Posts: TonyP | Ugly Hedgehog

Jan 23, 2024 20:52:32 #

I think I'll probably purchase ON1 2024, eventually

Did anyone see this recent (Jan 10 2024) review in F Stoppers.

'Why Is ON1 Photo Raw 2024 and ON1 Photo RAW MAX a Fabulous Replacement for Lightroom Classic and Photoshop?'

Now, I'm just an amateur, using the basic tools in Photoshop Elements 2024. I recently upgraded from an older version as I wanted 'a bit more'. I used Lightroom some years ago before it was a subscription, but at my level of expertise, it wasn't worth me paying monthly so changed to Photoshop Elements.
Layers and Masks etc are way above my pay grade.

Recently ON1 seemed to get a bit controversial here on UHH which made me wary initially, but I'm now hooked. I downloaded the free version 2023.5 and I've 'played' with many of the features and at least now understand how Layers works. That's a major for me after so many years of gritting my teeth when anyone suggests using the feature, even in Elements, to do something.

Check out the F Stoppers article, if like me, you want to progress, even if it's with a bit of help from AI.
There are heaps of instructional videos on YouTube, I recommend the ones with Scott Kelby, but others are pretty good as well.

Jan 22, 2024 12:33:00 #

BartHx wrote:

I see a soprano sax. Where is the clarinet?

My mistake

at least I didn’t call it a trumpet

Jan 22, 2024 03:07:47 #

Just a bit more on ON1. If you have already got the free offer this is an introduction to what you have downloaded back when the version was offered as an update to paying customers back in May 2023.
I found it quite enlightening, especially the use of Masks which Ive avoided as I really just couldn't get my head around them.
Have a look, it's only 6-7 minutes but I found it worthwhile https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McWPZGLlB3o

Jan 22, 2024 01:51:45 #

Hip Coyote wrote:

Or hiking and shooting a lot of pics. Having a cap cost me a few lost shots of critters so I kept cap off.

I can also see an argument for street photography. Moments are fleeting.

So use a wrist strap.

Jan 22, 2024 00:21:56 #

For the price of less than a cup of takeaway coffee, why not use a hard plastic lens cap. These are designed to protect the lens and come with any camera when purchased.
I really cant understand a serious photographer, practicing his hobby or craft with an expensive lens that determines the quality of the capture, taking the shot through an added piece of glass.
Just in case he/she might drop the camera.
UV filters were designed for film that was sensitive to UV rays. Digital cameras are immune to UV effects.
My suggestion is if your camera is susceptible to being dropped, buy a wrist strap and or use the lens cap.
In nearly 60 years of taking pics I've damaged a lens only once, when the camera came off the tripod. A filter wouldn't have helped save the lens. (I hadn't tightened the clamp on the tripod head properly)

Edit. Thinking about it further, the only time a good protective filter could be a good idea, is when taking pics in windy conditions with spray or sand in the air.

Jan 21, 2024 15:49:14 #

User ID wrote:

I use some filter or other at ALL times becuz my great lenses are waaaaaay too sharp for my high rez sensors.

Why not just reduce sharpening in the camera settings? The second one appears to have had a touch of HDR or something??
Cant see any problem with the first one. Nice portrait. Doesn't look oversharp to my old eyes.

edit: What happened there? You changed the second photo while I was answering.
edit: the, now, colour second photo looks good to me, focused on the clarinet.

Jan 21, 2024 14:38:35 #

I can't see any use for a UV filter in the digital age. Why use an extra piece of glass on a lens that is only going to be degraded by a piece of cheaper glass.
If you are looking for whatever protection it might provide the B+W is your best choice imo.
I use B&W ND and CPL filters, but only when needed (unless like recently I forgot to take the ND off and was having to use exposure compensation all day!)

Jan 21, 2024 12:48:13 #

topcat wrote:

I have the last free one that they offered, I don't use it all the time, but I do use it.
Thanks for the new one

Which editor do you use?

Jan 20, 2024 16:12:14 #

MrBob wrote:

Tony, Where do you go to select small areas...?

This was one of the videos I got sent by ON1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0F0zZKoxSg0
but basically you select the 'super' tool in the left column and go from there.
The vid explains how to deselect and narrow it down, say, to just one thing you want to work on in the photo.
Then, say, if the edges of the object (hair?) are not defined as well as you would like, you can use a brush to tidy it up.... etc.
There is another video I watched as well, that I found on YouTube, that wasn't promoted by ON1, I think that was easier for me to follow but I didn't save the link. Have a look, you will probably find it under a ON1 search.

Edit: If you havent downloaded ON1 yet, this might be of interest, https://on1help.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/22938148325261-Getting-Started-with-ON1-Effects

Jan 20, 2024 14:28:02 #

(For Your Consideration)

Curious

Linda From Maine wrote:

The photo is eye-catching! I love how you caught the sprinkler in the sunlight and were able to frame the cow. I can see possibilities for cropping a bit, especially from foreground, to make your story stronger.

