Review Digital Camera World 03-30-2013

Digital Camera World

Adobe Lightroom Basics: 6 things you need to know getting started Mar 30th 2013, 01:00 In our latest Adobe Lightroom tutorial we explain the basics of this great photo editing software and reveal 6 of the most important details every beginner should know. Adobe Lightroom 4 is a powerful program for managing and enhancing your images. Easy to use, simple to navigate and reasonably priced, it's rapidly becoming the best choice for photographers who don't necessarily need the depth and processing power of Photoshop. Here we'll give you a quick guide to Lightroom, from importing your images to experimenting with handy tonal presets and making a few essential edits. The Lightroom 4 interface is separated into seven different modules designed to take you through the entire editing process, from categorising your images and choosing which to work on, to printing them out or sharing them. The Library module lets you categorise your images by adding keywords, star ratings and collections. Keywording may not be the most exciting job in the world, but a few minutes spent here when you first download images can save time in the long run. The Adobe Lightroom Develop module enables you to make simple edits like cropping and sharpening, as well as more creative effects like tonal shifts and selective adjustments. Adobe Lightroom Basics – 01 Import your image Open up Photoshop Lightroom 4, then choose Library from the list of modules at the top right of the interface. Click on the Import button at the bottom left, then use the collapsible folders in the Source panel to navigate to your file. Select the image, then hit Import. Adobe Lightroom Basics – 02 Add a keyword Highlight the image thumbnail, then go to the Keyword panel on the right. Click in the text box then type 'monk'.Now, if you need to find the file at any time, go to Text along the top of the main window and type 'monk'.You can also search your image by other characteristics using Attribute and Metadata. Adobe Lightroom Basics – 03 Experiment with Presets Click on the Develop Module, then go to the Presets Panel on the left of the interface. You can experiment with the colour presets here. If you need to undo an effect, scroll down to the History palette and click back through history states. Go to Lightroom Effects Presets and choose Light Grain. Adobe Lightroom Basics – 04 Crop to horizontal Grab the Crop Overlay tool (below the histogram on the left) then drag the crop overlay to crop the top and bottom of the frame, transforming it from a vertical to a horizontal image. Double-click to see the results of the crop (you can adjust the crop at any time by clicking back on the tool). Adobe Lightroom Basics – 05 Enhance the tones In the Basic sliders set Temp to +5, Tint to +11, Highlights to +38, Clarity to +11, Vibrance to -20 and Saturation to +9. Grab the Graduated Filter tool and drag a gradient from the right to the centre. Set Exposure to -1.61 and Highlights to -68. Drag in from the left to make a gradient and set Exposure to -2.07. Adobe Lightroom Basics – 06 Make selective adjustments Grab the Adjustment Brush tool. Zoom in to the face, then click on the skin to set a pin. Set Brush Size to 7 and Clarity to -55. Paint over the hotspots on the face to soften the skin. Next, click New, then click on the monk to set a second pin. Paint over the entire figure, then set Exposure +0.49 to lighten him. READ MORE Adobe Lightroom: what ever photographer must know about the alternative Photoshop Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 review Best photo editing software? 6 Photoshop alternatives tested and rated Photoshop Curves Tool: 6 techniques every photographer must know Tripod Tips: using a tripod to shoot from unusual camera angles Mar 29th 2013, 12:00 Want to take more creative photography? Shooting from unusual camera angles is a tried and tested technique for adding drama to your shots. But doing so requires knowing how to use a tripod like an expert. Follow these tripod tips to find out how to set up your camera to shoot from every angle possible. Image by Mark Hamblin Your tripod is just as important as your camera kit, and without one it would be impossible to take many shots at all. A lot of the time, you'll just use your tripod at a comfortable height, but to capture something a little different you need to think beyond using the tripod as a mere camera support. Instead, use it to shoot from unusual angles that give your images a creative edge. Tripods come in many styles and configurations, but most have the option for the legs to splay right out. This reduces its height, which is great for low-level shooting – an ideal way to accentuate foreground interest in your landscape images and get unusual perspectives on ground-dwelling wildlife subjects. Centre columns can be a real pain if you want to get really low though, so consider buying a model without one. Alternatively, most can be removed and reinserted to mount your camera upside down. Sometimes the best shooting position can be very awkward to get to, on uneven ground or higher than you can reach. But there are ways around this. For example, two legs can be extended to full height and the third kept short to enable working on very steep ground. In some cases, one leg can be redundant altogether, with the tripod resting on two legs and leaning against a vertical surface such as a fence. Or to gain height you can bring the legs much closer together or even hold the tripod high above your head. Tripod tips for shooting from unusual angles Get down low Keep the legs at their minimum height and adjust the locking clips so the legs can be splayed out. There are often a couple of positions that the legs can be locked into to optimise the height. The absence of a centre column is best for ultra-low shooting.   Reverse the centre column If your camera has a centre column, remove it and re-insert it the other way. You can now mount the camera upside down and position it close to the ground. Adjust your settings before positioning the camera and use Live View to compose the shot.   Handhold your tripod A tripod can sometimes be used to good effect by holding it high up with your camera attached for an elevated view or unusual angle. Set a high shutter speed of around 1/250 sec or faster to prevent camera shake and fire the shutter using a remote release.d re-insert it the other way. You can now mount the camera upside down and position it close to the ground. Adjust your settings before positioning the camera and use Live View to compose the shot. READ MORE 4 tips for sharper shots when using a tripod 4 ways to ensure a level horizon 49 awesome photography tips and time savers 10 common camera mistakes every photographer makes

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