General Photography Chat - Page 21

Ramsayfarian · #**401** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 8:18 PM**

There was a some talk a while back about Lightroom. I've been playing with it quite a bit lately and I have to say I'm pretty impressed with it. It's a very slick application and fairly easy to use. Mind you it helps to watch these videos:http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/lightroom/articles/lir2am_videotutorials.html

I'm really looking forward to seeing 3.0 when it's finally released.

bulliver · #**402** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 11:00 PM**

^ I was impressed at first with lightroom processed pics, but I'm finding I can tell instantly if someone used it to edit their photo. Sort of has a homogenous look. A very nice homogenous look, but all the same...

Ramsayfarian · #**403** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 11:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulliver

^ I was impressed at first with lightroom processed pics, but I'm finding I can tell instantly if someone used it to edit their photo. Sort of has a homogenous look. A very nice homogenous look, but all the same...

I haven't been using it that long to notice yet. Also other than correcting some WB issues I haven't done a ton of PP with it. I've been using it a lot for managing my photos. I've managed to salvage more than a few shots where I screwed up with the WB.

ue · #**404** Posted **Jan 29, 2010, 11:45 PM**

Ramsay, thanks for the links, I got Lightroom a month ago and love it! So many ways to fix up photos with lighting/color. It is a superior program.

Bulliver, what? I've never noticed that...I haven't seen photos edited that immediately scream "Lightroom". Not that it's necessarily a bad thing ...

bulliver · #**405** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 12:15 AM**

Sort of hard to explain 'a look' in words for me. First I saw it in Ayreonaut's pics, thought it was cool because he showed before and after pics and it clearly 'fixed' some shots by making them much more visually interesting.

Than I noticed the same sort of look in other folks pics...

That Manulife shot you put up in the 'random shots' thread....Lightroom, right?

Again...the look of the pictures is great, but I worry that everyone is going to start using it and it will start minimizing the individuality of various photogs...and we'll have a sea of shots that look all too similar...

ue · #**406** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 12:29 AM**

^People's photos will still be original, because even if it is clear one is using Lightroom, Photoshop, Gimp, Aperture, RAW therapee, Photomatix, etc. how they process and enhance (or not) their photos will still make them original

.

And yeah, pretty sure it is if it's the one I am thinking you are talking about. Most of my uploads now are with Lr.

Aleks · #**407** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 12:33 AM**

i see it totally different.

like you said, i cant really explain it well, but not all pictures look 'lightroomy'. its the same as hdr's. many people can't even tell my pictures went through hdr (as the same for iamhydrogen's and someformofhuman's) because they dont look like the stereotypical hdr-ish, overdone image.

maybe it depends on how you edit and your style. i find editing to be just as good as picture taking. its complicated, it takes good eye, a good imagination and its expensive just like camera equipment.

Ramsayfarian · #**408** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 12:57 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

Ramsay, thanks for the links, I got Lightroom a month ago and love it! So many ways to fix up photos with lighting/color. It is a superior program.

Bulliver, what? I've never noticed that...I haven't seen photos edited that immediately scream "Lightroom". Not that it's necessarily a bad thing ...

You're welcome.

@Bulliver,
I've given your comment more thought and I'm puzzled how every LR processed photo would have the same look, unless everyone was doing the same processing. One can tell when photos have been over processed, but I can't say if that's LR, PS or some other tool.

I think these programs are just another tool in our kit, but I don't think they should be used as a crutch. Unfortunately or fortunately, the use of these tools is only going to increase. Sony already has in camera HDR. Where does it end?

I try to use as little PP on my photos as possible. More times than not, it's just a crop or a B&W treatment. I've done the occasional HDR and I have cloned out wires and lamp posts that are spoiling a shot.

I'll try to get some before and afters up.

LSyd · #**409** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 3:28 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by edmontonenthusiast

^yup (about the wide angle). i'd looove to get a wide angle. but they're out of my budget currently and when i start saving i tend to find something cheaper to buy

. the tokina 11-16 would be nice but it doesnt focus with nikons lack of internal motor cameras: D40/D40x/D60/D3000/D5000. there's also the 16-85 which i've heard is very sharp and have seen great 16-18mm wides with it ... which is from nikon. the tokina 12-24 i've also heard is a good one, although not as much as the 11-16.

i've got the 12-24; i love it.

-

bulliver · #**410** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 4:11 AM**

Quote:

People's photos will still be original, because even if it is clear one is using Lightroom, Photoshop, Gimp, Aperture, RAW therapee, Photomatix, etc. how they process and enhance (or not) their photos will still make them original

That's just my point though...I can't tell if someone used Photoshop, Gimp, Aperture, RAW therapee, or Photomatix just by looking, but I can tell Lightroom...so I don't know if a bunch of folks are using the same preset or what...

@Ramseyfarian...I don't think it is _all_ lightroom pics, I've just noticed a lot of pics from different people with an unexplainable similarity, vibe, glow, whatever you want to call it...and it turns out they're all lightroom...

Anyway...I didn't want to ruffle any feathers, it's just something I've noticed lately is all.

