Episodes
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Fotobug Episode 301 - Review Luna Display
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
Sunday Dec 05, 2021
The Luna Display was a Kickstarter project from Astropad and currently sells for $129 - https://astropad.com/product/lunadisplay/ . Jim was a backer of the project and presents a review of the Luna Display HDMI verision for the PC. The Luna Display comes in two versions, one for the HDMI port and another for the USB-C port, so be sure to purchase the one that will work best on your PC or Mac. For the upcoming Holiday this might make a nice present for the photographer who uses a laptop! It will extend the laptop display to an iPad!
Coming up on December 10th, Skylum Software is sponsoring a Photo Walk at Fort De Soto park in St. Petersburg, FL with Jim and Fred. There will be prizes and free versions of Luminar AI for those who register. CLICK HERE to register and get your free software! Hope to see you there!
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Fotobug Episode 300 - Breakthrough Photography Filters
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Sunday Nov 21, 2021
Yes, this is The Fotobug 300th episode! So, Fred and Jim decided to celebrate and pull a piece from the vault from a couple years back. Breakthrough Photography filters are still available and they have even more to offer than when this episode first aired. These filters have a life time warranty and are very color neutral, so are excellent to use for long daytime exposures. Have a happy holiday! Don't forget to subscribe to The Fotobug YouTube channel!
Sunday Oct 10, 2021
Fotobug Episode 297 - First Look: Platyball
Sunday Oct 10, 2021
Sunday Oct 10, 2021
Platypod is coming out with a new and unique design for a ball head that is pure genius! Funded via Kickstarter, there are two models, the Elite and the Ergo. While Jim was an early backer of the project, due to Covid and supply chain issues, the final release of both units was delayed, but Skip Cohen, marketing VP for Platypod, loaned out two pre-production units. This is an early look at the two ball heads. The final versions should be available to the public after the first of the year!
Sunday Sep 26, 2021
Fotobug Episode 296 - Platypod Ultra Review
Sunday Sep 26, 2021
Sunday Sep 26, 2021
Fred and Jim are currently on their way to North and South Dakota to conduct photo workshops for the Black Hills Photo Shootout. So, they decided to pull from The Fotobug vault a review of the Platypod Ultra that they conducted back in 2017 - but still relevant today! Hope to see some of you in the Dakotas!
Sunday Aug 01, 2021
The Fotobug Episode 292 - Fort DeSoto Park
Sunday Aug 01, 2021
Sunday Aug 01, 2021
In The Fotobug continuing series on places to photograph in Florida, don't overlook Fort DeSoto in St. Petersburg. Fort DeSoto is a Pinellas County park and is named after the Fort that was built there in the late 1800s to protect Tampa Bay but was never involved in any battles. However, it is one of the best birding spots in Florida, especially in the Spring and Fall. It is also one of the few places to spot the white morph reddish egret!
Not much in current photographic news, but the Black Hills Photo Shootout registration is now available! The Shootout will again be the last weekend in September and will take place in Sturgis South Dakota and a special event on Friday at 1880 Town. Fred and Jim are conducting a pre-workshop at Teddy Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota September 22-24th and the spots are filling up quick - on the registration page it is labeled Dakota Adventure - so please go a sign up now!
Don't forget to subscribe to The Fotobug YouTube channel!
Sunday Mar 01, 2020
Fotobug - Episode 255- Free Software - Darktable!
Sunday Mar 01, 2020
Sunday Mar 01, 2020
Can't afford or don't want to pay for photo editing software? Make sure you check out this podcast!
In recent photography news, Adobe releases a substantial update to the desktop and mobile versions of Photoshop. Sony cuts planned mirrorless camera features in response to DRAM shortage. Moment introduces a 67mm filter system for smartphones. Fujifilm and Kodak warn about sending undeveloped film through airport scanners. Jif Peanut butter comes out with 'Gyphy' peanut butter to remind people that 'Gif' is pronounced with a soft 'G' sound! Even more news in the podcast!
Adobe is now charging $10 a month for Photoshop and Lightroom combo or $53 a month for the entire suite of Adobe software. They no longer sell a version of Lightroom. Other similiar software also sells in the neighborhood of $79 to $99 - so what if you don't want to pay, or can't afford to pay? There are free alternatives which are actually pretty good! Fred and Jim take a look at one of them in this episode of The Fotobug - Darktable which is a free open-source program available at www.darktable.org.
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Fotobug - Episode 253- Review Dell XPS Laptop
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Monday Feb 03, 2020
Fred just picked up a new laptop and in today's episode, he will discuss the pros and cons of the new Dell XPS 15" laptop.
