Photo of the Day May 2018

[Apple fanboy]

You did well, there's a nice dark background and good separation of the subject from it! It's a majestic bird!

Keep in mind Peter's suggestion in the other thread of using the masking when applying your sharpening, if you don't already. You can also selectively sharpen areas too through the use of the brush tool, further refining its application through luminosity or colour selection refinements once you have brushed it on.

Sounds way out of my skill/patience level! My Mac lags quite a bit. Not sure if it's the age or the Magic Mouse. Maybe I'd get better results with a Wacom? Or I just need to update my machine.

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

Sounds way out of my skill/patience level! My Mac lags quite a bit. Not sure if it's the age or the Magic Mouse. Maybe I'd get better results with a Wacom? Or I just need to update my machine.

It's actually not that complicated, once you've been shown how.

I've got a slightly lagging Mac too, only evident when I use the Adobe programs though. It's a mid 2011 iMac with the latest OS. I've noticed it getting slower and slower over the last 3 OS updates, and that's with total wipes and clean installs each time too! I'm thinking of going back to Sierra or even El Capitan with it for a bit more speed again, I'm not sure that spending the buck$ on a SSD is a wise decision, considering how old it is now.

 

[Apple fanboy]

It's actually not that complicated, once you've been shown how.

I've got a slightly lagging Mac too, only evident when I use the Adobe programs though. It's a mid 2011 iMac with the latest OS. I've noticed it getting slower and slower over the last 3 OS updates, and that's with total wipes and clean installs each time too! I'm thinking of going back to Sierra or even El Capitan with it for a bit more speed again, I'm not sure that spending the buck$ on a SSD is a wise decision, considering how old it is now.

My 2012 has a fusion drive and it still suffers when using Adobe programs. I love taking photos, but I'm not good at editing. I spend so many hours in front of a computer at work, I haven't got the patience for it (or the skills!).
Photography for me is about getting out. Which reminds me I haven't entered this weeks contest yet!

 

[Hughmac]

My iMac is mid-2010, and the SSD I recently installed has made a huge difference, plus I have upgraded the RAM to 12GB

Here's another taken with the old RX100...



Speedwell by Hugh Russell, on Flickr

Cheers

Hugh

 

[anotherscotsman]

It's actually not that complicated, once you've been shown how.

I've got a slightly lagging Mac too, only evident when I use the Adobe programs though. It's a mid 2011 iMac with the latest OS. I've noticed it getting slower and slower over the last 3 OS updates, and that's with total wipes and clean installs each time too! I'm thinking of going back to Sierra or even El Capitan with it for a bit more speed again, I'm not sure that spending the buck$ on a SSD is a wise decision, considering how old it is now.

I added an external 250GB TB sad drive to my 2011 iMac a year or so ago as a boot drive and program storage drive. Coupled with 12GB ram, the machine is more than fast enough for me for both work and leisure uses. OK I use Capture One rather than the snailware Adobe stuff but even when I eventually replace the iMac, the drive will still be a useful portable option.

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

My iMac is mid-2010, and the SSD I recently installed has made a huge difference, plus I have upgraded the RAM to 12GB

Very interesting, Hugh! What OS are you running on it? I'm still on the old platter drive and with 16GB of RAM.

I added an external 250GB TB sad drive to my 2011 iMac a year or so ago as a boot drive and program storage drive. Coupled with 12GB ram, the machine is more than fast enough for me for both work and leisure uses. OK I use Capture One rather than the snailware Adobe stuff but even when I eventually replace the iMac, the drive will still be a useful portable option.

Now that sounds like a wise move to me. Good thinking and thanks for letting me know.

 

[Hughmac]

Very interesting, Hugh! What OS are you running on it? I'm still on the old platter drive and with 16GB of RAM.


Now that sounds like a wise move to me. Good thinking and thanks for letting me know.

Running High Sierra, Alex. I stalked a 1TB Samsung drive on eBay, brand new, and I got it for a bargain price.
The iMac was fine on 8GB but I thought I would add some more for good measure.
Don't worry with what they say about the fans running wild when you swap the hard drive out - I just use Macs Fan Control (free) to sort that out.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[0002378]

Lake Cachuma, California (2012)

 

[Apple fanboy]

I'm running El Capitan on a late 2012 iMac. 16 GB of RAM and 2.9 Ghz i5 processor. I don't think my graphics card (GT 650M 512MB) helps.
I'm just hoping for a good deal on something new (or used). 3 year old Mac Pro is available in July, so I'm wondering if that might be priced favourably.

 

[anotherscotsman]

Very interesting, Hugh! What OS are you running on it? I'm still on the old platter drive and with 16GB of RAM.


Now that sounds like a wise move to me. Good thinking and thanks for letting me know.

