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Well, after months of nothing doing and much family and work issues, I've finally got a rough draft of Chapter one of the Lightroom book finished. Rather than go back over it, I'm going to start Chapter 2 in the morning (or even this evening after a shoot). May as well dig in will the spirit is willing!

I got a text from Kelvin Gillmor, congratulating me on my Lightroom article being published in the latest edition of Professional Imagemaker (the SWPP society magazine), so if any of you are members, let me know what you think. I haven't seen it as yet, only an unproofed version with loads of typos!

 

I had a funny thing happen today. I've been an SG member for ages. I've a friend who used some shots I did as part of her SG application, so that combined with a few togs work that I liked over there, meant that I joined. Not to mention that there was a deal for myspace members!

Recently I started posting in the photography forum and someone recognised me as being involved in Lightroom. His post was along the lines of 'Hey, I know you, not personally though. I don't mean to out you, but aren't you 'Lightroom Sean'?'

Out me? Should I be ashamed of being an SG member? While I don't strictly approve of their newer policies and will probably let my membership run out, I don't feel there's anything implicitly wrong with being a member.

Such an odd reponse to my self portrait!

Phew, I'm glad that's over.

 All the plans for showing Lightroom in a strict workflow environment went out the window as the questions came hard and fast. I got to show some stuff I hadn't planned on doing, and I missed stuff I wanted to show. Such is the problem with trying to fit it all into 2 hours. I got a lot of questions after, along with a few 1-1 bookings.

It's very easy to have  people glaze over when introducing them to something completely new. As the interface in Lightroom is very different to other Adobe programs, it does take a little getting used to. I think I managed to keep them interested and show a few new tricks while I was at it.  

I'm giving a presentation on Lightroom workflow today to Western Region of the IPPA, as part of their Photoshop day. The event commences at 2pm in Knockranny House Hotel, Westport, Co. Mayo. My slot is from 3 until 5.

I'll be fitting a lot in in those 2 hours probably. I imagine that there will be a familiarity level from zero to advanced within the members of Lightroom, so I'll be covering workflow from Import to Output.  A tall order for 2 hours, but I'll do my best!

Phew. Just after getting home from shooting in Barna Woods and on the Beach at Silver Strand. The shots on the beach didn't really work out as the Sun got swallowed by cloud. I'll try and process stuff after soundcheck and post a few this evening. Had a bit of fun anyway!

I've just finished day 2 of 3 with TG4's Glor Tire (Irish for Country Voice- Think 'You're a Star' or 'X Factor' in Irish). The production is running 3 bands with 3 contestants each night, while 2 extra days with the house band will take place on Thursday and Friday. I've been running around shooting the contestants, peformers and judges. The show runs from 9pm to roughly 3.30am. Each band/contestant will have their own program kicking off 12th Sept. It's hard work, but good fun.

So our Camera Club committe meeting to decide the calender of events for the first half of the year was tonight.

Of the 12 committee members, we had a grand total of 5 present. I'd call that commitment. The reason for most of the ones that hadn't sent apologies in advance? I forgot. Sigh.

Anyhow, it's mostly done now. Just one night to fill and a few things to finalise.  

Over the years I've tried many ways of retouching skin. I certainly can't claim to be amazing by any means. But I've finally found a combination of techniques that I can automate.

Ages ago I was a beta tester for Neat Image for the Mac. I got a free license for my efforts. Normally this is for removing noise, but with a little cheating and tweaking, ti does a nice, if over the top, job on skin.

 

This is the new for me. Mixing with the old is using Guy Gowans red channel masking techinque, which means in gets masked off well and looks more natural.

I'm very please with the look. I'd give it an 85%. Of course all the blemish removal must be done first.

I'm only on CS so I'm aware that CS2 and 3 users could probably use Surface Blur instead of Neat Image.

The way you would do it  is to Duplicate your layer, Surface Blur to taste. Turn Off the Blur layer. Click the layer below this. Click Channels. Cmd/Ctrl click on the Red Channel. This makes a selection. Click on the RGB layer. Click on the Layers tab. Turn the blur layer back on. Click the blur layer. Then click the Layer Mask icon on the bottom of the layers pallete. Viola.  

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