Category: Wildlife Photographer: Matt Cuda "Ruby-Throated Hummingbird" A sure sign of summer, and a true delight, is seeing the first hummingbird appear here in New Hampshire each year. Much easier to watch than to photograph as they flit around the yard. The closest thing to fairy-folk that I've ever seen. Matt did a wonderful job of capturing the grace and beauty of these birds, and the added color of the flowers and the pale green background, make this photograph stand out from the crowd. Well done, and thanks for sharing with our … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Matt Cuda
Rob Sylvan
Rob Sylvan is a photographer, trainer, and author. Aside from also being the Lightroom Help Desk Specialist for KelbyOne, an instructor for the Perfect Picture School of Photography and the Rocky Mountain School of Photography, adjunct faculty in the Visual Arts department at NHTI, he is a founding member of Stocksy United.
Rob writes the “Under the Loupe” column for Photoshop User Magazine, and is the author of many photography related books.
Rob writes the “Under the Loupe” column for Photoshop User Magazine, and is the author of many photography related books.
Latest posts by Rob Sylvan (see all)
- Photographer of the Day: Matt Cuda - June 22, 2017
- Lightroom FAQ: Update Folder Location - June 20, 2017
- Photographer of the Day: Ken Mickel - June 15, 2017
Lightroom FAQ: Update Folder Location
This is useful function to know about if you are wanting to move a folder (or even your entire photo Library) from one drive to another drive. For example, say you are running out of space on one drive and want to move photos to a new drive to free up space on the original drive. You could use Lightroom to move the folders via drag and drop within the Folders panel, but I don’t recommend doing that when a large amount of date is at stake. Using a move command is risky, because if anything goes wrong in the middle of the transfer you could … [Read more...] about Lightroom FAQ: Update Folder Location
Photographer of the Day: Ken Mickel
Category: Nature Photographer: Ken Mickel "Tulip" A simple, yet strong image. The color palette is beautiful, the exquisite detail draws you in closer, and the soft glow of the light soothes the soul. I'd love to see this as a wall sized print. Just fantastic all around. Thank you for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn how your work can be featured on the Photofocus, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Ken Mickel
Photographer of the Day: Fabio Mancini
Category: Nature Photographer: Fabio Mancini "Bubbleflower" I love this technique. It is a real challenge to nail focus exactly where you want it, so it definitely requires patience on the part of the photographer. The shallow depth of field that results makes the surrounding flowers a wash of vibrant color. Nicely balanced composition gives the eye cause to wander around the frame. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn how your work can be featured on the Photofocus, … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Fabio Mancini
Photographer of the Day: Brad McDowell
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Brad McDowell "Middle Earth" This well named photograph looks straight out of the Lord of Rings. The aspect ratio really does this impressive landscape justice. My favorite element is the flow of water tumbling down in the foreground, only to reappear as it trails off toward the misty mountains in the distance. I'd like to enjoy a thermos of hot coffee, while taking in this scene in real life some day. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Brad McDowell
Lightroom FAQ: The Catalog Panel
This is an often misunderstood or completely overlooked panel, but it has some useful functions once you take a closer look. The most important thing to know about this panel is that it simply provides different ways to view/access photos that have gone through the import process already. These are not duplicates of your photos, but just alternative ways Lightroom can reference the source files and display them for us. All Photographs This collection is a quick way to view all of the photographs (and videos) that you've ever imported into … [Read more...] about Lightroom FAQ: The Catalog Panel
Photographer of the Day: ZoeEnPhos
Category: Outdoors Photographer: ZoeEnPhos "The Calm Sea" This photo is best viewed full screen (so be sure to check out ZoeEnPhos's stream (linked above). There's a lot to take in, and you'll want to take your time exploring the tranquil scene. The endless sky reflected in the mirror-surface of the sea may catch your eye at first, but the longer you look, the more you'll notice what lies beneath the surface. I'd love to see this printed large and hung on a wall. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: ZoeEnPhos
Lightroom Live: Lightroom for Mobile with Josh Haftel
You gotta join us live for our next Lightroom Live, totally free of charge. Not only will you learn terrific techniques, but if you tune in live, you can be entered to win excellent prizes to help you in your work. (Note: MUST BE TUNED IN LIVE TO WIN). We'll be giving away a copy of Perfectly Clear from Athentech. Plus you never know what else. We kick off Monday, May 22nd at 1:00 pm Eastern, 12:00 pm Central, 11:00 am Mountain, and 10:00 am Pacific. 2 pm in the Virgin Islands. Check out the YouTube event here and it'll show your local … [Read more...] about Lightroom Live: Lightroom for Mobile with Josh Haftel
