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The much-awaited Adobe Lightroom 2.0 was released July 29th after a brief 4 month Beta period. With out hesitation, for reasons I’ll explain later, I upgraded my copy of Lightroom to version 2 the day it was announced. Now that I’ve had a chance to use the application in real world conditions for the past week I wanted to share my impressions of it.
Since Lightroom went into its initial Beta I’ve been sold on the concept of non-destructive editing of my RAW files. Lightroom 1.0 for all intents and purposes was a great first step combining a state of the art RAW converter, basic digital asset management technology and thanks to Phil Clevenger a revolutionary user interface. Additional functionality to ease printing and web gallery output rounded out the application. Streamlined to help photographers more quickly manage large and small quantities of photography alike Lightroom’s release still seemed to confuse some diehard Photoshop users. What about localized edits and masks? For that Lightroom 1.0 users would still need to rely on Photoshop, initiating the editing of a file in Lightroom and working on a copy in Photoshop. All in all a great first step but far from reaching it’s full potential.
Enter Lightroom 2.0, building on the applications core functionality non-destructive photo editing has been taken to the next level. In version 2 the strengths of each core function has been enhanced. The new features that are making the biggest impact in my day-to-day use of the program include:
Smart Collections
This feature single-handedly was the biggest reason behind my upgrade. When I learned this feature was in Lightroom 2 Beta I knew I would upgrade to version 2 immediately. The manual collections with in the first version of Lightroom were helpful, but severely limiting. More times than I can count I’ve needed to generate collections based on specific keywords (location, subject, etc.), date or rating. The ability to dynamically pull together collections of images across multiple photo sets is incredibly helpful and a huge time saver. This is especially true when looking to create a new collection or build out existing collections as new photos are added to an image library.
Local Adjustments
Lightroom 1.x was all about global adjustments such as color correction, curve adjustments, vignetting, etc. Lightroom 2 now has the ability to apply local adjustments through the following editing tools: Crop Overlay tool, Spot Removal brush, Red Eye Correction tool, Graduated Filter mask, and Adjustment Brushes mask. The Crop Overlay tool provides a quick means of cropping and even leveling ones photo. The Spot Removal brush has been enhanced to clone or heal with a user defined opacity. The Red Eye Correction tool now provides a drag and correct feature to customize the shape of the correction area. The Graduated Filter mask enables gradient-based masks to adjust exposure, brightness, etc. (more on this below). Finally the Adjustment Brush mask enables you through a brush tool to adjust exposure, brightness, contrast, saturation, clarity, sharpness, color and even skin softness.
Knowing Adobe I can see the types of Local Adjustment tools expanding in the future and/or having the existing tools refined further. For images that require minor edits or tweaks these editing tools give photographers a greater degree of flexibility and saves time in cutting out the need to use Photoshop for relatively basic types of edits. I wasn’t missing localized edits too badly in the first version of Lightroom, but now that I have them at my fingertips I don’t know how I lived with out them.
Graduated Filter Masks
This local adjustment tool is worthy of noting individually due to the broad impact it likely will have on my work and the work of others. Managing scenes with a dynamic range beyond the capabilities of a cameras film or sensor has troubled photographers for decades. These days people are increasingly using HDR to deal with this or are double-processing RAW files. For those like myself that prefer pre-processing techniques Graduated Neutral Density Filters have been the solution.
The Graduated Filter masks provide a means to handle an image in a similar fashion to both double-processing and the use of Graduated Neutral Density filters. A Graduated Filter mask(s) can be applied adjusting exposure and/or brightness. Rather than processing the same RAW file twice to double-process or use a Graduated Neutral Density filter when taking a photo one can simply apply the appropriate mask to balance the exposure. It should be noted these masks aren’t just limited to exposure and brightness adjustments. Graduated filter masks can also be applied for contrast, saturation, clarity, and sharpness adjustments.
Does this function equate to the death knell of Graduated Neutral Density filters? I would argue no. Being able to manage light before it reaches ones film or sensor will never go out of style. Certainly use of the Graduated Filter mask can only help, but for my line of work it’s not a replacement. Over time perhaps my tune will change. In the meantime I look forward to experimenting with this adjustment tool to find its limits and sweet spot of use.
Centralized UI for Editing Tools
From a User Interface (UI) perspective the already streamlined Lightroom interface has been improved. When in the “Develop” module of the application, editing tools used for local adjustments are now tightly centralized in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Having the Crop Overlay tool, Spot Removal brush, Red Eye Correction tool, Graduated Filter mask, and Adjustment Brushes mask in one consistent location is a real time saver particularly if using a large monitor or dual screens.