In recent news, Immaga Wordroom uses AI to automatically keyword Lightroom images (https://wordroom.org/). Australian researches have created a new battery than can power a smartphone for up to five days. The team behind the Platypod have started a Kickstarter project for a new high-tech ball head, the Platyball. DynaLite, the photographic lighting company founded in the 1970s, has been forced to file for bankruptcy and permanently shutter its service. The US Interior Department grounds Chinese-made drones in its fleet citing ongoing security concerns. A new UK bill would enable police to stop, search and seize drones. Parliament recently conducted a second reading of a new bill that will give UK Police the power to stop and seize drones.
Decent computers are now a part of the photographer's kit in order to process captured images. Fred just picked up the new Dell XPS 15" laptop and discusses the attributes of this machine and why you might consider it for your next computer purchase. The new XPS features a 4GB Nvidia graphics card, so this machine will also be useful for video production. If you have experience or comments on the Dell laptop, please leave you comments below, or better yet, on The Fotobug YouTube channel!
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
Fotobug - Episode 249- Review Chasing Dory Submersible
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
Sunday Dec 08, 2019
In recent news, Five photojournalists have partnered with the ACLU to sue the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after it targeted, detained and interrogated them at the U.S.-Mexico border. A drone pilot was fined $20,000 when his drone flew away and landed at McCarran International airport. B&H Photo spokesperson Jeff Gerstel has shared a detailed statement in response the New York Attorney General's accusations. A number of anti-virus programs have been flagging Nikon's software as a virus due to mistakenly identifying a specific installation file. Nikon has updated its suite of Windows software to correct this issue. Check out the podcast for more!
Jim recently backed a Kickstarter project by Chasing Technologies. The product has now been released - the Chasing Dory, a submersible drone that is operated over a WiFi link through a smartphone app. The Dory has an HD camera that can also capture stills, has two LED lights, contains 32GB of memory and can dive up to 15 meters (50 feet) underwater! In addition, the Dory can maintain its depth, can maintain a 45 degree angle (up or down) and the WiFi buoy is good for up to 50 feet from the smartphone (or tablet). There is also an optional backpack, towel and tether available. Jim and Fred take the Dory to Roger's Park on the Weeki Wachee river and test it out! The Dory is now available for $499!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
Fotobug - Episode 248- GoPro Hero 7 vs Hero 8
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
Sunday Nov 24, 2019
Lots happening in the photography world! Apple has failed to overr-throw patents held by RED for compressing raw video. The Kodak film division posts a 21% gain while the rest of Kodak posted a loss. Adobe has showcased a prototype tool that uses AI to detect when edits have been made to a face in Photoshop. Getty has announced they are doing away with Rights-Managed licenses for photos. By the end of November, the UK will require all drone operators to pass a pilot test and register their drones - similar to Canada. DJI is developing an app to show drones that are flying nearby. B&H owes New York $7 million dollars in taxes. For more, watch the podcast!
GoPro recently released the Hero 8 so The Fotobug guys grabbed one and decided to compare it to the previous model, the Hero 7 Black! The new Hero 8 boasts improved audio, improved video, stabilization and also has a lot of new features. Is it really better than the Hero 7? Well, Jim and Fred decide to find out and compare the cameras for audio recording, wind suppression, and video quality. Check out the podcast for even more!
Next time - review of the new Chasing Dory underwater drone!
Friday Oct 25, 2019
Fotobug - Episode 246- Neewer Slider Timelapse settings
Friday Oct 25, 2019
Friday Oct 25, 2019
Fred and check out out the Zhiying app settings for time lapse photography for the Neewer slider. But first, recent news!
Researchers in Germany may have a sensor with an increased dynamic range capable of HDR photography with a single capture. Adobe has launched a redesigned version of its Creative Cloud desktop. Canon's new sensor featured in the 90D has shown to be quite impressive. Researchers have developed a plant-powered camera and in Utah, a senator has introduced a bill to allow cities and private individuals to control the first 200 feet over their property for controlling drones. The FAA doesn't like the idea (and neither do we!). Check out these stories in the podcast.
The Zhiying app that controls the Neewer motorized slider doesn't come with any instructions and the timelapse settings are especially confusing. So, Jim and Fred demonstrate a couple methods to capture timelapse videos with the app and the slider. If you have any suggestions or insights, please share them with us in the comments below!
Also, please subscribe to The Fotobug Youtube Channel for more reviews and DIY projects!