To edit, according to the Oxford English dictionary is to ´remove unnecessary or inappropriate material´ in terms of photography this means deleting images from a collection that or not worth keeping. To process on the other hand is ´a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end´. Therefore we edit a collection down to the keepers and process (or develop) the individual images

to a particular need, changes to contrast, saturation etc. I think that’s cleared that up, lets move on.

So what is the best way to edit a shoot in Lightroom? I use starsevery image has a star or is rejected and deleted. But firstly I recommend you set up a smart collection from the library view by clicking on the plus (+) symbol next to the collections tab on the left. Call it ´TO EDIT´ and match all of the following instructions.

Rating… is less than or equal to… – - – - – .

AND

Pick Flag… is not… rejected.

Click save. This means everything in that collection has not yet been edited.

now by viewing this collection one image at a time in full screen (shortcut ´e´) I can very quickly rate it (by pressing 1,2,3,4 or 5) or reject it by pressing ´x´once this value is assigned the image is removed from the collection and the next image is automatically displayed, so editing a large batch doesn’t really take that long.

The number system I use is roughly as follows

• 1 star images – Good enough to keep but not great, also duplicates.
• 2 star images – Images that could be worth a second look.
• 3 star images – Images to be processed.
• 4 star images – Processed images.
• 5 star images – Images in use – with a client or on website.

If I find myself unsure between 2 almost identical images as to which is the stronger Lightroom has a great feature called compare (shortcut ´c´) that will compare 2 images side by side and allow me to make my rating that way instead.

Lightroom 4 has recently been announced as a beta version

So continuing with my digital work-flow series, lets look at how I get my images from my CF card onto a hard drive. There are numerous software solutions to help you do this from your computers operating system (Windows, Mac OS) where you can simply drag and drop, to much more complex database systems, such as Lightroom, that allow you much more in the way of advanced features. It may sound trivial to you but the advanced import features in Lightroom is one if the main reasons I use it. Now I´m not saying this solution is for everyone but I work like this.

Connect my CF card via a card reader, although you can connect a cable directly to your camera it does tend to be slower and drain the cameras battery, so it´s better not to, but it´s a nice feature that can save you a big headache if your card reader breaks, as mine did recently.

Rename file. You can rename them as you think best, I personally use the following format

Just from seeing a list of these filenames I can tell where and when they were shot as well as the order in which the images where shot

Note:
Importing images is for me the most nerve racking of times as, until the process is completed, the images only exist in one location, on the memory card. While memory cards are a very reliable storage medium, there is only one copy, so be very careful what you do with it.

• Bring the images into your computer
• Add metadata to these images
• Reject, Rate and label all images
• Initial image corrections
• Put images onto collections Process images for specific needs
• Create backups

My personal work-flow revolves heavily around Adobe Lightroom 3, but every photographer will have a slightly different approach to their own work-flow and there are several different schools of thought as to which is the best practice, ultimately you need to have a work-flow that meets your needs and that you can maintain. I´ll be covering this in more detail over the next couple of days, so stick around.

It´s only in the last couple of months that I’ve really started using it which is a shame, I doubt I´ll use these images in anyway commercially but having the ability to just slip the thing in my pocket and pull it out in the most crowded of buses/rains/rickshaws has given me records of memories that, let’s be honest, I´d probably have forgotten about in a couple of years. This is never going to replace my DSLR and I don’t want to come across like I´m jumping on the iPhoneography bandwagon but it really is a pleasure to shoot with and has provided me memories that I´ll cherish for a long time.

As a photographer I like to know where my images are and how they are being used, if not me personally then one of the libraries I´m signed up to. I can then monitor this to ensure they are not being used in any other form, and charge extra for any extra uses. Had I not given licences for these images they could have been used for many different purposes, purposes that would normally have meant extra payment. Being a professional photographer is extremely hard these days and missing out on payments can make a big difference.

