April 18, 2008

Balancing Shooting, Editing & Workflow

Personally as a photographer I get pretty into creative post processing. I make lightroom presets, actions etc to super speed that workflow a lot, and I still find myself in front of the computer even though I don’t really need to be. Do you deal with this?

What’s on my mind today is how much playing with post can take away from our creative photography if we allow it to. I literally have so many images that I could spend months behind the computer trying to make art out of them.

I can get to a point where I’m in the studio just playing with the web, emails, photo’s etc. I can browse endlessly thru tech and photo blogs, and get all the great tips in the world but if I don’t go out and shoot I become only an observer.

This sounds crazy since I love photography, but sometimes I get in a mode where I tend not to pick up the camera unless it’s a paid job! I have to force myself to go out shooting somewhere. It can be a country drive, or just a walk down the street. Great images are everywhere , so if I am not finding a shot, I figure I need to spend more time learning to see the see the beauty in the things around me.

We don’t have to be on a roadtrip, or a brand new place to find great stuff to shoot. I know I get in this rut at times and maybe you do to. Though all this online content is great, there’s nothing like picking up a camera and getting out hands dirty. Getting a speedy workflow is always something I’m looking for, and it works great. I just need to remember to use that extra time to get creative behind the lens.

NOW STOP READING THIS AND GO SHOOTING!

Gavin Seim

January 26, 2008

Free Effects & Goodies, free lightroom presets, lightroom, presets, special effects

Free Lightroom Preset. Gavin’s Vintage Photo Effect

Wanted to post up a free preset for everyone today. This is Vintage I, and it’s a neat Lightroom preset to give a nice vintage tone to a photo. There’s actually three vintage presets I just made that will come with my Power Workflow Lightroom Presets.

This a good general purpose vintage, and more than just a saturation reduction. Just start with standard photo and add this for a great vintage effect. I notice that sometimes with darker photo’s it helps to bump the exposure up just a little before you run this. Other cool variations are now included with my entire collection. Note that this preset is now included in the Power Workflow Fantasy Sampler which is also a free presets download.

~ Download Vintage1 Lightroom Preset ~
~ Check Out The Complete Preset Collection ~

January 23, 2008

Gavin Seim, news, ProPhotoShow

Spy shots of the Pentax K20D, and K200D

New SLR’s have been foreseen from Pentax over the past few months and the rumors keep growing. The two new models are said to sport bigger screens, more megapixels and all kinds of neat stuff. More over on Engadget.

It’s thought that Pentax will get official with these by the end of the month. The above shot from LivedoorBlog is in Japanese so unless you can read it, we’re out of luck on those exact specs but they look like pretty solid offerings.

November 15, 2007

Gavin Seim, HDR Photography, Lighting, PPS Photography Tips, ProPhotoShow

How To Make An HDR Portrait. Behind The Scenes:

~ Check out Gavin’s 3 day HDR workshop coming Fall 2009. More details here.

So you’ve probably heard about HDR photography, and you may be wondering what you can do with it and why it’s so cool.
By Gavin Seim: This is not a short article but it will explain a lot about HDR photography and why its so amazing. Today we’re going to talk about the editing techniques I used to create “Look To The Wind” the bride on the beach image that you probably have heard mentioned on Pro Photo Show, and maybe seen on the net. Also below are some additional links for things relevant to HDR.

Link Resources>>

Read the HDR Portraits main tutorial.

Photomatix HDR software (Save 15%, code PPS15)

HDR archives on Pro Photo Show

Lightroom Enfuse (LR Plugin)

Hydra (Mac only HDR software. Less extensive that Photomatix)

Gavin’s HDR portrait gallery.

HDR section on the forums (get some feedback)

HDR is a method of taking multiple images and combining them in a high dynamic range file. Lets say you take three images of the exact same scene, at various exposure levels. Standard images are only around 8 bits each, basically meaning that their ability to correctly expose dark scenes while keeping bright scenes from getting overexposed is limited.

So to make an HDR you might take one image that’s underexposed, one image over, and one with correct exposure. Then using software you can combine the shadow and highlight details from all the images into a single image is called an HDR, It’s the combined bits of these images, and is usually a 32 bit image when converted. What does 32bit mean to you? It means it can contain far more light. Even though the actual resolution of the image is not increased the details inside it are much higher. The HDR Photography technique is most often done with nature or still life images, but I have been doing extensive experimenting with this technique in portraits as well with good results, as we’ll see today.

