Photography aids
 

I've been asked a few times now about programs for making your digital photographs more attractive, i.e. photo manipulation. Maybe if people were to have a look and download this free program we could see some more pictures up in the Spanish Photograph thread

So have a look at Fast Stone Image Viewer

Its not a commercial site. Its free software, and it's easy to use and quite powerful. You can view your albums through it, and make simple changes to light, colours and much more

Have a go, and put some shots of your local area up on the Spanish Photo Thread

:)

Re: Photography aids
 

In what way does it differ from Windows Live Photo Gallery or Microsoft Office Picture Manager? ie what functions would be better/easier/etc? Cos I use these two and am generally quite happy but always happy to learn of better!

Re: Photography aids
 

Hi Mitzy, has it got the things I miss from CS3, like re sizer, find edges and good framing options ? ta

Re: Photography aids
 

Looks like a good tool. Probably as good as PS Elements :)

Re: Photography aids
 

All I can tell you is that photographers I know that used CS5 now use often instead. You can change colours, brightness, clone tool, frame tools, .... sharpen, blur, the following probably wont mean much to you, but it does far more than Windows Photo Manager

And its free, so why not just try it!

True Full Screen viewer with image zoom support and unique fly-out menu panels
Crystal-clear and customizable one-click image magnifier
Powerful image editing tools: Resize/resample, rotate/flip, crop, sharpen/blur, adjust lighting/colors/curves/levels etc.
Eleven re-sampling algorithms to choose from when resizing images
Image color effects: gray scale, sepia, negative, Red/Green/Blue adjustment
Image special effects: annotation, drop shadow, framing, bump map, sketch, oil painting, lens
Draw texts, lines, highlights, rectangles, ovals and callout objects on images
Clone Stamp and Healing Brush
Superior Red-Eye effect removal/reduction with completely natural looking end result
Multi-level Undo/Redo capability
One-touch best fit/actual size image display support
Image management, including tagging capability, with drag-and-drop and Copy To/Move To Folder support
Histogram display with color counter feature
Compare images side-by-side (up to 4 at a time) to easily cull those forgettable shots
Image EXIF metadata support (plus comment editing for JPEGs)
Configurable batch processing to convert/rename large or small collections of images
Slideshow creation with 150+ transition effects and music support (MP3, WMA, WAV...)
Create efficient image attachment(s) for emailing to family and friends
Print images with full page-layout control
Create fully configurable Contact Sheets
Create memorable artistic image montages from your family photos for personalized desktop wallpapers (Wallpaper Anywhere)
Acquire images from scanner. Support batch scanning to PDF, TIFF, JPEG and PNG
Versatile screen capture capability
Powerful Save As interface to compare image quality and control generated file size
Run favorite programs with one keystroke from within Image Viewer
Offer portable version of the program which can be run from a removable storage device
Configurable mouse wheel support
Support multiple program skins
Support dual-monitor configurations
And much more...

Re: Photography aids
 

It's a programme I have used for years, but purely as an image viewer. No way is it comparable to CS5, that's why one is free one one costs over £500!!! Anyone that switched from CS5 to FSIV either doesn't know anything about Photoshop and has never used it to it's full potential, or they have a hookey copy and never paid for it. I don't think there is hardly a day goes by when I don't use PS, but I'm still on an ancient PS3 version. FSIV is a nice programme but not in the same league as PS, nor does it claim to be.

Re: Photography aids
 

Thanks for reminding me of this viewer Mitzyboy. I say 'viewer' because that's what I have always used it for. The earlier versions weren't so versatile and FSIV was useful for very quickly viewing lots of pictures to find or sort photos. I had it on my old computer and didn't remember to transfer it. I just downloaded 4.6. I see it does have many more options than the earlier versions. I agree with agoreira, I shan't be changing from my photo manager/editor, Lightroom 4, any time soon but will probably look out the installation file for my simpler version 2x as it can be very useful at times. I hope 2x will run on a 64 bit system.

Re: Photography aids
 

Unfortunately it seems fashionable these days for some software developers that have written a very useful little programme that does a specific task very well to then try to reinvent the wheel and bloat it to add functions that are freely available elsewhere.

Re: Photography aids
 

That's fine, if you have a programme that does everything you want for free, why pay for anything else? Lots of people swear by gimp for example, it does what they want, why pay for PS? I only ever shoot in RAW, and there's loads of free RAW converter programmes about, but you'll find anyone serious about their photography will be paying to use something like Lightroom or Capture One. A lot of people nowadays simply want a one click solution, click a button and something brilliant appears, or they are asking for actions to get an effect, the forums are full of them. Despite the abundance of free programmes about, PS can still charge silly prices and get away with it, there are people out there that are still prepared to pay for their product, why aren't they all using Faststone? Faststone will do the job for lots of people, and if that's the case, those people would be wasting their money on PS.

