Back to Basics Part 4D: Fast Culling & Advanced Lightroom Library Tools

Header image for Back to Basics Part 4D showing Lightroom culling tools for underwater photography

Loupe, Compare, Survey, Stacks, Filters (2025 Edition)

By Robert Herb Photography | For Oceanic Explorers | Updated for Adobe 2025 Ecosystem

Version References (Verified November 2025)

All examples in this post are based on the current Adobe ecosystem:

Lightroom Classic v15.0.1
Lightroom (Cloud Desktop) v9.0
Lightroom Mobile v11.0+
Photoshop v27.1
Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) v18.0

Your exact version numbers may be slightly newer by the time you read this; however, the tools and shortcuts described here will still follow the same structure and layout.

1. Introduction – From Organized To Fast

Welcome back, Oceanic Explorers.

By now you have:

Set up catalogs, backups, and folder structures in Part 1.
Tuned Lightroom for your underwater work in Part 4A – Setup for Success.
Built a solid Library workflow in Part 4B – Mastering the Library Module using flags, stars, color labels, and the Who / What / Where keyword method.
Learned how to use metadata, keywords, and search tools in Part 4C – Metadata, Keywords, and Search Tools.

Part 4D – Fast Culling – is the moment when Lightroom really begins to feel intuitive and natural. For many underwater photographers, this is the pivotal point at which Lightroom transforms from a confusing, unwieldy database into a powerful, reliable partner that helps you quickly find and refine your best images.

If you regularly dive, you already understand the challenge: a single dive can easily produce 150 to 400 photos, and after a full day of diving, you might come back with 800 or more. Many of these images are very similar; fish move, surge affects your shots, strobes misfire, backscatter appears and then disappears, and macro subjects shift slightly even when they look still.

Without an organized plan, culling such a large number of images quickly becomes overwhelming. Fortunately, Lightroom Classic, Lightroom (cloud), and Lightroom Mobile all provide rating and viewing tools specifically designed to help you promptly differentiate the “OK” from the “wow.”

In this chapter, you will learn how to effectively use Flags, Star Ratings, Color Labels, Loupe View, Compare View, Survey View, Stacks, and the Library Filter tools, techniques tailored especially for underwater photography to streamline your workflow and maximize results.

We are going to:

Build on your three-step culling workflow from Part 4B.
Use advanced Library tools like Loupe, Compare, Survey, Stacks, and the Filter bar.
Show real underwater scenarios where these tools shine.
Tie everything back to a consistent set of keyboard shortcuts to keep your hands off the mouse as much as possible.

If Part 4B gave you the rules of the game, Part 4D teaches you how to play that game at pro speed.

Everything you learned in Parts 4A, 4B, and 4C prepares you for this step:

In Part 4A, you set up your workspace and learned how to move confidently around the Library module.
In Part 4B, you explored the structure of the Library module, including folders, collections, and catalog behavior.
In Part 4C, you learned how to use metadata, keywords, and search tools so your images are easy to find later.

Fast culling gives you three significant benefits:

You spend more time editing your best images and less time scrolling through mediocre ones.
Your catalog stays lean and responsive, which improves Lightroom performance.
Your storytelling improves because you begin to choose images that best represent each dive or encounter.

The rest of this chapter is designed to give you a repeatable system that you can apply to every trip, from a week in Roatan to a two-week liveaboard in Micronesia. Now you are fully prepared to integrate everything, allowing you to move confidently and efficiently through your dives. You will be able to identify and capture your strongest images, setting them up for perfect editing in the Develop module.

2. Your Unified Culling System – The Foundation

Before we talk about Loupe, Compare, Survey, and Stacks, we need to confirm that the core culling logic is the same everywhere in your Lightroom life.

From Part 4B, your workflow follows this sequence:

Flags – Fast “yes” or “no” decisions.
Stars – Quality ratings.
Color Labels – Workflow status.

Here is your system at a glance.

2.1 Flags – First Pass Culling

X = Reject
U = Unflag
P = Pick (optional early favorite)

You use flags to clear out the obvious misses and leave only the images worth thinking about.

