Month: January 2016

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Adobe Lightroom Mobile and workflow

My use of Adobe Lightroom Mobile is currently fairly basic.  I’ll import photographs into the desktop Lightroom, create and sync up a collection and then rate and select photographs on the iPad when I am away from my desk.  It gets used sometimes as a mobile portfolio device but that is about it.

This last week though I have been having a go using the iPad more.  Shooting a few test photographs, then editing and publishing them direct off the iPad.  The shot below was done this way.

HighStreet
JPG edited in Lightroom Mobile on iPad2

I have wondered though with the integration with Adobe Cloud, how I could incorporate the iPad and Lightroom Mobile more into my workflow.

With the shots safely on the iPad, once the iPad was on the internet they were synced across to the Adobe Cloud.  As an aside, it would be great if Adobe could come up with a local sync option instead of having to use the internet all the time.  Opening up Lightroom on my desktop computer this synced up and I saw the iPad’s name and the JPG’s I had imported.

The questions I had were; what would happen when I tried to import my files again into this Lightroom catalogue from the memory card.  What would happen when I went into the Photo app on the iPad and deleted my images.  With an edited JPG on the Desktop could I replicate that image processing to the RAW?

So this weekend I set out to answer these questions.

High Street - dng
DNG synced with JPG in Desktop Lightroom

Importing:  if you shoot JPG & RAW like I do with the Leica then how you have your Lightroom catalogue configured is important.  I believe from default Lightroom ignores the JPG’s and just imports the RAW files.  I have Lightroom treat the JPG and the RAW file, in this case a DNG as separate files.

Lightroom Pref, JPG and RAW

So with my import settings configured as above, I imported my memory card into my master desktop Lightroom, as I expected the RAW files came straight in, but Lightroom ignored the JPG’s.

I tested this several times importing files via SD Card, Dropbox and even a second Lightroom Catalogue, in each instance the JPG’s were ignored if they were already in the Adobe Cloud via my iPad.

RAW & JPG

My next test was to delete the files from the Photo app on the iPad, as I hoped, the photos were still present on the iPad when I launched Lightroom Mobile.

The iPad screen is pretty good, the iPad Pro even better, but nothing beats a proper colour corrected computer screen especially if like me you have a Adobe RGB rated screen.  So you have got an edited jpg from working in Adobe Lightroom Mobile, but what if you want to take it a bit further.  JPG’s being eight bit can break while editing, your better working on the RAW file, but if your started work on the iPad then you have been working on the JPG.  Can we easily get the RAW file to the JPG point and then continue editing the RAW.

Sync Settings

Well luckily Lightroom for the Desktop can sync development settings quiet easily.  You will never get it the same, the in camera processing of the camera, the wider dynamic range and more data available from the RAW means that often the JPG looks better then the RAW initially and even after syncing they will be differences.

High Street - comparison
JPG on Left; RAW DNG on Right

As you can see above, after the sync they are pretty similar, the JPG has more contrast, the RAW treats the highlights a little more gently.

Lightroom-Mobile-RemoveOne last point remember; is to move the Cloud files into a dedicated folder on you computer that Lightroom Desktop is referencing.  Though if you do remove them from Lightroom they will still be in your Desktop version but just flagged with a cross.

Lightroom-Mobile-Remove-2

 

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Lincoln Street Photography in 2016

Hand in Hand
Hand in Hand

This weekend saw me Lincoln for my first street photography session of the year.

It was a wet cold day but quite bright occasionally.  I left the ISO at 640 and the aperture at f/4 and let the shutter speed short itself out.

Lincoln Streets

Street photography can take a bit of getting used to and by first shots were like this one above.  No confronting people with the camera for me.

Lincoln Streets-2

As you get more in practice you start to spot potential scenes and situations where the characters will not notice you like this shot above.

Until eventually you throw caution to the wind and start photographing people direct like in the very top most shot which I feel was one of the best of the session.  On the whole if you have a small mirrorless camera and give people a smile they tend to not worry as much as when you confront them with a huge modern DSLR.

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GAS – What will 2016 bring me

My LeicasGAS – or Gear Acquisition Syndrome is something that affects many people with hobbies.

For photographers it can be a particularly expensive affliction.  New cameras, the grass is always greener on the other side so lets switch manufacturers.

