iPhoto or something more?

[mark744]

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One of the main reasons I invested so much money in a Leica M9 and lenses is the joy I have in traveling and documenting the journey through the incredibly beautiful and high quality images possible with a Leica M system. However, when it comes to post-processing I’m 1) lazy, and 2) relatively uninterested in the act of sitting down for long periods in front of my computer and engaging in and understanding the technicalities of post-processing production.

 

Reading this forum it becomes clear that many of the highly knowledgeable and expert photographer’s spend quite some time post-processing and seem to be highly knowledgable of the method. One of the reasons for spending so much and buying a Leica is that I thought the images would need minimum (if any) manipulation and that I would be able to download straight to my computer and enjoy viewing or printing out for viewing. Am I missing something?

 

Now, my primary question is can I keep to a very simple method of using iPhoto or am I really missing the point of Leica digital photography and need to spend some time mastering a programme such as Lightroom and learn to enjoy the art of post-processing to maximise the capability and quality of my Leica setup?

 

I would appreciate your feedback and guidance.

 

Many thanks.

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[molsondog]

Check out Adobe Photoshop Elements 9. More minimalist than Lightroom but with good cataloging capabilities and the power of Photoshop editing behind it. Version 9 has layers. Lots of buttons to click to upload to Smugmug, etc. or email or print. This is a good choice for less than $100.00. It's $79.00 online and Costco has them for $49.00 until the end of November.

 

Moving up, there is Lightroom and Aperture. Lots of features if you like to manipulate photos and manage a large catalog.

 

On top of the heap is Photoshop itself. Mighty powerful for the pro user and mighty expensive as well.

[Guest malland]

Mark, the thing to do is to try the limited iPhoto adjustments and see whether you are satisfied with the results. From what you say I assume that you are using JPG files rather than RAW (DNG) files. Many people, however, feel that the M9 JPG files aren't very good, while the DNG files are fantastic.

 

You can also make very basic adjustments to DNG files is iPhoto. Again, you should try these out and see whether you are satisfied with the results. If you are not, since you are on a Mac, I suggest you try Aperture rather than Lightroom, whose interface and results I like better, particularly the highlight recovery.

 

—Mitch/Potomac, MD

Paris au rythme de Basquiat (WIP)

[stunsworth]

One of the reasons for spending so much and buying a Leica is that I thought the images would need minimum (if any) manipulation and that I would be able to download straight to my computer and enjoy viewing or printing out for viewing. Am I missing something?

 

Since you own the M9. and are performing minimal manipulation you should be able to say whether you are happy or not with the results. If you are fine, if you're not then tell us what you don't like and we'll try to help.

[alun]

I second what Mitch says -- give Aperture a try. Dramatically better than iPhoto (although that does have its uses) and to my mind infinitely friendlier to use than its competitors. You can d/load a thirty day free trial version of Aperture, which is what I did -- within the trial period I bought knowing that I would never, ever want to use anything else.

 

To pick up on your other point, what I do with Aperture however is very limited -- but within the basic parameters of the processing I do carry out, for me Aperture does it best.

[mark744]

Thank you for replies.

 

I do shoot in RAW and that seems to be no problem viewing in iPhoto. I'll think about the idea of downloading Aperture (although it hurts not to use the free Lightroom that came with camera!). IPhoto does seem to convert the RAW files to jpeg no problem - so I guess a question I have is why no one appears to use iPhoto? All the suggestions here are to use other software. I'm happy to use other software but am wondering why an inbuilt programme such as iPhoto is considered so bad? Is it not suitable for a large collection of photo's, after all there is the ability to organise.

 

Thanks, from a novice.

[Guest malland]

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Mark, it has to do with the limited and type of adjustments that are possible iPhoto. As I said, if you get the results that you want with iPhoto, there's no reason to use anything else. I often do extensive burning and dodging, which is not possible with iPhoto.

 

As for Lighroom vs Aperture, I like using the interface of the latter more intuitive and more fun to use. And also have found that it does better highlight recovery; but other people prefer Lightroom, not only because it's free.

 

On extent of processing to be done, this can be compared to having film developed and prints made at the "corner drugstore" (automatic photolab) versus custom development and prints at home or at a custom lab. Again, it's a matter which results you find satisfactory.

