Posts for: SusanFromVermont
Jan 23, 2019 09:55:24 #
A. T. wrote:
I have Lightroom CC and when I try to setup preferences to publish photos on Facebook through Lightroom, I get a prompt within Lightroom that says you can no longer post photos on Facebook through Lightroom desktop. Can someone shed more light on this subject?
I've never used that function on LR, because uploading from within FB is so easy. Too bad for those who like to do it from their end, but I agree with the reasons others have mentioned. Speed, security, etc.
Jan 23, 2019 09:45:39 #
markwilliam1 wrote:
What is a radial filter?
It is the tool directly to the left of the adjustment brush. You should check it out - it basically puts a "spotlight" on an area in the image.
Jan 16, 2019 13:10:04 #
Pizza Day wrote:
Can anyone recommend a photo-album app or company? I used Apple for this in the past, but they discontinued that service. I’m looking to create a nice bound book of printed photos from my digital library. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I also use Adoramapix. Once you get on their email list, you get notifications of sales. I have seen their sales other places, but I think that is because I went to the website.
Their prices are good, and even better with sales. As Jerry said, you don't have to use their template. Or you can use a template to start and modify it - such as putting more images on a page. You can add captions, and choose the paper. They have both soft and hard cover. Worth looking into! For me they are especially convenient because shipping turnaround time is short. [I live in southwestern Vermont, not all that far from New York City.] The main thing slowing down shipping is the carrier - the shipment must go with their regular routes and that involves switching trucks along the way. Still, 2 days usually is pretty good for regular ground shipment.
Jan 15, 2019 15:45:24 #
BigDaddy wrote:
True that. Still the ratio of number of pictures ... (show quote)
I am aware that many have no interest in doing more than sharing images by email or on social media. But my suspicion is those individuals are not really interested in the "art" of photography, just in exchanging snapshots! If the statistics could be able to eliminate those numbers, the proportions would certainly change!
Sorry to hear about your printer problem. I never used a printer with eco-tank technology, but one guess would be that it has not been perfected! The rising price of ink cartridges is also one of my pet peeves. I did some math and found that the expensive 80 ml cartridges are actually a lot more reasonable per ml. Makes sense, since a lot of the cost would be in the packaging [the cartridge]. Amazing how can be charged for a little plastic box filled with colored liquid.
I have a Canon all-in-one that prints very nice photos, but I have the Epson P800 on my wish list! Decided it was time for a printer designed for printing photos! Still figuring out the space problem, since the Epson is larger than my Canon! Also, deciding whether it is cost-effective to get a high-priced printer rather than just sending my images out for printing!
Jan 15, 2019 10:04:08 #
BigDaddy wrote:
A lot of variables when printing, everything effec... (show quote)
Just curious - why do so many make the statement about the % of photos that are printed today? Percentages can be misleading. All it tells us is that there is a huge number of photographs running around on the internet and sitting in people's computers. It does NOT account for the fact that printing of images keeps many print labs in business!
Even though we are turning our printing over to those labs, they have the expertise and the equipment to do that job properly. And if there should be a problem, most will gladly do it over again at no charge! Those print labs are a blessing for those of us who do not have a printer that will produce larger-format prints! So I am very grateful to all those who send in their images to be printed, because without them I would be limited to printing 8x10 photos!
Jan 13, 2019 11:21:34 #
Gatorcoach wrote:
I recently completed a seminar on Lightroom in a a... (show quote)
I am glad you have gotten some good information on organizing your images. The instructor, however, is speaking from the point of view of a professional photographer, with client "shoots" to keep each in a separate catalog. When you are shooting for yourself, whether it is family photos or your artistic endeavors, it becomes important to organize in such a way that you can find certain images without relying on keywords.
The need to export to folders is a personal preference, and regardless of the added space requirements, this is what I also prefer. Storage is not expensive these days! I do use keywords when I want to find images that are in a variety of different folders. For instance, keywords like "winter", "snow", will bring together images from multiple topics whether they are landscapes, people, individual locations, etc.
Another reason I export [or further edits in PS and then saving] is to be able to see the actual image in the folders on my hard drive. Looking at an icon is not the same. This is important for me when posting on social media or sending in an email. Using a site's tools to display images takes you to your hard drive folders, and if you can only see that .xmp side-car, how can you know exactly what you are posting? Of course, you can jump back and forth with LR to check, but to me that is an extra and undesirable step.
The beauty of LR is that it can be adapted to whatever sort of organization set-up you prefer! Many like the dates system. I prefer to start with major categories, subdivided into topics. Within the topics I may have added sub-topics, but when appropriate I also use years to group together the images from the year they were taken. I call this a "filing cabinet" system!
The main objective of an organization system is to make it easy to find images. Because of the way my photos are organized, I also do not have checked the "show photos in subfolders" under the Library menu, unless I want to do a search that encompasses multiple folders.
