Nik Collection of Photo Editing Tools Is Now FREE

At one time, Nik software was one of the premier photo editing packages on the market.   Lately development on the Nik suite has slowed up.   The writing was on the wall -- Google was investing in the mobile and web apps and not the Nik suite.
I bought a copy three or four years ago for a couple hundred dollars and have used it with Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop ever since.   Then, a couple years ago Google bought the company to get the mobile app Snapseed.  

Today, Google announced that the Nik suite of software is now free to all.  You can download in here.

Here is a list of all the tools in the suite:

• Analog Efex Pro - converts photos to the look of classic cameras, films, and lenses.
• Color Efex Pro -  a comprehensive set of filters for color correction, retouching, and creative effects.
• Silver Efex Pro - black-and-white conversion with darkroom-inspired controls.
• Viveza - selectively adjust the color and tonality of your images without complicated masks or selections.
• HDR Efex Pro - powerful HDR conversion tools
• Sharpener Pro - professional sharpening tools
• Define - noise reduction software that takes into account the camera, ISO and exposure

All these tools work with Lightroom, Photoshop, and Photoshop Elements as external editors or filters.   They are available for Windows and Macs.

Nik Color Efex Pro continues to be the tool I go to when I want to selectively apply edits.   The u-point technology in the Nik software makes it easy to select areas of a photo based on luminosity and color without the need to create complex masks.   Silver Efex Pro is my favorite B&W conversion tool.  HDR Efex Pro is the HDR software I use.    I have found the noise reduction in Lightroom to be as good as Deine and don't use that tool as much as I used to.

Should you download the Nik suite of software?   Well, it's certainly worth the purchase price.   I'm not sure it's worth the time it will take to learn the tools.  In my opinion, Google making the tools free is the final step before killing them off.  It has already been some time since the last software update.

What's the alternative?   I also have the On1 software suite that does many of the same things as Nik. I have not learned more than the basics of the On1 tools because I kept going back to the Nik tools I know.  Now I'm going to spend more time with On1 and move off the Nik tools.  

On1 is investing in their development and will continue to improve the tools.  They are running a Spring Special right now and you can get the suite of On1 tools for $79.

Smoky Mountain Wildflower Hike and Photo Outing

We will be taking a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park on Saturday, April 2 to photograph spring wildflowers.   Our destination is the Porters Creek Trail.  This is an easy - moderate hike of 3 - 4 miles round trip, depending on how far you want to go.  We will find wildflowers, Porters Creek, old buildings, a graveyard, and a waterfall.   This is my favorite wildflower hike in the Smokies.  If we're lucky, these Lady Slippers will be blooming

More info on the hike - http://www.hikinginthesmokys.com/porters.htm

We will meet at the Colonial Heights Ingles parking lot next to McDonalds at 7:30 AM on Saturday, April 2. We'll carpool from Ingles.  The drive is 104 miles and will take about 2 hours to get there (Google Map).     Leave your Corvette at home - the Greenbriar Road to the trailhead is dirt and there may be some spring potholes.  Bring a picnic lunch and drinks.  There are a couple picnic areas along the Greenbriar Road and we'll stop for lunch after the hike.

Be sure to bring your camera, a macro lens or a lens that can focus close up, a tripod and shades/diffusers if you have them.

Richard Siggins is your leader for this trip.  You can contact him at r.siggins@charter.net or 423-416-1258.

Eastman Camera Club Events

The temps are up and things are blooming.  Time to get out and take some springtime photos.  The program for the Eastman Camera Club meeting this Thursday evening is:

Photographing Wildflowers

We will have an abbreviated program on macro photography and how to photograph wildflowers. This will be a good preparation for the outing to the Smokies to photograph wildflowers on April 2.

New Studio Lighting Demo

The club purchased a high-quality set of studio lights, stands, and modifiers.   We will demo these and talk about how they can be used.  These will be available for club members to rent.

The meeting will be in the Eastman Employee Center, Room 219 at 6:30 PM on March 17.

We want to hear from you.  Tell us what you want to see for programs and outings.  Give us your feedback and suggestions.   Fill in this very short survey to send us your input.