wilderness

As some of you may know from my previous (first) post I still shoot film ( Ektachrome 100VS). I shoot remote wilderness, primarily on the Colorado Plateau (check out more of my work at:
www.harveyhalpern.com). One of the reasons that I still shoot film is I'm fairly computerphobic, and besides I love the quality of the images I get with my Mamiya 7. When I switch to digital should I use Elements, Lightroom or i-photo? I will be getting a new i-mac 27" when this all happens. Thanks

2da4est Loc: Pennsylvania Laurel Highlands

Your images are terrific. Looking at your site you do not need to do any post processing.
I am not one of the professionals here. But for what it is worth this is what I do. I shoot Nikon in raw format so I use the ViewNx2 when I first open my images. I can make adjustments there and convert the image. Sometimes that is all that is needed. If I want to do more I usually use Elements. It is affordable and will open the raw data where you can do you basic adjustments. Once opened you can do a lot more. I just finished a trial version of Adobe photoshop cc and I loved it but it is just not affordable for me at this time. If I am just emailing the photo or putting it up on the web I import it to iphoto. Most people here I found like Lightroom. I have tried it and do not care for it but that is just me and what I am used to working on my mac. It is all going to depend on how much photoshopping you need to do. CC version offers more raw processing and effects than elements. Iphoto is basic. Gimp is another option and it is free.
Different products have different strengths and weaknesses so it depends on what and how much post processing you do.

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Wilderness, iPhoto is very basic and judging by your photos you won't need a lot of PP and iPhoto may be all you need. I also use an iMac and have both Lightroom and Elements. Lightroom does 99% of my PP and only rarely do I use Elements and never iPhoto. My recommendation is download LR for a thirty day free trial. Later if you want to try more exotic PP try Elements for 30 days free. Elements works well with LR as do most other programs but LR is the foundation. ;)

Singing Swan

GIMP is free and is like Elements and Lightroom all rolled into one.

Darkroom317 Loc: Mishawaka, IN

Simple. Delay switching. 6x7 slides are lovely.

brucewells Loc: Central Kentucky

Your experience is apparent in these shots. Thanks for sharing them.

There are many capable pieces of software available with which your images can be edited. While some may disagree with me, I contend that Adobe has been in the business of graphic art editors for a very long time, improving their products with each new version. I perceive them the logical choice for someone who is serious about their photography. I want to make sure it is noted that this statement is not a slam of any other product, but simply an endorsement of Adobe's.

Lightroom gives you superb cataloging capabilities of all your images, as well as ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), which allows fundamental editing of your images.

Photoshop gives you all the power you'd ever want to make your images appear as you want them to.

Elements is a subset of Photoshop, and quite capable, as I understand. I do not use it regularly, but have looked at it enough to know that with Lightroom and Photoshop, I don't need Elements.

Digital photography technology is evolving quickly and Adobe will be the first to support the technology by supplying regular updates to their software suite.

Hope this provides some food for your thoughts.

pappy0352 Loc: Oregon

I use Lightroom5 and have no intentions of changing. I think it is great software. There is a learning curve but you will get through it with no problem. It seems like every time I add a shot then process I learn something new.

Pappy

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

First off, I'm sure you will very much enjoy the 27" iMac when you get it. It's a true joy to work with. (Said with the true conviction of a long term Mac wonk)

As for the software. Despite my dedication to Macs, I have never been overly impressed with Apple's iPhoto software. It's not bad, mind you, and it does come free with that new iMac, I just don't find it to be as enjoyable to use as others. It simply lacks the sophistication other programs have.

Lightroom is always worth looking at if you are processing a lot of photos and trying to develop a catalog and inventory for your website. It's organizational and cataloging features are truly impressive. The actual editing module is very good. The combination of its organizational and editing features make it a nice choice for serious photographers. There are also mountains of books, and online tutorials available which will be quite helpful as you learn the software and add digital processing to your skill set.

If you want to add additional processing tools to the arsenal, elements will give you Big Bang for the buck, and it will work in concert with Lightroom. If someday in the future you want still more processing power, the jump up to Photoshop from Elements will be relatively painless.

A 27" iMac + Lightroom + Elements; you may never feel a need for more.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

I've used elements, photoshop and lightroom and I'd recommend starting with lightroom. I like it's organizing abilities. But to save aggravation, it must be set up right from the beginning.I'd recommend Watch Hal Schmitt's tutorial on preferences and downloading. it doesn't matter that it's lightroom 4. BTW-it's free don't click buy just scroll down.http://en.elephorm.com/tuto-lightroom-4-complete-training.html

Psergel Loc: New Mexico

:thumbup:

Johnsr Loc: TN

I have an older IMac and it is still going strong. I started using Aperture when it first came out and will continue because I have thousands of photos stored in it now and it would be to difficult to switch to lightroom. From what I have read and discussions with my photo friends if I was starting over I would use Lightroom 5. It can do so much I doubt if you would ever use Elements or photo shop.

Kuzano

I just came off your website. I somewhat closely examined every image on the site. Incredible work for much of it.

You make the comment "When I switch to Digital", as if it is inevitable. To me, after a look at your work, I simply say, "REALLY??"

In what ways do you feel that digital will enhance what work you already exhibit?

At the risk of raising a few hackles on this forum, there are no digital camera's on the market that can yield the results showing in medium and large format film, except perhaps those with medium format sensors, such as Mamiya and Leica S2. Not without considerable post processing, as opposed to those who say... "Oh five minutes to convert from RAW, and edit the file...."

Clearly you are an outdoorsman
Clearly you know your tools and make incredible use of film
Clearly you would rather be outdoors finding, examining subjects for exposure, light conditions, etc.
Clearly, from your own comments, you will be uncomfortable sitting indoors at a computer, post processing to attempt to get the results you are already achieving with film....(really.. no filters?)

So, I presume you have done your research and firmly believe digital will allow you to maintain a discriminating quality in your body of work.

My thought is that not only is your work and exceptional example of Pre-Digital (film) photography, but would go a step further and comment that is "Beyond Digital".

I particularly liked Mud, and a favorite image was "Shake Out Those Boots", which can be appreciated by military types from desert deployments, and outdoor people.

When I spent time in the desert, we used to sleep on cots with our boots wedged between the blankets and the foot end of the cot, top in toward the body. No crawlies in the morning.

I close with the sentiment of one other poster... Delay it. I add, at least until the joy of being outdoors wears off, and you really enjoy spending the time on your new computer, more than shooting.

As far as the gist of your question....no good answer here. The learning curve if you really get into the editing side requres a period of reducing your production. The breadth and quantity of your work may carry you through that.

dickwilber Loc: Indiana (currently)

Shooting Ektachrome, I would guess you haven't been spending hours & hours in a darkroom making prints, dodging & burning, et al. Then you probably don't want to spend hours and hours hunched over a computer doing post processing! If my assumptions are correct, go simple - you need something to be able to do your own adjustments, particularly if you'll be shooting raw (which you will at least try out), but you don't want to get all bogged down in a computer program with a steep learning curve (read Photoshop). On the other hand, if you do enjoy long hours in a darkroom, jump right in, loads of fun, and it doesn't smell nearly as bad!

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

I have the 27" iMac and I use LR5 and CS6 in the Adobe Cloud. You can get both for $10.00 a month. I also suggest a Wacom tablet and a 2 to 4 TB external storage drive. Your photographs are beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Pine1 Loc: Midland & Lakeway

I just spent time looking over your web site. Your photographs are over-the-top beautiful in each section. Who would have thought mud could be interesting...