Volume Management
Lightroom 2 now has a more intuitive means of visually displaying photo directories on their respective hard drives and the status of the drive to let you know if the files can be accessed. Seemingly simple in concept this was lacking in the first version of the application and was a pet peeve of mine. In the original version of Lightroom it was a common occurrence to navigate through your library find a photo set, load the set to view image previews, click on an image and then be told the image was off-line. For those with photos stored across multiple drives the inclusion of this feature now makes it easier to identify where content resides and whether or not the drive is connected or turned on saving you time and frustration.
CS3 Integration
Expanding on the “Edit in Adobe Photoshop” feature it is now possible in Lightroom 2 to select photographs and “Open as Smart Object in Photoshop”, “Merge to Panorama in Photoshop”, “Merge to HDR in Photoshop” or “Open as Layers in Photoshop”. Clearly the big take away from these added functions are Adobe’s willingness to streamline more complex image creation. I don’t expect Lightroom to pick up built-in HDR or Panoramic functionality, but the fact it is now easier and faster to utilize this functionality in Photoshop is worthy of praise.
Multiple Display Support
The majority of photographers dream of having a computer setup utilizing multiple monitors. For those lucky enough to have a multiple monitor configuration on their workstation or laptop this feature will make you very happy. In this version of Lightroom Adobe took multiple monitor support one step further by providing 4 multiple display functions to assist in image sorting, ranking and comparison. The multiple display functions include Grid, Loupe, Compare and Survey.
These display options should sound familiar as they’re the same display options available in the default single monitor mode. The loupe view for the second monitor does include 3 viewing mode options: Normal, Live and Locked. The Normal mode displays the same image on both monitors with the option to set a different zoom ratio. This is helpful when evaluating subtle edits. The Live mode turns the second monitor into one large loupe displaying the portion of the image your cursor is over in the scaled original on the main monitor. The Locked mode displays a fixed size preview of an image on the second monitor. Changing the image requires the use of keyboard commands “alt/option and Enter”.
Enhanced Sharpness Tool
The ability to make localized adjustments for sharpness is another time saving function, but what really makes this function note worthy is the ability to utilize Auto Masks. After specifying your brush size, edge softness and flow rate you can activate the “Auto Mask” option. When active brush strokes are confined to areas of similar color. This works particularly well when keeping sharpness adjustments to specific objects with in your image. As with other localized adjustments a circular point will mark the spot of the completed adjustment. Mousing over the circular point will activate a highlight of the effected area.
Other Features of Note
- 64-bit processing support - For those with the latest Mac OS and Windows systems Lightroom will take advantage of their advanced memory handling capabilities.
- Print Packages - Quickly choose and customize print package layouts to conserve paper and ink.
- Output Sharpening - Select from sharpening presets for different types of print and web output.
- Enhanced Batch Processing - In addition to naming and organizing photos on import from your CF cards it is now possible to apply preset adjustments.
- Camera Profiles - Lightroom 2 (and Camera RAW 4.5) now support alternate camera profiles that can be loaded and referenced in the Camera Calibration panel. Profiles that match camera manufacturer color appearances such as Canon’s Picture Styles (Standard, Landscape, Neutral, Portrait and Faithful) could be applied via this feature.
Concluding Thoughts
The Adobe Lightroom team has been exceptionally busy the past several months and they’ve done an exceptional job in hearing their users via the Beta program. Lightroom 2 has been one of the best upgrades I’ve invested in over the past year or two. As Lightroom improves so too does my end product and overall productivity. As a photographer striving to make the most of his limited time Lightroom has proven to be an essential asset.
Adobe Lightroom Features and Shortcuts - Lightroom Journal
Technorati Tags: Adobe, Lightroom 2, Lightroom, software, review
One of the best-kept secrets when it comes to making dynamic photo slide shows is Fotomagico. Fotomagico makes creating professional level presentations incredibly easy. I’ve been using Fotomagico since version 2.0 and since that time Boinx Software have been regularly releasing updates. Just this past week version 2.5 was released introducing some key enhancements.
Before getting too focused on the new enhancements its important to note what Fotomagico is and is not. Fotomagico is a presentation application for professional photographers. The software enables photographers to create dynamic viewing experiences with greater control and creativity than many other applications. Various display effects combined with music provide a means to wow your audience. Presentations can be exported for use on the web, DVDs, podcasts, etc. Fotomagico is an application for Apple computers (sorry PC users) and leverages Apple QuickTime. Two versions of the software are available including an Express and Pro version.
Features added in version 2.5 that are noteworthy include:
- Adobe Lightroom Support - FotoMagico 2.5 now supports the iMedia Browser framework
- Teleprompter - FotoMagico 2.5 Pro users can show their photos on one display and read their notes for every slide on another.
- YouTube Export - The Sharing Assistant feature adds a new export option, allowing to upload photo presentation videos directly to YouTube.
- Standalone Player - Self-contained movies can now be saved from Fotomagico presentations enabling a broader audience the ability to view presentations created with the software.
- Apple Screensavers - With the click of a button presentations can now be saved as screensavers.
- Watermark Layer - Custom branding slideshows is now possible with the addition of a flexible and persistent graphic layer.
I should note that in addition to the afore mentioned export features one can save out presentations via preset optimized settings for web , iPod, iPhone, AppleTV, HD, QuickTime and MP4 movies. These preset optimization settings make life very easy when you’re looking to produce presentations in a timely fashion.
This weekend I took the time to put Fotomagico 2.5 through its paces and as with previous versions I was impressed. Creating a presentation is simple. To do so you can either click and drag images to the project window from the Finder or from a pull down menu you can choose from image sets or collections with in iMedia Browser framework compatible applications such as iPhoto or Lightroom. The project window is intuitively designed and application menus are laid out in a very logical order. A general example of how the application works is available thanks to TroyPhoto via YouTube.
I put together two sample presentations to quickly show what is possible. The first video features some select photographs from my portfolio that were manually placed into the slideshow along with a custom watermark.
Landscape Photography by Jim M. Goldstein
Note: New link provided to higher resolution version
In the second video, photos from my recent trip to Utah and Wyoming were used from Lightroom 2.0:
Fotomagico 2.5.1 Lightroom Test
I did run into one snag with the Lightroom test. Fotomagico seemed to reference libraries on the startup drive only. My main Lightroom library is kept on an external drive for the time being and as a result I was not able to pull from it. I had to track down my local library and use images with in it. At the moment there does not seem to be a way to manually designate Lightroom libraries or any other application libraries if they exist outside of ones startup drive. Although an inconvenience a work around was possible. As new versions of Fotomagico are released I’m sure this will be addressed.
Fotomagico is a great application that I’ve used in the past and will continue to use in the future. If you’re a photographer who uses Apple computers I highly recommend Fotomagico. The application has several strengths including its simplified user interface and overall ease of use. The export options provide photographers an avenue of creating content for a variety of uses. The Boinx team has proven to have an eye for the future keeping pace with modern demands. I will admit I do wish there was the ability to directly export Flash video. For the time being if in need of Flash video one will have to make due with viewing exported movies to YouTube.
All that being said Fotomagico is well worth trying, but be warned in doing so you’ll quickly find how easy and powerful the application is. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself buying a copy as the Express version is only $49 and the Pro version is $129.
Technorati Tags: Fotomagico, review, photography
ASMP (American Society of Media Professionals) held the first of its four weekend conferences Strictly Business 2 this past weekend in Los Angeles. In fact I just got in from the airport and decided that it was such a valuable experience that I’d immediately write a review about it. The last time the “Strictly Business” event was held was roughly 10 years ago and many of the then attendees have become “Strictly Business 2″ presenters including John Harrington and Judy Herrmann. Other presenters included Leslie Burns-Dell’Acqua and Blake Discher.
See the Strictly Business 2 site for more presenter information.
As for the review I’ll cut to the chase… Read more… »
This evening I attended the Fotovision.org lecture on “The Legal Landscape of Street Shooting“.
The panel included:
David Greene, Executive Director of “The First Amendment Project“
Pondra Perkins is a Staff Attorney and Environmental Advocacy Fellow at “The First Amendment Project“
James Wheaton, co-founder of the “The First Amendment Project“
This was by far one of the best panel discussions I’ve been to. The $10 admission fee was a bargain. The panelists defined numerous key concepts, terms and laws with relevant examples from recent news. You’d think that a legal discussion would end up being stale and boring, but the panelists had a great sense of humor and outlook to the concepts discussed. A helpful handout included key forms and legal statutes to be aware of was handed out along with the discussion outline:
1. The Basics
2. Taking Photographs on Public and Quasi-Public Property
3. Taking Photographs on Private Property
4. Invasion of Privacy
- Intrusion
- False Light
- Private Facts
- Misappropriation
5. Obscenity and Child Pornography
6. Protecting Your Unpublished Work
7. Copyright
8. Trademark
9. Subpoenas and Shield Laws
The discussion format was open enabling questions to be asked throughout. Those in attendance, hungry for information, were well mannered so the discussion was orderly and civil. Those in attendance had a photojournalist slant, but that was to be expected considering the event was held at the UC Berkeley School of Photojournalism. Don’t be fooled by the audience or location, all the content discussed was pertinent to every photographer. Although more may know me for my landscape and nature work I still enjoy cityscape, street and travel photography. Awareness to the laws impacting photographers is a universal need and affects all genres.
On that note the discussion was recorded and is due to be released as a podcast. As soon as I’m made aware of its release I’ll be sure to post a link.
Technorati Tags: legal, law, photography, street, photography, shooting, photojournalism, review, First Amendment Project
The past couple of months I’ve been on a kick to find and watch as many photography related films as possible. In the process I decided to note and share my top 5 favorite photography related films. So here they are…
5. Flags of Our Fathers (Drama)
I concede this likely won’t be shared as top five contender by others, but the reason why it makes my top five list is because it exemplifies the power of an image. After seeing this movie it inspired me to author my article on “The Power of Photography“. The movie, directed by Clint Eastwood, provides a perspective of photographies strengths, weaknesses, political and cultural malleability. The movie exemplifies perfectly how an iconic image can tell a story factually, fictionally and interpretively.
4. Rear Window (Thriller)
An Alfred Hitchcock classic of a wheelchair bound photographer who is convinced he’s witnessed his neighbor commit murder. Truly a cinematic gem and one of Hitchcock’s all time best.
3. Pecker (Comedy)
I’ve never been a huge fan of John Waters films, but this one is hillarious and takes an enjoyable swipe at the art world. Edward Furlong plays Pecker who becomes an overnight sensation in the photography art world from his photos of his odd family. Although the most mainstream of John Waters films that I’ve seen, it’s still John Waters so expect the unexpected.
2. City of God (
Cidade de Deus) (Drama)
Based on a book by Paulo Lins, the movie follows Buscapé (AKA Rocket) and Zé Pequeno (AKA Li’l Zéwho) as they grow up in one of Rio de Janeiro’s most dangerous neighborhoods. Buscapé discovers photography while Zé Pequeno becomes a drug dealer and gang leader. The story is incredibly powerful. I thought about this movie for over a week after seeing it.
1. War Photographer (Documentary)
A documentary on James Nachtwey, an extremely talented, driven and famous war photographer. Not the lightest of films, but it is incredibly powerful and inspiring. After watching the film I felt extremely small, yet driven to do something more to make a difference… albeit outside of a war zone.
If you have others that are your favorite and/or you think they are worthy of consideration for the Top 5 let me know.
On the horizon:
Capa (2007)
In Production:
“The story of famous photographer Robert Capa and his relationship with fellow photographer Gerda Taro during the Spanish Civil War.”
Technorati Tags: photography, film, top 5, movie,
Related Link: Download Movies Download Movies
It’s official 6 days ago I entered the world of the iPhone. Since that time, being the photography obsessed individual that I am, I’ve been interested in learning more about the capabilities of the iPhone’s camera. The camera on the iPhone continues to be the step child of the iPhone hype hardly getting any technical mention on Apple’s iPhone Technical Specifications page and it was hardly mentioned nor demonstrated by Steve Jobs during his keynote speech at MacWorld 2007. To sum up all that we know about the iPhone camera: “2.0 megapixels”.
This week I gave the iPhone camera a run for its money (no jokes from the peanut gallery) and here’s the low down…
Read more… »
3
Jun
Posted in Photography, Reviews by Jim |
In late May, Memorial Day weekend in fact, I had the opportunity to attend the Art Wolfe Creative Session workshop held here in San Francisco. I had a great time, but before I jump into the review to keep things transparent… I talk with Art every once in a blue moon and have gone out to shoot with him from time to time. With that being said this review will be impartial and should be a good measure to gauge the workshop.
Friday:
To kick off the weekend on Friday night Art gave a photo presentation at the Yerba Buena Gardens. 70-100 people were in attendance. The presentation was sharp and professional and noticeably more polished than his “Edge of the Earth / Corner of the Sky” presentation I saw in 2006. Photographs were shown from Nepal, Madagascar, Africa, Alaska, South George Island and Antarctica. I can’t say how the presentation impacted others, but I found myself quickly transported to each location displayed. From time to time I would turn to my wife, who joined me, and she particularly lit up when viewing the Madagascar photos. I think the Lemurs clearly won her over.
The surprise of the evening was a sneak peek at Read more… »
