I think adobe and too many other editing software programs killed the fun of editing!
Nov 23, 2015 09:48:36 #
HughB
Loc: Minneapolis MN
Very interesting and informative discussion. I started with PS several years ago and updated whenever necessary. Then I switched computers to an Apple about 5 years ago and am totally in love with it. I never used their iPhoto program but immediately purchased their professional Aperture software which has been my mainstay for all editing and library purposes. Of course Apple does not support it anymore but it still is fully functional. I kept PS CS4 but over time forgot how to use many of its functions so I took it off my computer. All my PP is really done within Aperture with one now two exceptions: I have been using the Promatix Pro 5 software for Landscape HDR PP which I love; second, I recently purchased for about $90, the new Affinity software which is basically somewhat of a clone of PS but a lot less complicated and very easy to learn. It has had very good reviews. Even with these two additional programs I try to keep the complete process as simple as possible with most of my efforts devoted to capturing the correct photo with the camera!
Nov 23, 2015 09:55:40 #
According to Ansel Adams the negative was only the start, the great performance came from the optical darkroom. It was well known that he used to spend time perfecting a print, sometimes that took him weeks, sometimes months.
Editing is fundamental but I have to agree with you that there are many softwares out there to add to the confusion. I know of professional photographers that only use Photoshop while others, like me, use Topaz's presets when I believe it is necessary to improve on a file. When using those presets I am careful enough to cut down the effect from the preset to make the resulting photograph as natural as possible.
I have tried to keep my workflow as simple as I can. For my Nikon files I use Capture NX2 and for my Olympus EP-5, I use Olympus Viewer 3 while Photoshop serves me to edit those areas where my other softwares do not render the results I like.
My advise to you is to try to keep it simple. If Photoshop is your primary editor keep it like that. If you have any other software that you use to enhance the final photograph use that too. Period.
I bet your life will be easier.
Editing is fundamental but I have to agree with you that there are many softwares out there to add to the confusion. I know of professional photographers that only use Photoshop while others, like me, use Topaz's presets when I believe it is necessary to improve on a file. When using those presets I am careful enough to cut down the effect from the preset to make the resulting photograph as natural as possible.
I have tried to keep my workflow as simple as I can. For my Nikon files I use Capture NX2 and for my Olympus EP-5, I use Olympus Viewer 3 while Photoshop serves me to edit those areas where my other softwares do not render the results I like.
My advise to you is to try to keep it simple. If Photoshop is your primary editor keep it like that. If you have any other software that you use to enhance the final photograph use that too. Period.
I bet your life will be easier.
Nov 23, 2015 09:56:39 #
raden wrote:
Here are a few of my photos and I live in very rural Mississippi and every photo here I took in and around my yard, wooded property and garden.
nice photos; nice property!
Nov 23, 2015 10:38:53 #
ejrmaine wrote:
I totally agree, "getting it right in the camera" is everyone's goal, but the post processing brings out the artist's talent.
We might have to define "getting it right in the camera." My goal is to get the picture because I probably won't be there again for many days, weeks, months, or even years. Regardless of what picture I get, though, I know that Photoshop can help me make something out of nothing at all.
Nov 23, 2015 10:41:41 #
GregWCIL wrote:
You actually sell photos of bears with the zoo fence in the background? You are kidding, right?
Yep. The fence pretty much indicates where the picture was taken, quite often at a zoo, so the picture becomes a memento for some people of going to the zoo. Bears, pandas, and eagles are my most popular animal pictures, excepting all my Clients who want me to do custom Photographic Art of their dog or cat.
I also learned about four decades ago that I don't pretend to know what other people want, so I give them choices. The most popular of those choices, however, can give me a good indication of what other people want.
Nov 23, 2015 10:43:37 #
billwassmann wrote:
I too try to get it right in the camera. I had PhotoShop 2 and learned a little bit, then a friend bought me CS4 and I got lost. The things I thought I knew didn't seem to work. Deep sigh.
Big, big difference between Photoshop 2 and CS4. That's almost like saying that I bought a Model T and learned a little bit about cars but then a friend bought me a 2015 Tesla and the things I thought I knew about cars didn't seem to work.
Nov 23, 2015 10:46:14 #
Erv wrote:
Well so far I haven't gotten into editing a lot right now. ...I will keep trying to get it right in camera.
It sounds like photography is a hobby for you like it is for me. That being the case, you really shouldn't let anyone tell you how to do it. If you don't like post-processing but like to shoot then just let the camera do the post-processing for you. Most cameras of recent vintage do a pretty good job of PP, most of the time. There's nothing wrong with that.
Personally, if I had to choose between shooting and processing I'd probably choose the later. Fortunately I don't have to make that choice - it's a hobby after all. If it were a business I'd have to do what the customers wanted me to do - and I suspect they'd want me to both shoot and post-process.
Nov 23, 2015 10:57:43 #
Sit in a darkened room for a while and your software problems will soon go away.
My own problems started with version 3 way back in the earlier 1990s with PS version 3 and I still kick the desk from time to time relieve the frustrations (that I have created on my computers}
Having filmed, developed, and printed my own pics since the 1960s, it has been my policy to get it right in camera as much as possible before pressing the button.
Unless I have entered a creative competition I never spend more than 15 minutes on an image.
If I need more time the image is probably a pigs ear and not worth it in any case
My own problems started with version 3 way back in the earlier 1990s with PS version 3 and I still kick the desk from time to time relieve the frustrations (that I have created on my computers}
Having filmed, developed, and printed my own pics since the 1960s, it has been my policy to get it right in camera as much as possible before pressing the button.
Unless I have entered a creative competition I never spend more than 15 minutes on an image.
If I need more time the image is probably a pigs ear and not worth it in any case
Nov 23, 2015 11:20:10 #
raden wrote:
No kidding. With all the downloads, updates, bugs ... (show quote)
I use Nikon Capture NX2, (not View NX2), exclusively for editing. It does everything I want it to do. Unless I upgrade to a camera it does not support, very doubtful, I see no reason to go through the hassles of learning and dealing with some other program.
Nov 23, 2015 11:26:23 #
Nov 23, 2015 12:16:09 #
ejrmaine wrote:
I totally agree, "getting it right in the camera" is everyone's goal, but the post processing brings out the artist's talent.
:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:
Nov 23, 2015 12:18:30 #
russelray wrote:
Big, big difference between Photoshop 2 and CS4. That's almost like saying that I bought a Model T and learned a little bit about cars but then a friend bought me a 2015 Tesla and the things I thought I knew about cars didn't seem to work.
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Nov 23, 2015 12:21:05 #
Nov 23, 2015 13:12:31 #
dcampbell52 wrote:
I have Adobe LR and Photoshop (Adobe Cloud) and I ... (show quote)
:thumbup: :thumbup:
Nov 23, 2015 13:34:05 #
raden wrote:
No kidding. With all the downloads, updates, bugs ... (show quote)
Of course everyone wants to "get it right in the camera",
I shoot raw and go from there.
Nope, don't have any PP problems. I use LR and PS plus a number of plugins. With the countless how-to books out there and the countless how -to videos on line I find it surprising that that many people have that many problems with editing programs.
The word "difficult" or "hard" should be reserved for Calculus of Variations and the like, not post processing or editing.
Take a break for a while, have a beer or two then get back at it, and read, read, read.
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