Time to Update!
>> Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I have always been a frugal person. We didn't have much money growing up and most of my adult years we have had to watch our pennies. I actually don't mind this at all because I believe money is not necessary for happiness as long as you have enough to meet your basic needs (medical care, food, place to live, etc.) and I really don't like to shop. We might not be rich but we have everything we need. ♥
Because of my frugal nature I try to not spend much money on my hobbies or work. So I don't buy every new camera/lens or graphic program update out there and just wait until I feel it is necessary to spend the money. I still use PSE6, LR2 (I never had LR1), and until a few years ago had Photoshop 7.
Sunday I turned on my computer and opened an image in Windows PhotoViewer and it looked like this:
It was supposed to look like
the bottom photo here. As you can imagine I freaked out because the photo looked the same in CS4, PSE6 and LR2! My husband spent all Sunday afternoon scanning my computer for viruses/driver issues/software incompatabilities and googling, trying to figure out what was going on. I finally decided to call my computer guy and make an appointment to get it fixed.
Well, after all of this stress we figured out what was causing the problem. For some reason my Huey monitor calibration software was having issues and messing up my color management, so a simple delete of the program solved the problem. However, now I realized it was finally time to upgrade to a new calibrator (I have had my old one for years), so I bravely went and purchased the Spyder 3 Pro
. It has great reviews and I will let you know what I think about it once it gets here. If you edit photos you really have to have a monitor calibrator.So I was shopping on Amazon ♥ and I decided since I have a pile of unedited family photos AND blog about editing, it was time to upgrade to Lightroom 3
. I normally skip 2-3 upgrades, but LR3 not only has amazing noise-reduction software included (I shoot high ISO all of the time to avoid flash, so noise-reduction is very handy), but allows you to open and play most camera video files! I couldn't find whether it can play videos from my Canon Rebel T2i
, but we have a few cheap point-and-shoots that take video. I love the idea of having one program to open videos and photos. I will let you know what I think about LR3 and if it plays my camera's videos and how well the noise-reduction works. Finally, I decided to go ahead and buy The Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 3 Book for Digital Photographers by Scott Kelby
since my library does not have it. I usually don't buy computer books and prefer googling, but I do have several of Kelby's books and find them invaluable. I read his LR2 book in one evening and was using LR the next day. It never hurts to have a book on hand for reference.So now I am tired after my shopping spree. Spending money on non-essential items stresses me out. :-) I always think about how hard my family has to work to earn that money. My husband laughs at me because most of the women he knows buy purses, jewelry, clothing, etc.; but his wife likes photography programs/gadgets. I might not be a professional photographer, but I am a nerd who loves to blog about photography. ♥
Tomorrow I should be posting the second part of my Flower Art Tutorial, so please check back!!!
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23 Thoughtful Comments:
You can download a trial of LR3.... so you can start using it NOW. ;)
I am the same way with spending money! I've been using an eyeone display 2 and it's worked great for me.
Enjoy all your gadgets...I am one who hates hates to spend money on things like this...I do enjoy the results...Let us know what you find concerning LR3 and video from your Canon T2i...I have the T1i and love the video on it...I also use high ISO when shooting my husbands band..your blog has taught me sooo much already can't wait to see what you with your new toys
You go girl!!! And a very valuable purchase you can feel GOOD about (much more than purses, etc.)!!
Keep being you and doing wonderful things ♥
I'm right there with ya! If this one's fine, why buy a newer one? But yes, sometimes it is a nessecity. I'd love to hear what you think of your calibration program. That's one thing I've been thinking I need for a while.
I have found your website SO helpful! Thank you for all of your tutorials!
www.portraitbycynthi.com
After you wrote about your Huey calibrator I decided to splurge (at that time it was) and pick up one for myself. A couple of months ago I got the Spyder3 Pro and have really liked it so far. I have a double monitor set up and liked the fact it could manage multiple monitors. I think you will be pleased....with that and with Lightroom 3.
The Scott Kelby book is worth every penny! I borrowed a copy from the library and then bought my own copy. I love LR - it has really sped up my workflow.
Thanks for all you offer on your blog, Rita!
My husband laughs at me because now that I am really getting into photography I am crazy about photo software etc. I wanted everything out there. But now I have Photoshop CS5 because we could take advantage of the hubby's student discount. And it is all that I use. I highly recommend that everyone do this for software if you can use a student discount. Adobe does DEEP discounts for students.
Thanks for the tips on the color calibrator.
I'm just wondering how come you got the pro version and not the spyder express3 one? I do not have a calibration system (yet) so I am not doubting your decision, just wondering how you came to it. I LOVE your blog by the way! Thanks for all you do!
I hate spending big $$$ on my photomania. Lucky for me, my daughter bought Lightroom 3 when she was in college (she got a discount for being a student) and she didn't have time to mess with it much so she gave it to me. I had never used Lightroom before so I bought the very same Scott Kelby book you did. I LOVE IT!!
