An actual real live "how to" question! :-)

Question

All,
Just did a two camera shoot (one electronic remote), both cameras time synched. I'd like to bring both set of card data from each camera into one folder sorted by time the image was created. The remote was shooting stage show at full stage wide angle, while I used my 70-200 IS 2.8 for telephoto work. I'm looking to be able to sort and edit based on the time sequence so I can have the images taken at the same time adjusted to be similar in white balance adjustments, exposure, etc... Any help would be appreciated.
Jay S.

Answer 1

Here is my suggested workflow for multiple cameras. We do this when shooting with five different cameras for the same event, and we want them all synchronized within one second.
The key is to set all the photos to a common time source.
So after your shoot, using each camera, take a picture of the clock on your computer screen, one that shows the seconds.
Now open that picture on your computer, and compare the time that you see in the picture to the time that is in the IPTC of the photo. You can now calculate the difference between what the actual time is and the time that the photo says it it. Write down the serial number of teh camera, and the difference in time.
After you import into Lightroom, display only the photos with the Serial Number of the camera that you want to adjust the time. Adjust the IPTC time on all the selected photos so it is adjusted by the same time as the difference that you found earlier.
If you do the same thing for each camera, then they will all be adjusted to make up for any difference in the clocks between cameras.
To summarize:
a) Take a picture of a clock.
b) Find out how much that clock differs from what the camera says.
c) Adjust your photos by the appropriate time difference.
d) Repeat for all the cameras.
Since you are using the same clock as a reference, all the photos should end up in exactly the correct sequence.
It's confusing until you do it once.. then it makes sense.