Basic Photography Class at Pacific Grove Adult School

Basic Photography class starts at Pacific Grove Adult School next Tuesday, Nov 14th. The fee is $75 for 5 weeks, Nov 14, 28, Dec 5, 12, 19. We cover Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Depth of Field, Composition. We have 5 people registered and need a 6th for the class to go. Please tell your friends, family and colleagues if they are interested to register online at www.pgusd.org or call a human at 656-6580. Thank you. 

GREAT NEWS!!!!! DxO acquires Nik Collection assets from Google

Great news for those of us who use Nik Collection!! The press release below will give you the basic info but Nik Collection will not be going away anytime soon. 

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DxO acquires Nik Collection assets from Google, and plans to continue to develop the Collection for the benefit of the photographer community.
PARIS – October 25, 2017 – DxO, one of the most innovative companies in consumer imaging, today announces the acquisition of the Nik Collection assets from Google.
DxO plans to continue development of the Nik Collection. The current version will remain available for free on DxO’s dedicated website, while a new version is planned for mid-2018.
“The Nik Collection gives photographers tools to create photos they absolutely love,” said Aravind Krishnaswamy, an Engineering Director with Google. “We’re thrilled to have DxO, a company dedicated to high-quality photography solutions, acquire and continue to develop it.”
“We are very excited to welcome the Nik Collection to the DxO family,” said Jérôme Ménière, CEO and founder of DxO. “DxO revolutionized the image processing market many times over the years with its innovative solutions, and we will continue to do so with Nik’s tools, which offer new creative opportunities to many photographers. The new version of our flagship software DxO OpticsPro, which is available as of now under its new name DxO PhotoLab, is the first embodiment of this thrilling acquisition with built-in U Point technology.”
About the Nik Collection
The Nik Collection is composed of seven desktop plugins for Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop that provide a powerful range of photo editing capabilities. The current lineup of the Nik Collection includes:
• Analog Efex Pro: Applies film-era camera, lens, and film simulations to digital images
• Color Efex Pro: A comprehensive set of filters for color correction, retouching, and creative
effects
• Dfine: Noise reduction software for camera-specific digital images
• HDR Efex Pro: Specialized program for processing HDR pictures
• Sharpener Pro: Image sharpening for digital images
• Silver Efex Pro: Black & White conversion of images with darkroom-inspired controls
• Viveza: Selectively adjusts image color and tonality without complicated masks or selections
About DxO
For well over a decade, DxO has been developing some of the world’s most advanced image processing technologies, which have enabled over 400 million devices to capture the highest quality images achievable. DxO designs and manufactures the DxO ONE, a connected, miniaturized, and pro-quality camera for iPhone and iPad that has revolutionized the world of mobile photography. DxO also develops DxO PhotoLab, previously DxO OpticsPro, as well as other image processing software for Mac and PC, all of which have been acclaimed by top photographers the world over.


 

Adobe Lightroom Upgrades Cautionary Tale

I have received multiple posts from the boards about the recent upgrades being offered by Adobe. Victoria Bampton- Lightroom Queen just sent this email out. I could not give you better info or advice. Please note the WARNING BEFORE UPGRADING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INFO. Lightroom Classic and Lightroom Classic CC 7.0 are completely different platforms and therefore this transition will be tricky. Proceed with caution and give Adobe time to fix the bugs if you have already done the upgrades.  

I know change is hard but when it comes to computers and software, it is advisable to go slow, put yourself in a patient mood and stop before you push the ok button and review your steps. It is easier to be cautious in your decisions then do things by rote and then spend time undoing them. 

Thank you. Barbara Moon Batista

Check out Victoria Bamton Website for the free Ebook https://www.lightroomqueen.com. You will have to give your email address of course. Enjoy. 

It's the Adobe Max conference this week and there's LOADS of Lightroom news!

In this edition...

