Nikolai
Aug-22-2006, 08:15 PM
I've been asked about this a few times, so I decided I'll make a
post..
As some of you know, I recently went to a local airshow (http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/1802208). Two days, four
hours of shooting each day, 7Gb worth of RAW shots (Canon 30D, 8mp)
total. That makes 700+ pictures. They were all processed and uploaded
promptly, and if I didn't have a rather long meeting with one of the LA
prominent photogs on Sunday after the show, they would all have been processed and
uploaded the same day (OK, I had to process the last 100 pics or so on
Monday, big deal).
Now - how did I do that?
The answer is simple: RAWflow (OK, I made this word up, but I like it:-).
NOTE: I'm using Adobe Bridge + ACR 3.4 + PS CS2 + Star*Explorer combo. If your setup is different - that's fine, too, whatever works... :):
If you don't count display or tarmac shots, which were either static or
semi-static (either still or moving at 5 mph, so I did have time to
frame and compose), the vast majority (80%) of the shots does require
post-processing even if you shoot jpegs. It's next to impossible to
properly frame a prop fighter (let alone a jet one) hauling a$$ at full
speed. Light also changes depending on the angle, so deep blue of zenith
can change to a pale shade of cyan on the horizon within seconds, making
at least one full stop difference if not more.
So, I come home from a show day, with my cards full of shots.
First - upload. That's an easy part. USB 2.0 universal card reader is
fast enough to do the job in just a few minutes.
Now, I have to figure out how to break the load down into more sizable
chunks. This part is also easy - such shows tend to have some natural
sections (WWII planes, modern planes, stunts, etc), so breaking the
plunder up into several folders takes maybe another 15-20 minutes.
Once I figured folder structure, I fire up Star*Explorer (http://www.starexplorer.com) (yeah, who would
think of that, huh:-), hit Create Subcategory, and then hit Create
Multiple Albums - this feature alone saves me a great deal of time
instead of hitting New Gallery button several times online...
OK, from now on we need to go into each folder and repeat the scenario
for each one.
First things first - set up the copyright and the keywords. I already
have the my Copyright XMP file set up, so it's only a matter of a few
seconds to apply it to a several dozens pictures in a folder. Keywords
take maybe another minute or so, depending on how many you want.
Next goes culling: I go through all the shots in a quick manner and
either assign one star to it if it's any good or do not assign any if it
has some major flaws, like OOF or bad framing. I'm not a big fan of a
Delete button, since it make thing hard to undo, but if you are - you can
simply leave those you like intact and delete those you don't.
Of course, if an image immediately strikes me as a gem I can go ahead and
assign a higher rating to it, but the main idea at this step is to sieve though
all of them as quickly as possible.
Since I got some long burst series:
http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/89859520-S.jpg
I also mark them with some color labels, so I can easily identify them later.
Thus far all our steps were format-agnostics.
Once the baddies are culled out (deleted or not given any stars/thumbs up), I set Bridge (or whatever photo manager s/w you're using) to show good guys only. In my case, I tell Bridge to show only the images rated One Star or Higher, and it's finally time to do some real RAW work. :):
I have (or can easily make) a few presets that would allow me to quickly set RAW settings to all/selected images: things like linear curve, all zero adjustments, noise/sharpness combos, etc.
Next I load the images into the ACR (in fact, this is the step where Lightroom or a similar product should really shine, but at its current speed LR is far, far away from the prime time).
First I go by selecting similarly exposed shots and adjust them all together. Later I may tweak a thing or two on each one, but in general this approach saves me gobs of time. I also pay a closer attention to my ratings and either up the image I like or remove the star if the image does not deserve one after a closer look (ACR allows you to tweak ratings and set labels).
I also apply some "mentally reserved" label (I use green) to those that need some extra editing in PS (be it simple touch up to remover the dust spot or a major work).
After the exposure/curve is set - it's time for framing. On the shots like that from the show (remember, they are mostly the same: plane in a sky, or in your case it may be a bike on a track, a horse on the course, a player in the field, etc.) it's really simple - using the ACR's crop tool is an extremely easy routine.
Once the exposure and crop are set, I hit Done and launch Image Processor from the Bridge's Tools menu. It churns RAW files and produces JPEGs in a sub-folder.
As one of the last steps I launch WWMX Location Stamper (http://research.microsoft.com/research/downloads/default.aspx?za=1), free GPS stamping tool from MS, and stamp all the jpeg files, which makes them all show up in the oh-so-nice Smugmug's Map This feature.
If I need to do any more PS work - it can be done now, or later. But the vast majority of the work has been already done. In fact, reading this text, let alone typing it, probably took you longer than it would take me to process 40..60 shots with an outcome like this: http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/1797915
Last step: activate Star*Explorer (or whatever your uploading tool of choice is:-), select the album, drop the files, hit Upload - and onto the next folder.
Now, what are the benefits of RAW here?
Most important - all your changes are "soft". You've done all the work of culling, rating, labeling - and it will stay with you. So do your changes to framing and exposure, in case you ever decide to change it. With jpegs all your exposure and crop changes are permanent. You either need to store the original separately (which makes it double trouble for redoing all the rating/labeling/structuring again) - our you're totally and completely out of luck, since you can't go back. With RAW - it's not even an issue.
Secondly - and also very important - is the praised ability of the RAW files to allow for some decent exposure and white balance adjustment without breaking a sweat. Imagine adjusting exposure and wb on 700+ JPEG pictures - you'd probably dump the idea from the very start. In RAW - sure, why not.
All in all, though I would share some positive experience on the RAWflow :-) :D
post..
