AlexS Loc: Minnesota

I do not do a lot of post processing but I do like the flexibility that RAW files offer. When in Sedona my wife and I took a Pink Jeep tour of the National Forest. It was very four wheel drive, bumpy, rugged and also beautiful. No tripods but the driver would stop on occasion for photo ops. Not a lot of time to compose and very easy to over/under expose so it was very similar to drive by shooting.

The first photo is what I shot, the second was the result of a little bit of straightening and processing in Lightroom. Ended up getting a nice memory shot that, if I had been shooting jpeg only, might have missed.

(Download)


(Download)

Cwilson341 Loc: Central Florida

Beautiful landscape shot! Raw is like an insurance policy.

fourg1b2006 Loc: Long Island New York

I think you would have been able to accomplish this with a jpg as well.

ELNikkor

When I've tried this in jpeg, the dark parts would have looked very grainy and contrasty, RAW really can make it more like your eye remembers it. Great photo!

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

OK...... This may be a question that the most amateur photographer should know, however, I'm not sure that my understanding of it is correct. So would someone please explain what the difference(s) between Raw and jpg are? Thanks - James

WessoJPEG Loc: Cincinnati, Ohio

alexstolis

I have had the same experience when trying to 'fix' jpeg files. They simply don't turn out as well. I know I am not skilled at post processing so that may be a factor as well. I do my best to make it right in the camera but there are times, as in this instance, where it is very helpful for me.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Raw must be cooked They have none of the in-camera edits applied that jpg's display - including contrast, saturation, sharpening. Raw files also contain more information, making it possible - to a point - to pull details from shadows or lighter areas that jpg's can't display (dynamic range). White balance is also not fixed, so very easy to change, especially fun when doing "playful pp."

Raw editing software comes with most cameras that have raw capability, but the "big guys" are Lightroom and Photoshop. I use PS Elements.

To the OP: would you want to outline the steps you did in LR to achieve the details in the shadows? Beautiful work, beautiful scene!

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

The RAW image file contains all the data sent by the image sensor when the photograph is taken. It also contains a small JPG thumbnail image of the photograph. The greater the sensors pixel count the larger the RAW image file.
The JPG or JPEG file contains pretty much image data only. The JPG is created when the RAW data is processed.
It's easier to make adjustments to the characteristics of the image using the RAW data because the data necessary for making adjustments is found in the RAW file. After the data has been processed into the JPG, there are limited characteristics that may be modified because the data needed to make the modifications is not in the JPG file.

The advantage to shooting RAW is you may make lots of adjustments to the image in post processing.
The disadvantage to shooting RAW is the file size and the fact that the files must be processed. Larger files take up more space and take longer to write to storage.
The advantage to shooting JPG is, smaller files and far less or no post processing. You may adjust the parameters used to process the data into JPG'S in your camera so the images come out more how you want them or you may go with the camera default settings. Since the image file is a lot smaller you may shoot more images faster because it takes far less time to write the JPG file to storage.

Is one better than the other? It's a personal choice so no, one is different from the other.

I like to shoot both. JPG files will give you a better representation of what the final image will look like than the little thumbnail in the RAW file. The RAW data is used to create the final image file and for archival storage.

foxfirerodandgun Loc: Stony Creek, VA

Thank you and Linda for you explanations. As the Johnny Nash song says, "I can see clearly now." ;~)

AlexS Loc: Minnesota

Linda,

Basically I adjusted the shadows, white and black sliders for the desired effect. I did also use the dodge/burn adjustment brush as well. Mostly I used this for practice,as I said, I don't have s lot of experience in processing.

Thank you

Manglesphoto Loc: 70 miles south of St.Louis

Irvingite Charles Loc: Irving, Tx

cdayton

Just for fun and because it’s early Saturday morning and I love debates, I adjusted your first photo on my iPad using the native photo editor and Lucid. Not perfect but reasonably dramatic for “only” a jpeg. There are some artifacts like burning along the mountains but they were in your original. I could have done better in PS.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Nice save!!!