Friday, June 24, 2016

PUBLISH IMAGES DIRECTLY TO INSTAGRAM WITH LIGHTROOM

Pro
Getting photos from your computer directly to Instagram has always been a little cumbersome to say the least,  It's designed as a mobile platform and posting pictures that have been taken with a non-connected camera and edited on a computer typically involves some third-party uploading tool or image transfer fiasco and one of the reasons I have been reluctant to embrace Instagram.

I have devised a number of work arounds for my students and clients but none were truly painless....

Until NOW!

I saw this new plugin the other day and have been testing it out on various systems and it works really well
Lightroom plugin makes things considerably easier, at least for those users who use LIGHTROOMLR/Instagram lets you post images to Instagram directly from Lightroom via publish services Once installed you can authorize one or more Instagram accounts. Images are uploaded by dragging them into a publish collection.

Publish Service in Lightroom
You
You can also have multiple accounts
Multiple Accounts





You can add comments and hashtags directly in Lightroom before uploading.




The plugin can be downloaded and installed for free from the LR/Instagram website but the developers ask for a $10 contribution via registration in the Lightroom Plugin Manager if you like the tool.


Try in out and let me know what you think.  I will be posting more to Instagram

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Lightroom CC 2015.5.1 now available

Lightroom CC 2015.5.1 now available

Lightroom CC 2015.5.1 and Lightroom 6.5.1 are now available.  The focus with this release was to add support for new cameras and also fix reported customer issues.
Please note that on first launch of Lightroom CC 2015.5.1 / 6.5.1, you will need to log in to continue syncing images and metadata between desktop and your mobile devices.  To sign in, click on the Activity Center in the upper-left corner and select the “Sign In” button. For more info see these detailed instructions.

Bugs Fixed in Lightroom CC 2015.5.1 / 6.5.1
New Camera Support in Lightroom CC 2015.5.1 / 6.5.1
  • Pentax K-1
  • Sony DSC-RX10M3
Known Issue
  • Image flickers when moving an adjustment slider.  Note that this only occurs when using certain AMD graphics cards (such as 6450M and 6970M) on Mac OS 10.11 (El Capitan). We are working with our partners to resolve this issue. In the meantime, you can workaround this issue by disabling “Use Graphics Processor” in Lightroom’s preferences.
Installation Instructions
Please select Help > Updates to install the update.  See Keeping Lightroom up-to-date.
Direct download links:  Win | Mac

Thursday, March 31, 2016

I'm finally dumping Lightroom for iPhoto



Time to break some old habits and try something new!


I will no longer be using Lightroom, instead, I will switch my entire workflow over to the amazing and awesome iPhoto program!


I no longer to use a tripod all the time.  I can up my ISO, turn on image stabilization and everything will be just as good.














I am no longer going to bother shooting RAW - JPG's are really quick and easy and as a purist I want my images "straight out of camera" with no processing.




Image result for raw vs JPEG
AUTO FOCUS is the way to go in Landscape photography - Just focus on the horizon, smack in the middle, it will all be just fine and so much easier than Hyperfocal distance nonsense.

No longer going to be looking at my histogram
Just going to look at the pretty picture on the back of LCD, underexpose so everything looks saturated and moody, yea that's it! I can crank up the shadows afterwards it will look great.

Decided that Bridge is just fine for organizing all my photos, I find them eventually. No point in learning anything new, just stick with the old workflow even though its not designed for a photographers workflow at all.


Tired of getting up so early - I will concentrate of photographing everything mid day, after a good lunch and preferably from the side of the road.


I will go where everyone has been, take the same photos and crank the saturation sliders or use a ton of presets that I spent a fortune on.  That way I'll get a "signature look!!




