field + "home base" computer strategy

[F.A.M.]

First post...I usually shoot in the field and bring back all my images home and then process (import, keywords, copyright, etc). However, I am about to take a long trip and I will have my laptop with me. Before I go ahead and start downloading my images, and annotating them like crazy, I would like to know if anyone has a good strategy to for naming, etc., so I can easily merge my "field" catalog once I get back home. I have read several posts and tips on how to merge catalogs, but all of these seem to deal with catalogs already created. I want to know if I can set things up from the beginning to make my life easier....fabian

 

[RikkFlohr]

When I go out on an extended shoot. I create a catalog on my laptop named after the shoot. "Costa Rica.lrcat" or something like that. I make certain I have ample space on my hard drive I plan on taking. I also create a couple of keyword templates around what I expect and plan to shoot so that I have those keywords ready to use quickly.

When I download in the field, I use a card reader and pull down the files to the local drive and have a backup copy sent to a WD Passport drive plugged in at the same time. This way I have two copies, one on my laptop and one on the Passport so I feel safe in clearing my memory cards. I keep the Passport unplugged from the USB port most of time to protect against surges. I also do a daily backup of my catalog file to the Passport.

I can then edit, keyword, cull, arrange, etc on my catalog copy but still have the full compliment of images on my backup drive as well as a copy of my catalog. When I travel home, I keep the Passport on my person see: Article

Upon my return home, I export the catalog with images to a free drive. Then I import into my master catalog with keywords, adjustments and all. Once that is backed up I start clearing off the Passport and the Laptop for the next assignment. I am a little anal about backups so I do work it a lot and take a lot of steps. So far, I haven't lost anything.

Good luck.

 

[kwdaves]

I have settled on using the same file naming system and folder structure on my laptop as on my desktop. I find that less confusing. I start with an empty library on my laptop and with a keyword list that matches my desktop LR keywords list exactly. On the laptop I create a keyword that I apply to all imports during the trip, for example "Smoky Mountains Trip Summer '9". That makes it easy for me to view all the images I took on a particular trip on my laptop and, after returning home, my desktop by simply clicking on the trip keyword no matter what the subject matter or specific location actually is.

I backup to an external drive at least once a day. Actually I carry two small USB 2 drives out of habit because the computer I previously used had too small a hard drive and I want at least two copies of the files before I re-format a memory card or delete files from my system drive.

The first thing I do when I get home is copy the LR catalog file to one of the USB 2 drives to ensure having a completely up to date catalog for import into my desktop catalog.

 

[mipo]

The portable hard drive is a good idea.
Because when travelling if staying in an hotel the a has a security safe.
The portable hard drive usually fits inside the safe but not the laptop.

 

[Replytoken]

Before I go ahead and start downloading my images, and annotating them like crazy, I would like to know if anyone has a good strategy to for naming, etc...

You have two separate issues here, annotating and file naming, and I will address the latter of the two. I use a naming scheme for all of my files that consists of three parts: a date (e.g. 2''9'629); a unique or somewhat unique numeric identifier (e.g. a five-digit number that counts up in sequence during renaming); and, an identifer (e.g. my initials for my private catalog, my agency's initials for their work, and the initials for the organizations where I volunteer my photographic services).

My naming scheme and my folder structure, which is also set up by date, are designed for easy tracking and backing up outside of LR. It is a scalable system, and I specifically choose not to include any other type of information in the name. I rely on LR for identifying and categorizing images by subject or other criteria. This way, for example, a sunset shot of a horse outside a barn that was taken on a trip abroad can be easily found in the catalog under all of those search criteria. I just do not see how any of this information can easily be incorporated into a name that would be meaningful to me.

This type of arrangement works well regardless of weather I am on the road or at home. YMMV.

--Ken

 

[F.A.M.]

Thanks all for the advice.
I my particular case, name was not so much the issue, but exporting/importing the "field" catalog. I did a dry run at home with a few random pics and I think I got it figure out.
As far as back ups...You can never have too many of those...In fact, I have about 4' GB of cards (in an assortment of 4 and 2 gb) and I do not start re-using them until they are all full.