2.2 Stars – Quality Ratings

⭐ = OK (reference or documentation)
⭐⭐ = Good
⭐⭐⭐ = Social media ready
⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Best of the series
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Portfolio or fine art ready

Stars describe how good a shot is, not where it is in your editing pipeline.

2.3 Color Labels – Workflow Status

🔴 Red (6) = Needs Editing
🟡 Yellow (7) = In Progress
🟢 Green (8) = Ready to Publish
🔵 Blue (9) = Archived / Delivered
🟣 Purple = Special Project (competitions, print sets, teaching)

Colors describe where a shot is in your process.

2.4 Visual Culling Chart

You can think of it this way:

Flags control speed.
Stars control quality.
Colors control workflow.

You now have a single language for image decisions. The advanced tools in this post are here to support that language, not replace it.

For a handy one-page reminder, you can download the Culling Workflow Cheat Sheet (PDF) and keep it next to your computer while you cull.
(Culling Workflow Cheat Sheet)

3. Speed Culling In Grid And Loupe Views

Most of your culling will happen in Grid View and Loupe View inside the Library Module.

3.1 Grid View – Your Launch Pad

Press G to enter Grid View.

Use the arrow keys to move through images.
Use your flag and star shortcuts without leaving the grid.
From here, you can:
- Hit E to jump into Loupe View for a closer look.
- Hit C to open Compare View.
- Hit N to open Survey View.
- Press \ to show or hide the Filter bar.

Grid View is your map of the dive. The other views are zoomed-in tools to help you choose the best photos.

3.2 Loupe View (E) – Fast Single Image Judging

Loupe View is where you decide whether an image moves forward.

Press E to enter Loupe View.
Press Z to toggle zoom (often 1:1, or 100 percent).
Scroll or click to navigate while zoomed.
Use the arrow keys to move between images.

In Loupe, you can:

Check the critical focus on the eyes, especially in fish portraits, turtle photos, and diver shots.
Inspect details such as backscatter, bubbles, and sharpness in small subjects.
Apply flags, stars, and color labels without leaving the view.

A simple Loupe culling sequence might be:

Hit E for Loupe on the first candidate.
Hit Z to zoom to 100 percent on the subject’s eye.
Decide quickly: X to reject, or leave unflagged.
Use Shift + number to give a star rating and advance.
Use 6, 7, 8, 9 to apply a color label later, once editing starts.

3.3 Auto Advance And Caps Lock

Lightroom has a feature that feels almost hidden, but it is incredibly powerful for culling.

If Caps Lock is turned on, Lightroom behaves as if Auto Advance is active. That means every time you apply a flag, star, or color rating, Lightroom automatically moves to the following image.

For underwater work where you need to move through many images quickly, this is perfect.

Workflow example:

Turn Caps Lock ON at the start of your culling session.
In Grid or Loupe view, use X for rejects, leave keepers unflagged.
Lightroom automatically moves forward after you rate or flag.
On the second pass, use Shift + 1–5 to apply ratings, and let Auto Advance keep you moving.

Less clicking, more deciding. That is what you want.

3.4 Compare View: Choosing Between Two Similar Frames

Compare View helps you choose the better frame when two images look almost identical. This happens all the time underwater, for example, when a turtle turns slightly, a diver changes position, or a shrimp peeks out for only one frame.

Shortcut: C for Compare View.

Start in Grid View, select two photos, then press C.
Lightroom calls one image the “Select” and the other the “Candidate.”
Use the Left and Right Arrow keys to move both images forward or backward together through your selection.

Useful shortcuts in Compare View:

P or X still applies flags to the active image.
Numbers 1–5 still apply to star ratings.
6, 7, 8, 9 still apply color labels.
Click the “Swap” icon to switch which image is the Select and which is the Candidate.

Practical underwater uses:

Two shots of a turtle at the same distance. One frame has better eye contact or a cleaner background.
Multiple macro frames of a nudibranch. You choose the one with the sharpest rhinophores and most pleasing tentacle position.
Two diver portraits, one with a better mask position and fewer bubbles crossing the face.

A simple way to use Compare:

Start in Grid, select a small group from a burst sequence.
Press C to enter Compare.
Choose the stronger frame and give it a higher star rating or a Pick flag.
Mark weaker frames as rejects or lower rated.
When finished, return to Grid by pressing G.

