I want to take good pictures

If your goal is to only take good pictures just learn about composition and use the camera you have in your hand. Do you mean a cellphone camera? Yes. Most newer phone cameras do a fantastic job. But I have a top level camera. You will get good pictures in Auto mode. My camera doesn't have a Auto mode. Then you purchased a camera beyond just taking good pictures, it's a pro-rated camera.

What should I do to get pictures that are better than good? Study, it's that simple. Photography is about light. There are 3 adjustments that control light. Two are creative and one a brightness control, like a volume control.

The creative controls are Aperture and Shutter Speed. 

Aperture - the size of the lens opening, f-stop. Aperture controls DoF, Depth of Field. Although distance from camera to subject to background also DoF.

Shutter Speed - controls motion, your motion as well the scenes motion.

Brightness - known as ISO. Higher ISO, like gain or volume, increase noise.

"Choose your Shutter Speed with PURPOSE and your Aperture with FEELING. Then adjust the BRIGHTNESS with ISO." Joe Edelman

There's much more in later posts and in previous posts.

Send images to Social Media

This isn't for all since I use the Adobe Ecosystem.

One way for Lightroom Classic users. A way, actually my way.

1. Set-up Lightroom Classic to sync. This only enabled syncing.

2. Create a collection you would like to sync with the Adobe Cloud. Perhaps name your collection "Social Media Sync".

3. Enable sync for this collection.

4. Add images to the collection.

 *** Note: using Sync smart views are sent to the cloud and they don't count against your plan.

I chose to use Lightroom Mobile so this is my chosen workflow 

Select photos you want to send to social media.

I picked the waves.

Click on the share icon

now you can scroll through the available apps on your phone. 

I'll choose Instagram.

I click feed and now I'm in Instagram and make those options you desire. For example.

That's my way. Other choices are exercises for the students.

My Blog Team Members

For those that follow my Blog should consider joining my TeamReach members.

Members will receive post before I may make a blog post.

Larry Kurfis wants you to join the group, Larry's Photography 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: LPG_41

Photography Competitions

Joe Edelman's view of competition, that I share.

What's your view?

Organize your photos

The best way you organize your photos is that works best fit you. However the most important starting point is using a single drive. I highly recommend use a single external drive. Similar to <my external drive>\my photos\...

Mine is <my external drive>\Photo Library\Lightroom Classic

                                                                      \Lightroom Desktop

After years using a date structure I've started using Categories. Some of mine are, LANDSCAPE, SPORTS, PEOPLE, EVENTS, TRIPS, etc. I have subfolders as needed to keep NAMES AND DATES to fit the category. 

But Larry what about landscape, sunrise and similar? My choice is "it depends". When it's a part of a TRIP it goes into TRAVEL and, when I remember, I add keywords and map information.

It's your choice. What works for you is your Right Way.

I started using Categories in Lightroom Classic. I did not go through the thousands of using  date organization. 

But when I began to use Lightroom I created a new folder called LIGHTROOM Desktop\CATEGORIES if I want I can easily Import any into Lightroom Classic.

Organizing Your Photos 

Every expert, content creator, ... has their way to do it. It may not work for you. How do you organize is the best way for YOU.  BUT once you begin to use Lightroom Classic only use Lightroom Library to rename, move or otherwise modify your photo locations, names etc.

In YouTube I entered this search "how to organize photos in lightroom classic " and there are lots of the best way. You need to find the way that works for you. Following are some that I have viewed and I'm still searching for the BEST . 

I want to avoid having a mess 

The Kelby Way

The Tim Grey Way 

5 Ways 

The PHlearn series 

Will moving to Lightroom change my Post-processing?

A friend asked "... better understanding of how moving to Lightroom would change my post-processing."

The short answer, not at all. It's a matter of workflow.

My longer answer "Nothing in post processing has really changed. No one will improve their editing. Camera RAW is Lightroom, they're dentical. The layout in Lightroom is better than classic.

Think of Lightroom as file browser that links to Lightroom Development with the browser.

To me the gain is no catalog, library, lost images, no need to choose delete catalog or delete from disk and catalog.

The loss is no collections in local, no labels, map, book, print, no edit history (but you can create "snap shots")...

 

As far as no labels, I the main directory of a shoot I have created a subdirectory and put the shoot there. Then after that I only move the best to the top level.

If you installed presets they don't directly transfer. They are on your computer and easily loaded."

Lightroom or Lightroom Classic?

