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Author Topic: Time to learn LR  (Read 4403 times)

RMW

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Time to learn LR
« on: April 20, 2016, 03:48:17 pm »

Hi All,
An existential question for a digital photographer: What's the best way to learn Lightroom ?
I've been using Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Bridge for 9 years and think it's time to improve my workflow. (Obviously I don't venture anything that's 'rash'.) There's any number of choices for on-line courses and I wonder which one(s) are best suited for someone who's perpetually challenged with all thing high tech.
I used Jeff and Michael's PS tutorials and found them accessible.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions or comments.
Richard
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graeme

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #1 on: April 20, 2016, 04:23:36 pm »

I made the transition from Photoshop, Camera Raw, and Bridge a couple of years ago.

Try these:

http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom-CC-Questions/dp/1910381020/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1461183390&sr=1-1&keywords=victoria+bampton+lightroom+cc

http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom-Book-Photographers/dp/0133929191/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1461183331&sr=1-1&keywords=martin+evening+lightroom+cc

& the Luminous Landscape Lightroom videos.

Concentrate on getting your head around the concepts of catalogue organisation, keywording, collections & virtual copies ( virtual copies are a wonderful idea ). The print module is brilliant - you'll never want to print from photoshop again.

Good luck.

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Tony Jay

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2016, 07:06:49 pm »

Given your familiarity with the products already mentioned the big learning curve for you is with how the Library module works as well as the import dialog. The export dialog and/or the Publish services are also important to your overall workflow.

The LuLa video series is excellent and I would work through it in detail with regard to the points raised above.
Make yourself a TEST catalog and shoot a few images to play with (use your big toe as your subject if nothing else comes to mind). Practise and experiment with your workflow process in the TEST catalog safe in the knowledge that mistakes and stuff-ups  are merely learning opportunities.

Once you are past the knobs and buttons stage you will also need guidance on fine-tuning your workflow.
The LuLa video series "Where the #$%^ are my pictures" with Michael Reichmann and Seth Resnick is excellent. Seth's book is also well worth a look.
Another workflow video series well worth investigating is George Jardine's offerings - he has a different philosophical approach to Seth - and it is useful to get a handle on different approaches.

One of the key aspects that will require re-orientation in your workflow is that you will need to wean yourself off using folders as the prime means of organising images to using collections and Smart collections in Lightroom. Going forward I would suggest just using a simple date-based folder structure.

Enjoy yourself!

Tony Jay
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digitaldog

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #3 on: April 20, 2016, 07:43:22 pm »

The LuLa video series is excellent and I would work through it in detail with regard to the points raised above.
That and anything from George Jardine. Case in point, a free video on B&W conversions that's superb:
http://mulita.com/blog/?p=1244
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Ken Bennett

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2016, 08:20:39 am »

I made the move from Camera Raw to Lightroom a couple of years ago. The basics of how to process files are still the same. The database aspect turns out to be more useful than I expected, and it fit in well with the way I was already organizing my assignments. The biggest thing for me was being able to save pre-sets for everything in Lightroom, including Export presets (rather than fiddling with the dialog box in Camera Raw every time). Presets really speed up my workflow.

Edit: oh, yeah, suggestions on how to learn. I started with a very small set of photos (a few folders) and started playing with the import settings, making presets, etc., before starting to use it every day. I don't recall using any specific book, and I hate watching tutorial videos.
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NancyP

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2016, 03:10:14 pm »

Don't forget to use local expertise. I did. You may have a certified Lightroom expert / photographer in your area who gives classes. I took two levels of LR class from a photographer in St. Louis MO who got the certification and teaches 3 sets of classes per year, in addition to other post-processing short workshops, leading tours, and jack-of-all-trades computer fixer and educator - all to pay the bills, since just producing photos is no longer financially sufficient to support a family. He's a really good teacher, and the classes fill up by new users who heard of the classes from former students of his. Link:
http://www.jeffhirsch.com/
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garyhill

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2016, 07:36:53 pm »

I used the free Adobe training videos from Julieanne Kost. I found her presenting style easy to understand. I have attached a link below.

http://blogs.adobe.com/jkost/lightroom-training-videos

Cheers,

Gary

Peter McLennan

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #7 on: April 21, 2016, 11:35:20 pm »

Julieanne Kost is probably the best software instructor I've ever seen.  Her coverage of Adobe's photo products is extensive, clear and inspiring. Follow along and learn.  Free!
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graeme

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #8 on: April 22, 2016, 05:56:37 am »

That and anything from George Jardine. Case in point, a free video on B&W conversions that's superb:
http://mulita.com/blog/?p=1244

Thanks for that link Andrew. That's a very good video.
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RMW

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2016, 06:11:03 am »

Thank you all for your encouragement and all these good suggestions.
I'm sure it'll take a while to understand the basics of LR. But I know it'd take me forever without the opportunity that LuLa provides.
Thanks again everyone.
Richard
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NancyP

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2016, 11:51:51 am »

And the best thing - LR editing is non-destructive, so play with those sliders, presets, etc.
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elliot_n

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Re: Time to learn LR
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2016, 12:30:42 pm »

Be prepared to fail. I've tried three times to make the switch from a Photo Mechanic/ACR/PS workflow to a LR/PS workflow. Each time, I've worked through a set of video tutorials (most of those mentioned and also lynda.com), but each time I've reverted back to what I know best. I dare say I'll have another crack at it before long.
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