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 188: WWDC 2025** Jun 13, 2025
Show notes

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, 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!**

WWDC 2025 Keynote

The Illusion of Thinking: Understanding the Strengths and Limitations of Reasoning Models via the Lens of Problem Complexity

**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.*

The minimal Camera app in iOS 26. (Apple)

Bringing up shooting settings in the glassy screen. (Apple)

The Photos app in iOS 26. (Apple)

**Episode 188: WWDC 2025** Jun 13, 2025
Show notes

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, 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!**

WWDC 2025 Keynote

The Illusion of Thinking: Understanding the Strengths and Limitations of Reasoning Models via the Lens of Problem Complexity

**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.*

The minimal Camera app in iOS 26. (Apple)

Bringing up shooting settings in the glassy screen. (Apple)

The Photos app in iOS 26. (Apple)

**Episode 187: Checking In on AI in Photography** May 31, 2025
Show notes

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, 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!**

Notebook LM

Google I/O ‘25 Keynote

Google SynthID

Lightroom Landscape AI Masking, Julieanne Kost

MacWhisper

Skylum Luminar Mobile

Kai's Power Tools 3.0 - Macintosh Repository

**Snapshots:**

Jeff: Anker 737 Power Bank

Kirk: Steve Reich: Collected Works

**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.*

A screenshot from the AI-generated opening video at Google I/O.

Marvel at the chicken car generated at Google I/O.

A landscape photo in Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom Classic has created separate masks for elements in the landscape photo, such as the water (highlighted in red).

The sky has been made darker and more dramatic by adjusting the sky mask that Lightroom created.

There’s a visible halo where the sky mask meets the building, but that can be corrected manually.

**Episode 187: Checking In on AI in Photography** May 31, 2025
Show notes

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, 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!**

Notebook LM

Google I/O ‘25 Keynote

Google SynthID

Lightroom Landscape AI Masking, Julieanne Kost

MacWhisper

Skylum Luminar Mobile

Kai's Power Tools 3.0 - Macintosh Repository

**Snapshots:**

Jeff: Anker 737 Power Bank

Kirk: Steve Reich: Collected Works

**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.*

A screenshot from the AI-generated opening video at Google I/O.

Marvel at the chicken car generated at Google I/O.

A landscape photo in Lightroom Classic.

Lightroom Classic has created separate masks for elements in the landscape photo, such as the water (highlighted in red).

The sky has been made darker and more dramatic by adjusting the sky mask that Lightroom created.

There’s a visible halo where the sky mask meets the building, but that can be corrected manually.

**Episode 186: A Surrender: Markus Naarttijärvi and Daniel Agee** May 16, 2025
Show notes

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, 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

**Guests:**

**Markus Naarttijärvi:** Glass

**Daniel Agee:** Glass

**Show Notes:**

(View show notes with images at PhotoActive.co)

A Surrender, by Markus Naarttijärvi

Good Fight

Markus’s “Sad Boy” Playlist, Arctic Noir

**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.*

Photo courtesy of Good Fight

Photo courtesy of Good Fight

Photo courtesy of Good Fight

**Episode 185: Quintin Lake’s Book The Perimeter** May 02, 2025
Show notes

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, 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 Book:

The Perimeter, by Quintin Lake, Penguin UK

The Perimeter, by Quintin Lake Book (Amazon US)

The Perimeter, by Quintin Lake Book (Amazon UK)

The Project:

Quintin Lake home page

Quintin Lake on Instagram

The Perimeter project

The Perimeter FAQ

Episode 10: Quintin Lake’s Long Walk

Episode 82: Quintin Lake Returns

**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 184: US Tariffs and Camera Gear Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

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, 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.

Episode 183: Fujifilm GFX100RF, A Medium Format Walking Around Camera Apr 04, 2025

Show notes

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, 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)

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

**Episode 182: Photoshop on iPhone** Mar 24, 2025
Show notes

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, 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!**

Photoshop on iPhone

Episode 181: Leica Lux Grip and App for iPhone

**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.*

Photoshop on iPhone main interface

Tap the + button to add layers.

Adjustment layers are where you change tone and color in a photo.

Applying a Curves adjustment layer to adjust the exposure.

A Black and White adjustment layer.

**Episode 182: Photoshop on iPhone** Mar 24, 2025
Show notes

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, 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!**

Photoshop on iPhone

Episode 181: Leica Lux Grip and App for iPhone

**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.*

Photoshop on iPhone main interface

Tap the + button to add layers.

Adjustment layers are where you change tone and color in a photo.

Applying a Curves adjustment layer to adjust the exposure.

A Black and White adjustment layer.

**Episode 181: Leica Lux Grip and App for iPhone** Mar 07, 2025
Show notes

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, 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!**

Fjorden Grip

Leica LUX Grip

Leica LUX App

Episode 179: iPhone Camera Accessories

**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 180: David Young’s Brief History of Photography Feb 22, 2025

Show notes

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, Flickr, Book

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!
A Brief History of Photography, by David Young (RockyNook.com). Use code YOUNG40 at checkout for 40% off!
A Brief History of Photography, by David Young (other resellers)

Snapshots:

Jeff's snapshot: Black Doves
Kirk's snapshot: Bloom: Living World, Brian Eno

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

Episode 179: iPhone Camera Accessories Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

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, 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!
Peak Design Everyday iPhone Case
Fjorden Grip
Alice Camera
Moment MagSafe Tripod Mount
Best iPhone Camera Accessories for Pro Photos and Videos
Profoto B10 Flash
Moment Lenses and Cases
DJI Osmo Mobile 6 Gimbal
Ultralight 1/4" Magnetic Tripod Phone Mount Adapter
Russell Preston Brown
Finding Vivian Maier (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.