SHOOT TO ILL™

I'm Doing It For Me | Ep. 36 by Martin Depict

What goes in my camera bags for almost two weeks of photo and video work?

My roller and weekender carry the working cameras, vlogging kit and SSD backups.

Canon, Fujifilm and DJI each have a job here. SHOOT TO ILL, episode 35 — A Podcast for anyone with a camera.

Keep shooting.

0:00 Packing for the shoot

0:59 Peak Design roller and cube

4:48 Canon R1 and X100VI

8:15 Video lens and filters

9:22 Flash bracket and lens labels

10:47 Portrait and zoom lenses

14:05 R5 II and vlogging setup

19:07 Weekender and MacBook

20:25 Charging and SSD backups

23:17 Pocket 4P filters and case

25:43 Outdoor Sling and accessories

27:46 Nano, 360 and Action 6

29:21 GFX100RF, strap and headphones

31:37 Grateful for the work

#CameraGear #TravelPhotography #Videography #ShootToIll

I paid for ComplexCon VIP in Los Angeles, but the early access and perks didn’t feel worth what I spent.

Here’s my experience, what I actually picked up, and why the weekend left me missing the streetwear community that brought me there.

I talk through the Satoshi Nakamoto Vans drop I missed, how this VIP experience compared with previous years, and why I couldn’t turn the trip into the full vlog I wanted to make.

Then I get into the haul: Fragment, Billionaire Boys Club, Famous Stars and Straps, Estevan Oriol, Pleasures, Ghetto Rodeo, Honor the Gift, and the HUF, Modelo, and Perez Brothers collaboration.

There’s a personal side to all of this. Streetwear was something I wanted to be part of long before I got to photograph collections for Diamond. Remembering those days on Fairfax made this visit feel different. I’m glad I went, and I’m happy with what I brought home. I still wanted more from the experience.

I also catch up on vlogging with the Action 6, seeing The Matrix at Cosm, and the camera comparison I’m working to finish around upcoming shoots.

SHOOT TO ILL is a podcast for anyone with a camera, hosted by Los Angeles photographer and videographer Martin Depict.

Keep shooting.

0:00 Vlogging Again and My Action 6 Setup

1:09 The Matrix at Cosm

2:23 ComplexCon: First Impressions

3:15 Why VIP Wasn’t Worth It

4:56 Missing the Satoshi Nakamoto Vans Drop

6:34 Missing the Streetwear Community

9:51 ComplexCon Haul: Fragment and BBC

11:41 Famous Stars and Straps Collaborations

14:03 Pleasures Pickups

15:49 Ghetto Rodeo

17:26 Honor the Gift

18:06 HUF, Modelo and the Perez Brothers

20:19 Leaving ComplexCon

21:01 Why I Couldn’t Finish the Vlog

22:02 Fairfax, Streetwear and Shooting for Diamond

24:52 Clip Farming and My Final VIP Verdict

26:25 Camera Comparison and Upcoming Work

#ComplexCon #Streetwear #ComplexConHaul #PhotographyPodcast #ShootToIll

SHOOT TO ILL PODCAST EP. 33

My Insta360 Luna Ultra replacement finally arrived, but getting it back was harder than I expected.

I walk through the support process, the problems I experienced, and what this taught me about choosing camera gear you can depend on.

I unbox the replacement, explain the back-and-forth with Insta360, and talk about why buying FlexiCare left me expecting a smoother experience. I also revisit the overheating and screen-connection issues I encountered, what my client liked about the camera, and why I’m approaching this replacement cautiously.

Then I get into the Canon lens options that have me thinking about switching systems. From the RF 20mm F1.4 and the 14mm I’m considering to autofocus anamorphic lenses from BLAZAR and SIRUI, the question is how to get the look I want without making an expensive change to my entire setup.

I also discuss adding character with Dehancer in DaVinci Resolve, why I’m considering a Mac Studio upgrade, moving from the Rivian R1S to the R2, and what interests me about the iPhone Duo.

SHOOT TO ILL is a podcast about the real process of being a working photographer, filmmaker, and creator. A Podcast for anyone with a camera.

