Shutterbug Life Podcast

By any objective standard, Joe Newman is not the kind of guy you expect to see leading a photography Meetup. He describes himself as a shy introvert and is very uncomfortable describing himself as a photographer. Yet, in the last year, Joe has built a fast growing and very engaged group of photographers around his Meetup group and blog, DC Focused.  The DC Focused photography community lives on Meetup, Facebook, Instagram and Flickr. Their Meetups are not just photo walks but challenges and an opportunity to be published. A funny thing happened on Joe's journey to leading the new photography community, he became known as a photographer and became better at his craft. Listen to the podcast.

It started in in 1941 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and continues today — the idea of a debutante photographer in New York City to combine her passion for photography and her desire to serve and change her world. Sometimes the biggest changes start with the smallest acts. Maureen McNeill, executive director of the Josephine Herrick Project, shares how the volunteerism of a photographer 75 years ago has impacted more than 100,000 americans and how you can use your talents to make a difference as well. Listen to the podcast

Art Silverglate gave me a software education on the PhotoPlus Expo show floor, so I invited him to share his knowledge with you. When it comes to software, I am a simple guy. I was an early adopter to Apple's Aperture software, the software created for photo professionals. I have also been using Adobe Photoshop since the early days. Between the two programs, most of my needs were met. Or so I thought. In an idle moment at the show, I mentioned to Art that I will need to change to LightRoom since Apple announced it would no longer support Aperture. The lesson I got on LightRoom and all the other major photography software options was so extensive that I thought he should share it with you. If you are wondering about which photo software is right for you, listen to my interview with Art Silverglate. Listen to part two of the interview.

Art Silverglate gave me a software education on the PhotoPlus Expo show floor, so I invited him to share his knowledge with you. When it comes to software, I am a simple guy. I was an early adopter to Apple's Aperture software, the software created for photo professionals. I have also been using Adobe Photoshop since the early days. Between the two programs, most of my needs were met. Or so I thought. In an idle moment at the show, I mentioned to Art that I will need to change to LightRoom since Apple announced it would no longer support Aperture. The lesson I got on LightRoom and all the other major photography software options was so extensive that I thought he should share it with you. If you are wondering about which photo software is right for you, listen to my interview with Art Silverglate. Listen to part one of the interview.

I wasn't sure what to expect when my 16-year-old son texted me that he wanted to talk. That can go so many ways. The talk ended up being more like a photography coaching session. He wanted to know how he could improve his photography, so that he could position himself better for a career in video. Many of us have variations of the same question. How can I create photography that will make an impact, even if I don't think my skills are there yet. I'll share what I told him because it might help someone else.

In a conversation this past weekend — and so many more over the years — I have held back from strongly making the case. No more. If you are a photographer, you need a photo blog. This needs to be said because on my latest survey, more than 88 percent of you admitted that you had no photo blog. I’ve hinted and suggested. Now I’ll just tell you. Here’s why you need a photo blog in 2016. Listen to the podcast.

It’s always interesting to hear what other people think about you. Most of us go about our lives — doing our work — with the intention of giving our best. Every now and then when you hear how someone else interprets your actions, it can make you pause. It might even make you change. Your feedback made me pause and change. This episode focuses on what you said, what I heard, and what changes you can expect as a result. Listen to the podcast.

I knew something was wrong with the deal, but I wasn't quite sure what. And to be honest, part of me didn't really want to know. I just wanted the sale to work — and quickly. A while back, I was shopping for a video camera for my office. Strapped with a $2,500 budget, I searched for creative ways to get the $3,000 model I really wanted. Just as I was about to give up, I found a website that promised the same exact model for $2,499. Could it really be true? What's wrong with it? I decided it was worth the risk and plunked down the credit card, feeling smug about my savings. Three weeks later when the camera hadn't arrived, guess who was in a mild panic. Did I really lose $2,500 trying to save $500? That's the seduction of gray market cameras. The deals promise brand new cameras at hundreds of dollars less than you know they should cost. Are gray market cameras too good to be true? What's really wrong with them? Listen to the podcast

When should you use Auto ISO? When Darren asked me this question on our last photo tour, the answer I gave was very different than my standard answer when I started leading photo tours in 2009 - 2010. It's not so much that times have changed but that technology has evolved significantly. Just five or six years ago, most digital cameras topped out at ISO 1600 - ISO 3200. With that narrow range, noise started to be visible at as low as ISO 800 in many cameras. It was downright distracting by ISO 1600. When your camera can't be trusted to create clean images north of ISO 1600, you shouldn't leave the ISO decision to chance. Back then, I counseled that you should change your ISO deliberately, so you can ensure you are always getting the sharpest image possible. ISO performance in 2015 is incredibly better. It is not uncommon for entry level DSLRs to top out at ISO 128,000. With such a wide range, a DSLR can create noise-free images at much higher DSLR levels. With that increased performance, Auto ISO is not as ri

As I scrolled through the day's photographs, I knew that something was missing.  I had just returned from a Meetup where I had a great time photographing Annapolis Harbor. We went there frequently because I really enjoyed shooting the quaint town. But this time was different. I was underwhelmed with what I photographed that day. The pictures were okay, but I wasn't excited. I had been in a creative rut for a very long time.  As I would learn a couple years later, it was because I was making one big mistake. Once I found that mistake and corrected it, my energy levels and creativity increased dramatically. What is it?

