I haven't created any of these personally but there are lots out on the web - just type "lightroom preset" into your browser to see what's available.
If you're not familiar with this, Lightroom offers the option of setting up a workflow to "develop" your images with specific settings that you can save and apply to multiple images whenever you want. Lightroom comes with some presets already loaded to get you started. Examples of these can be seen at:
- from the topic: Pre-set examples
Here's another version from Montana. The snowmelt has all the streams at very high levels and running quick - lots of whitewater.
Shot this with my Canon point-and-shoot while exploring the mountains around Missoula. Just the scenery I'm looking for to learn more.
If you're interested in deer and turkey photos, the wildlife around Wehrspan lake is pretty easy to find and take pictures of. About an hour before sunset they start moving around to get the last meal of the day and can be seen from most of the hiking paths. I was over there a few days ago and thought the deer in the attached photo was going to climb in the car and go home with me!!
I brought in a gadget a few months ago and now realize I didn't post any more information on it. It's a loupe that fits over the LCD screen on the back of a digital camera and has an adjustable lens. Serves two purposes: 1) blocks bright light so you can actually see the picture on the screen, 2) enables those of us with aging eyes to adjust diopter so we can see the picture clearly. I got one because I was continually putting my reading glasses on trying to see whether my image was in focus.
Anyway, it's a HoodLoupe 3.0 by Hoodman. Look on Amazon or B&H to find.
The hummingbird details: 1/640 sec., f/5, ISO200, 283mm (200mm + 1.4x tele), cropped about 25%.
I use the 1.4x when I just can't get closer to fill the image with the subject. You lose one stop of light, making faster moving things just that harder to pin down. If you look hard enough there are some things where sharpness drops slightly, but no enough to bother me. It's pretty small (about 1.5" thick) and light so not much weight addition. When on my 510 it pushes the camera back away from the 50-200mm mount on my ballhead, which I think provides a little better balance when I'm tracking something.
I'm shooting Olympus as well, using the 14-54mm and 50-200mm lenses. The 14-54mm was the original kit lens for the E-1 and I find it to be really sharp in the f/5.6-f/10 range. The aperture is f2.8-3.5 so it's good in low-light situations like before sunrise or after sunset. I'm learning how to use it to get good panoramics (was everyone aware you rotate around the len's center point instead of the camera body's?).
To reach out and touch I add a 1.4x teleconverter (Zuiko) to the 50-200mm - with the 2x 35mm equivalent due to the Oly sensor size this give me a 560mm lens at full extension, at f/4.5. This is my wildlife lens and is pretty sharp in the f/7.1-f/11 range even with the teleconverter. I can crop 50% easily but would probably get better pictures if I'd just learn to get closer! As a photographer said, "...your legs are the best zoom."
I've read some very good reviews of the 12-60mm Zuiko but don't think I need to make a change just yet. My dream lens is the 300mm f/2 Zuiko - $6000-7000!
I'm learning that it's easy to get the wispy, flowing water shots using a tripod and longer shutter speeds - the real trick seems to be getting the rest of the image to look good. I'm experimenting with lighting (time of day), shadows (camera placement), and some adjustment in Photoshop. I've attached a couple of samples from a trip to the Ozarks last week. Nice to have a water option other than the Platte....
I keep practicing on birds, mostly to help remember that I've got to have a fast shutter speed ( I usually shoot on aperture priority so this is good exercise for me). Here's a couple from a trip down south recently. Friends have a couple of feeders just down the hill from their porch so I set up my long lens on a tripod with "motor drive" on and shot until I got what I wanted.
I read a review of the Shutterfly Pro service so I went to their website to read more. Interesting approach to selling your photos. Basically you open a Shutterfly Pro account ($99/year), upload pictures, build a gallery (they offer webtools for your use), set your pricing and then get the word out. Shutterfly will handle the billing, printing and shipping, and direct deposit the profits into your bank account.
I've had some prints, cards and calendars made by Shutterfly and find their service good and quality fine for the applications. One of the barriers I've made for myself to sell photos online is the billing and collection aspect - looks like that isn't much of an issue with Shutterfly. I might try the service (had a few requests for buying pictures) to see.
Anyone out there using this service or something like it to sell your photos? Are you pleased with the image quality provided and service? I'm interested in an easy way to put my toe in the water on selling pictures but prefer to spend more time shooting and preparing images and not managing transactions.
Coop,
I've been using LR for about a year and try to keep up with the tools and tricks. Let me know if I can help you out as well.
If there's a photo outing I'm interested in being involved so drop me a line: melmann10@mac.com
Mel
One more opportunity if you're into GPS and photography. The state is hosting a contest for images along the scenic byways. Info at the following link:
http://www.visitnebraska.gov/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=735
Don't some newer model cameras encode the GPS along with other metadata?
Mel
Rockbrook Camera also had an announcement about a professional photographer meeting in KC.
