In this episode, I challenge you to check your patterns and routines. Are you dedicating time to your photography, to grow as an artist? I share a story about my effort to overcome a certain inertia with my life patterns and its impact on my photography, and how a disruption to my typical day-to-day rhythm sparked creativity and making time for personal growth.Also, an update to the ON1 Photo RAW Essentials book is coming! Join my mailing list for a discount when the eBook launches in late January.Have a photo adventure this April! Join me on a photo workshop in Big Sur California, happening April 8-11th, 2024. There are a few spaces available.Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

Non-destructive editing is the professional standard for photo editing in the digital age - and with good reason. Keeping your original image untouched is fabulous. Creating virtual copies or versions of an image to try out different looks and styles without duplicating the original file is wonderful. However, there are pitfalls, such as editing tool lock-in or, in a world where you can endlessly refine and tweak settings, the mental challenge of treating a photo as done.Those are challenges for sure. Yet my big problem with non-destructive editing is plugins (and no, Smart Objects doesn’t solve this problem for me). Listen to this episode to learn more, and share your thoughts in the comments.Using Photoshop Smart Objects For Round Trip Edits In Lightroom, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/blog/using-photoshop-smart-objects-for-round-trip-edits-in-lightroom2024 Workshop Lineup, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/workshopsRate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

The topic for this episode of the podcast was inspired by a listener question. If you have a question you’d like my thoughts on, please submit your question through the contact form on my website.Our camera is the primary tool we use to create our work and express ourselves as artists. We get attached to certain cameras, and they sometimes become an extension of ourselves. Nevertheless, an inevitable question every photographer will face is – should I upgrade my camera body? I take on this question in the podcast and share thoughts about several possibilities that motivate photographers to move forward and purchase a new camera body. I hope you enjoy the show!Also check out:Announcing The 2024 SDP Workshops f/114, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/podcast/announcing-the-2024-sdp-workshops-f-114Scott’s current camera lineup, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/gear-cameras-lensesRate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

There is no better way to grow as a photographer than to immerse yourself in photography. And there is no better way to do that than take part in a photo workshop. That rings true for me, both as an instructor and as a student. When a workshop finishes, I am always invigorated and my passion for photography rekindled.I am very excited to share with you my workshop line up for 2024. I am hosting 3 workshops next year:Bryce Canyon National Park, Feb 13-15, 2024, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/bryce-canyon-2402The Big Sur Experience, Apr 8-11, 2024, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/big-sur-experience-2404Adventures In Antarctica, Nov 29-Dec10, 2024, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/adventures-in-antarctica-24112024 is going to be a great year for photography. And I hope you’ll join me on an adventure next year.Can’t wait until 2024? I have last-minute availability in my Oregon workshops in November 2023. There is one space open in each workshop:The Oregon Coastal Adventure, Nov 7-10, 2023, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/oregon-coastal-adventure-2311Bandon Beach & Beyond, Nov 13-16, 2023, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/bandon-oregon-2311There’s still time to join us!And if you missed Episode 3 of this podcast, you can listen here: https://scottdavenportphoto.com/podcast/ignite-your-creativity-with-a-photo-workshop-f-3Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

In the previous episode of the podcast, I shared the photo gear I was packing for a non-photo trip, a family vacation. I have returned from that trip and am happy to say that my gear choices worked wonderfully. I successfully fit photography into this non-photo trip and have images I know I’ll be happy with.Looking back on the trip, some things certainly worked better than others. Also, my success wasn’t just about the gear I chose to bring. It was a balanced combination of the gear choices, travel choices, flexibility, and a touch of opportunism. In this episode, I explain how the gear worked, how certain travel choices provided more chances for camera work, and how staying nimble and flexible led to pleasantly unexpected photo opportunities. I hope you enjoy the show.I am also finalizing the 2024 photo workshop schedule. I’m narrowing in on 3 workshops for next year, one in February, a second in April, and a third in November/December of next year. It’s a little early to announce, though I will say one of these workshops is going to be big - trip of a lifetime big. Get the the inside track on workshops and the first opportunity to register. Join my mailing list using the signup form on the my website’s landing page.Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

