Master Photography

Questions of the Week:

First note: discussion last episode about batch processing in Lightroom and I just wanted to plug a Photo Taco on the topic. Just google “photo taco fast Lightroom editing”

Angela Norton: “I would love love love it if the hosts for the podcasts had links to their websites, or even an IP bio page, in the show notes.” Contact info in show notes for hosts

Sarah Scully: I need some thoughts from you guys! I upgraded to full frame (Canon 5d Mkiii) recently, but the only L lenses I have so far are an older Vivitar 19-35 Lens and the Canon 28-70 F2.8. I have the opportunity to buy a used Canon prime 300mm L F4 lens. It doesn’t have IS, so hand holding is not the best. He’s asking $500. He let me take it on vacation last week and I liked it all right, but even outside the focusing is kind of slow. Unless the object was still, the odds of me getting a sharp shot were pretty low. I know I need to expand my lenses, but I can’t decide if I should save my $ to invest in a 70-200 2.8 or if this option is too good to pass. Thoughts?

Brian Duncan: Question?? Have an iMac, every time I turn on my computer Adobe CC says it requires update? I do but the it closes and can’t be found? Restart its back asking to update again???? Can still use Lightroom and PS so I don’t know what’s going on???

Dustin Graffa: Sensor needs cleaning pretty badly. I’ve never done it before. Bit nervous about it, but I’ve heard enough about how easy it is that I don’t want to pay to have it done…or wait. I know Jim Harmer is all about pec-pads. Can someone with experience help instruct or share a link. What do I need to buy? Steps? Thanks!

Jim has a YouTube video on this: http://improvephotography.com/36527/how-to-clean-an-camera-image-sensor/

Jeff: – Check frustration levels with Lightroom with Sandy and Laryssa

July 6, 2016 Joel Weisbrod posted to the Adobe Lightroom feedback forum something he titled “An Open Letter to Adobe”

I have come to think of the folks at Adobe as either brilliant aliens or exceptional humans – not sure which

With every fix of three bugs, it seems you introduce five new bugs, breaking things that worked before. Every few weeks, the features change, the display is different, a new way to access tools (like refine edges) just shows up.

You at Adobe may think this is great but out here in the “Trying to do business” world we are tired of the constant learning curve, whether we want it or not, whether we have time for it or not, whether it works for our workflow or not, and on and on and on.

Pause here and ask if this is how Laryssa and Sandy feel

First of all SLOW DOWN! Do not send me an update so you can tell the world how many updates and changes you made. First, MAKE IT WORK PROPERLY!!!! Send it out for more BETA TESTING. I will wait the extra 2-3 months for an update if it WORKS when I get it. I am sure everyone would rather have slower update time-frames with fewer new bugs (e.g. Lightroom Memory Leak).

* Pause

Second, stop changing the program every month! Send bug fixes once they are fully tested and working properly without introduction of new problems and wait 18-24 months for new version upgrades. Many of us teach classes in Photoshop and Lightroom and this is making our students hate Adobe. As they are trying to learn, Adobe introduces some drastic changes making it nearly impossible to learn the softwa...

Questions of the Week:

* Stanley Harper Having a back up plan when your initial photography session plans get trashed due to weather or other unforeseen occurrence? After you and the client are already on location and have traveled a long ways to get there.

Frank Gallagher Also, how about the trade offs on travel and trying to get by with a 24-120 f4 versus trying to pack the trinity?

Bob Jacobs Lightroom batch processing…I don’t think I have heard too much about it yet. It kinda gets grazed by when Nick talks about why Jim Harmer is wrong about AWB, but I can’t remember anyone ever going into depth about it.

Stanley Harper Having a back up plan when your initial photography session plans get trashed due to weather or other unforeseen occurrence? After you and the client are already on location and have traveled a long ways to get there.

Jack Fiorentino: If you use auto white balance and gel your flash, will the camera auto white balance try to take out the gel’ed light and make it white?

Nick:   –    Getting re-inspired from the air

* Nick picked up the DJI Phantom 4.. And it’s pretty amazing.. Totally changing how I shoot, and making me want to do more video projects

* Full 4k video, 120fps at full HD

* 12 megapixel stills

* Ciaran McGrenera Can you talk about the still capabilities of the P4- DR/sharpness/ noise- also can you shoot brackets, does it stay still long enough?