3.5 Survey View: Choosing the Best from a Small Set

Survey View lets you view multiple selected images on-screen at once. It is perfect when you have a group of similar frames and want to choose one or two of the best images from the set.

Shortcut: N for Survey View.

Start in Grid View, select three or more photos, then press N.
All selected images appear together.

This is especially helpful for:

Schooling fish sequences where behavior changes slightly between frames.
Nudibranchs that moved a bit between shots.
Diver portraits where hand position or bubble patterns vary.
Wreck scenes where your composition changed somewhat each time.

In Survey View, you can:

Click on any image and hit X to reject it.
Press Delete or Backspace to remove pictures from the Survey selection without deleting them from the catalog.
Apply star ratings to the strongest few.
Use Z to zoom if needed, then zoom back out.

To remove a photo from Survey View, click its small “X” in the corner or press Shift + Click to deselect it. As you remove images, the remaining photos scale up, making final decisions more straightforward.

You are training your eye to spot micro-differences in composition and timing. Survey View gives your brain a clear side-by-side stage for that work.

4. Compare And Survey – Choosing The Best From Similar Shots

Underwater, we often shoot sequences. A turtle gliding by, a diver in a swim through, a nudibranch moving across a sponge. You end up with a set of very similar frames.

This is where Compare View and Survey View shine.

4.1 Compare View (C) – Head To Head Decisions

Compare View is designed to help you choose between two images.

Select two photos in Grid View.
Press C to enter Compare View.
One image is the Select (the current favorite).
The other is the Candidate (the challenger).

Use Compare View to judge:

Sharpness in the subject’s eye.
Fin and body position on turtles, rays, sharks, or divers.
Bubble position around divers.
Facial expression and body posture.

Practical actions inside Compare:

Use the arrow keys to move through additional candidates while keeping your current selection.
Hit X to reject an obvious loser.
Apply star ratings on the fly to both images.
Use Z to zoom in on the critical detail.

When you are done, you have a clear winner and can mark that image with a higher star rating or a different color label.

4.2 Survey View (N) – Evaluating A Group

Survey View is like laying a contact sheet on the light table.

Select three or more images in Grid View.
Press N to enter Survey View.
All selected images appear together.

This is especially helpful for:

Schooling fish sequences where behavior changes slightly between frames.
Nudibranchs that moved a bit between shots.
Diver portraits where hand position or bubble patterns vary.
Wreck scenes where your composition changed somewhat each time.

In Survey View, you can:

Click on any image and hit X to reject it.
Press Delete or Backspace to remove pictures from the Survey selection without deleting them from the catalog.
Apply star ratings to the strongest few.
Use Z to zoom if needed, then zoom back out.

You are training your eye to spot micro-differences in composition and timing. Survey View gives your brain a clear side-by-side stage for that work.

5. Stacks – Taming Bursts, Brackets, And Series

Underwater photography often involves short bursts. A single turtle passing overhead might produce ten nearly identical frames. Shooting macro in a tricky surge might generate a series of attempts at the same nudibranch.

Instead of letting these fill your grid with visual noise, you can group them into Stacks.

5.1 Auto Stacking By Capture Time

Auto Stacking is a great starting point.

In Lightroom Classic, go to Photo > Stacking > Auto Stack by Capture Time.
Move the slider to set the time interval for grouping images.
Preview how many stacks will be created.
Click OK.

For underwater work:

Start with a small interval like 2 or 3 seconds.
Adjust depending on how quickly you shoot.

This lets Lightroom automatically group burst sequences. Each stack can then be collapsed or expanded.

5.2 Manual Stacks

Manual stacks give you more control.

In Grid View, select the images that belong together.
Go to Photo > Stacking > Group into Stack or press Ctrl + G (Windows) or Cmd + G (Mac).

You might do this for:

A sequence of diver portraits, looking toward the camera.
Multiple attempts at a cleaning station scene.
A set of bracketed exposures for a wreck interior.

5.3 Choosing The Stack Cover

In a stack, one image appears as the thumbnail when the stack is collapsed. That should always be your best image from that series.

Expand the stack.
Select the best shot.
Go to Photo > Stacking > Set as Top of Stack or use Shift + S.