Travel is a joy. Exploring a new place or revisiting an old one, as well as reconnecting with friends and family away from the routines of home. As photographers, our thoughts gravitate toward the photo opportunities our travels will present. But what to do when the purpose of a trip is not photography? You are not immersing yourself in photography like you would on a photo workshop. Instead, you are going on a business trip, or heading to a conference, or taking a family vacation. You want to incorporate photography into the trip… so how best to pack? What gear to bring?In this podcast, I share the photo gear I am packing for an upcoming family vacation. The nature of the trip changes the cameras and lenses I’m bringing, the bag I’m using to carry my gear, and of course the tripod choice. I hope you enjoy the show!Products and events mentioned in this episode:MindShift PhotoCross 13” Backpack, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/blog/thinktank-photocross-13-backpack-reviewMindShift FilterHive, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/blog/mindshift-filter-hive-review3 Ways I Use My PlatyPod, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/blog/vlog-3-ways-i-use-platypods-in-my-photographyReally Right Stuff TVC-24 MK2, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/gear-tripods-ballheadsBandon Beach & Beyond workshop, November 2023, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/bandon-oregon-2311Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

Whether you are a seasoned photographer or just starting out, there are common photo mistakes that we all make. And we make time and time again. In this podcast, a light-hearted rundown of several rookie mistakes I’ve made in very recent history that cost me good photos.Have a listen and hear if any of these fumbles and stumbles have happened to you.- Failure to get crisp focus- Forgot to adjust the polarizing filter- Didn’t bring a spare battery- Left the remote trigger at homeAttention ON1 Photo RAW users! I am teaching 2 classes at the KelbyOne ON1 Photographers Conference, July 25th - 26th, 2023. Join me and a host of other great instructors for two days of ON1 classes, everything from landscape to travel, macro to wildlife, portrait to print preparation. Save 50% with early bird registration for US$149. All the details are here: https://kelbyonelive.com/on1-conference?af=scottdon1Join me this November for my Bandon Beach & Beyond landscape photography workshop. A small workshop, just 6 photographers, spending 4 days capturing the stunning Oregon Coast. You’ll get plenty of 1-on-1 time with Scott both in the field and with post-processing. Improve your camera work, level up your processing skills, and capture great photos and great memories. The workshop is US$1595 and all the details are on the workshop page: https://scottdavenportphoto.com/bandon-oregon-2311I mentioned two photo backpacks in this episode. Check out my reviews of each:- MindShift Rotation 180, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/blog/review-thinktank-updates-the-mindshift-rotation-backpack-34l- ThinkTank PhotoCross 13, https://scottdavenportphoto.com/blog/thinktank-photocross-13-backpack-reviewRate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

To say my visit to Cambria, California and the surrounding area did not go to plan would be putting it mildly. Mother Nature was in a sour mood and she quickly squashed my plans and pre-visualized photos. I share thoughts and takeaways from this less-than-successful photo excursion.In studio news, I have been busy with several ON1-themed projects of late. Some are complete and others are still to come.ON1 Photo RAW Essentials addendum for 2023.5 is posted. Book owners can get the addendum using the link in the first few pages of the book. https://scottdavenportphoto.com/products/on1-photo-raw-essentials-2023Story & Vision, ON1 Photo Kit, US$29.99 through June 29th, 2023. A video course about why we edit our photos and how to create stronger stories in your images. https://www.on1.com/landing/story-and-vision-photo-kit/ON1 Photographers Conference, a KelbyOne Live event, July 24th and 25th. Join me, Scott Kelby, and a host of other top-notch instructors for 2 days of ON1 editing courses. https://kelbyonelive.com/on1-conference?af=scottdon1Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

This podcast is all about staying active with your photography, pacing yourself, and a little bit about World War Z. How does a 10-year old zombie apocalypse movie intersect with photography? It’s a phrase uttered in the beginning of the film … “Movemiento es vida”, movement is life. That phrase rings true for me in several ways, and certainly for photography. I hope you’ll give a listen to a personal story of mine from the pandemic, the behavior changes the global lockdown triggered for me, and how I’m moving forward with my photography…. with a new appreciation for pacing.Join me this November 2023 for a photo workshop. There is space available in my Bandon Beach & Beyond landscape photography workshop. Spend 4 days with me and a small group of like-minded photographers, capturing the rugged beautify of the dramatic Oregon Coast.Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