Scott Kelby shared a rare moment of honesty you don’t normally hear from professional photographers.  “Do you know how you can take better pictures? Go somewhere interesting!” he joked during a presentation at PhotoPlus Expo. “Do you see this photo?” he said of a spectacular sunset image. “I just showed up and pressed the button.” Of course Scott is simplifying his role quite a bit. He’s right that travel photography is a great way to create photographs, but it requires more than showing up and pushing a button. Follow these 5 Ps for great travel photographs and travel photography experiences. Listen to the podcast

If you are looking for a bit of overwhelm, try picking a Mirrorless camera from the booths at PhotoPlus Expo. Wander up to any camera manufacturer booth, and you are sure to see a long line of camera bodies and lenses in their Mirrorless options. Many photographers are still trying to decide if you need a Mirrorless camera, and if so, which one is right for you. Listen to the podcast

Last week, I was one of more than 21,000 professional photographers, photography enthusiasts, filmmakers, students and educators from around the world who attended PhotoPlus Expo in New York City.  PhotoPlus features over 100 educational seminars, Photo Walks and Master Classes, and over 225 exhibitors displaying thousands of the latest products and services to touch, try and compare. I use the trip as my opportunity to get caught up on the trends in the photography industry and speak directly to the manufacturers about their products and plans. This year, I found five areas that are noteworthy for us. Listen to the podcast

In Ms. Van Horn's kindergarten class, we were all creative. I was part of a circle of 4 and 5 year olds who differed in many ways — not all of us could read or identify colors or numbers. But when it was time to color, draw or build something cool, we all rushed to the play area at full speed. We were all creative.  These days, I'm sure if I could arrange a reunion of my kindergarten classmates, we might all feel differently about our natural creativity. I know because I hear the same uncertainty when I talk with any group of photographers, who I'm sure were all once kindergartners.  My standard question, "what are you struggling with these days?" generates a lot of "I'm just not that creative" responses. Tom Kelley says that's just not true. Tom is an innovation consultant and author of the book, Creative Confidence, and I have fallen for his thesis. We are long past kindergarten, but if we buy in to the premise that anyone can be creative, and I do, how do we go about relearning the steps?  I have six strat

If you have listened to any of my podcast episodes, I'd love to hear from you. Please take my 2015 Shutterbug Life listener/reader survey. I know everyone is crazy busy these days, but if you listen to the podcast or follow the blog, completing the survey will benefit you in two ways. Listen to the podcast

When we begin contemplating adding to our arsenal of camera gear, one of the of the trickier areas to navigate are lenses. You have to understand elements and groups; lens mounts and formats; new vs. used and so much more. Let's talk about all the decision points in buying a lens and break them up into the seven questions I'm asked most often. Should I invest more in the lens or camera? Which lens should I buy next? What are the key features you should look for when evaluating a lens? Should I only buy lenses from the same manufacturer as my camera? Should I buy a used lens? What should I look for when I am buying a used lens? Why are lenses so flipping expensive?! Somewhere in this list, I hope I have the questions and answers that you might have about lenses. Listen to the podcast.

Whether you are attending a World Wide Photo Walk, a photography Meetup or some other gathering for photographers, the last thing you want to do is show up unprepared. I often get questions from potential attendees. "What lens should I bring?""What camera should I bring?""What should I expect? In this episode, I answer everything from the legal to the logistics. Listen to the podcast

10 years ago, Adam Levner was alarmed when he saw the difference between the education that wealthy students and those from low-income schools received. As a former 5th-grade teacher turned community organizer, he often struggled trying to convey the magnitude of the problems he witnessed. Then he realized his camera was the tool he needed to make a difference. Even better, empowering the students to tell their own stories through pictures could be even more effective. Listen to the podcast

You gotta love the Allen Iverson rant. The former NBA all star was so incensed that a reporter asked him to describe his practice habits, he went on a five-minute rant. What was most memorable was Iverson repeating the word almost 24 times — "practice?!" "We're talking about practice?!" Now while we might all chuckle at Allen's indignation, are our attitudes as photographers any better about practice? Let's say that we agree practice is important, how should we practice? Listen to the podcast

I had a lens once that just wouldn't take sharp photos. In photos, my subject always looked a little soft, especially around the eyes. I was so frustrated, I bought a new lens -- and the new one had the same problem. This was weird because online everyone was saying that this was such a sharp lens. I made some adjustments to the way I was shooting and was astounded to see how much the lens improved. Who knew? These days I regularly hear some version of the question "Why aren't my photos tack sharp?" In this episode, I break down all the reasons you might not be getting the tack sharp images you want. Listen to the podcast