Re: Photography aids
 

I think there is a bit of a myth that to be a "proper" photographer you have to use PS.

I have a friend who is president of the local camera club and that's definitely his attitude. The sad thing is that he takes lousy photos!

I've tried most of the photo programs and find PS so complicated that I doubt if many people use more than 10% of its functions!

These days I manage to do 90% of what I want in Picasa which is undoubtedly the easiest program to use and makes a great organiser for people who have no idea how to manage folders.

There is a world of difference between just getting the best out of a basic photo, which doesn't require much effort and being really creative which seems to be where the more sophisticated option come into their own.

Bearing in mind that probably 90% of all photos are now taken on a mobile phone, some of the apps available there are pretty good. I have used iPhoto on my iPad and that's pretty good.

Re: Photography aids
 

That's not what I said, however I expect that most "proper" togs do you use PS. As I said for most amateur togs PS would be a waste of money, the freebies will do all that they need. As for not understanding PS, a lot of people will be using a hookey version so it doesn't matter if they don't use it, but the serious togs would not invest £500-600 in a programme without careful prior consideration. Certainly it's a huge learning curve with PS, probably those that have paid for it are prepared to do all the work necessary to get the most out of the programme. A lot that buy CS5 say, will have worked their way up from Elements and earlier versions of CS, so it's a natural progression. As you have noted, presidents of camera clubs are rarely the best photographers! ;)

Re: Photography aids
 

I think this has been taken a bit off the point :D

OK, I start in Camera RAW, I go to Fast Stone for the odd tweeks, then I go to Photoshop CS5 and / or Bibble.pro for finishing touches, or anything FS wont do

The point I'm making is that very good amateur photographers I know use FastStone as a starting point. For people who just want a simple program that is quite powerful without having to Span a fortune, it is an excellent choice .... all I was trying to do by posting this thread was to try and help budding photographers take a step up to a helpful aid

Re: Photography aids
 

I was going to give you karma Mitzy but the website is all out off sync for me today, lines on top of each other and the karma box is almost all covered by the ad below it.

Re: Photography aids
 

I have agreed Faststone is a good programme, it was just the bit about "is that photographers I know that used CS5 now use often instead." Just seems weird splashing the cash on PS, only for to give it up for Faststone. :confused:

Re: Photography aids
 

Not exactly a mainstream Photo program but I came across Portrait Professional which I though was amazing if you are interested in portraiture.

Yes, you can probably do everything that it does in PS but the ease of use is astonishing. You can get good results in just a few clicks.

http://www.portraitprofessional.com/

Not free but there is a free trial.

Re: Photography aids
 

I've seen a few of these, but I'm not a "people photographer" so never really tried them. You'd need to be doing a fair bit of this type of photography to justify the expense. I think these sort of things should be used in moderation, where less is often more, otherwise they look like little china dolls, totally unnatural with flawless skin. A bit like badly done HDR!:thumbdown: For me the only good HDR shots are shots you don't even realise it's been used, but alas the result is all too often garish, totally unnatural colours. I've used it a little but more for shadow recovery in interior shots, cathedrals, churches etc.

Re: Photography aids
 

Thanks for that Mitzyboy:thumbsup:

Re: Photography aids
 

Hardly anyone splashes out £600 - £800 for Photoshop CS5
There is no confusion.
I just explained what serious amateur photographers do, and they use CS5 in conjunction with Faststone and other progs.

I am not aiming this at serious amateur photographers, as I already said, I was merely a helpful suggestion

Re: Photography aids
 

I've just got round to trying it Mitzy - it's very good.

What impressed me most was how easy it is to use for the first time. I particularly like the way it is always full screen with pop up (or is that pop in) menus available just by moving the mouse to the edges.

It also seems very fast indeed.

Thanks for telling us about it - I certainly hadn't come across it before.

Re: Photography aids
 

Photoscape is a similar free programme, does a similar job. Good for people that like playing with frames, effects etc as well as all the usual stuff.
http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/index.php

Re: Photography aids
 

it was never so contentious or mind boggling when we used to use film .:eek:

you generally had one chance and took it, some people used to dabble with the chemicals but most had to wait for it to come off the automatic machines, in Boots or in the mail. No tweeking this, tweeking that, just plain old taking that chance and hoping.

.

Re: Photography aids
 

But if you were a "chemical dabbler" as I was, then most of the things you now do digitally to improve/correct an image were available in the darkroom.

Exposure correction was done in the enlarger, contrast ratios were controlled by the choice of paper type, cropping was easy and you could even localise some of the effects by "dodging" and "burning".

It was fun doing it but it's even more fun digitally and you don't smell of foul chemicals all the time!