Image theft is also huge problem and by not issuing licenses and therefore making it clear from the outset what the images can be used for, we as photographers are really not helping the situation we are fueling the thought that photographs are cheap and once you have an image on your machine it´s your´s to do as you want.

The document needs to clearly layout the rights you are granting and to whom.

Date of issue
Granted to – The client
Description of the images covered – Include reference names & samples if possible
Usage terms of the licence – Advertising/Editorial/Web/etc.
Territory – In which country(ies) can the images be used
Time Period – Normally in years
Signatures – From client and photographer

Remember it is important to keep a signed copy of the license for yourself.

The AOP based in the UK has a useful template which can be downlaoded here.

It is advisable to get professional legal advice before drawing up a license as laws vary from country to country.

That was post number 29 of 366, check back tomorrow for more.

Just some 50 odd years ago warriors were beheading their enemies in tribal warfare, their tattooed faces signify those who have taken a head and are displays of the warriors skill and bravery. In the tribal regions of North Eastern India a hand full of these warriors still exist, now old men, there faces show the signs of a hard fought life. The tattoos may have faded but these are still very proud men who are well respected within the community.

Still living very simple lives these warriors are aging fast, in a country where the life expectancy is around 65 years they surely wont be around for much longer. While many may see that killing and beheading an enemy to be an extremely violent and horrific act, they were almost always carried out as acts of revenge for a previous killing of one of their own tribesmen. It certain makes me think about how this form of capital punishment compares to that which continues today in many countries.

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That was post number 31 of 366, come back tomorrow for more.

The subject of noise continues to fascinate me as in the days of film grain (the equivalent of noise) was often seen as a positive element of an image as it added a certain gritty feel to the image. Now a days noise considered a most undesirable effect so much so that camera manufacturers have spent millions on producing cameras that reduce noise to achieve incredible results. It´s a kind of grain is good, noise is bad kind of situation, despite the fact they are very similar. I assume the change in opinion has much to do with the fact we are are now viewing images at 100% on big screens rather than through a loupe on a lightbox and therefore see every tiny flaw. It´s also worth noting that film grain, unlike digital noise, tends not to introduce any extra colours as can be seen below.

Modern DSLRs and software have come along way in recent years to reduce the unwanted effects, I just wander that if in a few years time we´ll look back on these images in the same way as we look back on a grainy black white print shot on Ilford 3200.

That was day

As this post goes live I am (or at least should be) sitting on a train traveling to Mumbai and later down to a beach for a well earned week long holiday before I fly back to the UK. I´ve spent so much time on trains in the last couple of months and I´m still enjoying them, the thing about Indian trains is you never know whats going to happen next, also there´s always vast quantities of chai (tea) on board so it´s a case of sit back watch and enjoy.

This months wallpaper is another shot from my time in the tribal regions of Northern India and shows a show a familiar scene of a buffalo skull and horns on the front of a home, why these skulls are displayed in such a way I am as yet unable to find out, but it certainly makes for some great photography.

To download the wallpaper select your screen size from below.

Free February 2012 iPad wallpaper – 1024×1024 (Ipad)

Free February 2012 iPhone wallpaper – 320×480 (iPhone/ipad)

Free February 2012 desktop wallpaper – 1024×768

Free February 2012 desktop wallpaper – 1440×900 (Mac book Pro)

Free February 2012 desktop wallpaper – 2560×1600

That was entry number 29 of 366, check back tomorrow for more

Back to today and I´ve just returned from the local fresh food market here in Assam. Personally I believe there is almost no better way to start the morning than by wandering around a small local market, the great smells and all that fresh produce mixed with the buzz of people getting ready for the day, these are the perfect ingredients for a photographer

If you are ever stuck for inspiration and are unsure what to shoot just pop down to your local market and experience whats on offer.

 
That was day 28 of 366, come back tomorrow for more.

So without any further ado I present the first ever Just for fun photography quiz….

That was day 27 of 366, come back tomorrow for more