I've Broken Up with Adobe

Misty Morning

Z5ii, 24-85VR

Like many I've become increasingly annoyed with Adobe's cash grabs via their Lightroom subscriptions. Unlike many I don't actually have an issue with the subscription model, but rather with the incredibly low value per dollar that I found it delivered, especially regarding online storage. 

I've been using a cloud-based workflow shared across my iPad & MacBook Pro's using Lightroom, which was working well enough aside from the issues I had with the iPad version of LR not supporting key editing features. That had me looking for a similar solution in capability and with Apple's recent release of their Creative subscription, I signed up for that pretty much as soon as it released. 

I've since been slowly getting used to using Photos as my DAM solution and Pixelmator Pro as my editor. I do like the ability to use standard LUT's in my workflow now (LR only supports their own preset models) but miss the catalog of highly personalized presets I'd built up over more than a decade of use of LR. I'll have to do a lot of work in Pixelmator to rebuild them. 

I have migrated my entire catalog of photos to Photos as of a couple weeks ago. Not entirely loving Photos, but as a DAM tool, it's no worse than LR. More workflow will need to be worked out, but I can import on all my devices which is a win. 

 

2025 Goal Review and 2026 Goals

The Wilds of North York

Z5ii, 24-85VR

Last year's version is here: 2024 Review and 2025 Goals

This one is late, but here we go

I had 3 goals for 2025:

 1. Reach 10,000 images shot on one camera system without a system change

2. Take 7 major photographic outings
3. Get my post/like percentage up to 66% on Fred Miranda

1 - Fail. I didn't hit 10,000 images and had a system change, arguably two, although my six month Sony sojourn occurred after acquiring the Z7 I still own and use.
2 - Bare pass. I did this, but only if counting mixed photography/fishing outings.
3 - Significant success, I not only hit 66%, I broke 70%.

For 2026 we're going to continue down the same path

1. Reach 10,000 images shot on one camera system without a system change

2. Take 7 major photographic outings

3. Get my post/like percentage up to 75% on Fred Miranda

The first goal is 10,000 images total count on one system since the first body was acquired (I'm around 4,000 right now on the Z system since acquiring the Z7 in January 2025) with a stretch goal of 10,000 images in Calendar Year 2026 on the same system. 

Second goal is the same as last year, this is just a 'get out and shoot seriously' goal.

Third is a bit of a stretch. I can do it, but I need to be regularly posting images on Fred Miranda, not inconsistently doing so.