Photographer of the Day: Marg Foley
Category: Wildlife Photographer: Marg Foley "Owls are awesome" This photo took my breath away when I first came across it in our Flickr group. We've been fortunate to have a few Great Grey Owl sightings in my home state of New Hampshire, but I've personally never been so lucky to spot one in the wild. To capture one in flight, on a snowy day is just magical. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn how your work can be featured on the Photofocus, please read this … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Marg Foley
Lightroom FAQ: Thumbnail Badges
There are 5 badges that can appear on a thumbnail in the Grid view of the Library module or on the thumbs in the Filmstrip. From left to right: The tag shaped badge tells you that a keyword has been applied. The pin badge indicates the photo has location information (GPS). The double-boxes indicates the photo has been added to a collection. The dotted rectangle is that a crop has been applied. The +/– badge tells you that the photo has been adjusted in Develop. If you hover your cursor over a badge you'll see a tooltip … [Read more...] about Lightroom FAQ: Thumbnail Badges
Photographer of the Day: wildirishman37
Category: Wildlife Photographer: wildirishman37 "Antarctica" Antartica has long been on my bucket list of places to visit, and it is photos like this that make me want to go. What makes this photo so wonderful to me is the seeming interaction between the penguin and the sea lion. It could be captioned all kinds of ways, and that is what brings a viewer in and makes them stick around. The icy landscape sets the stage and immediately tells you where they are (this is no zoo). Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: wildirishman37
Photographer of the Day: Carlos Manchego
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Carlos Manchego "Sunset at the Lighthouse" What a stunner! I love everything about this photo by Carlos Manchego, from the composition to the colors, it all works together for maximum impact on the viewer. The use of slow shutter speed to convey motion of the waves and clouds just puts it right over the top. You'd think the small lighthouse wouldn't be important in the midst of all this grandeur, but I think it is the jewel in the crown. Great work, and thanks for sharing in our group! Originally … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Carlos Manchego
Lightroom FAQ: Additional External Editors
By default, the latest version of Photoshop becomes the primary external editor for Lightroom. If you go to Preferences > External Editing, you will see it listed at the top. This is the editor, and file settings, that are called into play when you use the (Mac) CMD+E / (Win) Ctrl+E keyboard shortcut or use the Photo > Edit In > Edit in Photoshop menu command. An external editor is any other pixel editor you may have installed on your machine. Aside from Photoshop, some of the most common are products from on1, Nik, Perfectly … [Read more...] about Lightroom FAQ: Additional External Editors
Photographer of the Day: Carlos Quijano Jr
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Carlos Quijano Jr "Jefferson Sunrise (II)" The cherry blossoms blooming in Washington D.C. are a sight worth seeing. I've only been lucky enough to witness it once. Inspired by our photographer of the day, Carlos Quijano Jr, I hope to get back there again. There are many angles and times of day to capture the blossoms, but Carlos Quijano Jr really nailed it with the branches framing the Jefferson memorial at sunrise. The colors in the sky a perfect compliment to the blossoms. Thanks for sharing with our … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Carlos Quijano Jr
Lightroom FAQ: Edit in Photoshop Options
In a typical workflow, you might start in Lightroom with a raw photo, then send a copy with Lightroom adjustments (Photo > Edit In > Edit in Photoshop) for additional editing. This copy will become either a PSD or TIF file based on your Lightroom preferences (Preferences > External Editing). Both file types support all the things you'd want to do in Photoshop, with the most common being using multiple layers, so either choice is fine (though multiple layer TIFs tend to be larger). In Photoshop, once you use the File > Save menu … [Read more...] about Lightroom FAQ: Edit in Photoshop Options
Photographer of the Day: Mike Turner
Category: Wildlife Photographer: Mike Turner "Kincolith Eagle_5" I came across this photo in our Flickr group by accident, but fell in love with it instantly. What caught my eye was the feeling that I was viewing this photo from the air, slightly above the majestic bird. The subject is tack sharp, exposure is perfect, and just wonderful expression as it is isolated in the sky. The way the eagle's wing is up behind its head really makes those white feathers and piercing eye pop. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Mike Turner
Lightroom FAQ: Where did that thing go?