So lets look at an example. In this image I took three shots of the bride on the beach using continuous shooting mode with auto exposure bracketing. This along with a model holding as still as possible, and a fairly wide angle scene made “Look To The Wind” Possible possible (click for a larger version) You can read more about HDR portrait techniques in my HDR portrait article.

There a a few ways to take the three images and make an HDR from them. First take your images in unedited raw form. You could do it with jpegs, but raw will give you the best results. Don’t correct the raw files before converting to HDR. There is a very basic tool in Photoshop for converting the images called Merge To HDR (File/Automate/Merge To HDR) This allows you to select you images, and it will combine them into and 32 bit image. You then can use tools to adjust the levels, and curves of the image mix to try and get a good result.

November 9, 2007

Gavin Seim, PPS Photography Tips, ProPhotoShow, Software

Free Lightroom Presets | The Ultimate Free Presets List:

Free Lightroom Presets and Capture 1 Styles list — Get my free Natural HDR mini pack here. Natural HDR Lightroom Presets.

The Free Lightroom Presets Directory.

Hey tribe it’s Gavin Seim and it’s 2022. This post was a pretty old list and most of the presets here are for older versions of Lightroom but if you install them they will update and work in the newer version. See my Lightroom presets install videos.

I’m going to start adding new free presets for Lightroom and Photoshop RAW, Free Styles for Capture One, and more to this list and get it up to speed again. I’ll need your help by adding your favorites in the comments so I can curate them.

I’m best known for my carefully formulated Lightroom presets. You’ll find a lot of these paid and fully supported packs here on this site. But many of my packs have free mini versions so you can get some of my best Lightroom presets free. I’ll start the list with those and keep adding more.

The new Free Lightroom Presets and Capture One Styles list…

Some of the most popular free presets made by me…

Free Natural HDR Lightroom presets. 8 high dynamic range sampler from my complete pack (LR Presets New and legacy + C1 Styles)
Free Silver 4 Lightroom black and white presets pack. 88 really powerful black and white preset curated from V4 of the complete pack. (LR Presets New and legacy + C1 Styles)
Free Film Emeulatuion presets for LR and C1. My films pack goes really deep and in the free mini-pack I included 9 free film presets including the Fuji Classic Negative preset. (LR Presets New and legacy + C1 Styles + LUTS)
Another 8 free Capture one Styles and LR free presets from my Muse Collection. (LR Presets New and legacy + C1 Styles)

The old legacy Lightroom presets list…

You’ve just found the biggest, best-maintained list of free LR presets anywhere. I hunt the web for these, trying to add the best and filter out the dead ends. There’s plenty to browse. And feel free to share your favorites in the comments (freebies only).

LR4 and LR5 Presets: The develop module changed in LR4 and most LR3 presets will not fully function under the new process. As more LR4 presets are becoming available I’ll add to the list. I’ll also note listings that I’ve been able to verify are LR4 Compatible. Non-marked listing may be LR1,2 and 3 only.

There are also loads of freebies (linked below). I’m fanatical about quality and honored that they’ve become so well regarded my peers. OK, now on to the goodies. Oh and if you use Apple Aperture, here’s the free Aperture presets list.

My Free Legacy LR Preset picks…

Seim Effects Free Lightroom Presets (LR4/5 Compatible).
I have a LARGE and ever growing assortment of free presets that include fully LR 4 compatible effects. I suggest you start with 8 free presets from PW3 and 15 Free Premium Presets from Color Fantasies 2. You can also visit the Seim Effects Ultimate Freebie List.
Preset Heaven (LR4 Compatible).
This is a blog where you’ll find a large variety of presets. I won;t list them all, but there a lot. A nice place to get some sweet goodies.
Lightroom Killer Tips Presets (LR4/5 Compatible).
Aside from a great LR video cast, Matt Kloskowski from Photoshop TV posts presets on the site for free. His latest works are LR4 compatible.
Lightroom Presets on the Adobe Exchange (LR4/5 Compatible).
The Exchange has always been a great place to get ad on’s for Adobe products. Keep an eye on it.
Jack Davis’s Perfect Presets Collection (LR 2-3).
This is a download from our friends over at OnOne Software. A large preset collection that is organized in a tidy list. Well put together with lots of effects.
Wonderland Free Presets (LR1-3).
A free sampler pack from their Lightroom Presets collections. It looks like they have LR4 presets coming so we’ll keep watching.