Laryssa

Sony A6300 – Unboxing the Sony A6300.  Where the heck is the rear lens cover for the lens and the camera body cap.  You mean I have to charge the battery in camera what the heck.  First disappointments with the camera and things I liked about it.  

Sandy

I learned a big lesson this week.

I work at as the product photographer at a furniture store, and they asked me to take photos of the showroom floor. Without much time to plan, I went right into my “normal” routine:

I took my base image, color corrected it with a grey card, and then based on that reading (around 3200K, tint was neutral), I gelled my flash and went around the showroom floor, illuminating the darker areas.

This large showroom, however, I just could not get my flash to match the ambient light. Also, if a full CTO (Color Temperature Orange) gel worked in one area, it would look green, violet, or blue in another.  

I see now that there are lights literally everywhere of literally every different color temperature in this place. That’s what was causing my problems. But I cannot fix in in post, because changing a color channel changes the color of the furniture.

Josh:

* Lightroom Steal/ IP Plus Presets

I used to have the same formula for editing every photo. I felt light there wasn’t another way to edit and I didn’t know how other photographers made their photos look so epic

Buying presets helps you expand your own knowledge as you learn how the sliders change the whole effect.

* Using off camera flash

It changed the way I looked at all light not just light using flash

It took my real estate photography to a new level of quality and professionalism

* Immersing myself in a community of photographers like the Improve Photography Network

I can honestly say that the podcasts, FB groups and YouTube tutorials have more to do with making me the photographer I am today than any other resource.

My thinking about photography has been shaped by interactions with dozens of highly skilled and experienced photographers (and others like Jim

Questions of the Week:

* Nelson Tapias I just purchased a 3 stop Breakthrough ND filter (on your recommendation) and would love some tips on using it with speed lights for portraits. Or any ideas for its use. Thanks!

* David J. Long  Increasingly I see people being used in landscape shots. Pros and cons of this practice? Are there any best practices? Thanks and looking forward to your pics from China.

* Dieter Horst I switched from canon to fuji, and am having problems with getting the correct focus. Do different systems have different tricks for af?

* Jeremy S. Lanthorn How large of a shoot through umbrella will a single flash light up? How big can you go before you need a studio strobe or multiple speedlights?

* Jim Barker Could you discuss the benefits of using back button focus mate?

* Erik Anderson I will be attending my first photography workshop in 10 days, I would like to hear some advice from the IP team on what should I expect (I understand mileage may vary) and best practices for maximizing this opportunity.

Stephen Nolly Using grain to add “sharpness”

MIDROLL

Great courses – Use offer code “improve” to get 1 month free!

Brent Rents Lenses www.brentrentslenses.com.  Use offer code “improve” to get 15% off your first order.

Adam Kley What step do you take to protect your gear from theft when traveling? Particularly two situations 1) the gear you carry in a backpack or bag outside and 2) the gear you leave at the hotel/living area

Michiel Vanhoudt Does crop sensor affect minimal focus distance?

Anthony Fuccella My wife an I would like to edit/organize images from our Drobo at the same time on two different computers.

David Foggin What advice would you give for someone with social anxiety on starting to shoot people?

Adam Kley What step do you take to protect your gear from theft when traveling?

Debbie Graham-Stephenson Any tips for taking pictures of fire at dusk?

Dave Coulter I’m going to start (or try) panoramic’s. Any suggestions? Do I need to invest in anything beyond my tripod, and BallHead?

Grey Proctor Nick Page, do you ever use ND or color temp flash gels at your events, like weddings?

Benaroo Ben When traveling international where will you put your tripod.

Tony Hicks Taking apart and cleaning your tripod is it necessary and what’s the process?

Jenny Wu Directing models on set in an editorial style shoot- how to direct experienced models vs newer models.

Dave Coulter Why does Jim H. like crop sensors for landscapes but Nick P. likes FF?

Colin Mayer Yes. Any tips for taking photos of the moon on cloudy nights, especially with ice haze?

Erica:

-Check different cities for departure

-Be prepared for difficulties when planning a trip to China (train tickets, Airbnb)

-tips for packing light (packing cubes, hard case carry on, limited photo equipment)

-communication difficulties

Jim:

-lithium ion batteries NOT in carry on

-deodorant in carry on

Nick:

-don’t be such a photographer that you forget to document the trip

Doodads:

-Nick: Sherpas

-Brian: Google Translate

-Jim: Mindshift bag, tripod, MacBook Air

-Erica: packing cubes