DONT WORRY - AINT NEVER GONNA HAPPEN

















Wednesday, January 27, 2016

LIGHTROOM CC 2015.4/6.4 released- New Pano Feature

What’s new in Lightroom CC 2015.4 and Lightroom 6.4?
Lightroom CC 2015.4 and Lightroom 6.4 are now available on Adobe.com.  
This release provides additional camera raw support, lens profile support and address bugs that were introduced in previous releases of Lightroom.  
This release also includes a new Boundary Warp feature for Creative Cloud members.
Introducing Boundary Warp
Stitched panoramas often have non-rectangular boundaries. There are several ways to handle irregular boundaries. 
1. Apply a rectangular crop. quick and simple, but important image details near the edges may be lost due to cropping. 
2. Content Aware Fill (in Photoshop) to fill in the transparent areas outside the boundary. This can be effective, but may require multiple attempts to obtain a pleasing result. 
3. Warping - in Photoshop can be complex and you may end up with odd results
ANNOUNCING - Boundary Warp 
Raw images to be stiched
This new feature provides another approach to handling the irregular boundary of panoramas. The feature analyzes the boundary and warps the image so that its edges fit a rectangular frame.  In other words, its all done for you on the fly...quick easy and effective.  ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU LIGHTROOM!
Merged Images
Boundary Warp applied

Processed DNG Pano with Boundary Warp
New Camera Support in Lightroom CC 2015.4 / 6.4
  • Fujifilm X70
  • Fujifilm X-E2S
  • Fujifilm X-Pro2
  • Leica M (Typ 262)
  • Leica X-U (Typ 113)
  • Panasonic DMC-ZS60 (DMC-TZ80, DMC-TZ81, DMC-TZ85)
  • Phase One IQ150
  • Sony ILCA-68 (A68)
Additional Updates in Lightroom CC 2015.4 / 6.4

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

New Website Done! 2016 Workshops posted



New updated, streamlined website completed!
First New Years resolution completed - Updated my website!2016 workshop schedule published - It's going to be another great year!
Galleries are gradually moving over from Pbase to the new site but will be accessible there as well till the end of the year. New images will be featured on the new site - 


http://www.suzannemathiaphotography.com

2016 WORKSHOPS

Lightroom was designed for photographers and by photographers to help them focus on what they love—the art and craft of photography. Lightroom provides photographers with an elegant and efficient way to work with their growing digital image collections, bring out the best in their images, and make an impact from raw capture to creative output, all while maintaining the highest possible quality each step of the way.

LIGHTROOM GROUP CLASSES HELD THROUOUT THE YEAR

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP

LIGHTROOM 101 - The Essentials                   -                        February 13th
LIGHTROOM 102 - Digital Post Processing                      March 12th
LIGHTROOM 103 - Advanced Post Processing             April 2nd

February 21 -  February 27  - California Coast - Big Sur
7 Days, Six Nights (3 Morro Bay; 3 Big Sur)
Big_Sur_2014-17From the moment you start this amazing road trip, you'll leave the world behind as you wind up, over & down along 350 miles of the world's most rugged coastline in a land where populations dwindle, trees and mountains soar & waves crash in a landscape cold, green & beautiful. For seven days & nights, we'll wind our way along legendary U.S. Highway 1 thru four separate coastal regions of incomparable beauty: Santa Barbara; Morro Bay/San Simeon; Big Sur; Carmel/Monterey. The journey will offer an amazing diversity of photographic opportunities: seascapes of all order; quaint boat harbors; Spanish Mission architecture; ocean wildlife & sea birds; tidepools; winter waves; redwoods & live oaks; sand dunes; historic span bridges, & more.
Pricing: $3695.00

March 19-23, 2016     Slot Canyons: Natures Sculpted Sandstone

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP
_D3_0493-EditEtched into the crust of the Colorado Plateau are the most photogenic and captivating canyons in the world. Join us as we explore the twisting sandstone labyrinths of the slot canyons, the strangely formed hoodoos, mysterious petroglyphs and a 270 degree view of the Colorado River at Horseshoe Bend. 
Pricing: $2,195 / $500 deposit

April 21-25, 2016   Havasupai: Land of Blue Green Waters 

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP
Journey to the “Shangri-La” of the Southwest, Havasu Canyon. The Land of Blue Green Waters. This small branch of the Grand Canyon contains Havasupai, Navajo and Mooney Falls, three of the most beloved waterfalls in the American West and 2 new spectacular falls created in just the last few years. 
Duration: 5 days | Activity level: 6.0 | Price: $2,995.00

May 12-15, 2016   White Pocket on the Colorado Plateau

May 19-22, 2016

White_Pockets-3ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP
Hidden within the desert expanse of the Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs National Monument near the Arizona/Utah border sits a little known but magical spot called White Pocket. Relatively unknown until recent years and not easily accessed, White Pocket is fast becoming the next photographer's paradise for capturing uniquely strange and colorful rock formations. Join Suzanne Mathia on this outfitter guided trip as we camp and explore the Paria Plateau. 
 Pricing: $1,195 / $500 deposit

