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How I Organize My Files
There are many ways to organize your files, this is how I do it.
First off I am not a Lightroom user. I bought LR 6 before CC/Classic came out. I have it installed to make use of the Negative Lab Pro for my color film scan conversions and a few presets I may have purchased in the past. I don’t take catalogs and LR into consideration when I am ingesting new files or moving them around.
I have a Drobo that holds my main storage. And I have a working storage drive on my desktop. Using Bridge I will import my photos to a working folder on my desktop machine and name the folder YYYY-MM-DD and the a descriptive name for the folder. This is something that I have to get better at since I often take photos in the same place or with the same people or doing the same activity.
Once my photos are done converting to DNG and are in my working folder if I’m doing my edits I’ll keep all the new files in the same folder. I used to have a capture folder for RAWs and a master folder for PSDs and an output folder for JPEGs but that made it hard to view all the files from one capture in Bridge. So now they all live in one folder and I use the filter in Bridge to pick from the different formats.
So since all the files are living in the same folder I can view the differences once they’ve been edited and sharpened and cropped with just a few clicks.
When I’m done editing or if I didn’t have time to edit when I was ingesting files I move them to the photo storage partition of my Drobo. I have a backup service that backs up any new files.
I really find using the native Windows explorer to manage my files more intuitive that using LR. But if I’m scanning color film I do have to bring it into the mix since Negative Lab Pro is a LR plugin. The steps are similar but once the conversion is done and I have my positive version TIFFs I can move them to the Drobo once I’m done doing any tweaks in Photoshop.
If you want to learn to use Bridge (it’s free with and Adobe ID) I can’t recommend enough taking a Damien class. I’ve taken all his classes and he’s really helped me understand PS and Bridge better.
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Non-Photo terms for the Photographer
Fuzzy Parts aka Blurry Parts – This the part of the photo that is out of the depth of field.
Cut off head – Artistic cropping of the face to emphasize the eye of your subject.
They won’t let me print this – Print release that wasn’t paid for.
Fancy Camera – The several thousand dollar investment to your craft that you know inside and out and you wield with complete control.
Doodads – Anything from flash and strobes to backgrounds and props.
Bits and bobs – Cords, cables, stands, sandbags and apple boxes.
Just bring your camera – You’re not invited as a guest you’re invited to provide a service, free. Aka unpaid labor.
4x6s – Proofs, never ordering bigger prints
A couple of shots for the Xmas card – Unpaid labor
I’ll buy you coffee – Payment for unpaid labor
I’m selling my house – Unpaid labor
Hey Bobby is a senior now – Unpaid Labor
I’m looking for a new job – Unpaid Labor
Guess how many followers I have – Unpaid Labor
Lets collab – Unpaid Labor
I’ve got a great idea for a podcast – Unpaid Labor
I’ve got a friend who’s a photographer – Someone who will work unpaid.
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Minolta HiMatic 9
Here is a photo of my newest camera. It’s a Minolta Hi-Matic 9 with Easy Flash. I purchased it from the original owner after he had posted it for sale on Craigslist. He had picked it up in a department store in Minneapolis in the late 60s. I’ve cleaned it up a bit, put a fresh battery in it and loaded it with some expired film I found cheap at a thrift store.
I went with the Wein cell battery replacement since I plan on using the automatic setting a bit and didn’t want the meter to be reading off. I should have bought two batteries as my Minolta SR-7’s battery has died in the year since I put a new one in.
Here’s the Camera Wiki page on the camera. I’ve got to get used to the rangefinder focusing but I’m sure it will be a fun little camera. I think I’ll shoot this first roll on the automatic setting to see how well it works. Hopefully I’ll be getting some fresh film for xmas to really put the camera to the test.
The camera has a nice weight to it but not to heavy for my aching hands/arms. The metal is very smooth and it’s a bit of work to adjust the rings for the shutter and aperture. The film advance lever does have a huge throw so keeping it up to your eye and advancing will take some practice.
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Using up old film in old cameras
Yesterday I got a three rolls developed and scanned! I feel so accomplished!
I bought a 120 roll of expired Kodak Verichrome Pan 125 at an antique store nearby and ran it through the Yashica 124G. This was the second roll I shot through this camera and it is so fun to shoot! Right now I’ve got a roll of Portra 160 in it that I think I’ll use up for my dad’s family xmas this weekend.
I also developed a roll of Fuji Superia that I put through my new Nikon F100 to give that a test. I’ve been very happy shooting the F100. I think I will sell the N8008s since I don’t need two similar Nikons. I really appreciate the autofocus on the F100 and like that it sits at nice place in the Nikon film lineup to use newer and older lenses.
I decided to put an expired roll through my new HiMatic 9 to see if it had any light leaks. When I opened up the back to clean it up a bit after I got it home there was some bits of seal loose. But it looks like nothing to big was missing.
Developing was a nice time in the darkroom. I got a chance to clean up a few things and move one of the enlargers out to sell at a gear swap this weekend. A real comfort was having the space heater in the room that we picked up. I gave myself a refresher on color development with the roll of Superia and old Kodak Gold.
