The Photoshop Lightroom Workbook: Workflow not Workslow in Lightroom 2

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The Photoshop Lightroom Workbook: Workflow not Workslow in Lightroom 2
| 2008-10-31 00:00:00 | | 0 | Adobe Photoshop


Photoshop Lightroom is the new software from Adobe aimed specifically at photographers and it's taking the photography world by storm. This no-nonsense guide to setting up an efficient workflow in Lightroom offers all the advice you need to master Adobe's clever workflow tool and make it work for you.
As co-founders of the renowned and hugely popular photography training and consultancy company D-65 (D-65.com), Seth Resnick and Jamie Spritzer are the perfect guides to lead you through the maze technical problems and practical challenges that stand between you and a seamless digital workflow with Lightroom at the core. Keep the lens cap on until you've read the essential pro tips in this new Lightroom book from Focal Press!

* The essential guide to setting up an efficient workflow with Photoshop Lightroom from two of the industry's most respected photography trainers
* Insider tips and tricks explain not only how to use Lightroom but also how best to work pre-capture to ensure you get the best out of Lightroom post-capture
* Packed with essential advice and stunning images to illustrate and inspire, Seth and Jamie explain technical concepts with ease in a way only pro trainers can--buy the book and see why their workshops sell out in a flash!

User review
Base camp report
Well, I bought his book based on a breathless review, that ity is better than Scott Kelby's. I think I made a mistake. Kelby is the real thing, one of the top ten photographers in the world. More about this.

I call this `base camp,` because I am only at the first stage, and I plan to update this as I go on. Buying one of these books entails a large committment of time, and you have to call the shots as you see them as you go on. This may mean calling off the climb to choose another route, if things are not looking good. Here are a few intial impressions:

-The book cover promises `stunning images.` IMO the book cover is ugly and many of the images are garish. Compare with Kelby. This is not a killer, because many technical people have little esthetic sense, yet can still instruct. But it is concerning, since photography is esthetic.

-The first 50 pages were a tutorial pontification of optics, color spaces, etc. A bad sign.

-The presentation seems fractured and piecemeal. I want a tutorial on how to process my photos, not a labyrinthine software religion to worship. THe authors seem like software people, not photographers.


So at this point, I am gritting my teeth and keeping an open mind. One of the biggest problems with the Amazon ratings system in regards to evaluating photographic equipment is the `herd mentality.` It seems that, like the field of psychology, everyone is an expert. We are treated to breathless reviews of how `wonderful` something is, I am thinking of the Nikkor 85 mm lens ($1300!), but examples abound. In reviews, the writers are in `love` with an idea or perception. The language is usually vague with no evidence offered.


I thought at first that these reviews, which may make up a majority of all reviews, were rogue reviews posted by employees of concerned companies. But at this point, I am instructed how unreliable human opinion is about issues of technology and esthetics. This is not to deprecate human experience, but to show that it needs to be in-formed with a humility about the limits of a point of view. The rise of science was supposed to correct for the shortcomings of human personal knowledge, but science has its own problems. That's another conversation.


Here are a few ideas about rreading reviews:

-look for solid evidence in positive reviews. `Wonderful ideas,` great experiences don't cut it.

-seek out `outliers` in reviews. Read the negative reviews. Are these reviewers just having a `bad hair day,` or got a dud product? Or do they have a point?

-We are trying to avoid the `herd mentality` here. You know, the herd that had us in stone knives for 50,000 years, doctors not washing their hands when delivering babies, etc, etc.


OK - enough. I am going to plow through this ugly book more and will try to find the pony in all this manure. I wrote this for my own benefit mainly, as I am just in awe and wonder at how dumb people get when they run in herds, have a financial interest, or get a little power.



User review
One of the best book for Adobe Lightroom workflow
I like this book. Pick it up reading and cannot put it down. The workflow it suggested is through real experiences and well thought out.


I have thought through my own workflow a while back. But there are a few issues that are not totally to my satisfaction. And the suggestions from this book helped me resovled many of them.


I also like a lot about the parts about the Lightroom Develop Module. For example, it explains what clarity/vibrance/saturation is. It also shows how to use Ligtroom HSL adjustments to localize hue/saturation/,,. in the images. These are something I used to think only Nikon NX2 can do. Now Lightroom 2.5 can do it too (though as not a elegant as Nikon NX2.)


Many times, the authors also explain why they made the decision and with examples. For example, why use 16 bit vesus 8 bit. These persuaded me to change my workflow to use 16 bit now.


There are still many more goodies to pick up as I only finished reading the develop related chapters.


This books shows you how powerful and useful Adobe Lightroom 2.x is. And I'd highly recommend to anyone who want to improve their workflow.


Eric



User review
Packed with color screenshot examples throughout
THE PHOTOSHOP LIGHTROOM WORKBOOK: WORKFLOW NOT WORKSLOW IN LIGHTROOM 2 covers everything from shooting and editing to using all the latest features in Lightroom 2, and comes packed with color screenshot examples throughout. Easy step-by-step instruction is accompanied by summaries, diagrams and more, making this a top pick for any Photoshop Lightroom user or collections catering to them.

User review
You will want The Photoshop Lightroom Workbook: Workflow not Workslow, and you too will read it at least twice;
`Since receiving this book, I have read it twice, and will, more then likely, read it many more times. For most people, eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner simply involves food and something to wash it down. However, dinning is very different from eating. Dinning takes time; time to prepare; time to eat; time to digest; time to reflect. The contents of this book are not a hot dog, with mustard, relish, sauerkraut, fries, and a soda pop. Seth and Jamie have prepared their book similar to an incredible six-course meal. A real dinning experience with fabulous beverages as tips for your palate to boot. My suggestion to all is take some time and dine with this book; savor the ingredients in each chapter; digest the information; reflect on what is written, mix in your own thoughts, and experiment, but do not stray too far. I believe Seth Resnick is one of the most creative workaholic imagemakers I know. The information both he and Jamie give, and their insight, should be used as your foundation to build upon. The only better advice I have is to attend their D65 Workshop, but you will still need their book - trust me. I have been to their workshop -- you will want The Photoshop Lightroom Workbook: Workflow not Workslow, and you too will read it at least twice; perhaps even more - it is that good. I highly recommend this book to all with varying degrees of photo imaging knowledge.` All the BEST, Michael Newler (a.k.a. `Captain Explorer`)

User review
workflow not workslow
The Photoshop Lightroom Workbook, is somewhat confusing titled as its is not a workbook in the traditional sense, and other than the recap questions at the end of each chapter, the format is much the same as most other lightroom titles.

The book seems to be more or less a thorough set of course notes, following the authors well regarded lightroom centric digital photography seminars, and as such the quality and layout is not of the highest standard, but the content is well structured and highly informative.

The Book addresses Lightroom in great depth and from the perspective of establishing a reliable and efficient workflow from the start. From card formatting considerations, file naming, extremely extensive backup options through to all kinds of output everything is pulled in to make a fluid and comprehensive workflow.

Extremely useful to digital photographers first moving into Lightroom, the workbooks tips on keywording and organisation will establish best practice from the outset.

The Lightroom coverage is thorough, and the book can serve equally as a reference manual to features, as a guide to establishing an efficient workflow. The whole applications is covered, and features are logically explained.

A very useful book for getting a good solid grip on Lightroom, and a productive confident workflow.