breaking up is hard to do - sometimes
In my last story I wrote about DxO PhotoLab 10, describing how I couldn’t get very excited about it.
Well, as a result of that, I went into “rethink” mode. About my relationship with DxO.
And how I felt I was obligated to them because they have been generously supplying me with free software for several years. And how that obligation played negatively with my approach to my photography. And my photoblog.
What am I going to say about Photolab next? What about Nik? Or FilmPack? I don’t even use PureRAW!
I regularly think about what drives my photography. What motivates me. Does my photoblog drive my photography? Or does my photography drive my photoblog?
No. I decided that being a DxO affiliate has been driving my photography recently. And driving my photoblog. An obligation in a sense. Not that there was ever any pressure from DxO to “toe the party line”.
But now I have backed away from that obligation. So it’s a good time to say don’t use my DxO code on their website. It probably won’t work anymore.
I have de-affiliated from DxO.
So now the breakup is official I have kicked off a couple of new projects. Both closely related actually.
i treated myself to a new OM Systems Om5 mark ii
I’m calling it a project when really I just treated myself to the OM5 because I could.
Seriously though, as much as I love my trusty Nikon D7500 it is too heavy to lug around all day. I will keep it though. For those special occasions. Whatever those occasions are. It’ll most likely be tucked away in a cupboard. Who knows?
By comparison the OM5 is small. Compact. Very light. It’s highly bloody technical. More features than you can shake a stick at! Compared with the D7500 anyway.
And of course the OM5 is waterproof. Well, at least splashproof. I have seen videos of some users hold one under a waterfall. Fools!
That’s project number one. Learn the wee beastie inside out. Especially when shooting JPEGs.
Because that’s project number 2. I’m back on the JPEG bandwagon again. Because the JPEGs from the OM5 are great.
But! I’m not going to become a SOOC sort of guy. And sneer down my nose at photographers who don’t get it right in camera. I know I won’t. I can’t even get a level horizon…
I’ll edit those JPEGs. Minimal editing only. Famous last words.
I know the purists amongst you will tell me “don’t edit JPEGs…edit RAW“. But I’m going to edit JPEGs. For a while anyway. Until I change my mind and switch back to RAW.
After all editing is fun.
breaking up with PhotoLab
Breaking up is hard to do. So said Neil Sedaka back in ’62. And yes – I am old enough to remember it. The original. Not the ’75 remake.
But having used Photolab/Nik together for so long I am reasonably familiar with it. Even though I have really only scratched the surface of their features. Maybe 10%. Together they made good results easy.
For my JPEG editing I have turned my attention really close to home. To my Mac.
I have chosen Apple Photos and Photomator as my day-to-day “go-to” apps. For the time being anyway. And for the record I will keep the Nik Collection installed. And use it when I feel the need calls for it.
Photomator lacks the high end features of Photolab. No optical corrections for starters. But the OM5 Mk II corrects most lens issues in-camera when shooting JPEG only. Satisfactorily to my eye at least.
Like Photolab/Nik I have only scratched the surface of the OM5’s features. Still so much to learn. Like the Computational Photography features. Live ND. Handheld – or tripod – High Res. Focus Stacking. HDR. Multiple Exposure.
I’m not sure this old brain of mine can take it all in.
Yes. You are correct in assuming that all the photos in this story were shot on the OM5 Mk II as JPEGs. Processed in Photomator. Minimally. Of course.
Still on the subject of Photomator. It has a ton of Presets and LUTs native to the app. But I have loaded it up with a few freebie presets and hundreds of LUTs. Okay. Not hundreds. Scores.
All great starting pints for basic edits. Many of them are very cool. This could mark the return of the “one-click-wonder”. That’s me.
Possibly the only area where Photomator really fails is its Black and White presets. Well – not fails. But it is weak. So I’m keeping Nik Silver Efex. The best black and white conversion app there is. In my opinion. And others.
So that’s the state of play with my photography.
I aim to simplify things. And so far I feel I am on the right track. Certainly editing with Photomator is simple. Although I need to get used to the idea of making adjustments in layers. Something I’ve not done before. And Photomator integrates and plays nicely with Pixelmator so that’s something else I may look at. Down the track.
I’m trying to simplify things. But what do I do to complicate matters? I switch my photoblog to being Elementor-based. Again. More hiccups with that.
But for all that, things are good in my world. I hope they are good in your world as well.
Happy days!
Oh my goodness. I forgot to say that all photos are taken in and around Riverton... my new hometown!
As always I am happy to hear from you. What you think of my photos. My blog. And also what you are shooting. And where can I see your work.
So feel free to leave a reply below and I’ll definitley get back you you ASAP.