The old roll of Verichrome Pan was a huge what if. It expired in 1972 and I shot it at ISO 6 after some internet research I decided that my Ilfosol 3 might just work. I shortened the time and lowered the temp by a few degrees and I got the shots!
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When You Live In a Boring Place
Finding cool things to photograph where you live can be the ultimate level up for your art. As someone from out of town coming to your dull village I would probably find it quaint and interesting. I would see stimulating details that are refreshing to shoot.
Where I live can be dull and boring and I don’t like “going out and shooting something cool”. But I know that every time I try I become a better photographer. The best way to get your brain in the game for this task is to pretend that you have been given an assignment from a publisher and an angle to shoot from.
Some examples could be; find the best bakery, or small mom and pop restaurant, find the best AirBnb or kitschy motel, find the craziest car or truck someone has mod-ed. You could also do the traditional photo class route and hunt shadows or lines. Find reflections and color contrasts can strengthen your eye.
Another way to challenge yourself is with your choice of gear. Try a telephoto with small and large depth of field. Or a wide-angle and see how close you can get to people. You can also focus on lighting people with window light or open doors.
The most important thing you can do is shoot everyday. Making your boring corner of the world the next Instagram hotspot can be a skill in your back pocket for the rest of your life.
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The Inevitable
We have all had it hit us, a creative block. Some point we feel meh with our photography. I’ve encountered more creative blocks than I care to count. I know how frustrating it can be to try and break out of a rut and get caught up being critical. When this sort of thing happens, there are several ways to approach it.
Stop Trying So Hard
I think this has been one of the hardest things I’ve had to learn. But I can’t stress this one enough. It’s easier said than done, but one of the best things you can do for yourself is to stop trying so hard. Let go. If you need to step away from your camera for a little bit, by all means take a break! Just do it. Sometimes stepping away from something for a while can not only be refreshing but just the thing you need to break out of a creative rut.
Revisit Old Images
Go back and look at some of your old work. Edit old images that you may have overlooked previously. This is one way to help draw inspiration
and possibly spark new ideas. Re-editing a photo that you’ve previously thought was spectacular is a fun exercise. I know I’ve changed my style over the years and seeing the proof in one photo that I love can be motivating.Visit A New Location
Go location scouting, plan an excursion to a place you have never visited or a place you haven’t visited in a while! Head out for a day and discover new locations. I often hop in our vehicle and just drive around with the kids.
I have a personal Google Map that has all my locations mapped. I visit them and update my listings and make notes. I bring the kids and we all have fun.
Try Something New
This is one of my favorite ways to break out of a photography rut. If I feel like the work I’m producing isn’t very versatile, I try something new. Try copying a photo you’ve seen in a commerical, album cover or Instagram. My favorite subjects to photograph are my boys, but I often take breaks from photographing them to try out something different.
Film
Return to or get started in film. Flagship film cameras from all major manufactures are cheap on Ebay now days. Grab a roll of 400 speed C-41 or B&W film and get to work learning a new medium. You can get as in-depth as a home darkroom and scanning negatives or just sending off your film and get back the digital files from a lab. Shooting film can reignite your passion for capturing images.
Macro.
I’ve taken out my macro lens to capture nature shots or portraits. I love documenting eyelashes. I typically have to raise my ISO more often then I would with other lenses. This is where auto-ISO comes in handy. Don’t forget to also try macro with and without a flash
In-Camera Double Exposure.
I’ve researched how to process an in-camera double exposure for my camera and spent an entire day devoted to trying it out. Not all cameras have this ability, but it’s where your camera basically layers multiple images on top of each other. Check your camera’s manual to find out if yours has this capability.
Free-lensing.
I’ve taken out my 50mm to try my hand at free-lensing and still photography. Free-lensing (or poor man’s tilt-shift/macro) is where you detach your lens from your camera, hold in place with your hand and tilt. It creates a small, tilted focal plane where most of the image is blurry. I use my backup camera though as I’m paranoid about dust.
Draw Inspiration From the Art World
Drawing inspiration from things other than photography is another great way to escape a creative block. Study art by visiting a museum or online, and really study it… don’t just glance at it. Learn the lighting of a famous painting. Another idea is to watch a movie or listen to music. Try to recreate the feeling in a photograph.
Draw Inspiration From Other Photographers
We all have photographers that we look up to. Study their work and discover what you love about their work so much. A couple of mine are Regina Pagles and John Keatly. Get lost in a photography forum. There is practically an endless amount of tutorials, photography tips, on them that can help you break out of a creative rut.
Draw Inspiration From Your Family
Challenge yourself to capture your everyday, and include yourself in the frame. Remember to change your angles to include different perspectives and feelings. Follow a day in the life for an inanimate lovey of one of your kids. Try an immersion study with one of your children and follow them around all day capturing their daily routine.
Just know that it’s ok to take a break from your camera if you need it. I know there’s a lot of pressure to consistently create. Sometimes the photos I love the most have little to do with perfect light and composition, and more about a specific moment in time that means far more to me than anyone else can see just by looking at the image.
Remember art and creating is all about how it makes us feel.
