I still use Lightroom 6.14 and Photoshop CS6 daily, but also use Capture One 22 as my modern Lightroom (non-subscription) replacement, Affinity Photo and also DXO PhotoLab 6 for its noise reduction (with the latest Nik Collection and FilmPack 6). Like you, I have used the Nik Collection since the start but recently shelled out for the latest version and I am really impressed with the revised interface, usability and little extras.
I like using different apps/programs to see what they can do for me, both for overall 'look' and also at the fine detail level, being a tragic pixel peeper. And because I like creating artsy images I lean on Exposure Software X6 as well, for the various outcomes I can achieve.
Also, I agree with others that Topaz have great products: Denoise is very good (but can't match DXO's Deep Prime XD IMHO), Sharpen is very good generally but leaves some artifacts that must be masked out and Gigapixel AI is really good period. I have used it to upsize and then downsize, giving me good detail and sharpness without the artifacts that Sharpen alone would deliver.
Of course if I was a better photographer I wouldn't have to lean so heavily on these tools, I would get a perfectly exposed image that could be used straight out of the camera with very little work.
In 2018/2019 I was using an iMac 5K and PC alongside each other but when it came to upgrading the iMac to an iMac Pro or Mac Pro the cost stopped me in my tracks. So I specced out a new PC with 128GB of RAM and 18 cores for half the price of an iMac Pro. And it was faster. It still blazes through most things I can throw at it, and I can still upgrade it when I eventually need to. But I also use a MacBook Air M1 for travel and it is a superb machine.
These days I’m up by 4AM because I spend all morning working with guys in Hungary and Poland. Really great tech guys and easy to work with. I do my work and my manager (who my wife work with years ago) basically lets me mentor the new guys. After all the years, working on two projects is about as easy as I’ve had it in years. Probably the stuff I”m working on now will be done in two years and I think I’ll be done with it .
Then I think my cameras will get a lot more exercise than they get now.
That's a project that I'm doing for a client. This particular site is his biggest project yet, including a number of logistical challenges, so he wanted me to document it all the way through to the finished beauty shots that we normally do. The project began at $1M for the renovation and new pool, it's doubled now with additions and landscaping. I'm guessing that it'll end up around $2.5 by the time the first person dives in.
That's a project that I'm doing for a client. This particular site is his biggest project yet, including a number of logistical challenges, so he wanted me to document it all the way through to the finished beauty shots that we normally do. The project began at $1M for the renovation and new pool, it's doubled now with additions and landscaping. I'm guessing that it'll end up around $2.5 by the time the first person dives in.
Gosh, that is some management reserve on that project. I remember my boss smiling when my projects let them keep their 15% management reserve.
My client is a gifted pool designer, don't know what his profit margins are, but the guy knows his stuff and creates incredible environments......for equally incredible amounts of money. He just signed two projects that are bigger than this one so he's on a roll. I can hardly wait to shoot them.
Turns out that JR has upped the game on my QR code thingy. He's programming a thin dot for the back of my phone an all I have to do is tap my phone to a client's phone and they have all my contact information, website, instagram, etc. He has also created a wrist band for me that does the same thing. I need to get my new website up and running!
I was headed over to Jennings LA for "Swampstol" this weekend with my friends from American Legend, but the forecast looks horrible. Thunderstorms, heavy rain and wind on Friday, the Cub and I will pass unfortunately.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
My client is a gifted pool designer, don't know what his profit margins are, but the guy knows his stuff and creates incredible environments......for equally incredible amounts of money. He just signed two projects that are bigger than this one so he's on a roll. I can hardly wait to shoot them.
When we looked at building a pool, we ended up with only two qualifying builders. The first, (the one we thought would win) missed our main goal, while the second hit it out of the park. I know what you are talking about Jim. The right builder can draw more from a client than they began with. We were able to stay within our margins, but everything we added increased the value of our property.
You're right Ray, this client continues to add all kinds of features as the project progresses, including a tunnel from the front of the residence to the rear, popping up to a guest quarters, (not included in the price)
One item that my client is really going big on is artificial turf. Most of his projects have artificial turf in the back yard, even if there aren't putting greens and gaming areas. Artificial turf has gotten so realistic, and the varieties are endless, it's very tempting, until you get the quote. Years ago a company came to me and wanted to use our house as a sales example for this area. I figured that it was more of a sales gimmick than an actual deal for us. If I remember correctly it was $40K to do our whole yard, our back yard is 80% pool, so that's a lot and obviously I passed on the "promo". After seeing what the freezes did to our lawn this winter I wish I did have the throw away cash to do it, but with Uncle Joe's policies and banks starting to drop like flies, I'll toss some Scott's on it and fire up the mower. James would hate it if we couldn't mow the lawn three times a week anyway...........
I would love a putting green. Since all my golf buddies died or stopped playing, I just hit golf balls in my front pasture. My back yard would really be nice with a putting green, the pool and dinning under the pecan tree. All it takes is $$$ which Joe had spent.
Jim, that is really interesting to hear about your clients plans and needs. Artificial turf is becoming quite popular here in some parts of Perth. Water is somewhat scarce/expensive and the climate hot and dry for the most part.
Speaking of Perth, below is a Lockheed SP-2H (P2V-7) Neptune, maintained and operated by the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society at Shellharbour Regional Airport (YSHL), Albion Park just over an hour by road South of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
They have a nice collection of aircraft, both in flying condition - a Catalina, Convair 440, Caribou, DC-3, C-121C Super Constellation, AP-3C Orion, this Neptune and on static display - AH-1 Cobra, 747-438, CA-27 Sabre, English Electric Canberra, Mirage IIIO, F-111C and a P-166 Piaggo. Under restoration are a Vampire, DC-4, Grumman Tracker and others. Recent acquisitions include a 707 donated by John Travolta.
A P2V-1 dubbed the "Truculent Turtle," made a record-breaking endurance flight in September 1946. The Turtle flew non-stop without refuelling from Perth, Australia, to Columbus, Ohio, a distance of 11,235 miles, in 55 hours and 17 minutes, a record it held until 1962.
Your comment about the inlets had me heading to Wikipedia to learn more about those jets...
To save weight and complexity of two separate fuel systems, the Westinghouse J34 jet engines on P2Vs burned the 115–145 Avgas fuel of the piston engines, instead of jet fuel. The jet pods were fitted with intake doors that remained closed when the J-34s were not running. This prevented windmilling, allowing for economical piston-engine-only long-endurance search and patrol operations. In normal US Navy operations, the jet engines were run at full power (97%) to assure takeoff, then shut down upon reaching a safe altitude. The jets were also started and kept running at flight idle during low-altitude (500-foot (150 m) during the day and 1,000-foot (300 m) at night) anti-submarine and/or anti-shipping operations as a safety measure should one of the radials develop problems. ...Show more →
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