Ramsayfarian · #**411** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 6:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulliver

That's just my point though...I can't tell if someone used Photoshop, Gimp, Aperture, RAW therapee, or Photomatix just by looking, but I can tell Lightroom...so I don't know if a bunch of folks are using the same preset or what...

@Ramseyfarian...I don't think it is _all_ lightroom pics, I've just noticed a lot of pics from different people with an unexplainable similarity, vibe, glow, whatever you want to call it...and it turns out they're all lightroom...

Anyway...I didn't want to ruffle any feathers, it's just something I've noticed lately is all.

Sorry if I came across as ruffled, as that wasn't my intent.

Must be a common preset or folks are cranking the settings.

vid · #**412** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 8:20 AM**

I am getting really sick and tired of everyone's photo being vignetted. Stop it.

If Lightroom allows you to turn that feature off, then please, turn it off.

bulliver · #**413** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 10:03 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleks

i find editing to be just as good as picture taking. its complicated, it takes good eye, a good imagination and its expensive just like camera equipment.

Agree with everything you say except the 'expensive' bit. I've not spent a cent on software, photo-editing or otherwise. And no I don't mean I pirate it, there is an entire world of fantastic, free open-source software out there. I realize different folks like different tools, but it certainly doesn't have to be expensive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsayfarian

Sorry if I came across as ruffled, as that wasn't my intent.

No, no, no...not at all man, I wasn't speaking to you personally, my bad for the ambiguity. I just didn't wan't to come across like I'm picking on lightroom users, or don't like the pics or whatever

It's really just this weird thing I've noticed the last few weeks.

Aleks · #**414** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 11:17 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

I am getting really sick and tired of everyone's photo being vignetted. Stop it.

If Lightroom allows you to turn that feature off, then please, turn it off.

lightroom doesnt vignette photos by itself, you have to do it manually or by using a preset (which is basically the same thing).

unless someone here has a fullframe camera, every picture will have some vignetting (some more, some less)

anyways, i settled with the Sigma 17-70 OS f/2.8-4. its not constant 2.8 but it sure is faster than my 3.5-5.6 18-105vr! im also ordering another sb-600 (cause last time it didnt work

) and a 1.5 terrabyte external hardrive so i can backup the 60,000 pictures on my computer and the 200gigs of Sketchup/random files I have.

I REALLY wanted the Tamron 17-50 constant f/2.8 but thats 600 bucks i wouldnt be able to get the hardrive or the sb-600 if i got the tammy

PS: i wont sell my 18-105vr, just in case i need longer zoom. my next challenge will be deciding whether to get the 50mm f/1.8 or the 70-300vr.

SomeFormOFhuman · #**415** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 12:24 PM**

I am a lightroom user. But I don't overuse that tool. Are you referring to me? Do my photos apparently have that "lightroom" look on them? And no, I didn't spend a single cent on software too.

Ayreonaut · #**416** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 3:50 PM**

I've vignetted one photo so far, I'm picky about when and where I use them.

LSyd · #**417** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aleks

lightroom doesnt vignette photos by itself, you have to do it manually or by using a preset (which is basically the same thing).

unless someone here has a fullframe camera, every picture will have some vignetting (some more, some less)

anyways, i settled with the Sigma 17-70 OS f/2.8-4. its not constant 2.8 but it sure is faster than my 3.5-5.6 18-105vr! im also ordering another sb-600 (cause last time it didnt work

) and a 1.5 terrabyte external hardrive so i can backup the 60,000 pictures on my computer and the 200gigs of Sketchup/random files I have.

I REALLY wanted the Tamron 17-50 constant f/2.8 but thats 600 bucks i wouldnt be able to get the hardrive or the sb-600 if i got the tammy

PS: i wont sell my 18-105vr, just in case i need longer zoom. my next challenge will be deciding whether to get the 50mm f/1.8 or the 70-300vr.

just get a wide angle. it's a lens orgasm.

-

LSyd · #**418** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 4:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by vid

I am getting really sick and tired of everyone's photo being vignetted. Stop it.

If Lightroom allows you to turn that feature off, then please, turn it off.

amen. if you want vignetting, get a hood for your lens or shoot with a holga.

speaking of, i'm also tired of overdone "fake holga look" done digitally, using super-nice cameras, lenses and software.

-

ue · #**419** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 5:40 PM**

I'm pretty sure I was one of the few people vid was referring to with the vignette thing. What can I say, I like vignettes! Is there a crime? I noticed a few choices where I shouldn't have probably used one (although I still think they look fine over all) but I personally like their look. Im starting to do a lot more slight/subtle vignettes so they are not so 'obvious'.

Aleks: if those are your choices, go with the 50, you'll love it's DoF and bokeh! Especially cause you have a Nikon D90 and it can autofocus

.

vid · #**420** Posted **Jan 30, 2010, 5:54 PM**

There is another Flickr user from Edmonton who has been using it a lot, and I moderate a few groups and have seen an explosive increase in vignetted shots. It is the over-processed HDR of 2010.