I’m back! I know it has been a bunch of time since my last podcast. I am regretful for that, though there is no grand story to explain my absence. Life simply got busy, and the podcast was the first thing to fall “below the line” of what I could keep up with. To ease back into the podcast, how about a light-hearted chat about the tools we hold most dear - cameras and software. Our cameras and editing software truly are modern marvels. Cameras have loads of options and modes for just about any subject and shooting condition - fast moving subjects, long exposures, low light. Software is equally powerful to process those images. Magically reveal details we didn’t think were there, AI features to find and fix subject and noise, and an infinite combination of digital filters for any look or mood you can imagine.With all of this power at our fingertips and the infinite configurability of our cameras and editing software… what could possibly go wrong?!? Well, you guessed it. Plenty. I’ve just returned from hosting a workshop in Big Sur and all of us had our share of missed button presses, wrong way sliders, and toggled switches that left us confused with our gear for a few minutes.I share 5 mini-stories about mistakes made with buttons, switches, and sliders that I suspect you’ll relate to, if not have fumbled with yourself, on your journey of photography. Hear these tales about the obvious-in-retrospect mistakes photographers make:The Blurry ProblemThe Mysterious Over/Under ProblemThe Incredible Drifting CompositionThe Ghosts Of Retouches PastUnexplained Fading Of EffectsOk … well that last one … I guess it’s not unexplained since I’ll tell you what actually happened!!Mentioned in this episode:Bandon Beach & Beyond: Join me November 13th - 16th, 2023 in Bandon, Oregon for a 4-day immersive workshop. The Oregon Coast is a fantastic location to capture seascapes.The Lighten Blending mode: Try your hand at capturing traffic trails and use the Lighten blending mode to create the composite. This blending mode works wonder for traffic trails and cityscapes, too!Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

Happy 2023! I use a lot of photo software for my photography - Lightroom, Photoshop, ON1 Effects, ON1 Resize, Topaz Sharpen AI, Luminar Neo, Radiant Photo… I admit it, I like software tools. I don’t use every tool every day, some are more specialized or niche than others. My core processing tools are Lightroom and ON1 Effects. These are my bread and butter. These days, subscriptions are common place. Like it or not - subscriptions are here to stay. Adobe was the first to make the pivot to the subscription model, leaving perpetual licenses in the rear view mirror. Other vendors have waded into the subscription waters, and I think it’s a matter of time before perpetual licenses become the exception and not the rule. I have been a subscriber to Adobe’s Photography Plan for several years now. I got curious if the Adobe subscription has been worth the money for me and my photography. I took a look at the features Adobe has delivered since November 2019 and asked a simple question about each feature - would I pay to upgrade for that feature? Listen to the episode for my thoughts and my more complete analysis is below. For me, the subscription pencils out and I’m getting value for my yearly outlay to Adobe.2023 Photo WorkshopsIt is the start of a new year and a great time to think about where you want to take your photography in 2023. I wholeheartedly endorse attending a photo workshop - not a photo tour, a photo workshop - to improve your photography and spark your creativity. This was one of the very first topics I talked about, way back in Episode #3 of the Stop Down Photography Podcast. If you are new to the podcast, you may have missed this episode. Have a listen.I am hosting workshops in 2023. All of the workshops for 2023 are listed on my workshops page. Some workshops are sold out. There is space open in my two Oregon workshops in November of 2023.The Oregon Coastal Adventure, Nov 7-10, 2023: Headquartered in the heart of old town Florence, Oregon on the Siuslaw River, this workshop concentrates on the central Oregon coastline. Locations include Heceta Head, Heceta Beach, Yachats, and the breathtaking Cape Perpetua. We’ll also venture inland to Sweet Creek for an excellent forested hike along a picturesque creek.Bandon Beach & Beyond, Nov 13-16, 2023: Based in Bandon, Oregon with its amazing sea stacks, this workshop explores Bandon and the southern coastline of Oregon. Locations include Shore Acres in Coos Bay, Port Orford, Lone Ranch Beach, Sisters Rock, and the endless pockets of rugged coast between Bandon and Brookings at the southern border of Oregon.Whether you join me on a workshop or sign up with another photographer, make 2023 the year you immerse yourself in several days of photography. You’ll be glad you did.My Lightroom Subscription AnalysisThe context for my examination of my Lightroom subscription has two primary constraints: I care about Lightroom Classic, the desktop-centric applicationI am the type of person that historically upgrades my software every yearSo, how did I judge the Adobe Lightroom releases? I reviewed the Adobe Lightroom release notes for the versions released from November 2019 through October 2022 and looked at each feature in each release. The question I ask about each feature is simple: If Lightroom were a traditional, perpetual license, would I pay to upgrade to have that feature?The summary of my analysis is yes, for me, the Adobe Lightroom/Photoshop subscription is worth the money. The features that Adobe has put into Lightroom have been compelling enough to Adobe released four major versions of Lightroom in the last three yearsVersions 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, and most recently 12.0I would have paid for three of themThe 9.x, 11.x, and 12.x releases have features that are compelling to me and I’d pay to get themAssuming a perpetual license for a Lightroom upgrade would be in the $100-$120 range:3 paid upgrades would be about $300-$360My subscription plan costs $120/year, or $360If it were Lightroom alone, the subscription (probably) costs a bit more than yearly paid upgrades. However, the subscription also provides a license for Photoshop which I also use, has also gotten feature updates, and back in the day costs hundreds of dollars for a single license.Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

