Lightroom 3 beta 2 - Noise Reduction dialog simply rocks!

First chance I have had for extended play with the most recent beta 2 release of Lightroom 3 was this evening..  And WOW!  The speed is dramatically improved, the image quality is significantly improved and the noise reduction sliders simply rock!!  A gentle touch of Luminance slider followed with my normal sharpening routine, using the Sharpening Masking yields a wonderfully clean shadow area.

I do have to voice my nitpick.. I don't care for the new import dialog.  Maybe time will help, but it isn't to my liking.  And I forget to unplug my iPhone when launching the Import dialog, it takes forever to open.

Signs of Spring

My two most favorite times of each year are the transitions from summer to fall and winter to spring.  I suffer from severe cabin fever so being able to get out wearing flip-flops and shorts is like rebirth.

With the coming of spring, the birds become more active..  Searching for a mate, nest building and establishing territories..this all makes for some fun photo opps!

More here.....

Think in opposites...

One compositional guideline to making interesting images is to do something someone else hasn't done, see from a slightly different perspective. 

When everyone is hunkered down because the snow is falling, grab you gear and go out shooting!  Don't wait until the snow or rain is over to start your photo session.. that's been done a gojillion times.

 

 

Don't worry about your equipment, it can withstand more abuse than the average person can subject it to.  Pay more attention to sudden changes in temperature..From out in the snowy cold to inside a toasty warm car..condensation will form on and inside your equipment that can cause irreparable damage, so keep the heat off!  I did say think in opposites, didn't I ??