Looking At Options And My Own Workflow
I’ve looked at the demo videos for Lightroom, and find some of the possibilities attractive – especially the tone adjustments feature using Curves. However, I am not about to run out and plunk down $300 for it (or Apple’s version) when Bridge – which came integrated with Photoshop – handles my editing and files management needs very adequately.
I think it is important to consider your own workflow and workflow needs before jumping at any of this stuff. In my case, the workflow is geared to quick turnaround from shoot to end use, in a daily newspaper environment. Quick and decisive picture selection (editing) and pre-press processing is paramount. Archiving is a secondary but still significant part of the flow.
Shooting in JPG format would speed things up, but I prefer RAW for the additional control I can exercise over the final image. So here’s how I proceed.
1) Upload from my camera media card to a laptop computer, using a card reader.
2) Rename the camera image file folder that I’ve moved to the desktop. The folder name includes the date and assignment subject.
3) Open the folder in Bridge. (Gasp! I don’t first make a backup copy of the shoot folder – love living on the edge.)
4) Use the Bridge batch processing tools to append metadata to each image in the shoot. Metadata includes caption information – my name, assignment title, date, location and description of what has been shot, keywords, and copyright information. The information that doesn’t change (my name, copyright info, etc.) is stored as a template.
5) Review and select RAW images using the view options in Bridge, open copies of them in Photoshop, make tweaking adjustments, and save as JPG images (I use a “+” sign in front of the regular filename so the “selects” are bunched up in the folder). At this point I also can add caption specifics to the metadata file – people’s names, specific description of the action, etc., frame-by-frame. This is the final caption that will go to the editors.
6) After this editing, use Batch Processing to rename and copy the selected image files to a new folder. The individual filenames are descriptive of the assignment – JoeDokes01.jpg, or EastSnowhshoeFball01.jpg, for examples.
7) Copy the folder to a CD, for final editing and pre-press color adjustments on a computer in the shop. Or, send selected pictures to the office via e-mail.
8) After final editing and all that rigamarole, go home and have a brewski.
When the dust settles I do things like copy complete assignment folders to an external hard drive and/or to DVDs to archive them. Every few days I delete assignment folders thus archived (8-12 GB of picture data) from my laptop computer hard drive, to make sure there always is plenty of space available.
I know photographers who swear by and use an editing program called Photo Mechanic. It is noted for its speed in handling images and essential photojournalist tasks. One day I may try it to see how it works for me. Still, PM costs $150, and I’ve already paid for Bridge … .
And there is a Photoshop upgrade that I need to purchase. And a good desktop monitor, with calibration software. Time to prioritize. For now it looks like I can better put my money toward something more useful to me on the picture-taking and picture-making end of the process.
G.