"Heart of America Professional Photographers Association
is comprised of photographers from Kansas , Missouri and Nebraska.
Throughout the year these state associations hold seminars and
workshops to benefit both newer photographers and seasoned business
owners. Belonging to one of the members states can be of real value to
any studio owner. Membership in one of the state associations
automatically makes you a member of HOA.
Hundreds of photographers from all over the Midwest will be shopping in
the Trade Show. Get some hands-on time with all of the new products.
Rockbrook Camera will be there! Learn tips, marketing ideas and
experience the value of one-on-one time with the vendors."
They attached a coupon good for free admission to the trade show, which you can pull off their site or I've attached it here. Not sure if you have to be a member of the Association to attend.
Mel
Attachment: HOA2009RBCV.pdf (145.0KB)
Rockbrook Camera is hosting a spring flower picture contest. Details are on the attached which includes the form needed for each submission. There's been some really good flower pictures displayed by our members - let's see how we compare to other photographers in Omaha.
Mel
PS - Rockbrook is having an April Fool's print sale from 3/30-4/1. 4x6 $0.15 ea., 5x7 $0.75 ea, 8x10 or 8x12 $1.00 ea. The larger versions are just right to use for the photo contest.
Attachment: RBCV_2009_Spring_Photo_Contest.pdf (426.0KB)
Orchid show at Lauretzen Gardens this past weekend. Lots of interesting flowers but poor lighting. I had to shoot at ISO400 and mostly wide open aperture and still was getting 1/30-1/60 sec shutter speeds. Thank goodness for image stabilization.
Attached are a few of the more interesting flowers.
Mel
Friend of mine sent and email with lots of interesting images. It was forwarded so many times I don't know the source but some of the shots are pretty cool. Here are a few.
Mel
I'm learning about color management but it's frustrating. One issue right now is I get different prints via Photoshop CS3 vs. Lightroom when I let the software control the color management. I'm printing on an Epson 900 using Epson paper and inks, and the profile for the paper I'm using. The Lightroom print looks more "accurate" while the Photoshop print is shifted toward more yellow.
Anyone else using these two for prints and seeing the same? What are you doing to adjust to get equivalent images?
Mel
Sandhill cranes are coming through Grand Island. We were over there Thursday to see and hear them. Here's a representative shot -
Coop,
I'm using the Olympus system as well - E510. Pleased to meet you at the last meeting and hear about your car interest. I'm thinking good pictures of cars are hard to get right, with the shadows, reflections and highlights. Perhaps you would lead a group outing for the club to your car meeting and we could practice.
Mel
Here's an idea from a website I follow - repetition. Follow this link to some examples and why this is a good experience building idea.
I just got in from being out all week (missed the digital image review) and looked over this week's pictures on the SmugMug site. Great to see so many comments! Thanks to everyone who took the time to post a comment, suggestion, critique or compliment. Feedback is one of the prime reasons I joined the club so it's great to see this benefit coming around. Seeing a shot through other people's eyes is great learning for me.
Keep it up. And remember, you don't have to be a judge to post a comment.
I read on a site that the best way to name and sign prints for matte/frame is with a pencil so the writing doesn't detract from the image. Does anyone use this method, and if so, what type of pencil is used? A regular one barely shows up on glossy ink-jet paper.
Thanks.
I've seen so many references to presets on the various Lightroom forums that I finally looked into how to create one. Hadn't really checked it out before as I thought it required, you know, programming knowledge.
Turns out it's a simple matter of adjusting the image in Develop mode and then clicking on Develop>New Preset. In the dialogue box that comes up you click on the boxes of attributes you want captured and give the preset a name, then save.
That's it - you have a new preset tailored to your personal development attributes.
You can do the same with Copy/Paste but with a preset you have a button - one click to your desired adjustment.
Here's another raptor hanging around the Platte near Schramm Park. Is this a bald eagle just starting to get mature feathers?
Anybody know what this bird is? He was harassing the geese at Schramm Park the other day. From my bird book it's either a golden eagle or immature bald eagle but there's not many features I can see to distinguish.
These are significant enlargements and so aren't that sharp. Even with a 400mm lens I can't seem to get close enough to birds to get sharp pictures.
I want to follow up on a suggestion made in tonight's meeting. As a regular feature let's have someone volunteer to show a "before and after" version of a photograph and discuss:
1. why did they take the picture originally
2. why did they change it from "before" to "after"
3. what techniques they used to make the changes (software, tools, judgement, etc.)
Perhaps do this once a month. Let the presenter choose print or digital as the display method, but be prepared to give some details during the discussion.
The objective is to share what goes on in the mind of the photographer that leads to what they consider is a better image than they originally took. I believe the discussion of this "why" will be more illuminating than the "how" but that's my personal interest behind this.
Comments to make this a better idea for the group?
