Ever feel like you're blind once you start using editing software?

I've been using Lightroom 3 and Photoshop for a little under a year and I STILL feel like I'm just kind of hurdling through them blindly. Knowing very little what my desired outcome to be. I know what the majority of the sliders do and how to use them to my advantage, but I still feel like I'm just breezing through all these different processes and it doesn't' feel much like "work" or "methodical."

Did anyone else ever feel this way when they first started out with a new piece of software?

Well, gosh, I stick mostly with Lightroom. Using the sliders in the normal Develop panels can be a bit of a "cake walk" if your "Raw materials" are good to start with. Then, it's looking at the more fine-tune adjustments, depending on the images. But Lightroom has some very cool tools for such things, and it's worth learning, such as the targeted adjustment tools in the Tone Curve and HSL panels, and then of course the local adjustment brushes and the other tools in that toolbar.

So, take your time and experiment, and practice until you are comfortable getting results from the various different tools. And, when you need Photoshop, it's there, but of course that's a whole other learning "curve", or should I say "mountain"!

(I have no financial interest in this.)

http://www.amazon.com …TF8&qid=1319160​956&sr=1-1

About a month ago I bought Lightroom. I also bought the Scott Kelby book that goes along with it. Last weekend I finally had a large chunk of time to muddle through Lightroom, as in around 3 hours. Scott Kelby is a genius. This book, imho, is worth the money. He goes through some generalized workflows to cover what folks might want to do, and then he shows what he does. I quickly went through a group of 300+ photos and ended up with the best dozen. Prior to LR, I was using Apple Aperture, an otherwise fine program, except for the couple of times it tried to completely hose my photos. (I was not amused.)

Frankly I already find LR to allow me to work faster through a set of photos than I could with Aperture, and that's with running my first real set of photos through it. LR isn't quite as intuitive as Aperture, but I think it is a more powerful program.

I've only been through the first few chapters, so I still have much to do and much to learn. However, I'm impressed with both the program and the book.

Good luck!

Very true.

I strive to get the best shot in camera as possible and I'm not a fan of over-processed nonsense, so that may be why it feels "easier."

Photoshop is always there for more to add more sharpening, etc etc if need be. But, I suppose I can do all that IN Lightroom.

mathogre wrote in post #13282112
(I have no financial interest in this.)

http://www.amazon.com …TF8&qid=1319160​956&sr=1-1

About a month ago I bought Lightroom. I also bought the Scott Kelby book that goes along with it. Last weekend I finally had a large chunk of time to muddle through Lightroom, as in around 3 hours. Scott Kelby is a genius. This book, imho, is worth the money. He goes through some generalized workflows to cover what folks might want to do, and then he shows what he does. I quickly went through a group of 300+ photos and ended up with the best dozen. Prior to LR, I was using Apple Aperture, an otherwise fine program, except for the couple of times it tried to completely hose my photos. (I was not amused.)

Frankly I already find LR to allow me to work faster through a set of photos than I could with Aperture, and that's with running my first real set of photos through it. LR isn't quite as intuitive as Aperture, but I think it is a more powerful program.

I've only been through the first few chapters, so I still have much to do and much to learn. However, I'm impressed with both the program and the book.

Good luck!

I bought that book back in March or April, really enjoyed it. I've since downloaded some .PDF's of other books and they seem to all be about the same level of depth. I'd like to have the Martin Evening book. It's a very thick book all on LR3.

It's nice having the Evening book along with the Kelby book, not just for the different styles, but different insights, etc, etc.

Also, the "LightroomQueen" Victoria Bampton authors a Lightroom "Missing Manual" that would be worth checking out.

First, learn how to make your photos look as "technically" good as possible, exposure, sharpening, wb, accuracy, noise, etc. then when you understand how those settings work, play with split toning, hsl, effects, etc.

When you get confidence and skill in the basics, you will feel better about the enhancements.

I agree with the OP. I think it has been two years now since I started with LR. I used plenty of online resources to learn it. I feel comfortable with a good chunk of the application's myriad of sliders and controls in the Develop Module. As an otherwise newbie, amateur photographer that the family looks to for 'nice' photos, I feel I can process my photos well, but there is still much to learn in the way of Split Toning, HSL, and really understanding Tone Curves (for example).

I think this is a strength of Lightroom. It is easy and quick when it needs to be, yet has plenty of advanced features. In that regard the program is also quite rewarding to use, as it scales well with my knowledge and ability.

Lynda.com has lots of great tutorials...

I have been using Photoshop since the early 90's and I still learn new things almost daily. Its such a vast program and there are so many ways to achieve the same thing. Throw in some 3rd party filters, actions, presets. it never ends.