Lightroom Books

As an aside, being an erstwhile a member of the Lightroom team, I’m used to getting copies of the latest Lightroom books from the well-known Industrial Adobe Learning Complex (IALC) authors. For the past few years, I’ve recommended Seth Resnick’s book as it is a great extension of his wonderful multi-day seminar that I’ve been privileged to sit in on over the past few years. I also have books from Scott Kelby and Martin Evening kicking around. Or had them - I generally end up giving them out as gifts to family members who like to have a reference guide close by.

Nathaniel’s book fills an interesting niche - his book is for the kind of photographer (like me) that likes to understand the basic technical side, but does not want to get overly obsessive about the technology. The latter being typified by those annoying camera cluby people who never take actual pictures but know everything about a Bayer filters and micro-lenses. And will tell you about it repeatedly. They can rot your insides if you let them. But I digress...

What is a digital workflow you ask? A workflow is the methodological process one uses to approach working with digital imagery. And I say methodological because its like mowing the grass when you’re 12 - a plan makes it easier and look better when you’re done. Workflow certainly isn’t new. Ansel was teaching that decades ago. It just got a bit more complex when someone let the computer nerds in the door.

Anyhow, all the basic workflow topics are covered, including Capture, Import, Organize, Process, Export and Present. Just as you’d expect.

But hold on. Before we get all hot and heavy into keywording and granular slider adjustments, Nat gives you a short look at the fundamental theories of digital imaging (sensor capture, color management, raw file composition) before getting into what my friend Nacho would call “the nitty gritty”. Very nice.

With that, he then spends time on the various aspects of capturing imagery - this chapter is a great refresher on how to avoid frustration later on. In fact, I remember my “Intro to Darkroom” teacher once opine that “bad negatives make for work” and that axiom is just as true today. Read it a few times. You’ll learn something.

Then we get a thorough job walking thru the Lightroom environment and introducing you to the neighbors. Not surprising, as most all books do this well.

Following along, the Import and Organize chapters cover what is necessary to manage that stream of big CR2 or NEFs plopping on your hard drive, including folder/collection management and metadata/keyword tips that will make life easier down the road. Trust me, you won’t always remember that Client A’s shoot was on August 12th, 2009. Competent and thorough.

What actually surprised me was a substantial chapter focused on reinforcing the need for a plan when processing images. It’s not that the idea of “having a plan” is surprising per se (we all get this talk early on in our photographic lives) but it was more that he tackled it so thoroughly. In fact, I tend to gloss over most of this in my Intro to Lightroom tutorials because its such a subjective thing (and I usually don’t have time in a 3-4 hour session to touch much on it). Apart from the capture variables you control at shutter press, the processing aspect is very personal and often becomes the “look” part that so many people talk about. Just as I’ve often stressed editing as an important skill (one that takes years to develop), processing is the next big challenge on the list. This chapter is a great intro to how to methodologically tackle this. Just insert yourself into the process to avoid being a preset weenie, and you’re on your way.

The rest of the book is the mechanics of getting your work to fire people’s synapses in a good way. Exporting, slideshow, printing etc. He covers the important export plugins, basic color management and web presentation. It reminded me how little I print and make web galleries since joining SmugMug. I sure don’t miss that much. Its easier to dump them into an online gallery where commerce and printing are all setup ahead of time.

He does make at least one recommendation I disagree with (i.e. don’t use Auto Save to make sure the files contain the latest metadata), but overall I found his methodical approach to a workflow useful and can easily see it helping others. Workflow is the process of settling on a methodological process for dealing with your output, and this book helps you think about what parts are most important to you and why.

So where does this book fall in the canon of Lightroom literature? I see this as a great recommendation for photographers who want a bit more than the typical “Ten Down/Dirty tips to Lightroom Greatness” type books. It is a great way to get a walk-thru of the fundamentals as well as a great overview of a workflow for those looking to actually develop their photographic skill - be they amateurs, prosumers or professionals. It might be a bit detailed for the former, but the latter two groups can get much from this workflow-centric look at Lightroom.

I see this as a cover-to-cover read. It will serve as an off the shelf reference as well (its well organized), but its best read in order to fully grasp the concepts behind a total workflow solution.

So yes, I heartily recommend this book - especially to people who are looking to define their workflow in a responsible, holistic manner. It is slightly denser than some of the other Lightroom books I’ve looked at, but for the most part, I think he nails the balance between informative and overwhelming.

Thanks Nat, for a great addition for the book learnin’ crowd.

PS. I didn’t find my invaluable blog in the list of Lightroom references though. Such an oversight

Tags:Lightroom