Lightroom Rebranded as Lightroom Classic
Lightroom Classic CC 7.0 Release
End of Perpetual Licenses
Cloud-native Lightroom CC
Lightroom for iOS/Android
Announcement FAQ's

Since the first Lightroom beta was released in 2006, the world of photography has undergone many changes. In those days, most people had never even heard of smartphones, and editing photos required sitting down at a computer. Today, photos shot on mobile phones grace the covers of top magazines, and billions of photos are captured and instantly shared online every single day.

Today, during the Adobe Max conference, Adobe will announce the future of Lightroom. There's lots of changes and plenty of confusion, so let's get an overview...

Lightroom Rebranded as Lightroom Classic

The folder-based version of Lightroom that we've known and loved for the last 10+ years is still going strong. It's been rebranded as Lightroom Classic, because it continues to use the traditional desktop folder-based organizational system we've used for decades (as opposed to a modern cloud-based system).

Future development of Lightroom Classic is being refocused on improving performance and enhancing the editing tools. It's become a bit of a jack-of-all-trades over the last few years, so this new focus is great news for serious Lightroom users.

Lightroom Classic CC 7.0 Release

Lightroom Classic 7.0 was released today, including the first wave of performance improvements, a new embedded preview workflow for faster culling, and a new range mask tool for color/luminance based selections, in addition to the usual new camera/lens support. There's more information on the new features here.

Before you jump to upgrade, a word of warning is in order. Performance is a tricky thing. Making a feature faster on one computer can make it slower on another, and the code changes are so widespread, it can create bugs in seemingly unrelated areas. I'd recommend exercising a little caution because opening a catalog into 7.0 upgrades the catalog format, so you can't easily roll back to 2015.12 if you run into problems. Lightroom 7.0 can be installed alongside Lightroom CC 2015, so if you're an early adopter, perhaps test it using a clean catalog before upgrading your main working catalog, just in case. I'll compile the early feedback into a blog post over the next week or two.

End of Perpetual Licenses

For the last couple of years, it's been a subject of great debate… will Adobe keep selling Lightroom as a perpetual (standalone) license or not? We finally have an official answer… Adobe will continue to sell Lightroom 6 as a perpetual license, but Lightroom 7 and future versions will only be available to CC subscribers. At least they've said it now, and we can all stop guessing. They'll continue to add new camera support to Lightroom 6 until the end of the year, and even at that point, your perpetual version of Lightroom will not spontaneously combust. If you're currently a perpetual user, I've outlined some of the options here.

Cloud-native Lightroom CC

There's a new cloud-native version of Lightroom, designed for the next generation of photographers. Because in this version everything's synced to the cloud, your photos and edits are available on all of your devices, wherever you are. Since Lightroom manages your photos for you, this new Lightroom app is really simple to use (no more missing files!), but still has the non-destructive editing power we've come to expect from Adobe. It's been rewritten from the ground up, so it's relatively bug-free (hooray!).

It's early days, so Lightroom CC doesn't have all of the features of the Classic version, but it already has the essentials and will continue to develop rapidly. If you're a Lightroom user considering moving to the cloud-native app, I've created a feature comparison table, so you can check whether it has the features you need for your workflow.

I know you’ll have loads of questions, so I’ve written a free Quick Start eBook, available for download right now (just fill in your name/email again and check the Lightroom CC eBook checkbox). 

More extensive books for both Lightroom Classic 7.0 and Lightroom CC will be available soon in eBook and paperback formats, and I’ll let you know as soon as they’re released.

Lightroom for iOS/Android

The iOS and Android versions of Lightroom have been updated with some fantastic new features including AI-based automatic tagging and search, keywords, album folders to organize all of your albums (prev. called collections), and the Android version now has the brush tool too. You can read all about the new features here.

The mobile apps are designed primarily to be a companion to the cloud-native Lightroom CC ecosystem, so they now use the new terminology (e.g., albums instead of collections). The mobile apps continue to sync with Lightroom Classic, as they always have done, but no new cloud features will be added to Lightroom Classic, so keywords and collection sets don't sync with Lightroom Classic.

