Last week, I spoke of the ways I’ve accepted the fact that Photography has become more than making Photos. Apps to control the camera are just a small part of it though. There are apps to monitor the weather, tide times, wind speeds, and sunrise/sunset conditions. There are apps to help read the night sky for Astrophotography, and also apps to help choose the correct filter to use for those creamy smooth waterfalls. There are apps to help decide the correct focal distance and exposure… Many are free and all are beneficial.
However, there is a dark side to the technology, or at least a more frustrating side. Software for editing and processing photographs have become de rigueur for today’s digital Photographer. There are several options from which to choose, and it doesn’t take long to get completely overwhelmed with what they have to offer. The most commonly used are Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom which are subscription-based (meaning you don’t buy the software outright and install it on your computer; rather, you pay a monthly fee and use the software “in the cloud.”) As such, you pay a substantial amount of money annually and when you’re not using it, you’re still paying for it. I have chosen to use software from a company called Affinity. I paid for it (once) and downloaded it to both my laptop and desktop where it is mine to use for as long as I choose to use it. Updates are free as well.
That said, all of the Photographers I watch on their YouTube vlogs still use Photoshop and Lightroom and the language (both verbal and metaphorical) is sometimes quite different for Affinity. For example, if a vlogger says “Do this for amazing Landscape Photography edits” and proceeds to use terminology unique to Photoshop, I often can’t find the Affinity equivalent. The words are different, so it’s like ordering a meal in a foreign language; you’ll get something, but most likely not exactly what you’re looking for. So, knowing how to ask “How do I… ?” is frustrating. I have broken through some of the barriers with the help of a friend or two who are more versed in the technology, and once I know the procedures, I can achieve the results I am looking for. Pairing the technical operations of the camera (such as exposure stacking) with the processing functions of Affinity can give me more satisfactory results, and the more I learn, the better my images will become. HAVE become!
Speaking of Vlogs, (video Blogs) I am attempting to become more active in that role again as well. When I first decided to take my Photography more seriously, I set up a YouTube channel and released a Vlog per week for three consecutive weeks. Once again, the technology wasn’t my best friend. Trying to emulate what I’d seen from others I soon realized I’d need specific software. Very few of the programs offer everything, and if they do, they require a ton of “horsepower” to operate. The most popular is called Davinci Resolve, but it requires more RAM to operate than I have in my computers. Rest assured though, that if a “Davinci Light” version is ever released, I will have it!
So, being unable to compile my Vlogs the way I wanted to, I backed away from that while I explored software options. I think I’m getting close, using 2 different programs, each of which offer different functions which I am interested in using.
And ultimately, if my Vlogs are not of the same ilk as those of others, should I really become so frustrated and disappointed? After all, it’s about me taking MY shots and presenting MY results to the world, not trying to replicate what my heroes do. That same lesson was there to learn over 50 years ago when I picked up my first pair of Drumsticks. Yes, I copied my heroes in order to learn how to play, but eventually it all melded into one… into me. The same will hold true for my Photography. Eventually.
Next week and the week after are Christmas and New Year’s respectively, and I will not be releasing any blogs on those days. I’ll be safe at home with Anne and the cats, avoiding crowds while overeating and napping. Look for me back here on January 9, 2020 when I’ll reveal how much weight I’ve gained over the Holidays.
Until then, have a safe and happy Holiday season. Keep your shutter finger warm and remember to always pack extra batteries!
