What's your photo "work"flow? I shoot RAW as well as jpeg, but I've only fiddled with my saved RAW images a little. The images I share on Facebook, post on...

whlsdn Loc: Colorado

I shoot RAW as well as jpeg, but I've only fiddled with my saved RAW images a little. The images I share on Facebook, post on https://randalldonahoo.smugmug.com/, turn into prints, or otherwise utilize have all been jpegs, most of which - in recent years, at least - I've tweaked a little in Photoshop (years ago), Cyberlink Photo Director, others, and most recently Photoshop Elements. I even watermark those I really like, although I wouldn't try to present many of them for critique among the images I see posted to this forum.

I keep intending to tackle a RAW editor and learn what to do and how to do it...at least the basics. I even downloaded Gimp and RAW Therapy. I played around with them just a little - without seeking any guidance - but for the last couple of weeks I've been experiencing some computer (MS Windows) problems and have just today uninstalled those two programs on the chance they brought some grimlins with them. (Maybe not...screen still blacking out intermittently.) Anyway, that's just peripheral to the subject here.

After a little research in past conversations within this forum, I've just placed an order for On1. Having gotten an offer for purchase at $50 this week, I decided to give it a try. Yeah, I know, Adobe is king, and $10 a month is cheap. But....Commitment? And I'm looking for something that moves me into RAW processing. Plus I'm not like those of you who utilize multiple software platforms to accomplish different advanced adjustments to your files. My time, focus, and brain power will limit me to a preference for learning only one program to do everything....hopefully.

Whatever - to the real topic. I've noticed lately that some of those whom I perceive to be advanced photographers (some who appear to earn their living with what is simply a passionate hobby for me and many others well beyond my level of skills here) appear to not even use jpeg images. Unless some final usage needs to be in jpeg format, their images never reside on their storage in that form.

How common is this?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

The last time I captured an image using jpg format was Jan. 22, 2010. This was 2 days after purchasing my Nikon D700. Since then, I've not used jpg format for any capture.

Over the period of time since Jan. 22, 2010 I've learned improved exposure/processing techniques that have considerably improved the quality of my photographs.
--Bob

whlsdn wrote:

I shoot RAW as well as jpeg, but I've only fiddled with my saved RAW images a little. The images I share on Facebook, post on https://randalldonahoo.smugmug.com/, turn into prints, or otherwise utilize have all been jpegs, most of which - in recent years, at least - I've tweaked a little in Photoshop (years ago), Cyberlink Photo Director, others, and most recently Photoshop Elements. I even watermark those I really like, although I wouldn't try to present many of them for critique among the images I see posted to this forum.

I keep intending to tackle a RAW editor and learn what to do and how to do it...at least the basics. I even downloaded Gimp and RAW Therapy. I played around with them just a little - without seeking any guidance - but for the last couple of weeks I've been experiencing some computer (MS Windows) problems and have just today uninstalled those two programs on the chance they brought some grimlins with them. (Maybe not...screen still blacking out intermittently.) Anyway, that's just peripheral to the subject here.

After a little research in past conversations within this forum, I've just placed an order for On1. Having gotten an offer for purchase at $50 thise week, I decided to give it a try. Yeah, I know, Adobe is king, and $10 a month is cheap. But....Commitment? And I'm looking for something that moves me into RAW processing. Plus I'm not like those of you who utilize multiple software platforms to accomplish different advanced adjustments to your files. My time, focus, and brain power will limit me to a preference for learning only one program to do everything....hopefully.

Whatever - to the real topic. I've noticed lately that some of those whom I perceive to be advanced photographers (some who appear to earn their living with what is simply a passionate hobby for me and many others well beyond my level of skills here) appear to not even use jpeg images. Unless some final usage needs to be in jpeg format, their images never reside on their storage in that form.

How common is this?

I shoot RAW as well as jpeg, but I've only fiddled... (show quote)

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

I shoot in RAW/jpg fine because I always have. Don't remember using the jpg for anything except occasionally posting to an email. I save in RAW (dng) format and when/if I process the shot, save the final result in tiff format next to the original in Lightroom Classic.

