Welcome to the MacNN Forums.

mattyb · Jun 30, 2009, 03:27 AM

At present I am probably doing the most basic things that I can with my images/photos.

I shoot in jpeg, connect the camera to the iMac, import into iPhoto. I then use MacDaddy to upload certain photos to the web. If I edit photos, its in iPhoto or PS Elements (old version).

I'm getting the D40 this weekend, and I'll be shooting RAW and I'm thinking that I'd like to do some 'moderate' tweaking of the images (adjust white balance, change to b&w, cropping etc). I'm going to look at PS, but from what others have said, it seems that Aperture may be enough.

So, the question is, what sort of workflow do you guys have. What apps, favourite tools in those apps etc.

Cheers.

Thorzdad · Jun 30, 2009, 07:34 AM

If you are intending to get somewhat serious about image editing, you need to make sure your monitor is correctly color calibrated. Get SuperCal.

mattyb · Jul 2, 2009, 05:55 AM

TBH, I don't want to get 'seriously' into image editing, at least thats what I'm thinking now.

Thorzdad · Jul 2, 2009, 07:12 AM

OK. But, you're also talking about doing color and tonal adjustments. To do them correctly, you might as well start with a correctly calibrated screen. SuperCal is shareware. Very cheap. A good investment for anyone who wants to start editing their photos.

mattyb · Jul 3, 2009, 04:25 AM

OK point taken, I'll take a look.

Veltliner · Jul 18, 2009, 02:30 PM

mattyb, there are a few good RAW converters: Capture One 4 (which I think is the best), Lightroom (most easy to operate), Aperture (never used it), Bibble.

As you are buying a Nikon camera, Nikon has its own RAW converter, and the image quality is excellent.

Monitor calibration is important. You will need a device that hangs in front of the screen and measure output.

If you are beginning, start with a RAW converter. Photoshop has a steep learning curve. Get a feel for image editing first.

What OS are you on? For Capture One you need to be on Leopard (I'm on Tiger, and I use an older version of Capture One, but it has its quirks - which you can handle easily, but with experience).

PS: take a look at Canon's Rebels before you buy. Just to see if you like them. The 40D is an older camera, and slightly out of date. The viewfinder is problematic: too narrow.

OreoCookie · 10:07 AM

I agree with Thorzdad and Veltiner, monitor calibration is key. Skip the software, get a cheap (~ $60) hardware calibration tool. I have a ColorSpyder 2, makes a world of difference.

I would advise against starting to shoot RAW right away, if all you do is the tweaks you have described. Also, getting the full-blown version of Photoshop is pointless, I'd rather advise that you get a modern photo management software instead. Chances are, you won't need Photoshop Elements all that often anymore.

So I'd avise you to go step-by-step:
(0) Calibrate your screen. This will make a lot more difference than you'd think.
(1) Get the camera and start shooing in jpg. Continue to use iPhoto. Forego the exposure programs with icons, learn how to use A, S and a little later M. This is 100 times more useful than shooting in RAW. I'm not exaggerating. This phase easily takes a month or three.
(2) After having learned how to use your camera, download the trials of Lightroom and Aperture. Be aware that you will have to invest some time into learning both pieces of software. Trust your intuition, both are professional pieces of software with different user interface philosophies, strengths and weaknesses. It may turn out that you'll stick with iPhoto as well. Remember, photography should be fun. Complex software which you never use is pointless.
(3) After you have chosen your workflow, you could switch to RAW if you still desire so. RAW files take up a lot more space and you have to develop each of them before you can send them to friends, for instance.

@Veltiner
All Rebels have similarly small viewfinders. Only more expensive dslrs (Nikon D90/Canon 40D) have larger viewfinders.

mattyb · Jul 20, 2009, 10:31 AM

Cheers for the replies.

I'm shooting RAW on my Nikon D40 and using the trial Aperture ATM. I've played around with some stuff, but if I'm honest, it bores me.

I think that I'll change back to jpeg and just use iPhoto.

OreoCookie · Jul 20, 2009, 11:39 AM

Most important thing is that you have fun with your camera

mattyb · Jul 22, 2009, 07:32 AM

You've hit the nail on the head OreoCookie. It startd to feel too much like work, messing around with the setting in Aperture. Maybe its not the definition of the typical photographer nowadays, but I don't think that one HAS to do PP on photos. Yes I'll crop, maybe make it b&w, maybe boost the darkness, but the simple tools in iPhoto are enough for me.

Like I've said before, if the wife and family members like the photos then thats good enough for me.

OreoCookie · Jul 22, 2009, 10:08 AM

I'm not particularly fond of post-processing. Beyond simple color corrections (setting the white balance), increasing the contrast by a bit or so, I hardly do any image manipulation at all. Even in the analog times (I got a small bw lab from my mother for Xmas many moons ago), I didn't get into it. I enjoy taking pictures a lot more than processing them. I do love making books, though

mattyb · Jul 22, 2009, 02:09 PM

Making books ? Of your photos?

OreoCookie · Jul 22, 2009, 02:44 PM

Yes, that's the reason why I won't even consider switching away from Aperture. You can make photo books in iPhoto as well, but you're a lot more flexible in Aperture (although not flexible enough for my taste

).

Thorzdad · Jul 23, 2009, 09:26 AM

I suppose this is as good a time (and place) as any to remind everyone of Demonhood's excellent sticky of photography tips. It's well worth a look, if just to refresh oneself with some basic concepts.

Additionally, another website with some very good digital photography tutorials has recently come to my attention. You can find it here.

Happy shooting!

Demonhood · Jul 23, 2009, 12:45 PM

i have a nice tutorial (in my head) about lighting that i think i'll add to that sticky shortly. thanks for reminding people about it.

after initially being annoyed by all the post-production work that RAW required me to do on my photos, i've actually come to somewhat enjoy it now. sure, sharpening and contrast adjustments aren't all that fun, but playing with color,b/w, and mimicking film grain are all creative endeavors.
my workflow is this:

Copy RAW files to drive (based on date) --> Import into Aperture --> Edit (and rarely --> Photoshop)

pretty simple. the monitors are calibrated, i put the inspector on the second monitor so i can review the photo as large as possible on my primary display.
btw, those RAW files by date are backed up by Time Machine. then Aperture copies everything to a Vault, which is also backed up by Time Machine. and all the files go to DVD as well, for storage elsewhere.