The result is a cleaner grid, where each stack represents a series, and the best image is always visible.

6. Mastering The Library Filter Bar

The Filter bar is one of the most powerful tools in the Library Module. It lets you slice your catalog based on attributes, metadata, and text.

Press \ in Grid View to show or hide the Filter bar. You will see four tabs:

Text
Attribute
Metadata
None

6.1 Attribute Filters – Flags, Stars, And Colors

The Attribute tab is where your culling work really pays off.

You can filter by:

Flag status (flagged, unflagged, rejected).
Star ratings.
Color labels.
Edit status.

Examples for underwater work:

Show only unflagged images to finish culling.
Show all images with 3 stars and higher when planning a blog post.
Show all Green label images that are ready to publish.
Show all Red label images to continue editing.

Think of the Attribute filter as your way to say, “Only show me the images that are at this stage of my process.”

6.2 Metadata Filters – Camera, Lens, Dive Site, Depth

The Metadata tab lets you build columns such as:

Camera
Lens
ISO
Date
Keyword
Label

Because you use the Who / What / Where keyword method from Part 4B, you can search by:

Who – subject or species.
What – behavior or image type?
Where – dive site, region, depth tag.

Examples:

Filter by Lens = 90 mm Macro and Keyword contains "Nudibranch".
Filter by ISO ≥ 3200 and Keyword contains "Night Dive" to evaluate noise performance.
Filter by Keyword contains "Mary's Place" to build a location-specific gallery.

Metadata filters help you understand your shooting patterns and retrieve exact sets of images immediately.

6.3 Text Filters – Quick Search For Names And Phrases

The Text tab is excellent when you remember part of a filename, caption, or keyword.

You can search within:

Filename
Keywords
Caption
Any searchable field

Try searches like:

“Green Turtle”
“Roatan”
“Nudibranch”
“Wreck”

When combined with star ratings and color labels, Text search becomes a speedy way to locate a specific photo or series.

7. Underwater Culling Scenarios – Real World Examples

Let us walk through a few classic underwater situations and how your advanced tools help with each.

7.1 Turtle Flyby Sequence

You have a burst of ten frames as a turtle glides past.

Use Auto Stacking by Capture Time to group the series.
Expand the stack and enter Survey View (N) to see all frames together.
Use Z in Survey View to inspect sharpness and eye contact.
Reject obvious misses with X.
Use star ratings to mark the best two or three.
Set the top-rated frame as the top of the stack.

Result: one clean thumbnail in your grid that represents the best of the sequence.

7.2 Nudibranch Macro Shots

You spent ten minutes photographing a nudibranch that moved slowly across a sponge.

Filter by Lens = 60 mm or 100 mm Macro and your specific dive date.
Select the series and enter Survey View (N).
Look for the nicest body curve and cleanest background.
Use Compare View (C) for close calls between two similar frames.
Apply your star ratings and color labels based on quality and workflow status.

You end up with a clear hero shot ready for future macro tutorials or portfolio use.

7.3 Diver Portrait In A Swim Through

You have several frames of a diver silhouetted in the opening of a swim-through.

Use Grid View, select the group, and go into Compare View (C) for pairs.
Check hand position, mask reflections, and bubble patterns.
Reject anything with an odd body posture or distracting bubbles.
Mark the best couple of shots with 4 or 5 stars.
Label them Green when finished editing.

These become great candidates for blog covers, course slides, or social media posts.

7.4 Mixed Night Dive Images

On a night dive, you captured everything from octopus behavior to sleeping parrotfish to diver shots.

Use Metadata filters to narrow by ISO and Lens.
Use the Text filter on keywords like “Octopus” or “Night Dive.”
Use Attribute filters to show only your 3-star and higher shots.
In Survey View, refine your selection for a future night dive blog post.

Instead of hunting manually, you are always just a few filters away from a perfect story set.