My journey Lightroom Classic -> Lightroom  When I began using Lighroom Classic I have organized my files by date, yyyy-mm-dd. Often in Lightroom Classic, LRc, I would change the file name with the date + area/category. When I bought a course to learn Lightroom, before it was known as Lightroom Classic, the suggestion to organize by date. So that's what I've done.  Then along way, after a few years, I watched this, by Scott Kelby,   It made sense but should I change? Not likely. But I decided to there's no time like the next shoot. So I created a folder CATEGORIES. I used all caps to make it standout. Then I added subfolders for each category. Now each shoot goes into a category. Since the images are where I want them input just add to the catalog. Then along comes Adobe MAX 2023. And in Lightroom CC they rebrand it and drop the CC and add the feature ‘Local’. Ok so?  I'm happy with Lightroom Classic and then I listen to Mattk’s new podcast,  Then the videos    Scott Kelby Terry White Brian Matiash  Ok, Ok. Look into it. Maybe 90-95% of the time I used the Library and Develop modules. Can I live without a few features that Lightroom Classic has that Lightroom can't. I think so. Let's give it a try. But, there's always a but. The big but is. Don't move, rename any folders outside of Lightroom Classic. Any or all folders created within Lightroom Classic are only moved or renamed in Lightroom Classic. Why? Edits are still non-destructive, no catalog, no import. But the Adobe Cloud? All my images are on my external drive. I don't need ‘no stink’n cloud ‘ or badge's as they said in “Blazing Saddles”. I don't NEED Adobe Cloud But when I want to use it I can choose to “copy to the cloud”.  copy is the operative word. A copy with your edits is, let say exported, to the cloud. Just like when in Lightroom Classic you sync a collection.  Basically you are not required to change what you currently do.  Me, I'm all in. That doesn't mean I'm deleting Lightroom Classic and it's supporting files. So maybe I'm not so All In. I'll hedge my bets. I have been  You may want to read https://www.matiash.com/blog/common-lightroom-myths-busted EDIT: I had my main photography folder is called Photo Library. Under that folder I had "Photos go here" for my lightroom classic folders and subfolders. So to keep Lightroom, Deskltop,  separate from Lightroom Classic I used Lightroom Classic to change "Photos go here" to Lightroom Classic. In file explorer/finder I created a folder called "Lightroom Desktop". Under my new folder, Lightroom Desktop I created my Categories folder and subfolders using the same as I created in Lightroom Classic.

More than BIF

I like the challenge of photping Birds In Flight, BIF.  Following links discuss shutter speed, metering and a crash course for BIF. Many of most if not all are useful for any photography.

Shutter Speeds for Tack Sharp BIF 

Spot Metering Crash Course 

BIF Crash Course

https://youtu.be/X_v4TOLk_H8?si=zPAQnQz-9h1s9SRa

I hope you find them useful.

The more I read and view

The rules of composition, thirds, spiral, lines, triangles and such make sense.

But does a photo look good? I don't think I new the "rules" but things often looked right, felt right.

Many of my photos from 2008 thru now didn't follow the composition guides but the elements, the Why, that MattK call's it, are there. 

I knew why I had my wife and dog say on the sunset bench. Yes I didn't follow the "rules" when I took the photo. I liked it. A little, jpg, image post processing and crop made a stronger image.

It just looked right.

I never thought about triangles by I new "get low" and lay in the sand would work.

Is there to much sky? I'll give you that but the lens and sensor aspect ratio are limiting issues if you plan to print it.

That won't make a good photo, I was told. You decide

I like the color, background silhouette. I took the photo.

Only the judges worry about "rules" and you need to if you are submitting for a competition. But I don't plan to enter a photo compotation. Sports activities are compotation's you or your team wins. Photo competition are judgments the "goal line"  is adjusted by the bias of the judge(s). As Joe Edelman says compotation's suck.

Critique these photos

I had watch some Blind Critique by Kelby and thought it might be interesting if we did a critique of photos I found on FB. So I have a few below that we can critique. You should be able to open the link below and there is an area to add your comments.  You have any skin in these photos to be honest in your comments.

So Please give it a try.

Critique these photos 

Blind Critique by Scott Kelby

I haven't been watching "The Grid"  because I don't watch the commercials or the other gab. But when I find a Facebook video I can fast forward.

Following are a few and I would like to know if that those that don't use FB can see them.

https://fb.watch/nl8JdUueqY/?mibextid=Nif5o

https://www.facebook.com/KelbyOneOnline/videos/697668748890469/

Please let me know in the comments.

Think Where You Crop

Years ago Randy gave us some guidance on cropping people. I remembered much of it. Like cutting hand at the wrist or other joints and a few things. So rather than bother Randy I asked Bard and following is the question and result.

Lens Filters, Who knew

 I recently saw a milky way photo with foreground lighting that had star bursts on a point light source taken with a Hasselbland f/4.0 21mm. So I asked how do you get star bursts with an f/4.0 aperture? Every thing I've read is use a small aperture like f/11.0 or smaller.

A reply said that the photographer likely used a Star Filter. What? Frequently we hear about UV, CpL, ND, graduated ND  and light pollution filters. So my education is lacking so I asked Bard for help.

Some of there special filters that it, Bard is an it (AI ).

• Close-up filter to allow allow you to focus closer than your camera. See Hoya
• Light Pollution filter From PetaPixel to get the detail. and see Hoya.
• Star Burst to create a star burst say in an aperture of f/4.0 again from Hoya.
• And more see PetaPixel

From Bard Types of Filters and Special Filters