Keep shooting.

0:00 My Insta360 replacement finally arrived

1:41 Unboxing the Luna Ultra replacement

3:26 The emails and replacement timeline

6:11 Why I’m not running another overheating test

8:52 The camera was for my fiancée

9:16 Canon RF 20mm and the 14mm dilemma

11:00 Why I’m considering leaving Canon

13:51 The cost of switching camera systems

15:12 Cinema lenses and cheaper alternatives

17:00 Why I want more lens character

18:15 Dehancer, DaVinci Resolve, and Lens Node

21:47 Why I’m considering a Mac Studio upgrade

24:02 Moving from Rivian R1S to R2

29:26 Why I’m interested in the iPhone Duo

32:35 What’s next for the Luna Ultra comparison

#Insta360LunaUltra #CanonRF #AnamorphicLenses #PhotographyPodcast #ShootToIll

Can ChatGPT actually edit a podcast in DaVinci Resolve?

For this experiment, I gave Cue, my ChatGPT editing assistant, control over the structure of a real SHOOT TO ILL podcast edit. That included identifying my A-cam and B-cam, switching camera angles, recognizing editing instructions inside the transcript, cutting dialogue, creating graphics, generating visual assets, and putting the episode together in DaVinci Resolve.

From start to finish, ChatGPT took 49 minutes and 44 seconds to create the visual assets and edit this episode.

The finished edit is not perfect.

There are still some pauses, retakes, and other small things that I would normally clean up myself. I intentionally left those mistakes in the final episode because the point of this test was to show what ChatGPT could actually accomplish on its own, not to quietly fix everything afterward and make the result look better than it really was.

And despite those mistakes, 49 minutes and 44 seconds to go from the footage to an edited podcast with custom assets is still incredibly impressive.

The bigger question for me is where this technology actually belongs in a creative workflow.

I talk about why podcast and talking-head editing is much easier to automate than creative, B-roll-heavy work, why taste and pacing are still difficult to hand over, and why the repetitive parts of the process are what interest me most about AI.

I also test AI-generated product photography, talk about creator burnout and consistency, the current tension around generative AI in the creative industry, and how an MCP connection allows an AI assistant to communicate with DaVinci Resolve.

I’m not handing over my audio mix or color grade, and I’m definitely not ready to hand over the entire creative process. For me, this experiment is about finding the line between using AI to remove tedious work and letting AI make the creative decisions that give the work its identity.

Keep shooting.

0:00 A.I. Edited This Podcast

1:25 Teaching Cue the Edit

3:25 Where AI Editing Actually Works

7:40 The Photography AI Turning Point

11:35 Testing the New Image Generator

12:13 Recreating Product Photography

13:33 Building an AI Whiskey Ad

15:00 Where AI Helps Creators

17:38 Automating the Creator Workflow

20:16 AI, Burnout, and Creative Time

22:22 The Higgsfield Backlash

24:33 Where I Draw the Line

26:48 How AI Controls DaVinci Resolve

29:10 Why This Is Moving So Fast

30:23 Cue’s Final Verdict

31:03 Keep Shooting

#ChatGPT #DaVinciResolve #AIVideoEditing #CreatorWorkflow #ShootToIll

I bought a second Insta360 Luna Ultra and retested it against the DJI Pocket 4P after my original camera repeatedly overheated and froze.

The new unit changed the reliability story, but a separate problem raised a bigger question about quality control, brand loyalty, and what creators should expect after spending their own money.

In Episode 31 of SHOOT TO ILL, I run the Luna Ultra through a 4K30, high-bitrate I-Log stress test with tracking and the wide-angle lens, then compare the experience with the DJI Pocket 4P.

The larger conversation is about treating camera companies like teams, the uncertainty surrounding support for a Pocket 4P purchased through eBay in the United States, waiting for Insta360 to finish inspecting my original Luna Ultra, and why I am not willing to change my work or my opinions just to make myself easier for brands to sponsor.

SHOOT TO ILL is a podcast about the real process of working as a photographer, filmmaker, and creator.