Announcement FAQ's

There's sure to be a mass of questions about these announcements. I've preempted many of the questions I expect to see, and I'll continue adding to the FAQ's as new questions arise.

Saudade-a Brazilian word for homesickness

The aftermath of the senseless violence in Las Vegas leaves me with a sense of sadness, an empty feeling, a void into which I must pour something that makes sense. I found this sweet little article on Saudade-a Brazilian word that sums up my feelings that I can't seem to put to words or on paper just yet. May we all strive to connect with others and listen with our souls. 

"Saudade-A Brazilian work for homesickness for a place that one knows cannot be. This word clarifies my own metaphysical search for someone, something, or some place that remains beyond the forever repeating next horizon. I have come to believe that unencumbered listening will often hear life stories defined by an unending wandering with satchels of discontent.  This  discontent, this suffering within suffering, may be a telling  of the spiritual emptiness of saldage."

Moments of miscommunication between individuals are internal whispers to self warning of intellectual or emotional separation.  Peter Fenner's, Radiant Mind  Awakening Unconditioned Awareness, speaks to the sense of incompletions that may be created within our attempts to engage with others, to feel emotionally and mentally connected,  when there is a sense that the person with whom we are talking has not taken in what we have said the way we intended or that we have unintentionally misspoke and created mental confusion or emotional injury.  

When these moments of disengagement are brushed aside they often are rumination fodder that create distance, mistrust, and resentment.  This separation sets the stage for a perspective of injury and may seek protection through relationship disengagement and personal isolation.  Wishing to find the way back, yearning for emotional connection, trying to fix a broken relationship messages homesickness. Saldage.

In order to repair these disconnections or to feel complete, Fenner suggests that there is a need to engage in communication that may move us outside our comfort zone by becoming courageously skilled in intentional communication.  That is, we listen by remaining present to the other,  we acknowledge the importance of all who is communicating, we assume responsibility for rebuilding break downs.  

Responsibility requires honesty with self and others.  As a listener one can awaken the third ear and become aware of the quality of listening.   Blocks or barriers to listening can be addressed through an openness of

What you are saying is important to me.  I am experiencing some strong feelings that are not allowing me to hear you like I wish.  Could we take a break and begin at the beginning when I feel more grounded?
I find that I am having trouble understanding you.  Can you help me understand by saying this a bit differently? 
For some reason my mind lost focus.  I'm sorry.  Please repeat what you were saying.
When a speaker senses a misunderstanding, reconnection may begin with
I sense that something I've said has unsettled you.  Would you mind sharing with me how you are feeling or thinking about what I've just said?
I feel a distance between us.  Do we need to take a break so that we can talk about this in a manner than is beneficial for both of us?
Being present to these minute whispers of homesickness may give us a path upon which to reconnect.  To allow ego to build walls created by ruminations of negative feelings and thoughts may serve to fortify saldage.

May I feel loved.  May my love flow unencumbered.  May you feel love.  May your love flow unencumbered.  May all living beings feel loved.  May the love of all beings flow unencumbered.  

Brenda Kofford, 2011  

Adobe Lightroom 6 and CC at Pacific Grove Adult School

Fall is here and registration is open for Adobe Lightroom 6 and CC at Pacific Grove Adult School. If you have been trying to learn Lightroom and keep having issues importing and editing, this is the class for you. We use the Scott Kelby book Lightroom 6/CC as our text and I provide power points weekly that is a synopsis of the textbook and what we cover in each class. The hands on experience will give you a foundation upon which to build your library. 

You can register at https://www.pgadulted.com or call a human at 831-646-6589. The fee is $150 for an 8 week course that starts Thursday, Sep 28th from 5:30-8:30. 

Tutoring: I tutor privately if your schedule doesn't permit you to attend this class. You can contact me by responding to this blog post or call me at 831-905-0461.

