Your best option is to either use LR or do your own cataloging but not both. LR will do everything for you providing you use the tried and true workflows of LR, a program that was designed and used by photographers. The basic premise is that you have 3 areas of work flow.

1. input original storage area (where all your original files are stored)
2. Working sandbox (creation of recipe cards [xmp files] that let LR know what you want to do with each original)
3. Output area (where the step #1 and step #2 are combined and give you finished product stored in another area of the HD)

I see so many people making changes to step #1 and I ask why when the changes should be coming on step #3.

I checked EBay closed items and you seem to be inline with your prices. Some were higher and some less. If you can get it, then you priced it right.

Baby steps... baby steps. :-)

MISCONCEPTION: RAW is an image file. IT IS NOT!

TRUTH: RAW is a file with all the data (1's and 0's) stored for each shot. Processing, whether in camera or in computer, uses a subset of that data to create a JPG or other format picture that you can view.

If you shoot RAW then the camera processes a JPG thumbnail embedded in the RAW file so you can see the basic photo with default processing. You can't view a RAW file as a photo, it needs to be converted into an image format. Once in the computer, (or some cameras) you now have the choice to expand on the cameras processing choices or take it as is. Regardless, you now have to export or create the full size JPG image.

If you shoot JPG, the camera takes a RAW file then processes the data into an image and deletes the extra information including the RAW file. Only minimal processing is available to you at this point as all the rest of the data has been deleted.

Shooting in both modes allows the best of both worlds but does take extra space and extra time. This mode seems to be used when transitioning from JPG shooting to RAW shooting and is usually not used for long once the benefits of RAW are realized. Of course this presumes the individual has a reasonable grasp of PP software.

Conclusion: Shoot in JPG and have a finished product of what the camera gives you with only minor editing available and for the most part it is pretty good. BUT...

Shoot in RAW and have a vastly expanded options of post processing at your disposal. A lot of those BUT's above are now only minor problems. RAW is not a cure all. You still need to get it right in the camera or at least pretty close.

I guess it all depends on just how serious your photographic intent is.

I find that the shot has a lot of potential but all the foreground does nothing for me. I think I would have preferred a higher viewpoint or closer to the waters edge to capture the mirrored smoke in the water and maybe a smidge of the foreground. This might work better as a landscape format. That said, I wasn't there and don't know the area so all I can offer is possibilities. I'd be interested in seeing some of the other shots of this subject. :thumbup:

After much zooming and study I have determined that you are wrong. He is on your other right. Find the large circular dark rock in the center of the pic then slide your eye slightly to the left and up a smidge and you will see his face. Eyes in line with the top of the circular dark rock and he is about the same size as the rock. The body is a blend of snow and rock. Granted not much clarity in a small photo but that's where he be. I can die a happy man now. <sigh>

ditto

First off let me thank Moose for this post. We are also planning a trip to Utah in late Sept. or early Oct. The responses have been wonderful but... I am wondering if we could get a consensus as to the three best places to visit. We have a three week road trip planned starting from Ontario Canada picking up people in Ohio then heading west through Kentucky Missouri Kansas Colorado Utah Nevada Oregon Washington Vancouver through the Rockies and back home. There are a myriad of photo ops along the route but I have settled on Utah as a main focus. I am hoping to get to Utah in about 4-5 days, then spend 5-6 days around Utah and continue the trip. Photo times are between 5 pm and 9 am and yes I like night photography.

My dilemma is to be able to pick 3-4 areas that I can do some justice to and not just drive by shootings. So I ask for your three best picks, area and specific location such as:
Arches Natl Park - Delicate Arch

In return, after scouring the links from previous posts and other Utah related links I offer this link which I thought was a great all encompassing individual resource that gives all sorts of maps and information for trip planning. http://www.utah.com/ and visit the map page http://www.utah.com/maps/

Again, thanks Moose for getting me moving on this. :thumbup:

Working around people is a definite challenge. The best way to work around them and also give some power perspective to the shots is to use a wide angle lens and get low and close to the vehicles. By shooting upward you eliminate a good chunk of the (aimlessly meandering but always in the shot) people and other distracting background and it gives the vehicle the look of accentuated power. Best view points are from a corner so you show off 2 planes of the subject.

Good luck and looking forward to seeing the results.

Technically very well done but artistically speaking, what makes your photos different from all of the snap shots taken that day? Not trying to be a smart ass but I ask the question to hopefully get you asking yourself the same question. What could you have done that would make your photos stand out from all the others? Maybe the other hoggers can make some suggestions. My first thought is to use a much shallower DOF to throw that distracting background out of focus. I can think of several other methods to try as well but this is your photography. I hope I haven't over stepped my bounds and apologize in advance if I have.

First off, regurgitating all the info already stated is a waste of everyone's time.

Second, regurgitating all the info already stated is a waste of everyone's time.

Third, regurgitating all the info already stated is a waste of everyone's time.

OK, I'm ducking under the desk, let 'er fly! :P

WHAT? I CAN'T HEAR YOU OVER THE YELLING!!

Seriously, mercury77 on the web it is considered to be yelling when you use all caps. Please un-caps lock in future posts, thanks.

No problem, I was jesting at the, "I've never done it but"...somebody told me statement. :lol:

Sorry, glossed over the shipping included in your original post. As to the customs... you as a seller wouldn't deal or have anything to do with it, the buyer would. I am so jealous of your trip. I haven't been to that part of the country in close to 20 years and yes it is beautiful.

Not sure what you're saying here, other than you've never been out of the country. Cross any countries border and there are hoops to jump through, usually very small ones unless it's a long weekend. But what does that have to do with the big brown truck transporting your items? As a seller you package the item up, run it down to the post office or where-ever and you're done. There may be a cost with duty but that has nothing to do with the seller. The buyer knows this going in and it's up to him to pay if enforced. Between the US and Canada, electronics is the big eye catcher for the duty guy. And then it's luck of the draw. I've had $500 items fly right through and other times a $50 item gets nailed.