BlueMorel Loc: Southwest Michigan

I'm structly amateur but since being introduced to RAW and Adobe two years ago I only shoot jpg in tandem with RAW for instant distribution to family members during get-togethers. Otherwise, for final output it's RAW and then import into Lighroom for management and processing and very occasionally Photoshop. LR is easy to learn the basics and build on, plus lots of online tutorials and support.

On my phone, though, I generally just take jpg, usually for sharing.

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

I shoot raw, which is the original data off the sensor and allows for maximum flexibility in PP. Occasionally, when I want to post some photos from the field, I will shoot raw + jpg then xfer those jpg files from camera to smartphone over wireless then send. At home, I xfer raw files from the body I'm using to a spare hard drive (my raw data backup drive). I can do this over a USB cable or put the mem card in a reader. I import the files from raw data backup to LR, which all by itself copies the files to a different drive as dng files (2nd separate backup). I can delete my camera mem card here as I have 2 complete backups (nef and dng). I edit the keepers in LR, and/or PS, and/or Topaz. The few I want to print or post are exported from LR to my system drive and are also sent to Flickr. Every couple of weeks, I'll back up both the raw and dng files to an external drive and my system drive (system + data) is backed up often to a completely different external drive.

kpmac Loc: Ragley, La

I shoot strictly RAW. I save the final processed image to jpeg but always keep the Raw file in a separate place. Works fine for me.

whlsdn Loc: Colorado

Strodav wrote:

I shoot raw, which is the original data off the se... (show quote)

That's quite the system, Strodav! May I ask how many TBs you have available among those drives (3 externals?)?

Ysarex Loc: St. Louis

I save raw files. If I ever want to see the camera JPEG (rare) I can extract the embedded JPEG from the raw file.

Raw files are copied to internal as well as an external hard drives. Every few weeks a third copy on another external drive is created.

I do most of my processing using Capture One which saves the processing parametrically and so I store my original raw files and C1 takes care of storing the processing.

I export whatever I require in the way of a "use" image from C1 as needed and do not save that image apart from that immediate use. If I need the image again or have some other use for it I just re-export it for that use.

To the extent that C1 lacks the ability to complete the edit (rare) I export a 16 bit TIFF for further processing in PS or Affinity. In that case I then have to save the TIFF file if I don't want to do that work over.

Joe

srt101fan

whlsdn wrote:

I shoot RAW as well as jpeg, but I've only fiddled with my saved RAW images a little. The images I share on Facebook, post on https://randalldonahoo.smugmug.com/, turn into prints, or otherwise utilize have all been jpegs, most of which - in recent years, at least - I've tweaked a little in Photoshop (years ago), Cyberlink Photo Director, others, and most recently Photoshop Elements. I even watermark those I really like, although I wouldn't try to present many of them for critique among the images I see posted to this forum.

I keep intending to tackle a RAW editor and learn what to do and how to do it...at least the basics. I even downloaded Gimp and RAW Therapy. I played around with them just a little - without seeking any guidance - but for the last couple of weeks I've been experiencing some computer (MS Windows) problems and have just today uninstalled those two programs on the chance they brought some grimlins with them. (Maybe not...screen still blacking out intermittently.) Anyway, that's just peripheral to the subject here.

After a little research in past conversations within this forum, I've just placed an order for On1. Having gotten an offer for purchase at $50 this week, I decided to give it a try. Yeah, I know, Adobe is king, and $10 a month is cheap. But....Commitment? And I'm looking for something that moves me into RAW processing. Plus I'm not like those of you who utilize multiple software platforms to accomplish different advanced adjustments to your files. My time, focus, and brain power will limit me to a preference for learning only one program to do everything....hopefully.

Whatever - to the real topic. I've noticed lately that some of those whom I perceive to be advanced photographers (some who appear to earn their living with what is simply a passionate hobby for me and many others well beyond my level of skills here) appear to not even use jpeg images. Unless some final usage needs to be in jpeg format, their images never reside on their storage in that form.