To illustrate, to find images of your granddaughter, at a specific event, those photos could be grouped in a topic folder "People" or "Family", with a sub-folder for Cathy. That folder can be divided by year, or by event. And if the specific event occurred more than one year, it could have a sub-folder for each year's photos. If you have photos of her you want to access that are in group photos or other types of events, then a Catalog-wide search may be appropriate.
No one way is right for everyone, and it takes time to set up a system that works for you. I have re-organized several times, now have a system that I like which I believe will be the keeper!
Hope this helps.
Susan
Jan 13, 2019 10:46:58 #
Delderby wrote:
I understand that Lightroom doesn't do layers, and won't further adjust WB and Tone after development? If this is so, would you agree that it is hardly a stand - alone app? 
LR CAN be used as a stand-alone program, although using it in conjunction with PS and/or other programs greatly increases functionality. It all depends on what someone wants to be able to do.
I used LR alone for several years before the subscription that included PS became available. It is great for the basic edits that are enough for so many photographers. In fact, in some functions it can work better than PS, but that is dependent on the photo itself and how it reacts to the adjustment.
You can make all the global adjustments, but if you want a selective adjustment it is available. It may not be as in depth as in PS, but it works very well just the same. Any feature used in LR including WB and Tone can be changed later. Nothing becomes "set" so you cannot go back and change it. Plus you can make as many versions of an image as you like as long as you are not keeping the original RAW file with the adjustments instead of using a "virtual copy" each time you do a new version!
Jan 12, 2019 10:47:27 #
toast wrote:
I keep hearing it's rather difficult to use. Some ... (show quote)
You have been given some good suggestions, and by now you probably realize how many different opinions there are!
I like the idea of starting out with the editing program from Canon. I started that way when I got my first digital point-and-shoot. This will give you a feeling for how editing programs in general work, and for what you can do with them. It will also eventually help you realize the limitations of a very basic program. That is when you should decide on whether going for a more advanced program is what you want to do.
As for LightRoom, I started using it a long time ago and found it very intuitive to use. Sliders are sliders, they add or subtract whatever function they control. The specific tools are also pretty easy to learn. The most difficult part about LR is to learn about the more in-depth functions. And, as others have stated, the Catalog system has basic rules that need to be followed, but once you learn those, it is a powerful tool for keeping your images organized. I still needed a book to help, used one by Scott Kelby. There are others that are also good, and YouTube videos.
I started with the stand-alone versions of LR, and did not want to be upgrading every year for just a few new features. But when the Adobe CC subscription was offered, I jumped right in, because I had always wanted to learn PS which had been too expensive for me. Now the updates come on a regular basis, not only when they have enough to make it worthwhile to put out a new edition. LR Classic CC is the equivalent of the previous LR versions, and that is what I use exclusively on my desktop and laptop. [The new LR CC is a mobile version, not as complete, and uses Cloud Storage for the images. It does not suit my purposes.]
Hope this helps.
Jan 12, 2019 10:10:15 #
Ajgrav wrote:
Hello, I just joined and like the topic says I'm l... (show quote)
Welcome to UHH!
Apparently you are already doing fine in auto mode. It is great for learning composition. Now that you are planning to learn more, you are going to encounter a learning curve that may or may not be difficult. I went from a digital point and shoot to a DSLR, so I know how it can be.
Another source of education is CreativeLive.com which offers "On Air" programs on many different subjects, photography among them. You can look at their schedule, and as long as you can watch the tutorials at the time they are presented, it is free. [I don't know if they still do this, but when I was watching them, discovered they replay in a loop for the rest of the day.] All the tutorials are also available for purchase. Their instructors are all good, but I found several who I liked a lot, and still follow them.
If you admire a professional photographer's work, look for a website and/or FaceBook page. Many offer tutorials and eBooks, both free and paid. Some have a membership program, where members get access to all tutorials on the site. Some combine the free and membership programs, so people can get a feel for what they offer before deciding to sign up.
YouTube has been mentioned, but be aware it can be very time-consuming to sort through the material. But once you find someone whose "channel" you like, you can follow them. Overall, however, it is a great resource, you just have to decide for yourself if the style and content presented work for you.
When you have a question, you can search for answers in multiple places. A lot of topics have been covered in depth on UHH, and you can find them using the "Search" feature. Sometimes you have to try various keywords to get the answers you seek. I will also vouch for Cambridge in Colour, which carries an extensive library of tutorials.
If I am correct in assuming you plan to branch out to shooting more than just cars, you will need to consider the mode in which you shoot. .JPG is fine when you need instant results. When you are ready for producing images that are more personal and artistic, then you should shoot in RAW. [There are lots of discussions on this, and believers in always RAW vs. always .JPG!] I prefer RAW because it contains more information, can be edited in more detail, and a .JPG can always be generated later if needed! When saving in a format other than RAW, I prefer .TIFF, others like .PSD - both preserve the information as well as the edits you make.
Of course then you are looking at getting an editing program. Another source of much discussion. There are many available, some free, some paid. Many will tell you that the Adobe CC subscription plan is the way to go [includes LightRoom and PhotoShop along with a few other programs] because it is the "gold standard" for editing. No matter what you choose, there will be a learning curve! I am in the Adobe CC group, but know that others do quite well with other programs. Depends on how in-depth you want to go, and whether a certain program will let you accomplish your photographic goals. Most have free trials, so you can check them out before paying!
