Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process
by Nat Coalson
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Book Summary Information
Author: Nat CoalsonEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2009-03-23
ISBN: 0470400765
Number of pages: 400
Publisher: Wiley
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780470400760
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process
Book Review: Excellent guide on how best to use Lightroom
Summary: 5 Stars
There are many different types of books for an application like Lightroom because there are so many different kinds of audiences out there with different needs and desires. So first off, and perhaps most importantly, I'll try to state what I think the target audience is and the author's apparent goals are.
Essentially this book outlines how to use and integrate Lightroom into your workflow from image capture in the camera all they way to output to a print or a web page. It accomplishes this fairly encompassing goal by assuming the reader has some basic photographic and computer knowledge as well as the initiative to play, poke and prod on their own once the logical path forward has been illustrated.
The book assumes you know how to find a file on your computer and open it. It assumes that you know how to click dialog buttons and open and close windows. It assumes you know what shutter speed, aperture and exposure compensation are. It assumes you know how to plug in your printer and load its drivers. Basically, it assumes you are proficient enough that you could probably get Lightroom installed, some images into it and do some limited developing and printing by yourself. Really, no one needs to write a book on that, a couple web pages or free video tutorials will get you there if you need a helping hand.
Instead the book primarily focuses on the how and why of the features included in Lightroom. Why the features are there at all and how you can best use them to manage, develop and print your images. Which features are the big time savers and how using them in a particular way is even more efficient. In this exploration it also addresses certain issues that are not a direct part of the software but are nonetheless part of integrating the software into a work flow. Asides into the proper exposure of a RAW file and file naming choices for easier Digital Asset Management are good examples - nothing about Lightroom the software strictly relates to these topics and yet they are an integral part of getting the best out of a work flow that encompasses Lightroom as its central core.
Definitely use the look inside feature to examine the contents, it will give you a good flavor for the breadth of the book.
Some specific points:
- The coverage of the develop module is excellent in the sense that it shows how every part is used, recommends on order of operations, and gives the basics of what the controls do. As with all the other parts of the book it has great information on time-saving shortcuts in this module. What it lacks, and I didn't really expect it to cover, is in depth technical nitty-gritty on the controls and some of their subtleties. If you are interested in such things I can suggest the middle chapters of the Fraser/Schewe book on ACR (which has the same controls as Lightroom). Again, this book covers the whole Lightroom work flow and thus doesn't go into hyper-detail of every part.
- The little shortcuts sprinkled through the text are huge time savers. You'll definitely want this book at your side when first using Lightroom until you end up learning the shortcuts best suited to your work flow. When reading the book the formating of these shortcuts (different fonts and colors) seems distracting but it does make it very easy to use as a desk side reference.
- My one area of criticism is that there should really be an extra page or two on keywording. Keywords are one of the most important aspects of DAM and in my opinion Lightroom has one of the most usable and useful implementations of keywords. The author does in fact cover the topic, but there are some subtleties to how the keyword hierarchy plays out in searches and exports and really some more text should have been dedicated to this very critical subject. This is a bit strange because the author clearly understands the central points and practices of DAM and advocates for keywording strongly but doesn't seem to follow up with as much depth as the topic deserves - really just an extra page or two would have made a big improvement.
As a final summary, remember this is not a Scott Kelby hold your hand and show every dialog box kind of book. It isn't a Martin Evening here is every single freaking feature reference kind of book either. If you can successfully get Lightroom started and poke at a few features but are then left with the feeling of "well this is pretty cool, but just what the heck do I do with it to make my life easier" then this is the book for you. A software package like Lightroom offers so many features and the flexibility to use them in so many ways that the possibilities are overwhelming. The time it takes to experiment with different work flows is enormous and the consequences of various choices often don't play out until very far in the future when much time has been invested and potentially wasted. What makes this book a gem is that it narrows the paths to those most productive and useful to a broad range of photographers.
Summary of Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom is the primary software-of-choice for today's digital photographer. As a new tool, using Lightroom requires mastering new skills?not always an easy task. Compounding the challenge, many photographers don't have fundamental knowledge of digital image processing. Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process offers you the digital imaging fundamentals and the Lightroom-specific skills you need to quickly learn and retain a mastery of Lightroom.Written and designed by a professional photographer, designer, fine art printmaker and instructor, this book is designed to simplify and accelerate the learning process and is unique in both content and presentation. Nat Coalson is an Adobe Certified Expert in Lightroom and Photoshop, and has taught photography and imaging classes and workshops for many years. The approach taken by Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process is based on over 20 years of professional experience in photography, printing, and imaging, and the methods of instruction were developed through the author's work with students and clients.
At 400 pages, this book clearly explains how to use all of Lightroom's controls, and much more. Beginning with the original image capture, all the way through importing, editing, processing and presenting photos, the text also explains fundamental imaging concepts every modern photographer needs to know. Not just the "how" but also the "why". Not just recipes, but core skills you will use again and again. And by developing stronger technical skills, you will be able to focus more on creative expression.
The content of Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process also demonstrates a simple, practical workflow. You will learn real-world, professional-level production techniques through straightforward examples and easy-to-follow instructions.
The book is divided into nine chapters:
- Chapter 1. Digital Imaging Foundations: resolution, bit depth, color spaces, etc.
- Chapter 2. Digital Photography Workflow: step-by-step outline of the processing pipeline
- Chapter 3. The Lightroom Workspace: modules, panels, tools, view modes, etc.
- Chapter 4. Digital Image Capture: benefits of raw, using histograms, critical exposure settings, capturing the most possible data, etc.
- Chapter 5. Import Photos into Lightroom: creating efficient file systems, automation and batch processing, using presets, etc.
- Chapter 6. Organize your Photos in Library: identifying selects, using filters and collections, working with metadata, keywording strategies, etc.
- Chapter 7. Process your Photos in Develop: evaluating the photo, adjusting global tone, contrast and color; local adjustment brushes and graduated filters, retouching, etc.
- Chapter 8. Export Images from Lightroom: choosing the right file formats, post-processing actions, using export plug-ins, etc.
- Chapter 9. Presenting your Work: working in the Slideshow, Print and Web modules
Each chapter describes in detail specific aspects of the Lightroom workflow and includes step-by-step sequences that summarize the topics presented. Throughout the book, you will learn and integrate concepts quickly and easily through numerous shortcuts, tips, reminders and warnings. Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process includes over 300 color figures, including screenshots and illustrations, plus dozens of the author's own photographs.
In addition, Appendices provide a reference sheet for the most useful shortcuts, a comprehensive list of additional online Lightroom resources and a guide to optimizing Lightroom performance.
Lightroom 2: Streamlining your Digital Photography Process gives you a complete mastery of Lightroom and the digital photography workflow, as well as a solid foundation in digital imaging. As a result, you will be able to produce the best possible photographs with the least possible effort.
Foreword by renowned landscape photographer William Neill.
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