The book is easy to read and the info is priceless! He even gives you a bonus chapter" on his "7 point system"! :)
I now love Lightroom 3 so much I RARELY use Photoshop. What a breeze to inport, tag, rate, edit, sort, make collections and then export out to Facebook or Flickr all with presets and my watermark! YIPEEEE!
In the past I had downloaded the free trial of Lightroom but it overwhelmed me and I gave up in disgust . . . not anymore!
Loving Photoshop 3 and my well worn and dog-eared Scott Kelby book! You won't regret it. ENJOY!
Rita,
I am so with you on the money thing. I have always been frugal...like my grandmother who grew up in the depression. I don't hoard balls of string or reuse plastic bags but I do know how to make our money stretch.
It is possible to do without fancy gear as you proved yesterday with your husband's shirt as a background etc. I appreciate your sharing your ideas.
I understand what you mean, Rita. I used Paint Shop Pro for years, which by the way is a GREAT program, because I couldn't afford Photoshop. And my first version of Photoshop (7) was actually given to me by someone who couldn't use it anymore. I used trials of Lightroom, then free raw editing programs (like Rawtherapee)until I was finally able to use an educational discount to buy Lightoom 3. And one of the most generous persons I know, who is a programmer and designer, GAVE me her CS3 when she switched from pc to mac! So, I've been pretty blessed, in that department. IF you can get an educational discount by providing a report card for a child in your household, I highly recommend it. I got LR3 for $89! It retails at $299.
I've been using LR3 for almost a year, and I love it. I am a "newbie", and the program was a perfect tool for me to learn basics. I just got CS4 and I don't have a clue what I am doing. I certainly can see using lightroom far more as my career advances. Thanks for the tools, and most of all, thanks for blog!
Your post was timely as I had recently bought a Wacom bamboo pen. There are never any instructions on how to use these things. I played with it but didn't not think I would keep it. This morning I found a tutorial on you tube that told me how to set it up in word and now I think I will keep it. I do like gadgets. V
Hi Rita-
I , too hate spending money and tell everyone not to give me jewels and other girlie stuff as I don't want it. Right now I am saving every penny to get a DSLR and a lens.
Love your blog and have learned so much from you.
My best- Diane
I know exactly where you're coming from. The Taller-half always laughs at me when I worry about spending any little bit on myself. I have no problem bettering the house, or spending on gifts, but when it comes to me, I panic about it.
I have fallen in love with your blog, and am so excited every time you post. I always learn something new!
I would also love to see how you finished up your dining room remodeling.
can we talk about lightroom for a second... I have PSE7 or 8- i think 8. and I sort of have CS5. So why lightroom? what does it do that the others dont?
also- photoshop vs CS? is there a difference? I have seen people reference photoshop specifically and dont really know what they are talking about- I only know of it coming as CS?
I have to laugh as I read this because I feel exactly the same way. Are you ready for the kicker? I just bought the Nikon D700 this afternoon. I'm in physical pain over it as well as the fact that I now have to buy new lenses since all but one of my current ones will not work with this model. Ouch! But my husband was insistent that I needed to take this step.
I'd love to know what you think about the new calibration program. I desperately need one and that's the one I'm looking at. :)
You're so good to so many people - I hope you'll be able to enjoy your new purchases. You deserve the best!!
Good for you! Every now and then you have to "forgive" yourself for spending money on things you enjoy immensely! I have the same money issues, so I understand! We just broke down and ordered Lightroom after using CS5 for the past couple of years. I'm sure a couple of months after we get it, we'll be wondering why we waited so long!
Miss Rita... I just wanted to point out that although your purchases may have been non-essential.. they go into your creations and that in turn helps you to create and preserve beautiful family memories (your photos) and also the items you put on your blog for download for all to have and enjoy to use on their own images. you make a bigger impact than I think you truly realize. many people in the photography world LOVE you for being so generous and amazing. so GOOD for you! I'm glad you got to splurge on some fun toys and I'm also happy to hear that your computer is not on the fritz and it was a simple issue. <3
I love love love LR, and am using Lightroom 3. Did you know there's an educational discount? So if anyone in your family is a teacher or a student with a valid student ID, you can save big bucks on Adobe products.
http://www.adobe.com/education/purchasing/education_pricing.html
I have the Spyder 3 Express and honestly, I'm not convinced it does much for me. Their "click here to toggle the before and after" always seems hokey to me. Oh well, maybe it's just me.
I feel you! I'm still using PS6! But I feel like it does everything I need it to do.
Glad you got some new goodies. You deserve it. This may be a hobby for you but it teaches a lot of people out there to better their photographs on a budget (people like me!). I'd love to be able to afford The Workshop workbook or the Easy As Pie kit. But that's out of my budget for now. THanks for sharing your gift!
LR3 is FANTASTIC!!! Can't wait to see your presets for it!
I'm so w/ you on the money thing. I find shopping for anything except photography equipment and food boring as my hobbies are photography and cooking. I rather have photog gadgets and gizmos over purses, shoes, clothes or jewelry any day.
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