As some of you know, I recently went to a local airshow (http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/1802208). Two days, four
hours of shooting each day, 7Gb worth of RAW shots (Canon 30D, 8mp)
total. That makes 700+ pictures. They were all processed and uploaded
promptly, and if I didn't have a rather long meeting with one of the LA
prominent photogs on Sunday after the show, they would all have been processed and
uploaded the same day (OK, I had to process the last 100 pics or so on
Monday, big deal).
Now - how did I do that?
The answer is simple: RAWflow (OK, I made this word up, but I like it:-).
NOTE: I'm using Adobe Bridge + ACR 3.4 + PS CS2 + Star*Explorer combo. If your setup is different - that's fine, too, whatever works... :):
If you don't count display or tarmac shots, which were either static or
semi-static (either still or moving at 5 mph, so I did have time to
frame and compose), the vast majority (80%) of the shots does require
post-processing even if you shoot jpegs. It's next to impossible to
properly frame a prop fighter (let alone a jet one) hauling a$$ at full
speed. Light also changes depending on the angle, so deep blue of zenith
can change to a pale shade of cyan on the horizon within seconds, making
at least one full stop difference if not more.
So, I come home from a show day, with my cards full of shots.
First - upload. That's an easy part. USB 2.0 universal card reader is
fast enough to do the job in just a few minutes.
Now, I have to figure out how to break the load down into more sizable
chunks. This part is also easy - such shows tend to have some natural
sections (WWII planes, modern planes, stunts, etc), so breaking the
plunder up into several folders takes maybe another 15-20 minutes.
Once I figured folder structure, I fire up Star*Explorer (http://www.starexplorer.com) (yeah, who would
think of that, huh:-), hit Create Subcategory, and then hit Create
Multiple Albums - this feature alone saves me a great deal of time
instead of hitting New Gallery button several times online...
OK, from now on we need to go into each folder and repeat the scenario
for each one.
First things first - set up the copyright and the keywords. I already
have the my Copyright XMP file set up, so it's only a matter of a few
seconds to apply it to a several dozens pictures in a folder. Keywords
take maybe another minute or so, depending on how many you want.
Next goes culling: I go through all the shots in a quick manner and
either assign one star to it if it's any good or do not assign any if it
has some major flaws, like OOF or bad framing. I'm not a big fan of a
Delete button, since it make thing hard to undo, but if you are - you can
simply leave those you like intact and delete those you don't.
Of course, if an image immediately strikes me as a gem I can go ahead and
assign a higher rating to it, but the main idea at this step is to sieve though
all of them as quickly as possible.
Since I got some long burst series:
http://nik.smugmug.com/photos/89859520-S.jpg
I also mark them with some color labels, so I can easily identify them later.
Thus far all our steps were format-agnostics.
Once the baddies are culled out (deleted or not given any stars/thumbs up), I set Bridge (or whatever photo manager s/w you're using) to show good guys only. In my case, I tell Bridge to show only the images rated One Star or Higher, and it's finally time to do some real RAW work. :):
I have (or can easily make) a few presets that would allow me to quickly set RAW settings to all/selected images: things like linear curve, all zero adjustments, noise/sharpness combos, etc.
Next I load the images into the ACR (in fact, this is the step where Lightroom or a similar product should really shine, but at its current speed LR is far, far away from the prime time).
First I go by selecting similarly exposed shots and adjust them all together. Later I may tweak a thing or two on each one, but in general this approach saves me gobs of time. I also pay a closer attention to my ratings and either up the image I like or remove the star if the image does not deserve one after a closer look (ACR allows you to tweak ratings and set labels).
I also apply some "mentally reserved" label (I use green) to those that need some extra editing in PS (be it simple touch up to remover the dust spot or a major work).
After the exposure/curve is set - it's time for framing. On the shots like that from the show (remember, they are mostly the same: plane in a sky, or in your case it may be a bike on a track, a horse on the course, a player in the field, etc.) it's really simple - using the ACR's crop tool is an extremely easy routine.
Once the exposure and crop are set, I hit Done and launch Image Processor from the Bridge's Tools menu. It churns RAW files and produces JPEGs in a sub-folder.
As one of the last steps I launch WWMX Location Stamper (http://research.microsoft.com/research/downloads/default.aspx?za=1), free GPS stamping tool from MS, and stamp all the jpeg files, which makes them all show up in the oh-so-nice Smugmug's Map This feature.
If I need to do any more PS work - it can be done now, or later. But the vast majority of the work has been already done. In fact, reading this text, let alone typing it, probably took you longer than it would take me to process 40..60 shots with an outcome like this: http://nik.smugmug.com/gallery/1797915
Last step: activate Star*Explorer (or whatever your uploading tool of choice is:-), select the album, drop the files, hit Upload - and onto the next folder.
Now, what are the benefits of RAW here?
Most important - all your changes are "soft". You've done all the work of culling, rating, labeling - and it will stay with you. So do your changes to framing and exposure, in case you ever decide to change it. With jpegs all your exposure and crop changes are permanent. You either need to store the original separately (which makes it double trouble for redoing all the rating/labeling/structuring again) - our you're totally and completely out of luck, since you can't go back. With RAW - it's not even an issue.
Secondly - and also very important - is the praised ability of the RAW files to allow for some decent exposure and white balance adjustment without breaking a sweat. Imagine adjusting exposure and wb on 700+ JPEG pictures - you'd probably dump the idea from the very start. In RAW - sure, why not.
All in all, though I would share some positive experience on the RAWflow :-) :D