8. Speed Tips And Keyboard Shortcuts To Remember

Here is a quick list of useful shortcuts related to fast culling:

G – Grid View
E – Loupe View
C – Compare View
N – Survey View
F – Full-screen view of the current image
\ – Show or hide the Filter bar
Tab – Hide left and right panels
Shift + Tab – Hide all panels
Z – Zoom in and out in Loupe, Compare, and Survey
X – Reject
U – Unflag
P – Pick
1–5 – Apply star rating
Shift + 1–5 – Apply star rating and auto advance
6–9 – Apply color labels
Cmd/Ctrl + G – Group into Stack
Shift + S – Set selected photo as top of stack
Caps Lock – Auto advance after flagging or rating

You do not need to memorize them all at once. Start with a few that fit your existing habits and layer more in as you grow comfortable.

9. Bringing It All Together

Fast culling is not about being ruthless. It is about being intentional. As an underwater photographer, you often work in challenging conditions, and you rarely get unlimited time with a subject. The tools in Lightroom are there to help you honor the effort you put into each dive by quickly identifying the frames that genuinely capture the story.

In this chapter, you learned how to:

Use Flags, Stars, and Color Labels to create a simple, consistent rating system.
Move confidently between Grid, Loupe, Compare, and Survey to evaluate your images at the correct size.
Use Stacks to tame burst sequences and test shots.
Use the Library Filter Bar with Attribute and Metadata filters to narrow your selections in seconds.
Build scenario-based workflows for macro, wide-angle, diver portraits, behavior, and schooling fish.

In the following parts of this series, you will see how these carefully selected images flow naturally into your Develop Module workflow for color correction, contrast, and creative enhancements.

10. Wrapping Up – From Chaos To Control

By combining:

The Flags → Stars → Colors system from Part 4B.
Advanced views like Loupe, Compare, and Survey.
Structural tools like Stacks.
Search tools like the Filter bar and Metadata filters.

You gain something compelling. You gain control over your library at scale.

You can move quickly through large sets of underwater images, make confident choices, and always know where a photo sits in your workflow. This is the difference between feeling buried by thousands of dive photos and feeling like the curator of a well-organized underwater archive.

Next in the Back to Basics series, we will complete the organizational side of the workflow with Part 4E: Smart Collections and Automation Tools. Once your Library Module is set up to organize itself, we will move into the Develop Module and begin transforming your best underwater photos with color correction, clarity adjustments, and creative enhancements.

Before we move into the editing phase of the workflow, there is one final organizational step that ties your flags, stars, color labels, and keywords together. In Part 4E, we will explore Smart Collections and automation tools that let Lightroom organize your underwater images based on the decisions you make during culling.

11. Related Resources And Links

Consider referencing these posts and resources as you expand your Library skills:

Back to Basics – Part 1: Getting Organized in Lightroom, Catalogs, Backups, Folders, and Collections Explained (2025 Edition).
Back to Basics – Part 4A: Setup for Success.
Back to Basics – Part 4B: Mastering the Library Module, Importing, Rating, and Organizing Your Underwater Photos (2025 Edition).
Back to Basics – Part 4C: Metadata, Keywords, and Search Tools.
Culling Workflow Cheat Sheet (PDF): A one-page summary of your Flags, Stars, and Color label system that you can print or keep on your desktop. CLICK HERE!

12. Call To Action

Want to get weekly email notifications when each new Back to Basics blog is released?

Click here: https://info.robertherb.com/lm-2-blog and never miss new Lightroom and underwater photography posts again.

If you have questions about culling, speed, or how to adapt this system to your own diving and shooting style, I would love to hear from you. Share your thoughts in the blog comments or email me, and let us continue building a community of organized, confident Oceanic Explorers.

Written by Robert Herb
Empowering underwater photographers to capture and enhance the beauty of our oceans since 1978.

Until next time — dive smart, stay organized, and edit with intention.

Stay tuned for more in-depth insights into underwater photography. Let's dive deeper into the art and craft of capturing the marine world! If you have any comments or suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Get ready for an exciting underwater photography adventure! For more details on my upcoming online training course, check out my "Training" page at RobertHerb.com or email me at bob@robertherb.com.

I am eagerly anticipating your valuable feedback and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Bob Herb

Robert Herb
Robert Herb Photography

+1 (714) 594-9262‬ | +504 9784-0024 | www.RobertHerb.com

Bob@robertherb.com | Roatán, HN or Aliso Viejo, CA (USA)