More Free Presets Worth Noting: These may not be large sets but they may have potential…

NEW – Photography Planet Presets: Not a lot here, but they give away a few presets from their collections (LR4/5 Compatible).
F/stop Spot free presets. A few mini collections of freebies. (LR4/5 Compatible).
Eric Kim 15 Free presets for street photography. (LR4/5 Compatible).
Lightroom Library Presets Lots of presets with some previews, (LR2-3).
Laconic Design Presets Laconic has a bunch, many of which fall into B&W/Vintage (LR1-3).
Camera Dojo Presets A nice free pack of presets covering a broad range settings (LR1-3).
Chrome and New York presets from Vert: (LR 1-3).
Really Japans Presets: A collection of various mini preset sets (LR 1-3).
Skye’s LR Presets: She has a couple nice looking freebies in one download (LR 1-3).
MCP Effects: A few free presets from MCP. (LR 1-3).
Vivian Chungs Presets: A nice little archive of freebies. (LR 1-3).
I Brake For Bokeh Presets: Another nice variety of free Lightroom presets, LR 1-3).
Heather Green’s Presets. A few interesting looking color tone presets.
Joop Snijder Presets: A variety of general use effects (scroll down the page).
A Girl In Love Presets: A nice little set of ten vintage tone effects.
Markus Dollinger Presets: Not in English, but you’ll find a presets download link at the bottom.
Xequals Photography Presets: Once you get past an awkward site, you’ll find a fair variety of free presets.
Focus Beauty Presets: Various presets allowing you to build effects. Also check out the HDR presets.
Inside Lightroom Presets: One of the early Lightroom sites. Lots of presets if you browse around.
Dlbert Debruijn Free presets. A nice looking assortment of free presets.
BJWok Presets. Looks like many were made for band sessions. A variety of freebies.
RuleOfThirds free presets. Looks like a nice collection of freebies mixed in with their paid offerings.

Other Random Presets: Some of these have obscure links, some with only 1 preset. But if you crave more…

Photo Focus preset: Look like just one here, but Scott posted a tone preset he made.
Sean Mcgrath: Some paid effects in here, but on this page are plenty of freebies.
Profi Presets: Various preset of the week posts here with free effects. Have to browse thru links.
Mithrandir’s Lightroom Presets: A list of a bunch of Mithrandir’s presets. Sweet.
Dryor Eyal Presets: A few presets posted ion his blog. Not many details.
Gantico’s Presets: Various presets worth a look, including some infrared.
Stellar Times Free Presets: A few classy looking tones.
640 Pixels free presets:
Katherine’s Pink preset: Just one pink tone here.
Scenic World Presets: A couple presets with intense highlights.
Simonetta Rossi’s Free Presets: A few sky brighteners you might enjoy.
Rockstar B&W & Soda Pop presets: A few presets here. But you have to wade through to get them.
Rebecca Meyers Preset: Just one Faded Wash preset that I can find.
Mike Lao’s “300” presets: A bit of a legend. Two effects based on the movie 300.
Sean McCormack’s IR Presets: An article talking about Infrared in LR and some free presets.
Alberts Warming Preset: A warm tone effect.
Sweets Lightroom Preset: Just a solo.
Platinum Premium Preset: Not a platinum effects so much as B&W.
VFASP Presets. Looks like three presets. Color tone and BW.
Photography Silo Presets: A little clutter, but they post a free preset now and then.
Minimalist Photography. 5 free B&W presets. Some are a bit harsh but give em a try.

Free Lightroom Brush Presets – How To Install Brush Presets

LR4 Brushes…

Elegance Essentials LR4 Brushes: My own collection of brushes designed especially for LR4.

LR2-3 Brushes

Matt’s Light/Dark Brush Presets: A simple set of brushes for burning and dodging
Seim’s Free Brush Presets: A brush set for Skin Softening, Burning, Dodging, more.
Matt’s Enhancer Brushes: Another nice assortment of brushes from Matt Kloskowski.

Free Lightroom Print Presets/Templates:

Gavin’s Album Page Design Print Presets for LR3-5:
A group of print presets to make quick page layouts in LR3. Great for press printed books and small albums. This is a new improved set for LR3.
Album Page Design Print Presets for LR2:
A group of print presets to make quick page layouts in LR2. This is the first set. Don’t use these in LR3-4.