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    Arts

    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.

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    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify
    Latest Episodes:
    Episode 198: I’m Not an Animal Nov 28, 2025
    Show notes

    We’ve got several things to discuss in this episode, from little-known settings in the iPhone Camera app, to shooting panoramas, to the Leica M EV1 and to Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein.

    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!

    • Leica M EV1

    • Leica M EV1 PetaPixel Video

    Snapshots:

    • Kirk & Jeff: Frankenstein

    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.

    Kirk’s panorama
    Kirk’s panorama
    Jeff’s panorama
    Jeff’s panorama
    Episode 197: Overenthusiastic in Your Opinion Nov 02, 2025
    Show notes

    What started with a couple of new settings related to the iPhone Camera app quickly devolves into a discussion of Apple’s Liquid Glass effect in iOS 26, changes and consistency in the Camera app’s interface, and whether all of this is too confusing for most people taking photos with their iPhones.

    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!

    • Acorn 8

    • Use iPhone camera tools to set up your shot – Apple Support

    • Review: iTunes 11 adds cool features, but can be jarring to longtime users | Macworld

    • Take Control of iPhone Photography

    • iPhone 17 Pro vs. Pixel 10 Pro XL: I Pitted Smartphone Royalty Against Each Other - CNET

    • RICOH GR IV Monochrome High-end Compact Digital Camera Development News - Ricoh

    Snapshots:

    • Kirk: Cory Doctorow: Enshittification
    • Jeff: Napster View

    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 196: Has Camera Tech Hit a Plateau? Oct 20, 2025
    Show notes

    Has camera technology plateaued? We’re seeing technical advancements in image processing and autofocus, but what about the core parts like sensors? Also, we spend three hours talking about the Apple Watch Ultra 3 (not actually 3 hours).

    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!

    Snapshots:

    • Kirk: Mission: Impossible: The Final Reckoning
    • Jeff: Freewell iPhone Pro Filmmaker Basic Kit

    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.

    Kirk’s Apple Watch Ultra 3
    Kirk’s Apple Watch Ultra 3
    Jeff’s Apple Watch Ultra 3
    Jeff’s Apple Watch Ultra 3
    Episode 195: Hands On with the iPhone 17 Pro Oct 03, 2025
    Show notes

    Fifty percent of the PhotoActive podcast got a new iPhone 17 Pro, which means one of us has been testing the new cameras and can report back with first impressions. Who could it be? However, fifty percent of the podcast also got hands-on time with the other new phones, the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. Listen to find out who got what, who’s seen what, and what we think after the first weeks with Apple’s new cameras... we mean phones.

    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!

    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.

    iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera, 1x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera, 1x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera, 8x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera, 8x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Telephoto Camera, 8x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Telephoto Camera, 8x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Telephoto Camera, 4x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Telephoto Camera, 4x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera, 2x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera, 2x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera, 1x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Main Camera, 1x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Ultra-Wide Camera, 0.5x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Ultra-Wide Camera, 0.5x zoom
    iPhone 17 Pro Macro Mode, 24 megapixels
    iPhone 17 Pro Macro Mode, 24 megapixels
    iPhone 17 Pro Ultra Wide Camera, 48 megapixels
    iPhone 17 Pro Ultra Wide Camera, 48 megapixels
    iPhone 17 Pro Selfie Camera
    iPhone 17 Pro Selfie Camera
    Episode 194: iPhone 17 and Apple’s Fall Event Sep 12, 2025
    Show notes

    The new iPhone models are here, a yearly event that we look forward to mostly to see what Apple has done with the iPhone cameras. Does a 48 megapixel telephoto camera capable of 8x zoom appeal to you enough to buy a new iPhone Pro? Is the svelte shape of the new iPhone Air compelling enough to pay more for, despite it having just one camera and less battery life? Or did you see the Cosmic Orange color of the iPhone 17 Pro and made your decision immediately based on that? We look at what Apple announced and what we’re looking forward to.

    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!

    • Apple Thinks Orange Is the New Black. It Isn't, CNET

    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 Jeff Carlson)
    (Photo by Jeff Carlson)
    (Photo by Kirk McElhearn)
    (Photo by Kirk McElhearn)
    Episode 193: Photography Police and Google Pro Res Zoom Sep 06, 2025
    Show notes

    Are you following the proper rules of photography, or are you at risk of being busted by the photography police? Maybe you’re shooting photos out of focus, or introducing light leaks, or using direct flash. All of these can be considered “bad” photography, but they’re also currently popular styles of shooting. Also in this episode, Jeff talks about his experience with the Google Pixel 10 Pro XL and its Pro Res Zoom feature that uses generative AI to clean up images shot at up to 100x zoom.