I have a set of 3 questions to help me get unstuck when I’m in the field:What do I want to say?How do I effectively say it?Why is one writing technique preferred over another to deliver my message?I learned this approach to storytelling from writing. A writer asks these key questions as they work on their piece, whether it’s creative writing, a screenplay, or even educational or technical writing. The story arc needs to be there to effective get your message across to the reader.It’s similar for photographers - we are visual storytellers. When I’m stuck in the field, I use these questions to get unstuck. In this episode of The Stop Down Photography Podcast, I talk about these questions and examples of how you can use them when you are stuck in the field, trying to find the best story the landscape has to share.Studio NewsIn studio news, I have finished writing and editing the next edition of ON1 Photo RAW Essentials. It is off to the indexer (yes, the print edition gets an index!) and the eBook is on track to release in mid-December. The print book will follow a few weeks after the eBook. Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

I carve out at least one day a week to step out into the landscape with my camera. However, of late, I’ve been skipping those outings. I’ve made excuses of one kind or another, or talked myself out of taking in a landscape shoot. I have done camera work for some family events, but not landscape photography. A couple of days ago, the conditions in San Diego were perfect for sunset. I asked myself “Do I need another sunset photo?” That question gives me pause. And that is the topic for this episode of The Stop Down Photography Podcast. I also try to answer that question.In studio news, I have been doing the deeper planning for my Death Valley workshop happening January 24th - 27th, 2023. The detailed itinerary is shaping up wonderfully. One space has opened for the Death Valley workshop. If you are interested in joining me and a small group in Death Valley in January, visit the workshop link and grab that open space.I am also hard at work on the 2023 edition to ON1 Photo RAW Essentials. The new release of Photo RAW 2023 added a slew of new features that demand a book update. I’m well into the new edition and am on track to publish it by the end of December 2022. You can hear a little more about the book project in an Ask Me Anything (AMA) YouTube video I posted a few weeks back.Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

Photographers, myself included, hold our cameras in high regard. It is the beloved tool we use to create our photos, to express ourselves. We put a lot of time and energy into choosing our cameras to select the one that best fits our photography and personal style. Yet to our viewers, the camera doesn’t matter - at all. That is the topic for this episode. Listen and hear how a recent meeting with an old friend that underscored that sobering truth for me.In the studio, I am busy working on an update to my book, ON1 Photo RAW Essentials. Subscribe to my newsletter at https://scottdavenportphoto.com to be alerted when it’s finished.Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