Hope this helps.
Susan
Jan 12, 2019 08:30:53 #
Longshadow wrote:
Well, if it didn't come straight out of the camera, where did it come from? 
What the OP meant was that a photograph SOOC is still manipulated. The composition, exposure, etc. are chosen by the photographer, the camera records what it sees, which in itself is a manipulation of the image. Then the camera "translates" the image from it's "language" to a visual result that we can see.
After that, it is up to us to decide on editing - how much, what type - in order to produce a result that in some form replicates the photographer's understanding of what was seen, or pre-visualization of the result sought.
Jan 11, 2019 20:16:58 #
warzone wrote:
What brand is it?
The brand is Lexar. It only has 2 slots - one for an SD card, another for a CF card. That is all I need. But there are others with more slots if you need them.
Jan 11, 2019 20:10:38 #
srt101fan wrote:
Don't worry about it Susan. Every once in a while Bipod shows up dragging his little wagon loaded with cynicism and his dark view of the photographic world.... On the other hand, he does seem to know a lot and sometimes even contributes constructively! Go figure....
Thank you for your comments. This is the second time I tried to inspire Bipod to look beyond his seriously limited view of photographers and photography. You are right, he does seem to know a lot and has had some useful information to impart. Then he ruins the good impression with his negativity.
While his comments may apply to some, they certainly are not correct about most of the people and motives on UHH. The world is not perfect, but neither is it in complete ruin and disarray!
Jan 11, 2019 19:52:38 #
lindysue12 wrote:
Hello. I hope all is well. Can someone please tell me how I can post photos on my AOL email? Friends and relatives send me photos on my email address and I would like to return the same. Thank you.
I use AOL email. The button that is a rectangle with a line drawing of a mountain is what you press. From there you navigate to your photos folders, choose the one you want, and open it.
The one thing to remember is that AOL has a 25MB limit on emails. So you can send several images if the file size is small enough.
You do not say whether you shoot in RAW or .jpg. And whether you do any editing and to what format you will save those images. This is important, because you don't want to try and send images whose file size is too large. What I do in Lightroom is press the Export button, and in the dialogue [which is where you will choose the folder where you want the exported image to be stored, then choose the format [.jpg recommended for online sharing]. You can also limit the image size and quality. You can add a watermark. Don't check off any parts you don't want to use. Then hit "Export".
When you want to email images to people or post on social media such as FaceBook, you upload the image from within the email or FB so it will appear there. It simply requires following the dialogue, finding the image in its folder where you stored it, and clicking on it. The image will open in the email you are sending or in FB where you are posting.
Jan 11, 2019 19:24:53 #
warzone wrote:
I wanted to purchase a card reader. I have one and both ends of it are covered. The ones I see now appear to have no covering where the sd card is inserted. Anyone have any problems with dirt or dust damaging the sd card?
The card reader I have keeps the SD slot covered, and to use it I just have to press the buttons on each side and it pops up. Very easy, very convenient, and no worry about dust. I do worry about it though, because we burn wood in a wood stove in winter, keep windows open a lot in summer, and also live with 2 cats. Cat hair can clog things up very quickly!
Jan 11, 2019 17:45:37 #
Bipod wrote:
You've got it backwards: the problem is that post... (show quote)
I was not going to respond until I saw that you had posted accusing others of insults! The thing is, just about everything you post contains insults. Did you even attempt to read the original post in this thread with an open mind?
You state that post-processing puts art into photography, as though that were a problem! I suspect you are referring to your opinions about photographers as compared to painters. Apparently you "believe in" painters and not in photographers. If that is so, then why are you here?
You seem to forget that there have been throughout history all different "levels" of painters, just as there are different levels of photographers! As for how long it can take to learn the craft, the art, there are photographers who have gone through the same kind of learning as the painters of whom you are so fond.
As for the "golden age of 'straight photography'" when was that? In my mind that was when people did not develop or print their own negatives, and just snapped a bunch of pictures hoping some would turn out! At the time when the desire to be an artist becomes a part of the mix, then there is no such thing as "straight photography" or "straight painting"! Artists working in any medium will make adjustments to adapt the materials to their inner vision. Artistic License is what that is called.
Photographers cannot be lumped all into one box and all painters into another. Unfortunately you have closed your eyes to the possibility that regardless whether you approve or not, there are a lot of the types of methods you talk about that actually work! They actually will look great when done well.
Art is about experimentation, trying to create something that expresses the vision of the artist, and speaks to the one who is experiencing the work. On the way to accomplishing something great, there are going to be many failures, filling up many garbage cans. But that is no reason to criticize the attempt as though it were an insult. You apparently think that art is made up of only the types that fit your own definition.
In reality, Painting and Photography have a lot in common. Neither one will necessarily portray the world without changing it. And don't forget that both are about capturing the light!