 

—Mitch/Potomac, MD

Paris au rythme de Basquiat (WIP)

[Lindolfi]

My suggestion would be: collect the free LightRoom version, process with standard settings (no fiddling with controls) some images you typically make from RAW and compare with what iPhoto can produce. If there is little or not difference, you have your answer.

 

Concerning the statement that Leica photography is all about no manipulation: true, but choosing the right settings in software is comparable to what the guy or girl in the darkroom did with the tools in that domain.

 

Like Ansel Adams suggested: the negative is the score (sheet music), but only in the darkroom you make the music like it should sound. Same holds for a DNG file and the final image.

[stunsworth]

Try the version of Lightroom that came with the camera before considering Aperture. It's free, and it'll let you find out if that kind of software is suitable for you.

 

Look at some of the basic Lightroom video tutorials that are available on Adobe's website.

[rob_w]

If you are happy with iPhoto now (and it is no slouch, either) then stick with that until you feel the need to move on. My only advice would be: make sure you safeguard the DNGs so they are available if/when you want to do more advanced post processing.

 

iPhoto today does a better job than most programmes could do when I started in digital 6 years ago. Over the years I became confident with Lightroom which is now my preferred application and one which continues to grow with me.

 

M9 and iPhoto already give you great results -- so enjoy them today!

[MarkP]

I agree with the above advice suggesting you try Lightroom and see if it suits you.

 

Mark

[tdtaylor]

My problem with iphoto is its proprietary file structure. I much prefer to keep the pictures in my own defined file structure, and I believe all the other programs allow you to do so. iphoto may have changed this in the latest version.

 

This goes back to 4 or 5 years ago, having to recover files from a disk, and iphoto made it extremely difficult. My company does use it at work, because it is simple and comes with the machines.

[luigi bertolotti]

As a side note, you are not the only who doesn't like to spend time on PP... a friend of my wife switched to digital 4 years ago, and from that moment and till now, she simply takes the SD card to a lab, has the pic printed as "contact neg", chooses which ones to have printed 10x15 or enlarged... that's all: though she's a computer programmer, ignores at all even the existence of digital workflow/PP...

[Scola77]

Mark-

 

There is nothing wrong with using iPhoto. If you enjoy using it and are getting great results right out of the camera, I would keep using it. If you ever decide one day in the future that you want more control over your pictures in post processing, you can always upgrade your entire iPhoto library to Aperture.

[zlatkob]

I edit & adjust a large number of photos from weddings and other assignments and find Lightroom to be fantastic. I've been using Lightroom since version 1.0 and it has improved dramatically since then. iPhoto is OK but pretty basic. If you don't want to do much post-processing, then either will do.

[vanhulsenbeek]

With all respect for iPhoto, Apertureand LR users (including me), this thread belongs in the Digital Post-Processsing Forum, IMHO!

[mark744]

With all respect for iPhoto Apertureand LR users (including me), this thread belongs in the Digital Post-Processsing Forum, IMHO!

 

No it doesn't because it's specific to using my M9.

 

Regards.

[vanhulsenbeek]

How? I mean this Forum of course: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/digital-post-processing-forum/

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[pnoble]

Mark,

 

This would be my suggestion: since you are using a Mac: get a trial copy of Aperture. Take a few of Apple's excellent on line video tutorials: a couple of minutes a subject at Apple - Aperture - How To

 

Import or download some photos, select the adjustments tab and as a starting point just select exposure and click on automatic for one of the photos. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the results and maybe you will be tempted to experiment further.

 

And if any of your photos were shot indoors, select white balance and follow the simple instructions (from the appropriate tutorial) to auto white balance one of your photos. I think you will also be pleasantly surprised since the M9 has relatively poor auto white balance.

 

By these two simple actions you will probably significantly improve your photo collection and you may be motivated to explore further.

 

(You will want to 'lift' your adjustment(s) and 'stamp' onto other similar photos rather than adjust each separately. Simple to do and there is an on line video tutorial for that too.

 

Just my suggestion to dip your toe in the water so as to speak.

[thighslapper]

Aperture looks great and works well on a mac (not surprisingly)

 

Even if you only use it for viewing pics the rendering of Leica DNG is worth it.

 

Most of the image manipulation is easy, obvious and I have never referred to the online manual, so I wouldn't be intimidated by the myriad of options.

 

Only quirk (and ditto with some of the competition) is the odd method of importing and cataloguing images, the rationale behind which still eludes me.......