Exclusive Dig In Magazine Interview
with Photographer, Author,
Podcaster, & Blogger, Derrick Story

An exclusive Dig In Magazine interview with MacWorld Magazine's photographer, book author, podcaster and blogger, Derrick Story. Derrick is a senior contributor to MacWorld Magazine, is a regular speaker at MacWorld SF, has written a number books about photography, and has also authored the training videos: Aperture Essential Training, Aperture Beyond the Basics, Aperture 2 What’s New, Aperture 2.1 Essential Training, and Aperture 3 Essential Training, available on Lynda.com. In 2005, Derrick launched the popular online photography web site, The Digital Story, www.TheDigitalStory.com, that features a weekly podcast, training videos, and informative daily posts. Dig In Magazine caught up with Derrick during MacWorld 2011 to discuss his web site, The Digital Story, his photography, podcasting, favorite cameras, and his top iPhone/iPad App picks.

Dig In Magazine: Hi Derrick! How are you doing? So nice to get the chance to chat with you! How did you first get into photography?

Derrick Story: When I was 12 years old, I took a picture of friends playing in a swimming pool during an intense heat wave in Southern California. The publisher for the local newspaper saw the image and asked if he could use it for a cover story. That was the beginning for me, and I’ve never looked back.

DIM: What camera do you use and recommend?

DS: I use all types of cameras, but my favorites are the Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 60D, Canon S95, and the Olympus PEN E-PL2.

DIM: What type of photography do you specialize in? What is your favorite subject matter to shoot?

DS: I’m an editorial photographer by nature. I grew up working for newspapers and have always been most comfortable telling a story with pictures and words.

DIM: How do you feel about the new addition of HD video to DSLR cameras?

DS: I love it. Some stories are better told with video than with stills. Having the option to choose the appropriate medium, but use the same camera, is wonderful.

DIM: How is the new Apple iPad a great tool for photographers?

DS: It allows us to travel lighter, yet stay connected to the world. The iPad is also an excellent tool for showing others your pictures and videos. It really is a magic device.

DIM: Care to share any new Apple iPhone/iPad Apps with us or can you point us in the right direction for finding some cool new apps? What are some of your favorites?

DS: My favorite apps USA Today, The Daily, Photogene, FlickStackr, and Netflix.

DIM: I caught up with you recently at the MacWorld Conference and Expo in San Francisco, what types of workshops did you teach there an how long have you been involved in MacWorld?

DS: I’ve been teaching at Macworld for years. I specialize in photography-related classes. This year I taught an all day Aperture workshop, then a few classes on using the iPad for photography, and general photography stuff.

DIM: You are a contributing writer to Macworld Magazine, what are the subjects of some of your more recent articles?

DS: I do a lot of camera reviews for Macworld, plus software related stuff such as iPhoto and Aperture techniques.

DIM: How did you get to be such an expert on Mac related products?

DS: I started using the Mac when it was first released. We actually used it in the workplace for graphics and page layout. I’ve been using it ever since.

DIM: On your web site, The Digital Story, you cover photography via new product reviews on cameras, photo-related software (like Aperture), books and videos, tutorials, and podcasts, as well as have a virtual community of both amateur and professional photographers, how did your idea for your web site come about and how did you generate such a dedicated following of members?

DS: I wanted to get into podcasting, and I needed a site dedicated to photography-related stuff to support the podcast. So we built The Digital Story from the ground up using Movable Type. It must have been a good idea, because I had a decent following from the get-go. I’m disciplined about publishing on a schedule, and I think people appreciate that. So, by sharing interesting, helpful information on a regular schedule, I’ve managed to attract a healthy community around the site.

DIM: When did you launch your?

DS: The fall of 2005.

DIM: Is it difficult to constantly stay on top of new-to-market, cutting edge products and be "in the know" on new products in order to be one of the first experts to write reviews about them?

DS: I follow the news daily and have lots of good contacts in the business. I really like what I do for a living, so I have lots of energy to put into my work. Plus, I have a knack for figuring things out quickly.

DIM: Do you get notification of new products before us "regular" folks get to see them in the stores? And do you test out these products prior to them being available to the rest of the world?

DS: It depends on the manufacturer. I have some relationships that give me previews of new products. In other cases, I have to scramble to get my hands on stuff just like everyone else.

DIM: I noticed that you have recorded a number of podcasts, how often do you record them and what are some of the topics covered?

DS: I publish podcasts weekly on TDS. And they cover just about everything related to photography.

DIM: What are some of the books that you have written?

DS: The last two that I wrote were The Digital Photography Companion and the Photoshop CS4 Companion for Photographers.

DIM: How important do you think Photoshop is for photographers?

DS: It depends on the photographer. I think most serious shooters need Photoshop for certain projects. Personally, I use Aperture 3 for the bulk of my image editing, and save Photoshop for the special images that need its unique set of tools.

DIM: How did you get involved with Lynda.com, the software training and tutorial video library? What do you teach there?

DS: The first title I did for Lynda was Aperture 1.0. Since then, I’ve done titles on iPhoto, Flickr, and photography technique. They are a terrific company to work with.

DIM: Where do you get your ideas for tutorials and the tips and tricks that you often share with your online and off-line readership?

DS: My tips come from experience, primarily.

DIM: On a deeper note, what inspires you to do what you do?

DS: I love photography, writing, and telling a good story.

DIM: What do you like to do in your free time? What are some of your other interests and hobbies?

DS: I like outdoor life, biking, hiking, and things like that.

DIM: Lastly, do you have any predictions on what may be coming out next in regards to Apple products, photography tools, software, and other innovations?

DS: I learned long time ago to never try to predict what Apple is going to do. :)

DIM: Thanks so much for talking with Dig In Magazine, Derrick! Best of luck with all of your various projects!