Thank you and grateful for your continuing support. Barbara

Artists Studio Tour and Open House Sep 23, 2017

Please join us on Saturday, September 23 from 10-2 at Pacific Grove Adults School for the Artists Studio Tour and Open House. The address is 1025 Lighthouse Ave, Pacific Grove. There will be art, food, music and much more. Celebrate our students achievements and see what our school has to offer the community. 

Monterey County Fair & Pacific Grove Adult School Aug 31-Sep 4, 2017

We will be at the Pacific Grove Adult School booth at the Monterey County Fair on Thursday, August 31 from Noon to 3 PM. Come by and visit with us, spin the wheel for prizes and information on Fall Classes starting September 25, 2017. Lifelong learners never get bored. 

Welcome to the Photographers Notebook

I believe we all creative beings that have something to share with our family, friends, extended family, colleagues, community and even the world. I want to inspire you to take a risk and start creating with the visual image. If you have a passion for photography and the creative process, this is the place for you.  Whether you use a fancy DSLR, a point and shoot or a smart phone, you can enjoy taking pictures. I want to educate and inspire you. I publish one new article a week on average.

If you don't want to miss a thing, sign up for updates  clicking on the link below, and sign up for the mailing list. 

http://batistamoon.com/contact/

How to Succeed in Photography

This quote was given to a group of us by Al Weber. I suspect he wrote it but it is by author "Quoteman" 

"Be well-read. Be curious about everything. Look at art constantly. Figure out who you are. Never advise others about success in photography. Whenever you encounter a rule, break it just to see what happens. Don't be a jerk. Pick subjects you are obsessed with. Chase them endlessly. Do what you say you'll do. Surprise yourself at least once a day. Keep secrets. Confuse art with life. Work ceaselessly. Be aware that work does not happen through inspirations, work happens through work. Memorize the words of artist Chuck Close: "I always say that inspiration is for amateurs, the rest of us just show up and get to work." --Quoteman

Nik Collection for Lightroom Users, Aug 9 - Sep 20, 2017, Wed 1-4PM

This class is advertised for Lightroom users but the Nik plugin works the same way in Photoshop. We will explore each one of the Nik Collections and get creative with images. color Efex Pro, HDR Efex Pro, Silver Efex Pro, Viveza, HDR Efex Pro, Sharpener Pro, Dfine. Come and spend the end of summer and the beginning of fall in this creative class and have some fun while learning. The fee is $150. Register online at paused.org or call a human at 831-646-6580. See you there. Barbara

Saint Junipero Serra: The Spiritual Journey, June 16 - Sep 30, 2017, Mission San Juan Bautista

Criag Alan Huber has worked for 7 years to photograph the 21 Missions in Alta California founded by Saint Junipero Serra. We attended the reception in the San Juan Bautista Mission Museum on July 1st, the feast day of Junipero Serra. The exhibit runs through September 30, 2017. This is the first art exhibit at the San Juan Bautista Mission. 

I encourage all of you who care about California history and the role the missions played in the development of our entwined cultures to take the time to come and see this wonderful exhibit. Craig took a great deal of time and personal effort to photograph each mission. The project also includes a book that encompasses the history of the project and the key images in the portfolio. A very sensitive and well crafted exhibit of silver and platinum prints. 

Our own Al Weber was the inspiration that started Craig on his journey. Al Weber held 3 mission workshops at Mission San Antonio, Mission San Miguel and Mission Soledad that precipitated in a portfolio for each mission of the workshop participants images. The spirit of this effort  inspired Craig to keep going and it culminated in the project. 

We met some wonderful people at the reception and Suzy Weber was able to attend with her son Robert and spouse Sarah. It was a lovely sunny day in San Juan Bautista with a moderate temperature of 68 degrees. A wonderful break from the June gloom that has enveloped Monterey for the past few days. We met up with some friends we had not seen for awhile which added to the celebratory atmosphere. 

