann’s discovery of digital photography.

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

The Ink Drinker, Seattle

Episode 60: Machine Learning with Andrius Gailiunas and Pixelmator Pro

Ricoh GR IV Monochrome PetaPixel Video

Sally Mann, Digital Camera World

Episode 141: You Say You Want a Resolution

**Jeff’s Snapshot**

Reflections: On Cinematography, Roger Deakins

**Kirk’s Snapshot**

None

Cocktail menu at The Ink Drinker (Photo: Jeff Carlson)

A woman reads a book at The Ink Drinker, Seattle (Photo by Jeff Carlson)

**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.*

203-cocktail-menu — **Episode 202: Pixelmator Pro Returns** Feb 03, 2026
Show notes

Now we know what Apple is doing with Pixelmator Pro after its acquisition of Pixelmator: it’s part of the new Apple Creator Studio bundle. Also, we celebrate the latest black and white camera to hit the market, the Ricoh GR IV Monochrome, and ponder large-format photographer Sally Mann’s discovery of digital photography.

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

The Ink Drinker, Seattle

Episode 60: Machine Learning with Andrius Gailiunas and Pixelmator Pro

Ricoh GR IV Monochrome PetaPixel Video

Sally Mann, Digital Camera World

Episode 141: You Say You Want a Resolution

**Jeff’s Snapshot**

Reflections: On Cinematography, Roger Deakins

**Kirk’s Snapshot**

None

Cocktail menu at The Ink Drinker (Photo: Jeff Carlson)

A woman reads a book at The Ink Drinker, Seattle (Photo by Jeff Carlson)

**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.*

201-whats-real-header — **Episode 201: What’s Real** Jan 02, 2026
Show notes

Is your phone not accurately capturing the world around you? An article in the Guardian questions whether image processing in smartphones is making photos that aren’t genuine. Also, Leica released a firmware update that radically changes the entire interface, leading to a discussion of how important the UI in our cameras is when making photos.

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

Now that phones alter our photos without us knowing, how do we know what’s real?

Episode 114: Bryan Jones on Why Color Doesn't Exist

Leica Q3 firmware update

Leica’s engraved fonts

Leica TikTok

Actions Ring - On Screen Overlay

3M Precise Mouse Pad

**Kirk’s Snapshot**

Logitech MX Master 4

**Jeff’s Snapshot**

Moment Tripod Mount for MagSafe

**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.*

200-episode-head — **Episode 200: All Our Cameras** Dec 23, 2025
Show notes

Two Hundred episodes! To celebrate roughly seven and a half years of the PhotoActive podcast, Kirk and Jeff picked some favorite photos from the digital cameras they’ve owned.

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

Episode 35: Martin Parr Shot My Portrait

Martin Parr on collecting photobooks, shooting tennis, and the challenges of modern street photography, Popular Photography

Remote Scottish Postboxes, Martin Parr

(Photo: Jeff Carlson)

(Photo: Kirk McElhearn)

(Photo: Jeff Carlson)

(Photo: Kirk McElhearn)

(Photo: Jeff Carlson)

**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 Jeff Carlson)

(Photo by Jeff Carlson)

(Photo by Kirk McElhearn)

(Photo by Kirk McElhearn)

(Photo by Kirk McElhearn)

200-jeff-pews — **Episode 200: All Our Cameras** Dec 23, 2025
Show notes

Two Hundred episodes! To celebrate roughly seven and a half years of the PhotoActive podcast, Kirk and Jeff picked some favorite photos from the digital cameras they’ve owned.

**Hosts:**

**Jeff Carlson:** website, Jeff's photos, Jeff on Instagram, Jeff on Glass, Jeff on Mastodon, Jeff on Bluesky

**Kirk McElhearn:** website, Kirk's photos, Kirk on Instagram, Kirk on Glass, Kirk on Mastodon, Kirk on Bluesky

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

**Rate and Review the PhotoActive Podcast!**

Episode 35: Martin Parr Shot My Portrait

Martin Parr on collecting photobooks, shooting tennis, and the challenges of modern street photography, Popular Photography

Remote Scottish Postboxes, Martin Parr

(Photo: Jeff Carlson)

(Photo: Kirk McElhearn)

(Photo: Jeff Carlson)

(Photo: Kirk McElhearn)

(Photo: Jeff Carlson)

**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 Jeff Carlson)

(Photo by Jeff Carlson)

(Photo by Kirk McElhearn)

(Photo by Kirk McElhearn)

(Photo by Kirk McElhearn)

Episode 199: Vroom Vroom Dec 08, 2025

Show notes

We get views into two very different types of photography in this episode. Jeff travels to Nevada for the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix where the cars’ speed is a challenge to photograph... but not as difficult as the rules set by the Formula 1 organization. Then we look at the fascinating dye-transfer process and how this dying art is being used to print William Eggleston’s prints.

Hosts: