Do you get it right in camera?

Do you get it right in the camera? Or do you leave the engineers to do your post processing? Is JPG post processing?

Read on, https://larrysphotography41.blogspot.com/2020/09/get-it-right.html?m=1

Remove the Background in Photoshop

I have difficulty removing the background in Photoshop.

This video from Jesus Ramirez is helpful for that as well as other selections and refining selections.

You may want to join the Photoshop Training Channel, PTC, on Youtube.

Jesus Ramirez is a regular presenter at the 2024 Lightroom Virtual Summits and  the upcoming Photoshop Virtual Summit 6. Additional information on Virtual Summits by  Dave Cross

Cull my Shoot

This is a Work in Progress that I will revise as needed.

I use the Adobe Ecosystem and have older images in the folder Lightroom Classic. New images are in the folder Lightroom Desktop. You may want to read my blog post Moving from Lightroom Classic to Lightroom.

In Lightroom Classic LrC. When I note Lightroom, Lr, it is NOT Lightroom Classic

• I copy my images to the destination folder on my external drive.
• LrC. Import the images and add any keywords and Title or comments needed.
• LrC. If chosen I set import presets.
• In Lr there is No Import function needed.

• Create a Collection Set for the shoot
• LrC. Create a collection, in the collection set, for the full shoot.
• LrC. Add the full shoot to that collection.
• In Lr Local there are no Collections.
• In Library mode Grid view in the Collection for the full shoot.
• I usually have 3 to 6 images on a page.
• LrC. Put Caps lock on for automatically go to the next image.
• In Lightroom there is not automatic advance.
• LrC. Quickly view each photo and 'P'ick or X. X are images that are out of focus or otherwise bad.
• In Lightroom the Z  is Pick flag.
• LrC
• Select all Picks and create a Picks collection in the collection set and move the Picks there.
• Now it's time to get BRUTAL and use Loupe view 
• for each image analyze at 100% for focus
•  Go pack to Fit and analyze the composition
• If you want to spend time to edit further give it a 4.
• Use 1 for memory shots.
• Move the P and 4's to another collection 
• Lr
• You can approximate collections by creating subdirectories. Sometimes I create 
• Full Shoot
• Picks
• Editing
• Use 4 stars when editing is complete
• Edit in PS as needed and to add my signature
• Five stars when completed and when ready to publish move to parent folder.

• I've been attempting to just have 1 to 3 of a similar image, like a sunset, sunrise, moon, ... Why force the viewer to make a  choice from 10-20 good photos that are very similar?
• For example on a recent shoot I have several good/great images of a Great Blue Heron in flight. I choose the one that you could see the eye, extended wings, etc. in sharp focus and detail.

Keepers?

When you go to a photo shoot how many are keepers?

Only your best is the answer. Randy Saffles always said "only show your best" but what is the best of several hundreds of photos?

Of course it depends. It depends on your genre. Action, wildlife, events, landscape ...? Maybe 10% +-.

You have to be brutal  when culling. Go through your shoot several times.

This video by David Bergman may be helpful.

My DoF Rant

I've been somewhat disgusted with the pundents that give simple solutions to complex photography subjects.

For what's it worth. It isn't that simple. Many articles and videos are just click bait. A simple way to improve your photography.

My favorite piss off issue is use a large Aperture to have a small DoF. While not incorrect it doesn't tell the complete story.

In stoppers article dated July 27 2024 it address DoF here.

I've discussed this subject over the years here.

It's not that simple 

And here https://youtu.be/vaK6bHiD4qU?si=kdco7WJguigFD7Yj

Zone Focus

Many articles discussed sharpness. Yes it's important and many may will disagree with me. 

But do you need to track the eye and spend money to purchase new cameras, "gun site" accessories? IMHO No.

Consider zone focus. 

For me with moving subjects I use Photopills DoF pill to decide will the subject be in focus.

When I'm using my 75-300mm glass wide open at f/6.7 and estimated distance of 100ft my DoF is over than 6 feet. That's enough for me to capture many subjects with acceptable sharpness. At f/8.0 DoF is 8 ft. That works for me. YMMV.

For those not M43 shooters need to consider the sensor size. Using a full frame at 600mm it would cut the DoF about half.

 DoF Simulator

PhotoPills DoF Pill

Choose your aperture

My DoF Rant

Larrys Photography Hangout

 I will be using this discord server Larry's Photography Hangout as my main photo comment area. Join by using the link above. 