Going the external boot drive route was simple to do - OK you pay a bit more per GB for a thunderbolt enabled drive (I used the Transcend StorJet). I’ve got the drive attached to the iMac stand to keep it out of sight and getting knocked but has been flawless to date. Gives the option of using the internal had for storage/backup and backup boot drive.

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

I'm running El Capitan on a late 2012 iMac. 16 GB of RAM and 2.9 Ghz i5 processor. I don't think my graphics card (GT 650M 512MB) helps.

The graphics card is the weak point to this unit too, especially as more and more image editing programs demand more in that regards. It's an AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB. The i5 quad-core 2.7GHz processor seems fine, still.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The graphics card is the weak point to this unit too, especially as more and more image editing programs demand more in that regards. It's an AMD Radeon HD 6770M 512 MB. The i5 quad-core 2.7GHz processor seems fine, still.

And its the one thing you can't upgrade!

So back on topic.
Another one from Bewdly. Couldn't quite get a composition I liked out of this. It looked lovely, but not sure it is conveyed in the photo.

_DSC7115 by apple fanboy1, on Flickr

Comments always welcome.

 

[kenoh]

Very interesting, Hugh! What OS are you running on it? I'm still on the old platter drive and with 16GB of RAM.


Now that sounds like a wise move to me. Good thinking and thanks for letting me know.

The SSD swap out on my old 2009 MacBook Pro was like getting a new machine. Night and day. In fact, being honest, I can't tell the difference on my old MBP vs my 2016 touchbar one. In honesty, the 2009 is more reliable. This touchbar one crashes, does a weird lock up when charged over night and just doesnt feel Steve Jobsian quality at all. Only issue with it is battery life.

My main editing machine is a Windows workstation with an 8 core 3.5Ghz processor, SSD and 24GB ram with a hardwired 1Gbps connection to a Synology. It is stutter free on everything other than cloning out dust spots. For some reason that murders performance on it. Having said that, this P.o.S needs repaired every time Microsoft does a patch bundle update - always knackers the display driver and needs it reinstalled.
[doublepost=1527326203][/doublepost]

And its the one thing you can't upgrade!

So back on topic.
Another one from Bewdly. Couldn't quite get a composition I liked out of this. It looked lovely, but not sure it is conveyed in the photo.

_DSC7115 by apple fanboy1, on Flickr

Comments always welcome.

Looks a lovely spot. I cant work out what I would have done either. Maybe wider for more context of that curve? or a wider angle from closer in to exaggerate the depth? Dunno.. looks a lovely spot mate.
[doublepost=1527326302][/doublepost]

Going the external boot drive route was simple to do - OK you pay a bit more per GB for a thunderbolt enabled drive (I used the Transcend StorJet). I’ve got the drive attached to the iMac stand to keep it out of sight and getting knocked but has been flawless to date. Gives the option of using the internal had for storage/backup and backup boot drive.

Do you have issues waking it from sleep?

My friend uses an external drive for his boot drive and his machine crashes when waking from sleep. I am trying to work out why. Only thing I can think is it is not waking the drive in time for the OS to need it.
[doublepost=1527326378][/doublepost]

I'm running El Capitan on a late 2012 iMac. 16 GB of RAM and 2.9 Ghz i5 processor. I don't think my graphics card (GT 650M 512MB) helps.
I'm just hoping for a good deal on something new (or used). 3 year old Mac Pro is available in July, so I'm wondering if that might be priced favourably.

Are you driving that crispy second display on it too? that might be slowing it down driving two displays

 

[Hughmac]

My iMac only has 256mb graphics but I am such a poor editor of photos I suppose it gets by.

Cheers

Hugh

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

So back on topic.
Another one from Bewdly. Couldn't quite get a composition I liked out of this. It looked lovely, but not sure it is conveyed in the photo.

_DSC7115 by apple fanboy1, on Flickr

Comments always welcome.

I reckon what Ken mentioned above, a wider lens and closer in and possibly lower down, without the distraction of the trees in front, making it all about the arch, the stonework and the tree in flower beyond. I definitely would have switched out the 105mm macro lens for a wide-angle variable here.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I reckon what Ken mentioned above, a wider lens and closer in and possibly lower down, without the distraction of the trees in front, making it all about the arch, the stonework and the tree in flower beyond. I definitely would have switched out the 105mm macro lens for a wide-angle variable here.

Thanks for the comments.
Lower down is a muddy footpath and wider are two signs as I recall.

I tried a few spots but as Mrs AFB was in tow, probably didn't spend as long as I might have!

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

The SSD swap out on my old 2009 MacBook Pro was like getting a new machine. Night and day. In fact, being honest, I can't tell the difference on my old MBP vs my 2016 touchbar one. In honesty, the 2009 is more reliable.

Thanks Ken. What are your genuine thoughts knowing that my graphics card only has the 512MB on it? Where would be the best bang for buck, I guess I'm asking here. Save my money and get a better machine when this one finally dies on me? Darktable chugs along quite nicely on this machine as it is, it's just the Adobe suite that lets the team down really.

