Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Details:

What: Digital Processing Workshop (Lr and ACR)
When: Some time in March
Time: See when.
Where: Suggestions?
Bring: Laptop, Unedited raw files, Lr and/or Adobe Camera Raw cause that's what I know. If we can agree on just Lr that'd be the bees knees.

Recently another photographer and I were sitting beside each other editing images on our respective computers. I watched her for for a bit and she used tools in ways I hadn't thought. Smarterer and more efficient ways. I then reciprocated and showed her a couple tricks I know. So I thought, "what if we put together a small group of people with at least a modest amount of processing knowledge and worked on an image by committee to learn new ways of looking at our tools. Basically this thread in person.

I see this happening the following way. One laptop connected to a projector and we each take turns going over how we would edit a handful of images. Landscape and Portrait would probably be the best. The point won't be to show off what you can do, but instead how you do it. The point also won't be to train complete beginners on how to use Lr or ACR. That said, if you are a complete beginner and want to come observe that's fine by me provided there's space.

Most importantly, what we need to do this is a space where we can set up for a few hours. I can provide the laptop and software, Adobe/Windows(sorta) only. I do not have a projector.

An explanation of the registration: "Show and Tell" is for people who have techniques they're willing to share. I have put a limit of 5 on this because any more than that and we'll be there all day. "Lurker" means you're interested in coming to watch because you wish to learn more, but you aren't sharing for whatever reason. I'm setting that to 5 as well because it makes sense to do so. And lurkers, remember, if our venue doesn't allow room for you you will be nixed. "Luddites" are people that are gonna stay home and smash up a loom. Obviously, if the venue and date eventually selected, hoping we manage one, doesn't work people can back out. This first post is just to gauge interest and see if it can be done. If demand is there I don't mind facilitating another event for a new batch of people.

I've had such an idea with a twist. Before going to processing workshop people would actually take the pictures they would later process at the workshop. As for a projector idea, it is good, but has some limitations as well. Projector needs to be calibrated if you guys intend on doing real processing, otherwise it's just for the sake of practice, which isn't that bad on its own. There is space which costs money to rent in my building.

sadly, I use CaptureOne and Photoshop only.

Sounds like a good event, though! have fun!

Maybe it would be easier instead if someone posted a RAW file and then everyone else could take a spin on how they would process it. And it shouldn't be limited to just LR and ACR but other programs as well, since most editing programs are mostly similar and the techniques used in one program can be translated and transferred over to another program. But I guess since it's the first event of such kind, might be wise to limit it to LR and ACR to prevent confusion.

I am using mostly ACR and photoshop myself. Anyway, if there's still space, I would still like to come.

Great choice for studio photography Ed. How about we add Capture One tethered shooting tutorial as well?

There are a few problems with that though.

For one, it requires either more equipment or I install each software application on my laptop and the inherent problems in that. For two it adds a bit of time. People will be asking questions about how one app relates to another. This may be a good idea for another event to get a better idea of what's out there, but my intention was to pursue knowledge in the tools I use. For three I like Lr and want to stick to that. It isn't the standard for everyone yet?! And four, streamlining the whole thing and keeping it simple is the plan. I can see this easily running long which may not be an option with the space we get.



I'm not worried about a projector being poorly calibrated. Beyond having the colours in the ballpark calibration only matters if there's output. If someone wants to print/post one of their shots that they work on that night fine, but it's not really the point. We're just out to share techniques. If one of those techniques is dealing with the colour of the projector quickly then so be it.



That could be cool but a little high pressure or fruitless. What if the preshoot nets only crap? I was thinking that before the event we agree on the selection of raw images we're going to use. That way each person doing "show and tell" can go through a practice run on how they would process it without the pressure of doing it in front of a crowd.




Your location is good, if you could look into the cost of that to see if it's manageable? I'd appreciate that.



chopper, that's a shame, I'd love to see your process. You could always post the process of one of yours here.

A Ps event like this would be neat. It would have a lot more potential and variations though and, I think, would require a particular focus. Just portraiture, or just landscape. It's also not something I'm competent enough to "show & tell." I'll leave that to someone else.

Great idea for an event. I'd like to go to this just to see the interaction between the participants.

The Creepy Lurkers sure filled up fast.
Only Photoshopping and DPP. But would have loved to see LR in action.
Nigil

Indeed, the lurkers did fill up fast. And they're gonna be disappointed if it's just PotatoEYE and I. And, not only that, he and I can get together and go over processing techniques for our own benefit just about any ol' time.

Or, is this proof that perhaps a Lr advanced beginner level demo is more apropos at this point in time? I can lead that just fine. If PotatoEYE would/is interested in co leading between the two of us we would do a pretty thorough Lr rundown... The last event of that sort was over a year ago I think.

Anyway, I'll give the event in this format another couple days to gestate. If it isn't gonna reach the second trimester we'll revamp to something more applicable. A Lr Demo event can still be created if this works out as originally envisioned.

I know that at this point, I'm comfortable with beginner and intermediate edits in LR, so... I'm interested in watching people do some more advanced things and watch them through their creative process. What I like about this initial idea is that the focus is a bit more on an actual image use case as opposed to just generic broad tool usage.

Okay, I changed the registration to 15 lurkers. The idea is now it will be a pseudo-class led by 2-3 instead of a brainstorm between a few with a handful gawkers. If the interest is legitimately there I'll make sure something is put together. Could be delayed into April.