How do you process photos? When I threw this question out on Facebook I received a few suggestions.
Now I’m no professional photographer but have certainly seen improvements over 50 years. From a Brownie Box hand-me-down through most of the low end film cameras, including Polaroid, then plenty of P&S and now a DSLR. And now, thank goodness for digital.
After trying out a 30-day trial version of Lightroom 5 and liking it so much I signed up for Adobe’s Suit deal at $9.99/month, + tax. Takes more time but I sure love the results. Maybe I need to start promoting photo sales more as I learn to improve. If I had walls to hang photos in the 5th-wheel I’d even have some printed. Do you print your photos? I rarely do but enjoy watching the gallery as a screen saver on the few occasions I’m not using the computer.
I used Windows Live Gallery forever with it’s limited editing options and easy learning curve. I still like it for a filing system, cropping, straightening, labeling and stitching panoramas, but little else. I tried Gimp but the learning curve was more than I could handle at the time. Then a few years ago I advanced to Picasa and was impressed with what it would do, especially using the “Auto” button on most settings. I could add text and make collages plus “fun and useful image processing” which could be easily over done, but fun.
You might notice that all these are freebies, and I’m not advertising for any of them.
When I signed up for Lightroom 5 I also downloaded Photoshop CC which I’m sure will take me years to learn. Ordered a Scott Kelby book for Lightroom as he’s suppose to be a guru. Hopefully that will help me figure out this new photo processing thing. Even without knowing much I like how it makes a ‘good’ photo even better. Now to learn more about the camera and photography so I don’t need to process as much.
Lightroom Elements and Photomatix Essentials/Pro were two photo processing softwares suggested by friends on Facebook. So now I ask again, how do you process photos?
(All these images were processed by this amateur in Lightroom.)
I don’t use complicated programs. I just like sharing my photos. I use an old Kodak Easyshare program I got with my first digital camera and Picassa. Nothing more needed at this stage.
I’ll agree they are complicated programs yet am having fun learning. I still like Picassa.
Lightroom and Photoshop are the standards but I don’t like to sign up for unending monthly fees so I bought a copy of Corel Paintshop for about $40 one time purchase plus an add on for it for I don’t remember how much. So I use it mainly for the HDR photos I attempt. I have never used the Adobe products so I am ill suited to say which is better and why. I also use PicMonkey a lot. I still miss Picnick. It was great but Google killed it. I store all my pics on Flickr and I use their limited functionality for a few things.
I love the edits you have done on your images. You are one who will have great photos no matter what tools you use.
Thanks Yogi. I’ve never used the Pic products. Suppose I should think about storing photos on something like Flickr. If I’d been doing that overseas last year I wouldn’t have lost 1000s of photos when the computer was stolen. Something for me to think more about.
I just go to PicMonkey. I won’t pay for any online editing programs (too cheap)…really, all I ever do it crop mine anyway.
Cheryl
http://www.picmonkey.com/ ( I ONLY use their free stuff)…
Another PicMonkey user which I know nothing about so will have to check it out. Thought a while before buying into the monthly fee but really do like Lightroom.
I got hooked on Lightroom from the start (since v.1.0) and while I used earlier versions of Photoshop, I had drifted away from it in recent years to use Photoshop Elements– to me, a perfect balance of powerful features without the kitchen sink of “full” Photoshop to complicate things. But a few months ago, I wanted to upgrade to Lightroom 5 and the lure of that great $9.99/mo deal hooked me! I’m still not as comfortable using Photoshop Creative Cloud, but fortunately, Lightroom does just about everything I need so I don’t need to do much with PS.
The most impressive feature of LR in my mind is it’s Develop module, specifically the Shadow/Highlights/White/Black sliders, and the Clarity and Vibrance sliders. While Picasa and some of the free programs offer similar effects, images often look over-done in those programs, whereas LR can give you a more natural look.
If you ever get to a spot with free abundant WiFi, there are some really excellent teaching videos on Adobe’s website as well as YouTube. Those, in addition to your Kelby book should make you a master in no time! Have fun!
I too really like what Lightroom offers and the results. Although I’m learning that I can overdo a bit to post images on FB I have to be more careful for the blog or the photos look over done. Hoping the book helps me figure it all out, including some of the vocabulary. Could be a while before I can stream tutorial videos.
I am a barbarian. I mostly post all my photos unedited, though I do crop some.
I love your ‘barbarian’ and candid photos George. Keep them coming.
I have an old version of Photoshop that I’ve used for years. I’m unlikely to upgrade since I don’t like subscription models, but I love what I have. Once you get over the steep learning curve it’s a blast to use.
Nina
I hesitated to go for the monthly but bit the bullet anyway.
I too have an old version of Photoshop (CS2). I usually do just the basic stuff, crop, sharpen, highlight, erase a phone pole or two…. I had Lightroom, but at the time it seemed complicated. Used to have GIMP on my tiny computer, but I got rid of that computer. I sometimes use online sites for collages. I still haven’t learned how to do layers…. I’m afraid it will unleash my inner monster.
I’d like to learn layers but know what you mean about the inner monster.
I’m comfortable with Picasa & photography for me now is an enjoyably stressless hobby. Picasa fits the bill at the photography level I am at. With no desires to go any further I am satisfied just posting my photos each day. Readers seem to enjoy them & for me that keeps it simple & makes it all worthwhile:))
My guess is you’re a better photographer than me. And I like your photos too.
Mostly Lightroom 5 and occasionally Photomatrix when I want a special effect like HDR. Then I pick out the ones I want to upload to Google/Picasa web albums, and can tweak a bit more if needed.
Well I’m liking Lightroom but don’t really know about HDR, yet.
In my opinion the first thing a photographer artist needs to do is study composition. That way your editing will tend toward the best possible presentation of the scene possible.
Totally agree about the composition. Most of the time I think I get that right. Have an art background. I’d rather keep post processing down to a minimum.
I have never even bothered with picassa. I keep all my pics on external hard drives lest they disappear into the cloud or anywhere else. So I just use the free Microsoft Picture manager and every once in a while live gallery if I want to straighten something. Pretty clear I’m not really aiming to be a photographer I guess. But I sure would like to learn how to deal with the harsh sunlight here in the west anytime after dawn and before dusk.
Your photos are wonderful. But the post processing can help with that harsh light and even Live Gallery can help a bit.
Hi Gaelyn
I have limited patience/desire to learn new programs/technology so I edit with a very old version of ACDSee.
(But I must admit that I know that I should upgrade one day to a more powerful software & recommendations would also be appreciated)
On the editing side I mainly crop as needed, do a quick light/dark correction, mild colour correction and sharpening, & then resize down plus adding my watermark for photos to be published. Takes me just a few minutes……
I have Scott Kelby’s Digital Photography Books 1&2 and found them very useful with some tips on general editing plus reminders on some photography basics.
For labelling and organising my photos I use Windows Photo Gallery. I find it quick & easy to use.
Have fun with Lightroom!
I got pretty quick at processing with Gallery and Picasa so hope Kelby’s book will give me a quick and smooth workflow with Lightroom. Maybe it will come in the mail today while I have a day off to play with it.