Some comments on Podcast #29

I quite enjoy the work George Jardine puts into his podcasts. I like both the Lightroom specific and more generic photographer podcasts. However, there is nothing quite like listening in on conversation between Mark, Thomas, Zalman, Jeff and (did he speak at all?) Michael.
Many things were covered and I'm just putting my thoughts down on some of them. No one has to listen, but hey, at least there out there.
RAW + JPEG: While I usually shoot RAW, I think there are quite a few things that I do that would benefit from doing a RAW+JPEG workflow. With Landscapes, it would great to have the camera jpeg set to the final look I prefer to go with the RAW for a target look for my processing. Not to mention that if the file is already or nearly perfect, then I can simply use it without needing to process the RAW any further. Other people use it different ways and I do feel that Adobe needs to address this with an Option.

Options: Mark mentions that they are trying to keep it simple and that in Photoshop they simply would add an option for different things. Well not adding options in Lightroom actually makes it complicated for the USER! It means that we get forced into find ways of working around limits provided in Lightroom. Whereas if there was an option we would merely set it the way we wanted and then forget all about the other ways until we need to use them. This is all about blending Lightroom to our workflow and not being forced into other workflows. (I'm not referring to the database v browser here, I need the database and am happy to forego any browser implementation for better DAM handling and folder watching).

Import: We need better previewing in Import to allow pre selection of imported files. This would forego the need to use Bridge to make importable selections. While we're discussing Import, I'd like to request the return of a feature that existed in Beta 4. I want to see the return of Metadata entry on a per folder basis in Lightroom. Each folder/date generally requires different metadata/keywords/ even development sometimes. In B4 you could enter these per Shoot. I know the shoots paradigm is gone, but you could still apply this to folders. Currently you must do multiple imports to get this. Being able to do it in one go saves a lot of time. An 'Apply to All' checkbox would return to current usage (on by default for those users not needing the more sophisticated options).

I'll probably listen to this again and maybe make further comments in it.

Update: Once comment I will make here is on 2 additions to the podcast style. I like the polish that George has added with the music. It just gives it a 'pro' edge IMHO. Also the longer introduction before the actual content begins is quite welcome in setting up the scene for us. Recently George has been leaving in the pre podcast banter, giving an insight into the people we are listening to that can come from no other source. Kudos to George for this.