Buttons, Switches & Sliders... Oh My! f/108

The Stop Down Photography Podcast

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 Problem

The Mysterious Over/Under Problem

The Incredible Drifting Composition

The Ghosts Of Retouches Past

Unexplained Fading Of Effects

Ok … 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 & Review

If 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 Links

Product 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.