Using Lightroom 5 Beta Radial Filter All Over The Place

How do you get two weeks ahead in three plus hours?  You drive back from Cooperstown New York to Connecticut.  The foliage was two weeks behind up there.  We had snow (just a little) on the car as we were leaving Sunday morning and the temperature was just above freezing.  Brrr, for April 20^th.  We went to Cooperstown, home of the Baseball Hall of Fame.  You’d think that was the reason for our visit.  Nope.  Cooperstown is also the home of the Farmer’s Museum.  We’re not farmers by any stretch of the imagine.  In fact, we don’t even like doing yard work, let alone farm something.  Today’s image was taken in the blacksmith’s shop at the museum.  Needless to say, it was pretty dark in there.  You can see the building next door through the window.  You can also see there’s another window off to the left.  Today’s image “could have been done” without Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Beta, but it would have been harder to control.  The Adjustment Brush could have been used.  The nice thing about the Radial Filter in LR5B is the control it offers.  Once you get to the second paragraph of today’s post you’ll see how many times the Radial Filter was used on today’s image.  Go ahead, hit the “Read More” and check it out.

Each of the red circles shows a place where the Radial Filter was used.  Primarily it was Exposure adjustments.  A couple had the Clarity brought up a bit.  One had the Highlights turned down.  Some had the Contrast goosed up a little.  The stack of wood was hit with a slight Color change.  Yet, through it all, the overall “tone” of the master image was maintained. 

Nothing is glaring or looks out of place.  Having so many sliders every time you place a new pin gives amazing control.  Just as a comparison, I’ve included the original image.  Shot in RAW, it looks pretty dull and lifeless compared to the “developed” image. 

Lightroom 5 Beta is setting the new benchmark for a photographer’s workflow.  Anyone strictly “developing” images, either a seasoned professional or a rank amateur should look at Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 Beta (and “5” when it’s released).  Skip right over either Adobe Photoshop CS6 (for professionals) or Adobe Photoshop Elements 11 (for those new to photo editing).  Until you want to manipulate images (use multiple images to create a composite) you should stay right on Lightroom.