The summer heat has kept me indoors a lot these past few months. As we enter September and the temperatures drop ever-so-slightly in the Northern hemisphere, I am stepping back out in to the landscape. I have noticed I am rusty and my muscle memory is in need of some retraining. I especially noticed my after-shoot workflow was a little clunky with my hiatus from the camera. So … here are 4 tips for your after-shoot workflow:Charge your batteries while importing photosImport still photos first, video secondCull the obviously bad photos at the start of importWork only on your selectsListed to the episode for more details.In studio news, I have finished the podcast migration! The Stop Down Photography Podcast is at its new home, scottdavenportphoto.com/podcast, and the move went smoothly! If you’re hearing this podcast, then you are all set.September is also a time in the photo industry cycle that new software releases come out. I have been watching a few different software packages tease and in some cases deliver new features and functions.ON1 announced Photo RAW 2023. You can see my first look at it on YouTube on my website at https://scottdavenportphoto.com/blog/4-amazing-features-in-on1-photo-raw-2023. If you are purchasing ON1, please support this podcast and use my affiliate link, http://bit.ly/sdp-ON1 and use offer code SDP20 for a 20% discount.Skylum has released some extensions to Luminar Neo, including an HDR extensions and a noise reduction extension. Extensions are a purchased add-on to Luminar Neo, so you can pick and choose the extra features you want. If you are buying Skylum software, you can support this podcast by using link https://bit.ly/sdp-luminar-neo and use offer code SDP10 to save US$10. Radiant Photo is the new kid on the block. This is an AI-powered editor and takes a different approach to editing. I’m still exploring this software. You can see my review on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TEMZI8hWIQ. If you are adding Radiant Photo to your toolkit, please support this podcast and use my affiliate link, https://radiantimaging.pxf.io/6bN4Rr. Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

I am a photographer of an age where one foot of my photography was in film and the other is in digital. Make no mistake about it - I love digital photography and I have no intentions of going back to film. I don’t miss the darkroom, or waiting for the negatives, or wasting half a roll of film to switch to a different ASA (ISO). Yet there is one thing I do miss about my days working with film. And it has nothing to do with actual film. I share what that is in this episode of The Stop Down Photography Podcast.Also in this episode … the podcast is moving! During the weekend of August 20, 2022 the podcast feed is moving to a new home on scottdavenportphoto.com/podcast. If you are listening in your favorite podcast app, the change should largely be invisible to you. If you’re on the web, and specifically on stopdownpodcast.com, update your bookmarks to the this podcast’s new home. All future episodes will be posted to scottdavenportphoto.com/podcast.Finally, my 2023 landscape photography workshops are all open for registration. Visit scottdavenportphoto.com/workshops for all the details.Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

A few weeks ago I had an interesting experience that I knew I wanted to discuss on the podcast. I was working with a student who is starting a blogging business, and she wanted to improve here photography skills. She writes articles about health, well-being, and mindfulness and includes nature and landscape photos to visually enhance her content.We met in San Diego and talked some about her photography and the types of images she needs for her business. When we got out into the field, I noticed something interesting. My approach to the location changed. The photo opportunities I saw were different. Why? The images to be captured had a specific purpose to fulfill. It was like being on a photo assignment… and that’s a creative exercise anyone can do.In studio news, a couple of things. First, I have the roster for 2023 photo workshops set and they are opening for registration. I have four physical, in-person photo workshops planned for next year:Death Valley, January 2023Big Sur, April 2023The Oregon Coast (2 workshops), November 2023The details are on my workshops page on scottdavenportphoto.com.Second, the podcast is moving. As I’m sure you know, costs are rising everywhere, and I’ve needed to look for ways to trim the expenses for my business. So I am consolidating The Stop Down Photography Podcast website into my main website, scottdavenportphoto.com. Rest assured all of the past content will move over and be maintained and the entire backlog of podcasts will continue to be available. I am in the midst of the migration and expect to complete it by the end of August 2022. I will announce on the podcast when that switchover takes place. Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