August 11-14, 2016   Grand Canyon North Rim

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP
The Grand Canyon's North Rim is the perfect place to capture stunning images with dramatic skies. On this workshop, you will get four packed days of field and classroom time that will leave you amazed at the images and techniques you will go home with. 
Pricing: $1,395 / $500 deposit

SOUTHWEST PERSPECTIVES WORKSHOP
MVHunts_0814-2Monsoon conditions produce some of the most dramatic & original opportunities for photography in the southwest. Join us for an incredible expedition to some of the most epic vistas in the American Southwest. Over four days, we will explore the whole of this magical and sacred land of mesas and monuments including Totem Pole & Y'ei Bi Chei, the arches, petroglyphs and ruins of Mystery Valley, Navajo rug weavers and sheepherders, and of course two evenings to capture the legendary Mitten Shadow. Will we complete the adventure with and an unforgettable journey to an overnight stay at Hunt's Mesa, high above the valley floor.

Pricing: $2295.00
White_SAnds_1115-135
August 25 - Sunday, August 28 - White Sands  - Monsoon Skies
SOUTHWEST PERSPECTIVES WORKSHOP
Perhaps nowhere in the world is the interplay between earth and sky as dramatic as White Sands National Monument during the summer monsoon season. As sparkling white dunes roll into the distance, billowing white clouds, thunderous rain, and endless varieties of light fill the skies over sensual curves and striations of the world's largest gypsum sand dune field. For four days, we'll have special permits for early and late access allowing us to shoot a variety of locations each day with emphasis on the spectacularly colored sunrises and sunsets that make White Sands one of the most sought-after photography locations on the planet!

Pricing: $1995.00
GCRivertrip08-2


Mid June - Dates TBD -  CanyonColorado River Raft Trip
SOUTHWEST PERSPECTIVES WORKSHOP
One of the most life changing experiences.  A 10 days photographic exploration of the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. 
 We  will “shoot” some of the world’s most famous rapids, sleep under the stars each night by the side of the river, Hike the  inner canyons  and photograph some of the most jaw dropping scenes on earth! For ten days, you will experience a true wilderness experience, away from phones, the internet, and civilization.  This trip is especially designed for Photographers.  our custom itinerary has been designed with only one goal in mind: to maximize photographic potential.  Two professional instructors with intimate knowledge of the river will be there to  teach and mentor you and to hone your photographic skills so that you will leave with incredible images as well as life long memories. 
 Our Outfitters have extensive  knowledge of the river and understand our photographic priorities.   We explore secrets of the Grand Canyon accessible only by the river from huge caverns to  slot canyons, waterfalls, reflecting pools, hanging gardens, seeps, springs, ancient granaries, photographing at the best possible time of the day to create prized images of sight seen by few.
Eleven Days, Ten Nights (including one night Page)
Call or email for more details
Price TBD 

September 3, 2016   Creative Techniques

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP
_Q7V6473Unleash your creative mojo with our exciting new Creative Techniques workshop. Working with oil, water and smoke you will learn ways to create dazzling works of art that are as unique as a snowflake. Then using Lightroom and/or Photoshop you will learn how to take your images from wow to over-the-top. 
 Pricing: $199

September 15 -18, 2016  White Sands

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP
_Q7V4711-EditHues of pinks, blues and purples paint an endless landscape as the desert sky meets the rolling gypsum dunes known in White Sands National Monument. Spanning 275 square miles this uniquely arid terrain offers magical opportunities for photographing shadows, light and texture. 
Pricing: $1,450 / $500 deposit

October 2016  Lake Powell by Houseboat

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS PHOTO WORKSHOP
 Lake Powell, with its awesome red rock towers and brilliant blue-green water, offers us a bountiful feast of photographic opportunities. With houseboats serving as our base camp, Lake Powell expert, Gary Ladd will guide you through capturing amazing images of the many canyons, coves, arches and natural bridges . Duration: 5 days | Activity level: 5.0 | Price: $2,695.00

_MG_8552-Edit-Edit