December 2024 Lightroom updates

I a using Lightroom desktop and the following video discusses updates

https://youtu.be/6akSZ47_EnA?si=KGpk1dIWig6k1jQX&sfnsn=mo

And from Lightroom Queen https://www.lightroomqueen.com/whats-new-in-lightroom-2024-12/

Stop it, stop it, stop it!

Stop it, stop it, stop it! Posting your pictures on Facebook, Flickr, 500px or ANY website with those two horrible words – Constructive Criticism – is NOT helping your photography

Read more at www.JoeEdelman.com: STOP asking for Constructive Criticism on your Photography https://www.joeedelman.com/constructive-criticism

In the article Joe Edelman wrote "Photographers are not allowed to just post a picture and say CC Welcome. Each post must contain details. Yes — the basic shutter speed, aperture, lens, ISO stuff. Also lighting, types of gear, modifiers, and placements. But that’s not the important stuff – all that technical crap is just reference data. The important part of the post is where the photographer explains WHY they took the picture. What was the intended purpose of the shot? Is the photographer happy with the shot? How about the subject – were they happy? If it were possible to revisit the scenario, what would the photographer do differently to improve the photo? And lastly, photographers are encouraged to ask a specific question about their own photograph so that those viewing it have a sense of how they can best help."

I was leading a discussion group about Critiques of photos. When I suggested we should not concentrate on the "rules of composition" but understand the Why the photo was taken, I was shouted down.

You have to know the "rules" before you break them. If they are new they need the rules to get a good photo.

Years ago, before I read this, when I attend one Camera Training Club meetings the first critique of others photos I almost puked when another member voiced "it didn't follow the rule of THIRDS" .

Another time after a field trip one of my photos was told to remove the white dot on the night scene. Another member said, That's Venus I think he wanted it.

Just say'n.

Composition. What's important?

After watching 60 Minutes Meet Khanmigo: the student tutor AI being tested in school districts.

I wondered how would Google Gemini answer asked "As an instructor What actionable questions should I ask of photos"

Then "As an instructor What actionable questions should I ask of wild life photos" and landscape.

Then "Based on the proceeding what are most important"

 All the answers addressed what we have, as photographers, have been told, watched and read.

Then I asked "What non photographers consider a great photo?" 

The answer "While photographers may focus on technical aspects like exposure, composition, and depth of field, non-photographers often appreciate a photo based on more emotional and aesthetic qualities. Here are some common factors that non-photographers consider when evaluating a photo:

Emotional Impact:

Does the photo evoke a strong emotion?

Does it tell a story or evoke nostalgia?

Does it make the viewer feel something?

Visual Appeal:

Is the photo visually pleasing?

Does it have a strong composition and interesting subject matter?

Are the colors and contrast striking?

Clarity and Sharpness:

Is the photo clear and well-focused?

Are the details sharp and easy to see?

Originality:

Is the photo unique and different from others?

Does it offer a fresh perspective or a new way of seeing something?

Simplicity:

Is the photo simple and easy to understand?

Does it avoid clutter and distractions?

Ultimately, a great photo is one that resonates with the viewer on an emotional level. It should be visually appealing, easy to understand, and evoke a strong reaction."

I'm not suggesting that technical aspects are not important because they are important. 

What I'm suggesting is that non photographers evaluate photos much differently.

We photographers must consider making an impact with our photos.

Photograph your foot

I initially wrote this in a post to another club. I created the blog post because I met others who hadn't picked up their cameras for a few years.

I believe they can jump start their photography. Even today I take photos of my foot to reinforce my understanding.

Why?

It's handy.

It's about 5' from your camera when sitting in your recliner.

Ok, but why?

It's a learning tool.

When watching TV and the commercials on pickup your camera. Take a photo of your foot. 

Why? It's not about your foot, it's about learning. Your camera, DoF, Focus area, Focal length, manual focus, noise, focus point, Aperture, shutter speed, program, auto, ISO, and more 

Why? It's easy, you don't have to travel. 

Do it with purpose. You could actually learn.

Choose Your Aperture

In a recent sippet from The Grid ( about 30inutes in) got me thinking how to choose the Aperture.

Usually I desk check to consider the Aperture I'll use considering my expectation of the scene. I use Photopills app on my phone. You may use this web version. 

As an example I wanted to that light trails of lighted Disc Golf. I wanted to use my 12mm f/2.0 lens. Since there is no way I could focus on the dark what could I do?

I used Photopills DoF and setup my camera type. f/2.0 then estimated the subject distance to the camera of 50 ft.

https://www.photopills.com/calculators/dof

That didn't work since the near distance was 49.+ ft. So what if the lighted Disc lands say 10ft from my camera? Using a subject of 20 feet gives me a near Dof  about 9ft and a far of infinity.

The result yes but some of the discs landed out of the Depth of field in front so they are not sharp.

To me it's all about "acceptable" sharpness. 

UPDATE(20241126) - Hyperfocal distance 

Of course YMMV.

Using LrC to create a Time Lapse

Many cameras can create a time lapse movie, .mov. But you can use LrC Slideshow module with this fstoppers article.

Fill the Frame

I got it. Fill the frame, that is important, but it often depends on what the photographers plan.

For me when I am photographing Birds in Flight, BiF. I frequently ask myself, "is that bird to far to get a good photo?"

Yes sensor size and lens focal length figures in to that answer.

So for me my M43 camera and zoom at 300mm, how far away is to far?

My camera has a crop factor of 2x so my equivalent is 600mm. So how far is to far?

Back to PhotoPills FoV Pill. At 300mm, subject 300 ft with FoV of 17'5"x13'. So a large bird say an eagle would "fit". In Postprocessing a 2x crop would lead to  about 8'6"x7'. So basically it fills the frame.  

So maybe set my focus limiter maybe 350' and use the 2x teleconverter I would usually "fill" the frame. But the conventual wisdom is never use your teleconverter. That's true for jpg shooters. But, on my OM-D E-M5 iii, in RAW capture it's only a margination in my view finder. Your camera always captures what is in the sensor. The JPG engine crops you image, RAW doesn't crop. For me when I review the image on the LCD it has a white outline of the 2x crop. Yes if I print a 2x crop image I have 13" on the long edge at 200 pixels per inch. Good enough for an 11x14 inch print.

So when I setup my camera for BiF I'll set my focus limiter to a max of  350 feet minimum of 30 feet, 2x teleconverter. I have configured my camera to have a button to activate/deactivate the teleconverter and another enable/disable focus limiter.  I just have to remember the buttons and functions. 

Is your camera good enough?

 If you think your camera is not good enough take a few minutes to view this

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

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