+PAGE DOWN, PAGE DOWN, PAGE DOWN

May 15th, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Lightroom | No Comments »

On a recent project, I was preparing a series of images for print on a high resolution press (Fuji Frontier 590 to be exact) and I found myself obsessing about removing any residual sensor noise or image imperfections from my collection.

Normally, I’m pushing images to 72ppi for proofing on the web, which will often downsample out any irritable noise, dust, or imperfections. Not this time - it had to be perfectly clean! But … I’m lazy, and I wanted an easy way to inspect my images close up without the usual zoom-pan-zoom-pan tedium.

This lead me to a lesser known technique I will call the ‘PageDowner’ technique. Call it what you will, it’s a complete timesaver.

In the Develop Module set your Navigator zoom ratio to 1:1. Next, press the PageDown (mac users Shift+down arrow). You will notice that the navigator not only honors your zoom ratio as it scrolls down your image, it automatically sets itself back to the top of the image - precisely to the right of your previous vertical scroll path - booyah!

This gives me complete assurance I have scoured every single area of the image, while allowing me to maintain a tight zoom, and my focus on dust busting.

Here’s to obsessive image inspection,

|Brandon Oelling
x=

+FIRST TIME AT THE BEACH

May 14th, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Zoe Rae | No Comments »

“It’s like a big bathtub!”

Best Wishes,

|Brandon Oelling
x=

+INSIDE LIGHTROOM

May 14th, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Lightroom, Social | No Comments »

Special thanks to Inside Lightroom for plugging our newest Lightroom Presets. We’ve reached over 5,500 downloads in just 30 days!

Now is the time to move your mouse … and click >>> here

The response has been overwhelming, and we have seen some KILLER images created with them.

Thanks again for all your input and keep sharing your images with us! We love it!

Best Wishes,

|Brandon Oelling
x=

+LAZY MAN’S AUTO-SYNC

May 8th, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Lightroom | No Comments »

While processing another massive batch of images, I boasted with pride to my team how Auto Sync is streamlining my workflow. All the while, I flicked my Alt, Ctrl, and Command keys like Beethoven as I waxed prophetic on my mastery of all things quick and tricky.

Then I noticed her. She had been my mistress of the night - always there but never given proper attention: the Previous button.

Previous is more like a poor man’s Auto Sync in that it works by applying the previous images develop settings to a newly selected image, thus ‘carrying over’ your adjustments. It still requires you to work image by image, and is a bit slower than Auto Sync - but has probably been staring you in the face for quite some time.

I can safely say my arsenal is complete when it comes to quickly making adjustments in succesion:

• Auto Sync will allow me to update a series of images all at once.
• The Alt key will toggle in and out additional Quick Develop controls.
• Previous will allow me to work image by image and ‘carry over’ my work as I fine tune my adjustments.

As I process volumess and volumes of images, the nuances of Lightroom and it’s flexibility continue to amaze me. I expect nothing less of v2.

Until next time, here’s to your Symphony No. 9

|Brandon Oelling
x=

+SUMMA’ SUMMA’ SUMMA’TIME

May 5th, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Zoe Rae | No Comments »

Ok well not quite, but one thing is for sure … Chicago has had some GREAT weather lately.

Sure … it could go from 75 to -4 overnight and snow 8 feet, but for now we’re out with our chalk drawing up a storm!

Best Wishes,

|Brandon Oelling
x=

+MAD MAX - TMax 3200 PRESET

May 2nd, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Lightroom, Presets | No Comments »

I have a Nikon D80 I use as my everyday camera, and at anything over ISO400 it gets quite noisy. Rather than throw Noise Ninja at it, I decided to embrace the noise - and build a preset to mimick one of my favorite types of film - Kodak Tmax 3200.

One thing to keep in mind …

This preset leans pretty heavy on the sharpening settings to accentuate the noise. Use the sharpening sliders to get the desired ‘grain’ on your image.

{download the preset here}

Looking for more presets … get ‘em here

Please share your work using the comments below!

Best Wishes,

|Brandon Oelling
x=

+ALT-ERED STATES

May 1st, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Lightroom | No Comments »

Continuing on with my exploration of time-saving keyboard tricks, I have become a huge fan of using the {Alt} key (mac or PC) to quickly access two functions I use daily: Tone Control and Export as Catalog.

During my first pass on a large job in the Library module, I not only rate images and select rejects, I also use the Tone Control sliders in the Quick Develop panel to adjust exposure. With a quick flick of the {Alt} key I can also slap the saturation around and if necessary, sharpen up any obvious soft images. It’s a quick way to reach controls normally relegated to the Develop module.

Once a job is completed, I often spend a few minutes overlooking all my work in grid view within the Library Module. When I am happy with what I see, I again tap the {Alt} key and select Export as Catalog and send the job on its way.

I really like how this quick shortcut saves me from having to bounce in and out of the Develop Module or application menu(s).

Are there any other special key combinations that you use to sped up your workflow?

Best Wishes,

|Brandon Oelling
x=

+WORDPRESS TO IMPRESS

May 1st, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Blogging, The Business, Web Technoogy | 1 Comment »

Any photographer with a website should also have a blog.

If you don’t, it’s like playing the PGA Tour without a putter - no serious competitor would ever do so.

We’re devout Wordpress users, and their newest interface and system upgrades are SPECTACULAR

Now … hit the links!

Best Wishes,

|Brandon Oelling
x=

+THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY and ONE SPRINKLER

May 1st, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Zoe Rae | No Comments »

Let’s see …

1. $200 in tickets to Disney world
2. $100 Million in rides all around us
3. Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald, and a hundred other characters to be seen

… and the most excitement we got out of her all day was when she saw the sprinklers.

Thanks for the laughs Zoe!

Love,

Daddy

+TWITTER ME CRITTER

April 30th, 2008 by brandon | Posted in Social | No Comments »

Ok yes … we are on Twitter as well. We’re using a very cool service aptly named Twitterfeed to auto-post our blog entries to Twitter … very cool stuff.

Best Wishes,

|Brandon Oelling
x=