The Hanging Garden

[ArthurDent]

I took this image using my Tokina 100mm f/2.8 macro lens and off camera flash. Exposure is 1/250 sec. at f/32. If I had some software to do it, I'd clone out those two black dots in the upper part of the frame.

[elsa hoffmann]

Photography is 50% camera and 50% development in my opinion. Are you going to invest in Lightroom or any other editing software?
I think you might enjoy the editing part a lot.

[Michael Erlewine]

Nice. Here is my contribution to the garden. Nikon D810.

[ArthurDent]

Photography is 50% camera and 50% development in my opinion. Are you going to invest in Lightroom or any other editing software?
I think you might enjoy the editing part a lot.

Yes, I lost my software when I replaced my laptop. I'm looking for suggestions as to what to buy so if you have thoughts, please chime in.
Lightroom is definitely on the list.

[ArthurDent]

Nice. Here is my contribution to the garden. Nikon D810.

Beautiful image, thanks for sharing. What were the shooting parameters?

[Michael Erlewine]

Beautiful image, thanks for sharing. What were the shooting parameters?

Sorry, I don't remember. Either the D800E or the D810, but not sure of the lens, but probably the CV-125 APO-Lanthar. I always shoot at the lowest ISO, but beyond that, who knows.

[elsa hoffmann]

Yes, I lost my software when I replaced my laptop. I'm looking for suggestions as to what to buy so if you have thoughts, please chime in.
Lightroom is definitely on the list.

Arthur Lightroom is a good call - I only use Photoshop though. Others might have other preferences. It very much depends on how must time and effort you want to invest in editing - or  your requirements for editing .

[Randy Stout]

Arthur:


I think Lightroom is the easy first choice, good for image management, and had ever increasing processing abilities.  I use Photoshop freq., but not as much as I used to, because of the improvements in LR processing. 

Plug ins from Nik and others are helpful and can expand your horizons.

Lots of great online courses on how to use LR.  Kelby has some good stuff.

Cheers

Randy

[Michael Erlewine]

Yes, I lost my software when I replaced my laptop. I'm looking for suggestions as to what to buy so if you have thoughts, please chime in.
Lightroom is definitely on the list.

It depends, as Elsa said, on how serious you are about all this. I am highly skilled in Adobe Lightroom, but eventually abandoned it for Photoshop CC. I still use lightroom, but just to prep files for stacking focus. I found that when I actually got down to the fine points, Photoshop was much more sophisticated for post work IMO. This is especially true for Dodge and Burn, where Lightroom just does not cut it. Also the Content Aware in Photoshop is totally useful for what I do.

[ArthurDent]

Thanks for your replies. Do you have any thoughts on noise reduction software? With the new D500 body I have a feeling I'll be exploring ISO vistas previously unexplored.

[Michael Erlewine]

Thanks for your replies. Do you have any thoughts on noise reduction software? With the new D500 body I have a feeling I'll be exploring ISO vistas previously unexplored.

I don't use any noise reduction beyond what is in Lightroom or Adobe Camera Raw (Photoshop), but then I shoot at the lowest ISO.

[elsa hoffmann]

I dont use noise reduction software either - I will rather employ other editing methods if needed.
I try to stay away form high ISo levels as much as I can

[Frank Fremerey]

If you use Nikon, AD, you can simply use NXD which had a great spot eraser tool a d us free.

Apart from that I pay 8.99€ per month for Photoshop CC and use Nik collection and PTLens as plugins.

I hate Lr

PS: I would keep the black spots. They look like trapped insects on a spider web to me.

[ColinM]

What were the shooting parameters?

Sorry, I don't remember.

Hi Michael, although briefly mentioned in your later answers, is it fair to say that the results you obtained for this particular type of shot benefit greatly from Focus Stacking?

[Michael Erlewine]

Hi Michael, although briefly mentioned in your later answers, is it fair to say that the results you obtained for this particular type of shot benefit greatly from Focus Stacking?

In this particular shot, it is not so important to stack. Perhaps a short stack of 2-3 layers or an aperture of 16 or something. Can't remember, since I lost the data thanks to a Lightroom malfunction. I use only Photoshop these days, and now label every stacked photo with lens used.