What I haven't heard in this thread is what Adobe is doing about all this. I assume that since things are so layed out here, they've got a catalogue of complaints to recode for. Anyone talk to them?

Carlo

Well, if John's workaround for CS3 enables you to achieve the same outcome you'd get in CS3ext, then the extra cost probably isn't warranted.

Are there any other features of extended that would be of value to still photographers?

Hi Chris,

The feature you're talking about is usually called "stacking." As I understand it, it is probably the most important of the 'extended' version features for still photographers (the balance of the features are more for video...).

I have no idea whether it will ultimately be included in CS3 but hope so.

Carlo

Hi Peter,

Back on this issue...

I anticipate that as the business grows, so will the demand for accurately captioned material. I don't send anything out without the most detailed ID I can provide.

Didn't John B.mention a system to deal with this very issue that he helped create some messages ago? John, where are you?

Carlo

I picked up a manufactured unit (I think it's PhotoSpecialty.com?) and have tried it with my D2x and the 105mm. It's not doing the job yet. It doesn't pick up the whole image (I'm thinking the 105 is too long?), and I don't have a shorter fixed lens at the moment. The manufacture suggested something in the 100mm range but that could be with the 1.5 conversion factored in. I've tried to contact them to let them know what's happening but haven't heard back. I'd love to get this to work!

Peter,

The primary use would be internal, but I would like the names to be available for captions to be used when submitting work.

John, et al,

This old discussion of key-wording for the entry of plant/animal names is an issue I'm dealing with now. It's critical in my work that correct botanical names be used--and common ones if available. Putting them in the key words field was my first thought, but all the discussion of controlled vocabulary has me wondering. Nothing could be more UN-controlled than the entry of thousands of unique names. I'd be very interested in an explanation of the system you mentioned that was put together for a "plant" photographer.

(I am a free-lance garden photographer/writer and do mostly garden and nature photography; LOTS of scientific names).

Carlo

What about just dealing with the difference in your rating step. Don't give the "personal" photos a star rating...assign one of the colored bars. Then they can be easily separated out. Save the star ratings for work and artistic photographs.

Carlo

Jules,

Just north of you across the NY border...it would be an interesting idea to get local DAM experts together somewhere. Everyone would learn something...

Carlo

Peter,

In your comments about full screen previews you mention that the larger preview is suitable for "slideshows". I assume you mean presentations done on a monitor. Is this sufficient size for a projected presentation? (It would be really nice if it were...saving some steps to the creation of Power Points, etc.).

Carlo

Thanks folks, I appreciate the welcome.

I'm still in pre-bridge mode with photoshop (since I wasn't shooting digitally until recently) so I really do need to update to take advantage of the work-flow and DAM suggestions Peter makes in the book and others elaborate here in the forums. A hardware update is also necessary because of the size of the files the camera will produce and the number of photographs I anticipate making. I'm working on all that.

Another issue is the migration of 35mm transparencies to digital format. I'm searching the forum tonight for suggestions--and am aware of the various contraptions (on and off) the camera that make such transformations possible. I'm looking for a cost effective "magic bullet" to cover most of my projected uses...

Carlo

Greetings all,

I'm new to the forum...and digital photography. I'm the director of a private garden and have been a freelance photographer and writer for years. I've been published in many places but am only now taking the digital dive.

I'm shooting with a Nikon D2X but before going hog-wild am trying to get a system in place. That's where THE book comes in. I'm just about finished reading and taking notes and have a pretty good idea of how I'm going to upgrade my computer and software.

The problem is the awkward dance that Apple and Adobe are doing with software and hardware releases. Like many in this forum I'm caught waiting for the dust to settle. I thought I'd use the winter months to soften the learning curve on the camera and software, but now I'm reluctant to shoot too much until the system is put together. I guess it's my opportunity to use up the 100 rolls of Provia in the fridge.

I'm looking forward to learning from the accumulated wisdom, experience and hard knocks of forum participants.

Carlo A. Balistrieri
Director, The Gardens at Turtle Point