Episode 100! This is certainly a milestone for this podcast. Like our photo journey, the road to this milestone has been one step at a time, the result of continued, sustained effort. Looking back at the past 99 episodes of The Stop Down Photography Podcast, the most popular ones are the “Taught Me” episodes. In my daily life, I very often connect the philosophies of other people and ideas - photographers, artists, or otherwise - to my photography. I thought for Episode 100 it would be a good to do another of those. And it so happened I had another of my mini-epiphanies connecting music to photography.Join me for a story of an odd pairing … the pyschedelic melodies of Pink Floyd as a source of motivation. Have a listen - I think you’ll get motivated to take another step forward on your journey as a visual artist.Subscribe to my mailing list and be among the first to hear about my 2023 photography workshops.Rate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

A photo journey is rarely a straight line. There are switchbacks, twists, and turns along the way. Visual artists change direction, pivot, encounter roadblocks. For me, that carries over into my project work. I don’t work linearly through a project, and many personal photo projects stall.Pressing pause on a personal photo project is totally fine - as long as you do revisit it from time to time. I conceived of a small personal photo project, The Off Season, about 7 months ago and finally returned to the project to complete it. In this episode of The Stop Down Photography Podcast, I share why I think it’s important to dust off older projects and make progress on them, maybe finish them up. In addition to the satisfaction of completing a body of work, it is a jolt of invigoration into your photography.Also, an update on the last podcast episode, 3 Tips For Milky Way Photography f/98, to cover the topic of Long Exposure Noise Reduction (LENR). Thanks to listener Tony for asking the question - does LENR have a place in astrophotography to help combat noise from the higher ISOs we have to use?If you have a question about the podcast or other photo question, use the contact form to send it in. Messages come straight to me, Scott Davenport.Other resources mentioned in this show:Put It On The Shelf f/14, The Stop Down Photography PodcastPersonal Photo Projects For 2021 f/52, The Stop Down Photography PodcastRate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.

In early April, I headed into the Southern California desert for some astrophotography. Clear skies and a new moon were perfect conditions to capture the Milky Way. And I learned a few things during this star gazing adventure. I have 3 tips to share with you for better photos of the core of the Milky Way. I hope you enjoy the episode.Tip 1 - Planning Is Important (If Not Vital)Astrophotography needs certain conditions to be met or your photos will fall flat. You need to know where and when to go for the best Milky Way photos. The location you choose needs to have low light pollution. Without a dark sky, the stars and Milky Way won’t be visible. Use tools like the interactive map at lightpollutionmap.info to find a dark sky.Next, you need to know when to go. The folks at capturetheatlas.com publish a yearly calendar that lists the best dates of the year to see the Milky Way - and when the galactic core will be visible. Finally, you need a clear sky. Fog, rain, or clouds will obscure the night sky. Use your favorite weather forecast app (or multiple apps) to check the forecast. My go-to app is Yr.no which has great micro forecasts.Tip 2 - Choose The Right Lens And Camera SettingsThe galactic core of the Milky Way will stretch across a wider part of the sky, so you want a wide angle lens to capture its breadth. You also want fast glass that can gather a lot of light, an increased ISO, and limits on exposure time to avoid blur.Use a wide angle lens, 24mm or widerUse a wide aperture like f/2.8Increase ISO to 3200Use the NPF exposure calculation in Photo PillsTip 3 - Manual Focus For Tack Sharp StarsFor tack sharp stars, use manual focus.Turn off auto-focus and focus peakingTurn on any manual focus assist featuresFrame a bright star in the viewfinderRotate the focus ring until that star is its smallestResources mentioned:lightpollutionmap.info: Use it to help you find a dark sky for astrophotography.capturetheatlas.com: Calendars with the best times to see the Milky Way.Yr.no: A weather app with great microclimate forecasts.Photo Pills: Exposure calculators for pinpoint starsRate & ReviewIf you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review it on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or Podchaser.com. Fresh, current ratings help other photographers find out about the show.Supporters Of The Show - Thank You!Thanks to everyone that supports this show, through comments, reviews, and shares. Sharing this podcast with your photo friends and camera clubs is one of the many zero-cost ways you can support the show. If you wish to support the show financially, you can also make a one-time donation.Affiliate LinksProduct links in this post may contain affiliate tags. Depending on the purchase, Scott Davenport Photography may receive compensation if you purchase a product via one of those links. There is no additional cost to you. The use of affiliate links never influences the content or opinions of the episodes.