Newbie - Question about Post Editing Software

[00bolt]

Hey all, Im pretty new to the photography world. About a year ago I bought an XTi and then sold it a couple weeks later. Have regretted it ever since. Last week I finally got another DSLR. I bought a 30D with a Lens. I bought a book (Understanding Exposure) and read it front to back. I have a fairly good understanding of aperture, shutterspeed, etc. now. But still feel VERY amateur when shooting. I feel like I am just snapping shots of whatever. I really need to learn more about composition and “what to take a picture of” and “what angle”, etc….

Anyway, other than some of that stuff, another thing I really want to learn is how to make my photos pop with software. I downloaded a trial version of Aperture 2, Lightroom 2, Photoshop Elements 6 and played a little with all of them. I liked a little bit from each one, with LR and Elements probably being my favorites.

Im looking for some advice on which one to buy for me to use. Iv heard there are lots of cool filters you can buy for Photoshop that make me not have to do much work, will those same filters work on Elements? Where can I purchase and find these filters? Any suggestions on which ones are the best?

Really, any advice/thoughts/comments are greatly appreciated. Im not trying to be a professional photographer by any means. Just want to take really good shots of my kids, vacations, birthday parties, etc…

Btw, used my camera for the first time this weekend, photos are in my signature…. Please comment, but remember be kind they are my first real attempts!

 

[chrisburke]

Lightroom is great.. I assume elements is as its suppose to be the cheaper version of PS.. I use LR and PS and love them.. im sure you will too... as for will the photoshop filters work with elements.. i'm pretty sure they will, but wait for someone else to comment on that.. as for where you can find them... google is your friend.. theres piles of filters out there, a lots that are free too...

 

[00bolt]

I think I am going to stick with Lightroom, I just like the way it flows better than the others. Plus isnt it the newest?

I found a few books on the internet, does anyone have any personal experience with any of these and can recommend one of them?

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom-Book-Photographers/dp/0321555619[/ame]

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-Lightroom-Digital-Photographers-Voices/dp/0321555562[/ame]

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom-How-Tos-Techniques/dp/0321526376/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_1_img/105-6078501-3206847?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_r=1XM3J7C2NNP8YZAB8C03&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_i=0321555619[/ame]

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Lightroom-Classroom-Book/dp/0321555600/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_3_txt/105-6078501-3206847?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_r=1XM3J7C2NNP8YZAB8C03&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_i=0321555619[/ame]


so is there any reason to ALSO have PS? Are there lightroom plugins also?

 

[Resin42]

I would say both are needed, Lightroom is good for initial viewing and RAW conversion plus there are option for batch editing but for anything more indepth, (sharpening, colour balance, filters, decent B&W conversions etc) you'll need PS or equivalent. I'm pretty sure I'm right in this but if not please correct me.

I generally use light room to view my shots and see what can be done to them but all editing including the RAW conversion is done in CS3 but you can edit your RAWs in LR and export to PS or Elements.

Can't help you with the rest I'm afraid.