Almost exactly what I was going to say.
Great capture, love the gate and water frame

Jan 20, 2024 14:23:15 #

jerryc41 wrote:

Thanks for that. I'll add it to my other ON1 files.

Worth reading the emails you will get Jerry and getting some of the free presets they seem to be adding progressively (to keep us, me anyway, interested and 'playing' with the programme).
Ive had a bit of time now experimenting with quite a few old files. Ive only ever used Adobe Elements as my organiser and processing programme, never really understood how to use layers and all that stuff, even tho I do use the Expert mode.
ON1, perhaps with the help of A1, has made more complicated stuff simpler, for me anyway.
One feature that's already become a 'go to' for me, is being able to select small areas of a scene that need treatment, rather than treating the whole photo, so simple when you know how.
(I'm like a kid with a new toy

)
I think I'll now be importing files into Elements as before but then do the first edit of my Raw files in ON1, then finish off in Elements if there is anything else to do so they are then safely catalogued in Elements.
Its quite clever how it works so well in tandem with Elements although I find there is a bit of a wait loading between the two programmes. I think its my old Dell Precision laptop that's causing the delay.

I think even the naysayers and purists are going to eventually embrace AI. Just wait until cameras have AI and you can tell the camera it is actually a beautiful sunset rather than a cloudy noon day sky.
Phones already have 'fun' stuff presets provided by AI so why not cameras?

Jan 20, 2024 01:04:58 #

Exposure Comp ????

I don't think you can make a hard and fast rule for exposure compensation.
Too many variables inc how smart your camera is regarding available exposure modes, how smart you are at setting your camera up for various scenarios etc.
My advice would be too shoot RAW as it will give you more flexibility in pp if you make a mistake in exposure, than if you were only saving jpegs.

Jan 19, 2024 14:57:54 #

How do you approach composition in your photography?

R.G. wrote:

Different genres have different requirements when it comes to composition, so generalisations are guaranteed to miss the mark occasionally. If there was a genre called "scene capture" it would encompass the most basic aspects of what most people want when it comes to composition. Some of the possible exceptions are still life, product photography and the like.

A popular genre which has common, basic composition requirements is landscape photography, and it's common to see landscape scenes being divided into foreground, mid field and far field (or background). In landscape photography, composition is all about finding the right viewpoint (where to stand) and the right line of sight (what direction to look in). Within the camera's field of view there will be a main subject or subjects of interest or a main area of interest, and the photographer's job is to make it obvious what the main subjects or areas of interest are, regardless of whether they are in the foreground, mid field or far field. Compositionally that can be achieved by means of placement within the frame or alternatively it's possible to use various devices like leading lines or clear channels to lead the viewer's eye towards those specific subjects or areas of interest. Other factors like lighting, contrast, sharpness and colour can also be used to draw the viewer's attention but the subject here is composition.

When I have my composition hat on I look for ways to draw the viewer's attention into the shot, and very often that goes hand in hand with ways to amplify the depth aspect of the scene. Photos are a 2D rendering of a 3D reality and anything you can do to enhance the perception of depth within the photo will be a major step towards creating the idea that the viewer is perceiving a 3D reality as opposed to a 2D rendering of it. You want the viewer to forget that he/she is not actually seeing reality but a facsimile of it. I've noticed that 3D depth cues are a pronounced feature of AI-generated images. It's obviously a major aspect of the algorithms that are used to create images from scratch. Perhaps it's our turn to learn from AI instead of it learning from us.

Different genres have different requirements when ... (show quote)

Great explanation of good practice

I never realised how important ones feet are, with regards to composition, until stage 4 hip arthritis reared its ugly head. I used to get at least maybe 1 keeper most days, now its rare that I'm really pleased with results. It didn't take long for me to realise I just cant be bothered moving to what might be the ideal vantage point before taking the shot. Pain can be a great motivator to not move

Jan 18, 2024 18:17:13 #

dpullum wrote:

Check out free presets
https://www.freepresets.com/product-category/free-on1-presets/

I havent tried any but just watched this tutorial link that came in todays' email from ON1.

https://www.on1.com/videos/top-5-filters-for-any-photo/?utm_campaign=PP-Effects-Free-Drip&utm_source=EffectsFree&utm_medium=email&mkt_tok=MTg1LVJXWC02MTgAAAGQuirZ-twK3ggOnOnyhtxT0kQv6x4PknDBE8Gs93CaabA-QcLYzOXfdkhDisSbVyRKNAPd-8zE4vf8AW1ErkB38ZgV8JfgH59ijTmj7aslRKc

Some of the comments make me want to dive in and try them on some old photos. Haven't got time today.