A Rant whilst on a relaxing weekend

As you may, or may not, know I love Aperture a photoshop AP for Mac/Apple that is so easy to use. Yes it is at times distained by professional photographers, but alas, I'm not a professional now and probably never will be due to lack of ambition to aspire to that level.

It was announced this weekend, while I'm relaxing in the keys, Bahia Honda State Park, and have iffy internet that Apple is not going to have anything more to do with Aperture except to allow it to work with Yosemite their new operating system.

I should be used to this, as I loved Microsoft Digital Suite - that left me in the dust when I was a regular PC user. Alas, I'm as heartbroken now as I was then.

However, due to my eldest son's nagging, I have purchased on a monthly basis for a mere $9.99 a month both Lightroom and Photoshop. I've had photoshop prior and even proudly own a Photoshop (name the number) for Dummies book.

It didn't work.

Why?

Because I like ease of use. Why would you want to push 29 buttons when ONE will do the same thing. And layers. Do NOT get me started on layers. They are evil.

However, now I have no choice. I hate change unless I initiate it. And I didn't initiate this.

The BIG QUESTION NOW is through the CLOUD my iPhone photos MAGICALLY APPEAR in Aperture without any drama or hoop jumping by me.

HOW'S THAT GOING TO WORK NOW?

HUH APPLE??? DID YOU THINK ABOUT THAT???

Needless to say I'm not relaxed anymore. Yeah Yeah NICK (my favorite eldest son) I've been watching the tutorials. And yes, I might add with a closed mind.

Allow me to explain.

When I jumped into Microsoft Digital and Aperture, yes there was an initial amount of *bad language* when getting to know something new. BUT it was only for a few minutes and then WA-LA magic happened and it was EASY.

When I jumped into Lightroom, SHAZAM! Aggravation from the start. IT WAS NOT EASY FOR ME. And after watching the tutorials, ITS STILL NOT EASY and *bad language* abounds.

Seriously?

I KNOW ME.  I'll never in this lifetime be a professional. I don't aspire to be professional. I want to take GREAT pictures and I want to photoshop them in an easy-to-use application. I'd like to use the application that was designed by the computer I use. (I can't tell you how much I loved Microsoft Digital and soooo missed it when I when to Apple). Until Aperture.

I'm loyal that way
                especially when its easy to use.

So now I'm on a Lightroom/Photoshop journey. Wish me luck. If the air your looking at turns BLUE- Say a prayer as its only me coloring the air trying to learn something new.

Change. Bah!

Printing and Using customized sized photos

I love to scrap in different sizes and most especially 8x8 that are for the grandkids - with the thought not to take up too much space and storage in their parents abode.

(Laughing here) because I tend to blow out the books.

Anyway, there are times when I will use a 4x6 photo on an 8x8 page because you can get 4 - 2x3's on one 4x6 pre-cut photo paper and use as a collage, it does save photo paper because no cropping is involved unless the pictures are not in the order you want to tell the story and you still are not whacking into and using up an 8x11 piece of photo paper (some printers are picky about odd size papers-so you end up cutting it down to 4x6 and wasting quite a bit.

The photos above are 3x4 - I felt that 3x5 would've been too big and 2x3 for only 2 photos would be too small. (There are times when those sizes are the one you have to work with so just go for it). But, when you can be in control, you can chose. It particulary helps if you take and use instagram or hipstomatic photos because you can print those in 3x3 and 4x4 sizes and not lose any photo detail.

I work with Aperture as my photo program but most all of them have some kind of custom button and in windows (of which is the ONLY thing I miss from windows) there are an array of print templates that can be used for cost effective printing and collages. I love and miss collages. I do have one of the Adobe photoshops, however, its a program that baffles me and makes me crazy. And if that's what you have, there is a great tutorial and templates (that you would have thought I'd have memorized by now) on Scrapbook Etc website that are free - all you have to do is sign up on their website.