A week doesn’t go by that I don’t hear from someone who is struggling to find something that has seemingly vanished from Lightroom. In the interest of helping you avoid this sensation of panic and frustration, I have compiled my list of the top ten things that seem to go missing (or appear out of nowhere) of their own accord, and, more importantly, how to put things back to normal. 10. Individual Panels It is possible to hide many of the individual panels completely from view. I don’t mean collapsing the panels, but outright removal from the … [Read more...] about Lightroom FAQ: Where did that thing go?
Photographer of the Day: Bridger Peaks Photography
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Bridger Peaks Photography "Glade Creek Grist Mill 2" Currently it is the start of mud season here in New Hampshire. No leaves on the trees, the last bit of snow melting, and the ground thawing combine for a lot of dreary brown until the first greens of spring appear. This got me pining for the brilliant colors of autumn, and this photo by Bridger Peaks Photography was just the photo I needed to see. The iconic grist mill is set amongst a sea of golds, greens, and reds, with all of it reflected in the … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Bridger Peaks Photography
Lightroom FAQ: How Can I Customize the Interface?
Lightroom’s interface isn't as customizable as Photoshop's, but it can be changed in a number of ways to maximize the space devoted to your photos, to make your workflow more efficient, and to hide the parts you just don’t use very often. Panel Groups There are four main panels that appear in all Lightroom modules. They can be manipulated as needed to allow you to control the size of the center workspace where your photos appear, as well as to only reveal the set of tools required for the task at hand. These four panels are called the Left … [Read more...] about Lightroom FAQ: How Can I Customize the Interface?
Photographer of the Day: Ken Lee
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Ken Lee "The Mystical Stone" Photographer of the day, Ken Lee, proves that there's still amazing landscapes to shoot long after the sun has gone down. A long exposure, a full moon, and a flashlight can come together to make a truly stunning image. The movement of the clouds contrasted against the stillness of the foreground really makes this photograph stand out. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn how your work can be featured on … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Ken Lee
Lightroom FAQ: What are Smart Collections?
Smart collections allow you to harness the power of the database inside of Lightroom by leveraging the information contained in your photo’s metadata. Plus, any additional data you may have added (like keywords, titles, captions, etc.), to automate the process of finding, grouping, and organizing your photos in meaningful ways. You can think of smart collections simply as saved searches that run automatically. Smart collections are just one of three types of collections you can find in the Collections panel. If you click the plus arrow sign … [Read more...] about Lightroom FAQ: What are Smart Collections?