Website: www.veritasenditions

Craig Alan Huber will be our guest speaker at Rendezvous this year and talk about this project and his process in choosing a project and the focus required to see it through to the end. We celebrate Craig's success and look forward to his next adventure. 

Fear of Change

One of the most common things I encounter as a teacher is the fear of failure or fear of change. 

We know that change can be good for us. Examples might be weight loss, quitting bad habits, developing good habits that give us better health. 

The amazing thing is we fail at change over and over. We prove to ourselves over and over that change is something to fear because we had a bad experience. 

Why? We fear change. This fear leads to procrastination and lack of commitment to a goal, regardless of whether or not it will lead to positive outcomes. 

Once you acknowledge your fear of change, you can take positive steps to overcome them. 

Common themes in fear of change: 

Fear of Failure
Why bother. Its is a waste of time and effort. Most of the time the root of this fear is your pride. We don't want to look bad in front of others so we don't try. This leads to failure to commit time and energy to the creative process of life. 

Fear of Pain, Discomfort, Effort
This one is probably the one I see the most often in the arts. People avoid effort and then grouse about why they are not progressing with their skill level. Wonderful, talented people avoid effort because they fear the pain and discomfort of failure. 

Fear of Success
This one has a grain of truth to it when you consider the what-ifs of success. What if I succeed and then I have to put out? Most of the time people fear having attention drawn to them if they are successful the pressure of having to produce and add to your success. This one makes a lot of us feel like a deer in headlights. 

Fear of Criticism
Fear of what others will think of you or your work. This one is so common among artists or people who have inherent talent but have heard from kindergarten that art is a waste of time and besides you should stick to what you know best. So many good, talented people bench themselves because of this debilitating fear. 

Fear of New
This put people in a box. How many times have you admired someone who tries new things? Yet, you say, I really admire that person but I would never do that OR I would not be good at that OR I am going to stay in my safe place so I don't have to feel the fear and absolute joy of experiencing something new.

Fear feels real but most of it is mental and can be overcome. Look inside yourself and ask why am I afraid to do that? Try one small thing at a time and celebrate the victories, no matter how small. 

Full Confession about 1 Item in my own life. I was afraid of going from film to digital. I can still hear my voice of doubt and fear as the technology world marched  relentlessly forward, wiping out the film world I knew. I remember so vividly thinking I could never grasp the digital camera and it myriad of functions. Film was all I knew for the previous 30 plus years. My partner and I had perfected our craft and knew it intimately. 

I can still smell the fear when people asked about digital and what we thought about it. I remember the paralyzing self doubt and the fear of how new it was. It definitely put me in a box. I was afraid of failure, criticism and the new. How about that for being stuck!

I worked my way out of it by observing how others dealt with it, studying the articles written about digital cameras, trying it out in small ways before making a full leap. I think the first foray into digital was scanning our transparencies and getting a digital file from what we had just photographed for a client. Our clients had fear also. They really didn't understand this new digital world. It fell to us as vendors to be able to explain to our clients what they needed to know and reassure them that everything would be ok. We gave them film and a digital file scanned from the transparency or film for their needs. Ironic in a way. Teaching what we needed to know. 

The next step was actually using a digital camera. We acquired a Canon 10D anchored a digital assistant to learn. This is the same as taking online courses, or a course at your local Adult School. We were able to learn as we worked. This gave us more skills and confidence to overcome the fear of failure. Since our livelihood depended upon this, you can believe we were motivated. Gradually, we knew more and more and our skills began to parallel our skill in the film world. It took time, effort and overcoming the fear of failure.

Embrace the Patina

Youghal Angel by Barbara Moon

All of my life I have been drawn to the last stages of life, whether it was roses drying, fall leaves, rust, discarded items, well used items, the past.....cemeteries, and now I find that I have joined the cycle of the slow process we all face of the gradual beautification of a life lived......embrace the patina, accept the beauty of rust, create a place where these things have meaning instead of fear, love your fall and winter. It is your story, be the good storyteller of your life and cherish what you leave behind as your patina.