Started to go through the new Lightroom Beta and here’s what we have so far:
After shooting an assignment yesterday, came back loaded up the images into Lightroom with the backups going to a test folder. And then……

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While the load-in was pretty much the same, the Develop feature had something that is very cool. There is a Detail square where you can isolate sections of an image (illustrated above) to go in and do your fixes on. And that seems to be the theme in this new version.
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With the new ability to dodge and burn PLUS do localized corrections with a brush, a mask (excellent for localized adjustments) those new to Lightroom will wonder when they will need to go to Photoshop CS3. Maybe when they do the multi layer extravaganzas.
Finally, there is support for multiple monitors. Much needed to keep pace with competition.

Seriously, there was so much available here, that once some editing was done ,global and localized corrections made on some sample images, it was an easy export to a file to upload to another program to upload to the web. (you can read that last part again if you like)

THAT IS WHAT IS MAKING US CRAZY ABOUT THIS PROGRAM !!!! IT IS SO DANG CUMBERSOME TO UPLOAD TO THE WEB!!!!

OK, it is intuitive, great “mouth feel” ( a term used to describe food products: as long as it feels right in the mouth , we eat it), and the new features – including the 64 bit support allowing full usage of the memory- are great.
But since we’re talking beta here, totally get that…….One thing that Aperture has is the ability to publish to the web seamlessly.

After an hour on the phone with Adobe support, there were no answers. Zip.Nada.Nothing.

Now to show the client the images fast, we uploaded the files to IPhoto and published the web site for the client. Just added steps. Have tried the new Aperture and perhaps it will get another consideration, but I love me some Lightroom. Many shooters we know love Lightroom and just upload to another program to send to clients.

Am I just being lazy or cranky?

OK, as we said it is a BETA version. Stay tuned for the updates from Adobe. And if you have a great solution, post it here so we can all share.

[photopress:Micro_Battery_Spin.gif,full,alignright] By the way, a new tool for your lighting kit bag is the Micro LitePanel from, yep Litepanel. It is a square LED light with a rheostat for control. Used it on the set for a light emanating from a laptop screen. With the cool light from the unit, there was no danger of damage to the laptop. And the 4 AA batts keep it clean without wires, to be placed where you need it. There is a frame to add included gels for additional color control but it sits at about 5600K.
Designed for video, it does work best with existing lights and not so much with full strobe set-ups. But a must have in your tool box.

Final thoughts: we’ll keep working with Lightroom and give you updates.Still love it BUT….this web upload issue has to get simplified. The additional work in the flow is not a good thing.

But download the beta for yourself. Don’t worry, you can keep it as a separate program and just add some new pix to do your testing.