Things have changed since I built my photo workflow. I recently purchased a Lexar Workflow hub device with 4 modules. This led me into revisiting the copy process from diverse cards on storage for further post processing (still using Lightroom for photos and has only changed slightly).

Prerequisites

Always annoyed that single cards had to be processed with knowing which camera was used and also starting the script always again for each card inserted even if different types were used (CF, SD or now also XQD), I changed the whole approach for my script into some more self-sufficient run through whatever is available.

I changed the name of each used card into camera associated volume which also reflects card-type:

  • C_NIKON_D4: D4 CF-Card
  • X_NIKON_D4: D4 XQD-Card
  • C_NIKON_D3: D3 CF-Card
  • C_NIKON_D2: D2x CF-Card
  • C_NIKON_800: D800 CF-Card
  • S_NIKON_800: D800 SD-Card
  • S_NIKON_51X: D5100 SD-Card

To integrate the SD-Card from Panasonic Camcorder and the DJI Micro-SD into the workflow, I used similar patterns like

  • S_PANA_SD20
  • S_DJI_PNTM2

The above types, manufacturer names and models will later be used in the script to determine different steps in the flow.

Prepare

The prepare run now lets me to stick any number of cards to the devices whether they are for the same camera or same type won’t matter. The script now loops through all mounted volumes in the /Volumes folder which do start with C_, S_ or X_. The writing device is in my case the Lexar SSD but can of course be any other mounted device or directory.

When running through the mounted card readers, the script extracts manufacturer and model name from the card volume name.  The Mac adds a additional number to mount points if they do have the same name. The scripts takes care of that, so mounting several CF Cards for Nikon D3 does work properly.

One device after the other is read and in the case of Nikon volumes, data is being copied into a unique folder on the SSD separating NEF, MOV and JPG inside the folder. After NEF copy is done, the exiftool additions per camera type based on the model are executed (copies Nikon proprietary exif to IPTC standard exif).

I am still running each volume in sequence, no parallel processing is being done (right now). The big advantage which I missed during last year’s Africa trip is that I can now leave the copy process unattended for certain amount of cards and the whole job is done without any interaction.

Preview

Depending on the amount of data and what needs to be done, I still use ViewNX as a preview or load the folders directly into Lightroom.

Lightroom Work Catalog

  1. Browser: import
    1. convert to DNG
    2. convert filename to template-filename
    3. add Standard-Information
    4. import settings with SpyderCheckr Colorimetric profile (which also sets defaults per camera used)
  2. Browser: Preview, rate and flag
  3. Browser: Delete rejected pictures
  4. Develop: Crop, Align, Corrections
  5. Develop: Adjust White Balance, Exposure, micro-contrast, dynamic
  6. Develop: ToneCurve adjustment
  7. Develop: Noise Reduction
  8. Develop: Sharpen
  9. Browser: Add/Complete IPTC information to images
  10. Map: Assign GPS data if not present in exif
  11. Browser: Export as catalog

Lightroom Catalog

  1. Import from catalog
  2. Add keywords
  3. Add Export keyword(s)
  4. Upload or export appropriately marked pictures
Send a mail if you are interested in the script (works on Macs) using Terminal.