Re: Photography aids
 

And you dont have to go and sit in a dark room :D

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Sometimes, after reading some of the threads on this forum, that sounds like an attractive place to be:lol::lol:

Re: Photography aids
 

<tongue in cheek here>
Fred, if we are not allowed to knock the mods how come the mods can knock us
:rofl:

Re: Photography aids
 

perhaps I have this wrong Fred (OK not the first time)
but the end result was a product of your skills, something you could be proud of.

I never got the chance to try my own lab work, always wanted to, but floating around on grey painted war canoes precluded it. Also electronics always seemed to get in the way of getting into heavy involvement in "peripheral" interests.

I have to admit that in many things the old ways were the best.
Probably like you and a number of others here, I have a modern car, but can't hear the damned engine, have stalled it more times since I had it than I ever did the older ones, where I learnt to drive by the tone of the engine, the sound of the tyres on the road. OK call it "seat of the pants" but when something went wrong you had that microsecond of warning before the big bang
.

Re: Photography aids
 

Digital cameras are one of the best inventions ever. Being able to take loads of shots in the hope that one will be worth it. Just delete the rubbish at no cost.

I'd never have got so much fun out of an old style camera and roll of film - just too expensive to experiment with.

Re: Photography aids
 

Agree entirely. I have drawers full of poor quality, expensively produced photographs that I (and certainly nobody else) will ever want to look at. I gave up taking a camera on holidays because it started to spoil the holidays.

Now I carry my little pocket Coolpix everywhere - magic - I must have thousands of photos on my computer some of which are quite good.:)

Re: Photography aids
 

Incidentally, I am becoming interested in HDR photography for which I will need a camera capable of Auto Exposure Bracketing. Does anyone know of a camera which does this without breaking the bank? Or does anyone know how I can find out if a particular camera has this feature - sometimes specifications aren't very specific (if you see what I mean...)?

Re: Photography aids
 

I'm Canon, so thats all I can suggest tbh. Depends what your budget is, but iirc the EOS 10D does the job and on ebay you can pick them up fairly cheap.

I have one that the wife uses now and I always found it to be an excellent camera

Heres a list http://www.hdr-photography.com/aeb.html

Re: Photography aids
 

I would think most, if not all of the DSLR's will do that. I have the Canon 5D MK2, the newer version, the MK 3 has the facility to take HDR and process in camera, but it'll set you back over £2,500! I'm tempted, but I'm not a fan of HDR (well, very limited use) and there's not a lot of enhancements over the model I have. The guy in the shop offered me a grand for mine on trade in, but not convinced. What sort of money do you want to spend?

Re: Photography aids
 

I have one sitting in the cupboard gathering dust, as you say, a nice little camera. 6.3 megapixels seemed huge then!;)

Re: Photography aids
 

Yes I've seen that list and have sent them a suggestion that a guide price against each model would be useful so at least you could tell if it was £250 or £2500

I am led to believe that some compact/bridge cameras have the facility which would make them well less than £500. It's just finding out which ones which is the problem.

Re: Photography aids
 

Yes, it depends on what you want. A Canon 10D I've seen go for £50 - £125 with a standard lens. They are versatile cameras and one I used for three or four years prior to what I have now. If you want to buy new then a Canon 60D has good reviews and iirc has a flip up screen as well (for what its worth :-) ) They are just over £500

Re: Photography aids
 

My niece asked me recently for some advice on cameras, and she wanted to spend about what I think you want to spend. ie less than £500? I suggested a bridge camera for her, for although you can get DSLR's starting from around that price, you get one lens which would restrict you a lot. Obviously you could buy more, but they ain't cheap. Some of the bridge cameras zoom up to the equivalent of 500-600mm, giving you a huge range. There's some great reviews here of bridge cameras.
http://www.ephotozine.com/article/to...-cameras-16928
Looking at the Canon Powershot, it comes in at under £300 and does auto bracketing. (haven't checked the others, job for you!) There's a video here showing it in action.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZpgi3EQ0cM
Obviously, if you haven't already got a decent tripod, you'll need one for HDR. It's possible to do it without, but a tripod makes for better results.

Re: Photography aids
 

Google the make of your camera plus the words Auto Bracketing. It is usually in the Exposure menu.

My little Sony Cybershot does it. I didn't realise till I googled it!

Re: Photography aids
 

Many thanks agro and poca - very useful info.:thumbup: What is the model number of the Sony poca?

Re: Photography aids
 

It is quite old, a DSC W210, but I wouldn't recommend it, it has terrible lens distortion. There are better ones available now.

Re: Photography aids
 

I've just got myself a Fuji S2980:)

With Photomatix software it can do this...

http://i.imgur.com/IvohDl.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/6l6m4.jpg?1

http://i.imgur.com/EsfN7.jpg?1

Re: Photography aids
 

As you say photomatix I take you mean HDR. I have to say, except in certain circumstances, I don't like HDR. I do use it occasionally for shadow recovery, but not a big fan at all. Just traded my camera in for a new one and it does HDR in camera.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_aEUTaDbpI