OK photogs - software (Mac) question...

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nature

climber
Boulder, CO
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2013 - 05:31pm PT
The above - Lightroom 4.3?


And "Library" in your home directory is hidden. But... I thought iPhotos were in there which they are not. they are in Pictures/iPhoto Library but access to that folder is limited (and Lightroom won't give me direct access to it and it shouldn't as it's iPhotos "database" and not organized)

Hidden
jump_junky

Social climber
Pacifica, CA
Jan 26, 2013 - 05:40pm PT
I've been using Nikon ViewNX2 for several years, and of course, I have a Nikon camera. I prefer that it doesn't use a database to store photo data like Aperture and Lightroom. Browsing photos comes straight off the disc and is faster and less prone to crashing.

ViewNX2 has very good RAW processing. And it's very simple to use.

There's also a free version called ViewNx, which is identical to the other, but with an older-looking interface.

But aside from that, I've used both Aperture and Lightroom, and the Adobe product is much better.

damon
Ed Hartouni

Trad climber
Livermore, CA
Jan 26, 2013 - 05:46pm PT
I have no imagination - I use Photoshop...

you could also consider GIMP
http://www.gimp.org/
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Jan 26, 2013 - 05:48pm PT
Nature, what happens if you do a search for an image name in Finder, like this?


and then select a higher level, up from the file name, right clicking "Open Enclosing Folder":


I have Lightroom 2, but newer versions should still work similarly. If you can get to the folder, you can drag the files into a Lightroom catalogue.
limpingcrab

Trad climber
the middle of CA
Jan 26, 2013 - 05:53pm PT
Lightroom is great. Photoshop is nice if you want to make crazy graphics or do a ton of processing, but to make good pictures you don't really need photoshop. It's a great program, and I use it, but just excessive for most cases.

Also, GET RID OF IPHOTO!!! It's crappy in many ways. If you use an adobe product using bridge is really nice and clean.
nature

climber
Boulder, CO
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2013 - 05:54pm PT
I don't get a search result if I search for a file that's in iPhoto Library. Are you running OSX 10.8.2. At some point Apple made the iPhoto Library a Package which limits access (including search).
froodish

Social climber
Portland, Oregon
Jan 26, 2013 - 05:56pm PT
To see what's in a package, right-click on it and select "Show package contents".
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Jan 26, 2013 - 05:57pm PT
Nature - another quick workaround is to control-click (or right click) a photo in iPhoto, and choose Show File. It'll open up the folder the file is in, and you can navigate from there:

kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Jan 26, 2013 - 06:00pm PT
I don't get a search result if I search for a file that's in iPhoto Library.

Are you choosing "file name" when you search? See the red circle on the pic upthread.

And start the search from the hard drive rather than a higher level folder.
limpingcrab

Trad climber
the middle of CA
Jan 26, 2013 - 06:04pm PT
iPhoto is the devil.
nature

climber
Boulder, CO
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2013 - 06:07pm PT
Find File works perfectly fine. Apples rational for this is that you don't need direct access to your iPhoto files. There's 15 different ways to get at the photos without digging around in their filesystem database. It makes sense to keep you from f*#king sh#t up.

So no, Find File won't locate files in a Package... it's a package not part of the file system.

So the easy way to get anything from iPhoto to Lightroom is to drag it from iPhoto onto the LR icon on the doc.

What I guess I'm wrestling with is the best way to manage the files in two applications without having duplicates.
nature

climber
Boulder, CO
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 26, 2013 - 06:08pm PT
Big Mike

Trad climber
BC
Jan 26, 2013 - 06:12pm PT
Nature, it's nice to have duplicates especially when editing because you can always go back to the original file. Kinda like keeping slides or negatives..

Nice pic
DM88T

climber
San Juan Bautista, CA
Jan 26, 2013 - 10:22pm PT
Capture One by PHASEONE but they're slow to support new camera's RAW files.
ionlyski

Trad climber
Kalispell, Montana
Jan 29, 2013 - 10:37am PT
I 2nd the notion of "Get rid of iPhoto"! Seriously, once you've got all your pics in the Lightroom Catalog, dump your iPhoto library. Make sure to Copy when you import to Lightroom, then get rid of everything iPhoto. Apple has really pissed a lot of people off, myself included with their cute little Faces feature. You cannot shut it off, so on a mass import into the newer versions of iPhoto it will convert say 1000 photos into 8,000. Duplicates up the yingyang too.