In the hangout we can discuss several photographic areas as well as postprocessing in Lightroom, Photoshop as well as the Adobe Ecosystem. There is also a voice channel where we can have a video conversation.

 

Getting Started With Lightroom

 Don't purchase a subscription, install the application and start using it!

Take an online course.

Mattk https://mattk.com/lightroomsystem/

Tim Grey https://www.greylearning.com/courses/mastering-lightroom-classic-2023

Lara Shoe https://laurashoe.com/lightroom-5-6-classic-cc-the-fundamentals-beyond-video-tutorials/

Anthony Morganti https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLllFqBuTM0WJTD4rpvf748Um9MMmbo4r9

In the words of Thomas Watson "THINK".

I started using Lightroom sometime in 2016. At a recommendation, a helpful friend, I purchased a $30 book. Yes it got me started but not the best way. I then found an online course which I purchased. It made sense and it was quite good and through. But led me, I found later, a some of a rabbit hole.

What's the hole?  Basically I didn't THINIK. I just had images on the 'C' drive on my PC.

FIRST THINK about your folder/volume structure. An  early course suggested year, month, day structure. That worked but... Use a large, 2 to 3 terabyte, external drive. Consider an SSD, Solid State Drive. Get another one as a backup drive. 

Second Understand that Lightroom is a DAM, Digital Asset Management application. A relational Database. It uses a Catalog to know where your on your filesystem your images is with the metadata about your camera, serial, lens, Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, Focal Length, and other information, 

The important is to what makes sense to you. Based on recent  videos I have landed on Categories. So I am  moving to;

CATORGIES

   TRAVEL

name of trip followed by date. For example Alaska Trip 2016 or yyyymmdd Alaska

    PEOPLE

    WILDLIFE

    LANDSCAPE  

 what works for you.

IF or when YOU INSTALLED LIGHTROOM CLASSIC AND STARTED USING IT 

DON'T MOVE YOUR FILES USING THE COMPUTER'S FILE SYSTEM 

 Finder or Explorer 

Now if you want to avoid the Lightroom Classic catalog and a few features that Classic has install Lightroom, which was call Cloud. Lightroom is basically a image browser in the Local tab.

Watch this video by Brian Matiash about Lightroom

Also my blog post here about how I am moving to Lightroom

 

Am I Getting Better?

How am I getting better?

Using the following criteria;   composition, focus. lighting, exposure, sharpness, would print and show them on your wall?

Go through the photos you took 3 years ago and select 20-24, no more, that you consider are the best. 

 This is your base line. Create a collection or album of that collection.  Perhaps give that album/collection name "Improvement Baseline"

Next go through your photos taken in the last 12 months  and select the 20-24, no more, of your best. 

Now on the last best which, using the same criteria when selecting the  baseline which are better than the first best. If you have 0 you haven't progressed. Now since you progressed use the one's better than you baseline and replace best of the new selection in the baseline. That is the new baseline. 

Replace this process in the next 12 months to note your improvement.

18% Gray

We were in a store and i saw black and white poster board. So I grabbed my pocket camera and took a couple of shots. I believe that there's florescence lighting.

White posterboard 

Black poster board 

Our cameras are created to average reflected light to middle, 18%, gray.

No this isn't scientific study just a casual couple of photos.

Become a "Bad Photographer"

 In 2020 I became a "bad photographer" and wrote on my blog

Yes over the years I've purchased several camera Bodies. Not for improved picture quality but for improved features, weight, dials and buttons, articulated screen.

In 2016 or 17 I asked Randy Saffles about what camera to buy he said glass. It's more important.

Get the shot!

This video provide additional information

If you're interested

I have a online group where we can share images, discuss photography, the digital darkroom and related.

This uses phone and tablets. There is no native app for computers.

You can join here: 

Larry Kurfis wants you to join the group, Practical Photography By Larry in the TeamReach App.

Instructions:

Install TeamReach on iPhone (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teamreach-team-management/id1101253705?mt=8

Install TeamReach on Android (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teamreach.app

Enter code: PGL_M541

Thanks

Get more from your Cell phone camera.

 Cellphone camera users may find this useful from Picture Correct

I use the special features on my Pixel 6s as well as the camera in lightroom mobile and open camera app.