Photographer of the Day: Juan Antonio F. Segal
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Juan Antonio F. Segal "Azure window. Gozo, Malta" Our photographer of the day, Juan Antonio F. Segal, reminds us to shoot that photo now, and don't wait to come back at another time. In case you haven't heard, the natural landmark featured here, known as the Azure Window in Malta, collapsed into the sea on March 9, 2017. This photo may not be the most dramatic in color or mood, but it is well composed, with curving lines that lead your eye through the photo and the tiny swimmers serving to provide both … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Juan Antonio F. Segal
Photographer of the Day: Tassanee
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Tassanee "Celestial" I think the key to a great Milky Way shot is having a strong foreground to provide a sense of scale and wonder. I think Tassanee picked an ideal location, and the Milky Way is a perfect backdrop for this scene. The curving road is a wonderful leading line and the colors are superb. Tassanee's Flickr portfolio is full of many more amazing examples of stellar night photography. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Tassanee
Photographer of the Day: Martin Bishop
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Martin Bishop "Fishing Boat Anchored in Cullercoats Bay" There is beauty in simplicity, and our Photographer of the Day, Martin Bishop, has done a great job of creating a simply beautiful photograph. The silhouette of the fishing boat back-lit by the sun has a wonderful graphic quality to it, and is a pleasure to view. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn how your work can be featured on the Photofocus, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Martin Bishop
Photographer of the Day: John Atkins
Category: Wildlife Photographer: John Atkins "Goldfinch 26/02/17 ( 2 )" Creating photos of small birds can be a challenge, and to create such a stunning capture as this is no small thing. John Atkins, our Photographer of the Day, did a wonderful job of filling the frame, nailing focus, and creating a very pleasing composition with the inclusion of the branch cutting vertically across the frame. The alert bird looking out of the photo is brought to life by the catchlight in its eye. All around well done. Thanks for sharing with our … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: John Atkins
Photographer of the Day: Andrew Slater
Category: Nature Photographer: Andrew Slater "Abandoned Solitude" I'm always a sucker for a good sunrise/sunset, but I think Andrew Slater captured a real winner here. The leading lines of the abandoned structure jutting into the mist-like water is a perfect foreground element, while the contrasts of the smooth water and the textured structure add further visual interest, with it topped off by the contrasting colors of the warm sky and cool water. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Andrew Slater
Photographer of the Day: Arenkert
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Arenkert "Trees in golden light" They say a photograph is all about the light, and Arenkert, Photographer of the Day, created an image that is all about that golden light. The white of the snow contrasts wonderfully with the dark trees, which recede into distance creating depth. The warmth of the light wrapping the trees takes the image to the next level. Thanks for sharing with our group! Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn how your work can be featured on the … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Arenkert
Happy Birthday Lightroom! Let’s Look Back on Lightroom Version 1
My colleague Victoria Bampton reminded me that February 19th marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of Lightroom 1.0. She has a wonderful post that takes a walk down the Lightroom memory lane highlighting some of the significant changes over the years. This got me thinking of what it was like working with Lightroom 1 back in 2007 ... so I downloaded and installed Lightroom 1.4.1, grabbed a photo taken in 2007 and gave it a run through Lightroom 1. I decided to grab a less than perfect photo (of which I have many to choose from), one where the … [Read more...] about Happy Birthday Lightroom! Let’s Look Back on Lightroom Version 1
Photographer of the day: Mark Zukowski
Category: Outdoors Photographer: Mark Zukowski "Mustard at Dawn, Sonoma Valley" Photographer of the Day, Mark Zukowski, has proven that it pays to get up early for the shot. We all know this to be true, but it doesn't make it any easier to rise from our warm beds some days, but I'm really glad Mark did. The rolling hills, the leading lines formed by the endless rows, the contrast of the blooming mustard flowers against the sleeping grape vines, and the gorgeous the pre-dawn light illuminating this scene come together to make a truly … [Read more...] about Photographer of the day: Mark Zukowski
Photographer of the Day: Jong Soo Lee
Category: Nature Photographer: Jong Soo Lee "Wave melody" Photographer of the Day, Jong Soo Lee, created a beautiful photograph that has a perfect foreground with visual interest that extends deep into the image wrapped in gorgeous light. A feast for the eyes! Thanks for sharing with our group. Originally shared on the Photofocus Group on Flickr here. To learn how your work can be featured on the Photofocus, please read this article. … [Read more...] about Photographer of the Day: Jong Soo Lee