Keep shooting.

#Insta360LunaUltra #DJIPocket4P #CameraBrandLoyalty #PhotographyPodcast #ShootToIll

AI is changing graphic design, YouTube thumbnails, photography, and creator workflows fast, but what happens when it starts making the same creative decisions for all of us?

In this episode, I talk about training my own AI model, using AI in my thumbnail workflow, the AI gold rush, and where I think these tools stop helping and start flattening the creative process.

Before getting into that, I also give an update on my Insta360 Luna Ultra replacement, the overheating problems I’ve experienced, and the final tests I still want to run against the DJI Pocket 4P.

Keep shooting.

0:00 Getting Ready for a Two-Week Shoot

0:38 Insta360 Luna Ultra Replacement Update

4:53 The AI Gold Rush

6:09 Training My Own AI Model

9:59 Why the AI Gold Rush Feels Different

13:26 How I Use AI in My Workflow

14:51 Why AI Thumbnails Start Looking the Same

16:56 Color Theory vs. AI Defaults

19:01 The AI Creative Feedback Loop

20:59 Where AI Makes Sense

23:07 Where I Draw the Line

25:09 Why I Think the AI Gold Rush Will End

26:56 What I’m Working on Next

29:33 Finding My Own Way Into Tech Reviews

#ArtificialIntelligence #GraphicDesign #CreativeProcess #ShootToIll

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FACT CHECK / CLARIFICATION:

There are two things from this episode I want to clarify after double-checking the current laws.

First, I was too loose with the timing and jurisdictions when talking about upcoming AI transparency laws. California has already passed AI transparency and training-data transparency laws that became operative January 1, 2026. The EU's AI Act also now includes transparency requirements for certain AI-generated content that began applying August 2, 2026. The UK is still developing its approach and does not currently have a blanket requirement that all AI-generated content be labeled. I also wasn't able to verify the broad Illinois labeling requirement I referenced in the episode.

The larger point I was trying to make still stands: governments are beginning to address AI transparency, training data and disclosure, but I should have been more precise about which laws apply where and when.

Second, I want to clarify what I said about copyright. AI-assisted work CAN qualify for copyright protection in the U.S. when there is sufficient human authorship, creative arrangement or modification. My comments in the video were about what I personally believe SHOULD be copyrightable.

I personally don't think material whose creative expression is generated by AI should receive the same copyright protection as work created by a human, especially when the model may have been trained using other people's creative work without their consent. That's my opinion on where I think the law should ultimately land, not a statement of what current copyright law says.

Today I test the Insta360 Luna Ultra for overheating during a long recording and ask a bigger question: when do impressive camera specs stop being practical?

With I-Log, tracking, the Insta360 Mic Pro, and the Battery Handle running, I measure the heat and compare the Luna Ultra’s reliability with the DJI Pocket 4P.

This episode follows my Pocket 4P vs Luna Ultra comparison. I recreate the setup that previously froze and shut down, then let the Luna Ultra record behind the podcast while talking about resolution, HDR, megapixels, Log footage, storage, full-frame expectations, “buy once, cry once,” and why creators often pay for features they rarely use.

SHOOT TO ILL is a podcast about the real process of working as a photographer, filmmaker, and creator.

Keep shooting.

0:00 Recreating the Luna Ultra Overheating Test

3:25 What Makes a Camera Practical?

5:23 Pocket Cameras Have Become Ridiculously Powerful

7:06 Pro Specifications vs Real Needs

10:35 The Hidden Storage Cost of Better Cameras

11:12 The Best Camera Is the One You Have

14:27 Buy Once, Cry Once and Feature Creep

17:19 Why Professional Gear Standards Keep Moving

18:16 Who Actually Uses Every Camera Feature?

22:35 What Most Pocket-Camera Shooters Need

24:08 Heat, Charging, and the Test Conditions

26:49 Reliability Is Part of Practicality

28:31 Overheating and Long Recording

32:13 Why the Luna Ultra Is Still a Good Camera

35:38 The Overheating Warning Appears

37:11 DJI, U.S. Access, and Data Concerns

39:17 Cameras as a Creative Starting Point

40:29 Keep Shooting

#Insta360LunaUltra #DJIPocket4P #CameraOverheating #PhotographyPodcast #ShootToIll

Photography usage rights, image licensing, and AI training clauses can decide who profits from a photo long after the shoot ends.