    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!

    • Retro cameras are trending. But the blurry, grainy, and harsh flash look of retro photographs is coming back, too | Digital Camera World

    • Episode 192: Process, Product, and Problem Solving

    • Episode 190: Fuji X-Half, AI Scaling, and Lightroom Changes

    • Hasselblad X2D II 100C Review: Hasselblad Finally Delivers on Its Medium Format Promise | PetaPixel

    Snapshots:

    • Jeff: The Limey
    • Kirk: Utterly Lazy and Inattentive: Martin Parr in Words and Pictures

    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 Jeff Carlson)
    (Photo by Jeff Carlson)
    (Photo by Kirk McElhearn)
    (Photo by Kirk McElhearn)
    Episode 192: Process, Product, and Problem Solving Aug 17, 2025
    Show notes

    Are you taking photos for yourself, or are you feeding the social media algorithms for brief dopamine hits when someone praises your images? In this episode, Kirk and Jeff ruminate on how the endless scroll of images is affecting how we enjoy and make photos. And we ask ourselves: what do we really want to photograph?

    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 joy of taking pictures no one else will ever see: stop feeding the algorithm, Digital Camera World

    Snapshots:

    • Jeff: Endoscope Camera
    • Kirk: The Count of Monte Cristo

    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 Jeff Carlson)
    (Photo by Jeff Carlson)
    (Photo by Kirk McElhearn)
    (Photo by Kirk McElhearn)
    Episode 191: Macro Photography Aug 01, 2025
    Show notes

    Macro Photography

    Don’t know what to photograph? No vacation plans? With macro photography, you can get great results literally in your back yard. What was once a style of photography that required specialized gear is now something you can do well with just your phone — though of course there’s plenty of gear available if you want to go deeper into it.

    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!

    • Macro Photography (Wikipedia)

    • Understanding the iPhone 16 Pro’s 48-Megapixel Macro Photography… and Reverting to 12-Megapixel Shots, TidBITS

    • I Tried the Nothing Phone 3 and It Definitely Didn't Live Up to the Hype

    • Andrew Lanxon Photography YouTube

    • Macro at Home: My BEST Tutorial for AMAZING Product 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.

    iPhone 14 Pro Max (Photo: Kirk McElhearn)
    iPhone 14 Pro Max (Photo: Kirk McElhearn)
    Fujifilm X-T3, Fuji XF60mm f/2.4 R Macro (Photo: Kirk McElhearn)
    Fujifilm X-T3, Fuji XF60mm f/2.4 R Macro (Photo: Kirk McElhearn)
    Fujifilm X-T1, Fuji XF60mm f/2.4 R Macro (Photo: Jeff Carlson)
    Fujifilm X-T1, Fuji XF60mm f/2.4 R Macro (Photo: Jeff Carlson)
    iPhone 15 Pro. (Photo: Jeff Carlson)
    iPhone 15 Pro. (Photo: Jeff Carlson)
    Episode 190: Fuji X-Half, AI Scaling, and Lightroom Changes Jul 21, 2025
    Show notes

    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, 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!

    • How to keep your camera safe when using sunscreen and bug spray

    • Fujifilm X half Review: As Close to Film as Digital Can Get

    • Digital Camera World: Fujifilm X Half sample gallery

    • Has the film photography resurgence finally run its course?

    • Leica Monopan 50, black and white 35mm film stock announced

    • Leica D-Lux 8

    • 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 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.

    Original image before removing the reflection using the Distraction Removal tool.
    Original image before removing the reflection using the Distraction Removal tool.
    After applying Distraction Removal, the image is cleaner and the reflection in the glass is mostly gone.
    After applying Distraction Removal, the image is cleaner and the reflection in the glass is mostly gone.
    Setting the Reflection slider to –100 removes the main content and shows only the reflection!
    Setting the Reflection slider to –100 removes the main content and shows only the reflection!
    Episode 189: Traveling with a Camera Jul 04, 2025
    Show notes

    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, 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!

    • Let's Go

    • Episode 121: Jeff's European Photo Adventures — PhotoActive Podcast

    • How the Beatles gave us the CT scan, and what it tells us about innovation - The Long and Short

    Snapshots:

    • Jeff: DJI Mic Mini
    • Kirk: Nomad Tracking Card

    Jeff’s camera gear laid out for a trip
    The gear Jeff took on his vacation to France and Italy.

    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.

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