Also, in Iphoto 11 you can no longer view individual files outside of the application itself, as in the iPhoto library. You get the one library icon and that's it. If you want to look at an individual file or delete, you have do it within iPhoto. They may have their reasons but it doesn't work well in the real world. Too much automation from Apple. Why do people want their little boxes and screens to do everything for them? Might as well click a button that says "live your life".

Arne
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Jan 29, 2013 - 10:48am PT
Thanks for the warning, ionlyski! Luckily I have a "dumber" version, iPhoto 09.
jbaker

Trad climber
Redwood City, CA
Jan 29, 2013 - 11:01am PT
I don't know of any simple way to keep both iPhoto and Lightroom going without maintaining two copies of the photos. I'd dump iPhoto. I imported into both for a while, but have fully moved over to Lightroom. I pop out into full Photoshop occasionally (mainly for web work, rather than pure photography) but not all that often. If I was doing professional photography, I'd be popping out more to get the last couple of %.

To view hidden files and directories, go to Utilities, open Terminal, and copy and paste:
defaults write com.apple.Finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Finder will then show all files. That makes it easier to import the iPhoto directory into Lightroom.

Definitely worth thinking through how you are going to tag and track your photos. I haven't been as organized as I should have, and have ended up with my photography and stock photos I was using for a web project mixed together in a few places. Not good. Lightroom doesn't suffer the disorganized as well as iPhoto does.

There are good books on Lightroom and workflow. My house burned down two months ago, so I can't dig up the book I used and am not recognizing it on Amazon. I'd ask Jerry Dodrill. I think I chose it based on a recommendation from him. I'd highly recommend taking his summer class at Sierra Nevada College. A lot of time is spent on digital darkroom skills and he is a whiz. I'd also highly recommend offsite backups :-)

Getting the workflow right is pretty key. Lightroom has put the editing commands in the order it thinks you should use them, but worth think through what you want to do in raw before going into the lightroom editor. Also, using batch commands on a set of similar photos to quickly get close.

For people who just need a simple tool, http://ipiccy.com/ is pretty darn cool for a free, online photo editor.
ionlyski

Trad climber
Kalispell, Montana
Jan 29, 2013 - 12:21pm PT
Jbaker has it right. It will bite you eventually (with confusing duplicates) to run both.

Iphoto 9 was the last OK version but it seems to be all about automation now.

Just wait till your car starts driving itself cuz it Thinks you're about to wreck, rendering your steering wheel and brakes useless. Think I'm joking?

Arne
kunlun_shan

Mountain climber
SF, CA
Jan 29, 2013 - 12:33pm PT
There are good books on Lightroom and workflow......Getting the workflow right is pretty key.

I found this guy's $25 ebook a bargain. Leading outdoor photographer with a professional workflow:

http://www.michaelclarkphoto.com/#/BOOKS/DIGITAL%20WORKFLOW/
nature

climber
Boulder, CO
Topic Author's Reply - Jan 29, 2013 - 12:42pm PT
jbaker, thanks for the input.

Personally I find iPhoto works just fine in terms organizing my photos. Thus far I'm finding the Lightroom interface clunky for that. But what can I expect after three days. I'm sure there are key aspects I'm missing. I have no intention of keeping duplicate files around.

Apple does what they do for reasons. I get that they are frustrating to some. Whatever. I just let myself adapt to what they offer rather than try and change it or let myself get my panties in a twist.

In the end chances are I won't want direct access to my iPhoto files - they are not organized in any way that would make it easier for me to import. I'll just have to take the time and work through years of my photos if I decide move them all into Lightbox. Which is fine since they need to be worked through and organized better anyway.

As far as off site backups go I've done that for years. Time machine and two external drives. One goes in the fire safe and the other goes out the door. Sometimes it's in my truck, sometimes at a friends. Doesn't matter. If my truck blows up and catches my house on fire then I'll just shoot myself (provided all the ammo doesn't go off in the fire safe).

Back to Lightroom - I've been focusing on getting the hang of organizing and managing files. I'm still looking for the setting to change the default import directory (from Pictures). Once I get the hang of that I'll move on to the Editing stuff. I see those are the tools I'm looking for that iPhoto can't come close to touching.

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