 

[Apple fanboy]

The SSD swap out on my old 2009 MacBook Pro was like getting a new machine. Night and day. In fact, being honest, I can't tell the difference on my old MBP vs my 2016 touchbar one. In honesty, the 2009 is more reliable. This touchbar one crashes, does a weird lock up when charged over night and just doesnt feel Steve Jobsian quality at all. Only issue with it is battery life.

My main editing machine is a Windows workstation with an 8 core 3.5Ghz processor, SSD and 24GB ram with a hardwired 1Gbps connection to a Synology. It is stutter free on everything other than cloning out dust spots. For some reason that murders performance on it. Having said that, this P.o.S needs repaired every time Microsoft does a patch bundle update - always knackers the display driver and needs it reinstalled.
[doublepost=1527326203][/doublepost]


Looks a lovely spot. I cant work out what I would have done either. Maybe wider for more context of that curve? or a wider angle from closer in to exaggerate the depth? Dunno.. looks a lovely spot mate.
[doublepost=1527326302][/doublepost]

Do you have issues waking it from sleep?

My friend uses an external drive for his boot drive and his machine crashes when waking from sleep. I am trying to work out why. Only thing I can think is it is not waking the drive in time for the OS to need it.
[doublepost=1527326378][/doublepost]

Are you driving that crispy second display on it too? that might be slowing it down driving two displays

I am! But turning it off doesn't make much difference in LR.

Plus I can't edit on an iMac. I have a reputation at work to maintain
[doublepost=1527329783][/doublepost]

My iMac only has 256mb graphics but I am such a poor editor of photos I suppose it gets by.

Cheers

Hugh

Well if you get it right in camera, you don't have as much to edit as me!

 

[Alexander.Of.Oz]

Thanks for the comments.
Lower down is a muddy footpath and wider are two signs as I recall.

I tried a few spots but as Mrs AFB was in tow, probably didn't spend as long as I might have!

Aah, well, that makes it a challenge then. You must keep Mrs AFB happy!

 

[stillcrazyman]

It's actually not that complicated, once you've been shown how.

I've got a slightly lagging Mac too, only evident when I use the Adobe programs though. It's a mid 2011 iMac with the latest OS. I've noticed it getting slower and slower over the last 3 OS updates, and that's with total wipes and clean installs each time too! I'm thinking of going back to Sierra or even El Capitan with it for a bit more speed again, I'm not sure that spending the buck$ on a SSD is a wise decision, considering how old it is now.

I put a 1TB SSD in my 2012 iMac 27 to replace the 3TB spinner. Much faster operation. The install isn't technically hard, just a challenge to not break the screen. I would certainly recommend the upgrade

 

[Apple fanboy]

I put a 1TB SSD in my 2012 iMac 27 to replace the 3TB spinner. Much faster operation. The install isn't technically hard, just a challenge to not break the screen. I would certainly recommend the upgrade

Is it the thin iMac or the fat one? I have a late 2012 iMac and it's almost impossible to open up.
[doublepost=1527330549][/doublepost]

Aah, well, that makes it a challenge then. You must keep Mrs AFB happy!

I try my best. Just finished another photo session for her next card making blog.

 

[stillcrazyman]

Is it the thin iMac or the fat one? I have a late 2012 iMac and it's almost impossible to open up.

It's the thin one. I fix Macs for a living, so it was "easy" for me. There are videos on iFixit, YouTube, that will show how to remove the display and install the ssd kit. I got a kit from OWC, but don't know if they ship to the UK.
[doublepost=1527331125][/doublepost]Bloom.... Water Lily

 

[Apple fanboy]

It's the thin one. I fix Macs for a living, so it was "easy" for me. There are videos on iFixit, YouTube, that will show how to remove the display and install the ssd kit. I got a kit from OWC, but don't know if they ship to the UK.
[doublepost=1527331125][/doublepost]Bloom.... Water Lily

Way out of my comfort zone! I've heard to many nightmares.
Plus by the time you do the SSD and the graphics card I'm not sure its worth it. Especially if I can get a good price from work on something.

Beautiful lily by the way.

 

[stillcrazyman]

Way out of my comfort zone! I've heard to many nightmares.
Plus by the time you do the SSD and the graphics card I'm not sure its worth it. Especially if I can get a good price from work on something.

Beautiful lily by the way.

There are not any options for upgrading the graphics in iMacs. And, you might do better looking around for a better specced machine on the used market.

Cheers.

 

[Apple fanboy]

There are not any options for upgrading the graphics in iMacs. And, you might do better looking around for a better specced machine on the used market.

Cheers.

That's the plan. I just don't want another iMac.
But the Mac mini is dated, the Mac Pro is expensive and dated, and I don't want a portable.

But I know we might have some Mac Pro's available at work soon. 3 years old. But good spec. I'll see what offer I get.