For me I have a few things on my list but I know have much of what I want.

  • Another mains flash head for studio photography
  • The Leica M
  • Leica 90mm Summicron
  • Fabric Studio background
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CES 2016

D5The Nikon D5 was expected this year but I was surprised to see it announced at CES and not a more photo focused show.

Nikon DX users of the D200/D300 range will be pleased to see the D500. The D200 turned things round for Nikon and they followed it with the stunning. D3, D700 and D300. While we have see replacements for the D3 and full frame D700 the D300 had no replacement till now and Nikon were loosing customers to the Canon 7D.

Another pleasing announcement was the Phase One XF 100MP a True 100MP Medium Format Camera For just $48,990 ;).

Medium format was being caught by cameras such as the Nikon D800 and latest Canon 5D. When you saw high megapixel figures quoted it was usually via pixel shifting rather then genuine megapixels.

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a Christmas Walk

Stream Side WalkAs I mentioned yesterday, last week saw us having the first walk in about four months.

We enjoying walking and Lincolnshire is often overlooked as a walking county but has lots to recommend it.  From flat fenland and marsh, to woodland and the rolling Wolds.  We also have one of the great long distance footpaths running through the county, the Viking Way.  It was the Viking way that we made a central feature to this walk.

Orkney Explore-2

Light rain was forecast for the start of the walk ending with heavy rain, so equipped my best walking Gore-Tex trousers and full walking gear I felt well ready to face the elements.  With this winter being so mild I dressed slightly lighter then usual but did have an extra fleece in my ruck sack.

We started at Woodhall Spa and first dropped into a rather nice little tea room for a hot soup and bread roll to start is off in the right mood.

The light rain arrived as expected but then cleared up so the bulk of the walk was done in the dry.  Heading out of Woodall Spa we joined the Viking Way and a brisk walk ensued.  After a few miles we detoured away from the  Viking Way and looped back before joining back on the Way after a nice walk by some local woodland.  This led us back into Woodhall Spa from the other side.  In total about a six and a half mile walk, so nice and easy but having not done any serious walking in the last few months, with the fast pace we really felt the last mile and a half.

Heres hoping to a great 2016 of walking.

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a New Year

The Ring of BrodgarIts been an odd and occasionally stressful 2015.  The lows were my mum, Christine Brown admitted to hospital and having to have an operation to remove her gaul bladder.  There was also my father-in-law Alan Turner having to spend time in hospital having a couple of operations starting with his new knee which has left him far less mobile this year.

With all of this we still managed to accomplish a few goals.  Photography was very light, a few working shoots; weddings and studio work, and we also finally finished the end room.

At the start of 2015 we stripped the end room down to bare plaster and the concrete floor.  We then re-plastered, re-decorated and finished the room with book cases and our piano plus hi-fi.  This end room captures the sun and has french doors out to the garden so is a lovely room to relax in.  This is now our ‘sun room’, music room, library and has the space to be my studio.

We also had solar panels fitted to the house so my goal to be energy independent within ten years is on track.  The final step is to get battery storage sorted and a replacement to our oil fired boiler but that will not be for a few years.

The highlight of the year was our second honeymoon on the Orkney Islands, with my wonderful wife.  This year was our tenth anniversary and we took the opportunity to re-visit these lovely Islands.

Orkney Sea Scape

For 2016 the plans are for a lot more photography, I did very little wildlife or landscape so I intend to get out there at least once a month.

I shot a couple of rolls of film in 2015 and want to increase that, also develop more myself.

On a fitness note, we cancelled the gym to give us more time and certainly my shoulders are telling me I got a good strength workout this last week with all the gardening we did but we do need to do more cardio.  Last year we went for a few walks on some of the Orkney Islands but not much else, so we must do better.  So far in the last week we did a 6.5 mile hike along the stretch of the Viking Way and on Sunday did our first bike ride in over a year.  In 2014 we commuted to work in the summer twice a week but in 2015 did not go on the bikes at all.  This year we also intend to correct that.

Around the house and garden the next projects are to put up all new garden fences round the property and also get rid of some of the more thorny bushes we have growing and replace them with climbing roses, blackberry bushes and clematis.  In the house the main project will be to decorate the kitchen.

Here is wishing you all a very Happy New Year.