ronpier Loc: Poland Ohio

Same here, saves time and the end results are excellent.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

No one ever takes one photograph of something they want to forget. You need a thousand in RAW for that.

DanielB Loc: San Diego, Ca

Always RAW. I never shoot Jpeg. My reasons are that I never know when I want to get creative with some edits and I can't do that with Jpeg compression. I also can get better details out of my highlights, shadows, sharpening and noise reduction when editing with RAW.

Hip Coyote

I read and re-read the questions posed and do not interpret the questions as being anything more than inquisitive and instructive. I also believe that the questions are actually a good primer on the processes you might use to start processing on your raw files. I do not take them as being mean in any way. To get better at this photog business you have to ask yourself the very hard questions and also become hyper-critical of your own work.

For instance, I was so proud of a photo of a bridge that I submitted as my very first submittal to my camera club / evaluation...it got thrashed. The evaluator said, "I dont normally give scores this low but....and gave me a 5." Initially I was a bit angry and upset..it was a great photo! Gosh darn it, I was happy with my photos. Years later, I cringe at that photo but keep it as a reminder that there is vast room for improvement. (It was out of focus a bit, no real interesting subject to draw the eye, etc...a train wreck really.)

People can blather on and on about raw vs. jpeg etc..but raw provides the user far more editing capabilities. That is a fact. I used jpeg on occasion...but usually use raw. It works for me.

I think you will see that some of the advanced AI programs, such as Topaz Sharpen, work well with RAW photos as well. AI has save a few of my photos that were slightly off focus...something you might find helpful in sharpening up some of your shots. For instance, macro has to be razor sharp to be good. I have trouble with that all the time.

In closing, my best advice is to get a critical eye and get some mentors, join a club, get your stuff evaluated. If you take a look at some of the postings of photos on this site, you will find few people who are really really critical of their stuff...they post hoping to get a few accolades, but the photos are often substandard. If you want to post some shots and get the usual, "good set" comments, go ahead...but if you want to get good, skip the nonsense on equipment, brand, blah blah blah...and work on the art part. The processing questions posed were informative as to how to enhance the quality of your shots. I am a c+ player in all this trying to get to the next level...and if you approach it right, you can get better too...but having a thin skin wont help. No go make some photos!

BTW, LR is full of features...the ones that were posed to you as questions...its professional depending on the user.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

Did you ever think that you cause more confusion for people than help? If not, then you should; or are you just trying to impress some with your knowledge?

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

What asinine responses are being given to a beginner asking plain questions! You so-called experts need to remember that everyone just does not understand all the technicalities involved with advanced photography. Give the man a break. It would not surprise me if many of you actually turned him away from this site.

AirWalter Loc: Tipp City, Ohio

taffspride Loc: Originally Wales, now the Sunshine State

While some of the responses were quite abrasive, certainly there was nothing wrong with the questions asked by CHG_Canon. I would take each question and think about it, and do some research instead of pouting and saying "Geez, I only asked a question." Go back and find out how the questions asked could help further your photo journey. You are only a beginner for as long as you want to be. Incidentally I shoot both RAW and JPG. I gave my reasons for doing so in an earlier response.

11bravo

I took the questions to be rhetorical, designed to make you consider the why of better .

sodapop Loc: Bel Air, MD

I shoot RAW only. I love taking photos, I love post processing them. If any part of that was boring I would find another hobby

WJShaheen Loc: Gold Canyon, AZ

He means well but just hasn't learned that one should educate and not denigrate.

By all means, choose a raw format, such as NEF or CRx. And keep learning and exploring.

taffspride Loc: Originally Wales, now the Sunshine State

I really don't think he was denigrating. To me those questions really asked one thing, what made the original poster think his RAW files were better than JPGS.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

After you 'slightly edit' your RAW files, what format do you save them in; JPEG, TIFF, PSD?

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

MabelLucy Loc: Oregon

I believed from what I read that RAW photos needed to be “Finished“ And saved. My computer tells me which photos are RAW. Are use Photos or Infinity Photo on my iMac. I look at them on my iPad and it keeps them in the RAW files so I’m guessing it doesn’t save them as JPEG when I look at them.

I am looking for a good resource to show me the a basic workflow to get a finished JPEG. I’m not looking for how to edit, even the best program. I just need to know understand the steps.

I say basic because 99.999% of my photos would be just fine as JPEG. :)
I also read that if action shots are your priority JPEG may be best anyway?