Martin shares how he protects his work, respects the people in his images, and avoids signing away more than a client actually needs.

In Episode 28 of SHOOT TO ILL, Martin walks through his working approach to collaborative shoots, print sales, publication licenses, agency agreements, paywall content, full buyouts, and time-limited usage. He also gets into how social platforms complicate ownership, why compensation should match the scope of use, and why AI training needs to be addressed before an agreement is signed.

This is a working photographer’s perspective, not legal advice. The practical takeaway is to define where an image can appear, how long the license lasts, whether it can be resold or used for AI, what compensation applies, and what happens when the agreement ends.

Keep shooting.

0:00 Rebuilding confidence as a creator

2:49 Why usage rights matter

3:16 Photographer-model fairness

5:43 When someone sells the photos

7:16 Licensing and iconic images

12:24 Social media changed image value

15:25 Why print magazines still matter

17:45 Publications now sell attention

20:17 Licensing photos to publications

20:32 Agents, commissions, and ownership

23:43 Unauthorized image use online

25:44 Social platforms and AI training

27:45 Martin’s rules for collaborative shoots

28:46 The AI-training clause he wants

30:30 Who owns your likeness?

33:46 Paid usage and paywall content

35:53 Time-limited licenses vs. full rights

37:20 Full buyouts and protecting your work

39:03 Read the contract before signing

40:03 What an agency should never own

41:11 Final takeaways

#PhotographyBusiness #UsageRights #PhotoLicensing #AIandPhotography #ShootToIll

I almost broke my Monday upload streak, so I went live before I was ready.

The DJI Pocket 4P was supposed to arrive in time for a live unboxing, but when it was delayed, I had no video ready and felt like I was breaking a promise to myself. Instead of skipping the upload, I turned it into a last-minute test stream.

In this episode of the SHOOT TO ILL Podcast, I talk about trying to stay consistent as a creator, going live for the first time with my face on camera, dealing with OBS problems, fixing stream issues, and using the whole thing as exposure therapy.

I also get into the DJI Pocket 4P, why rushing camera tests has pushed me creatively, what it feels like when tech videos bring in a new audience, and how criticism, dislikes, rage bait, and social media metrics can mess with the way creators see their own work.

The bigger lesson is simple: stay consistent, take the shot, and stop letting the fear of being judged decide whether or not you show up.

Keep shooting.

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More from SHOOT TO ILL

► SHOOT TO ILL Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLY6Y3cKoSaPXsUHFlqO0fBSQrHCBsbXUA

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Chapters

00:00 Intro

00:18 Getting in my own way

01:30 Tech videos bring a different audience

02:41 Rolling with the punches

03:30 The camera got delayed

04:20 Going live for the first time

05:17 Using live streaming as exposure therapy

06:34 The DJI Pocket 4P finally arrived

08:06 Why the Pocket 4P is not as easy to use

09:52 Small creators and new audiences

12:30 Rushing a follow-up video

14:29 Dealing with criticism

15:17 Rage bait and creator hot takes

17:23 Film photographers and gatekeeping

18:46 Why digital helps you make mistakes

20:01 Why I always bring a camera

21:42 Shoot for yourself first

22:20 When people delete photos that mattered

23:42 Just take the photo

24:58 Letting my real voice come out

25:49 Just take the shot

26:44 What’s coming next

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Martin Depict is a Los Angeles-based photographer documenting the process of building a creative career. On this channel, you’ll find photography vlogs, behind-the-scenes shoots, camera gear experiments, and honest lessons from working in the industry.

If you're a photographer, filmmaker, or creator interested in the process behind the work, SHOOT TO ILL follows the journey as it unfolds.

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#shoottoill #photographypodcast #creatormindset #contentcreator #djipocket4p #livestreaming #martindepict