How common is this?

I shoot RAW as well as jpeg, but I've only fiddled... (show quote)

Not sure if you're only looking for comments from the "pros". I'm strictly an amateur photographer ("picture taker"?).

I save both JPEGs and RAW. In my film days, I shot mostly black & white, and I still think many of my photos work better in b & w. So I have the JPEGs set to monochrome to give me a preview of the image in that setting. But, like you, I've just started to play around with RAW.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Mine is real simple:

- I shoot RAW+JPEG
- Copy both to the appropriate subject directory
- Review in Windows Explorer to see what I might want to work on or delete
- Wait until Carbonite backs them up & delete from SD card.

When I decide to work on some:

- Edit the RAW file in DPP until I like what I have
- Save the file as a JPEG fine

When I decide to do something with the image:

- Might send JPEG to Costco to print
- Might print at home
- Might reduce size (second copy of JPEG) and post on Facebook
- Might reduce size (second copy of JPEG) and add to my website gallery

Since I'm not in 'business', this is all I need.
I don't edit EVERY image (no need to), only the ones I decide to do so, when I decide to do so.

whlsdn Loc: Colorado

srt101fan wrote:

Not sure if you're only looking for comments from the "pros". I'm strictly an amateur photographer ("picture taker"?).

I save both JPEGs and RAW. In my film days, I shot mostly black & white, and I still think many of my photos work better in b & w. So I have the JPEGs set to monochrome to give me a preview of the image in that setting. But, like you, I've just started to play around with RAW.

Thank you, srt101fan! I'm looking for the spectrum. I find your idea of setting jpg files to B&W very clever. In my film days, I shot mostly color slides...still have a multitude of them, many in carousel trays. And the Kodak projector and small house screen to go with 'em. A few years ago our two grandkids discovered those in the basement, and we spent a long weekend night introducing them to family history via Kodachrome!

Strodav Loc: Houston, Tx

whlsdn wrote:

That's quite the system, Strodav! May I ask how many TBs you have available among those drives (3 externals?)?

System drive C: 512GB SSD; raw data backup internal drive (NEF) E: 4TB; DNG backup internal drive D: 4TB; and have 4 Western Digital External USB 3.0 4TB drives. 4TB drives are now <$100.

whlsdn Loc: Colorado

Longshadow wrote:

Mine is real simple: br br - I shoot RAW+JPEG br ... (show quote)

With the exception of actually using all those RAW files occupying space on my hard drives, my past looks a lot like yours. My Carbonite link went the way of all neglected relationships. Not because it was bad, but because I lost touch.

minniev Loc: MIssissippi

whlsdn wrote:

I shoot RAW as well as jpeg, but I've only fiddled with my saved RAW images a little. The images I share on Facebook, post on https://randalldonahoo.smugmug.com/, turn into prints, or otherwise utilize have all been jpegs, most of which - in recent years, at least - I've tweaked a little in Photoshop (years ago), Cyberlink Photo Director, others, and most recently Photoshop Elements. I even watermark those I really like, although I wouldn't try to present many of them for critique among the images I see posted to this forum.

I keep intending to tackle a RAW editor and learn what to do and how to do it...at least the basics. I even downloaded Gimp and RAW Therapy. I played around with them just a little - without seeking any guidance - but for the last couple of weeks I've been experiencing some computer (MS Windows) problems and have just today uninstalled those two programs on the chance they brought some grimlins with them. (Maybe not...screen still blacking out intermittently.) Anyway, that's just peripheral to the subject here.

After a little research in past conversations within this forum, I've just placed an order for On1. Having gotten an offer for purchase at $50 this week, I decided to give it a try. Yeah, I know, Adobe is king, and $10 a month is cheap. But....Commitment? And I'm looking for something that moves me into RAW processing. Plus I'm not like those of you who utilize multiple software platforms to accomplish different advanced adjustments to your files. My time, focus, and brain power will limit me to a preference for learning only one program to do everything....hopefully.

Whatever - to the real topic. I've noticed lately that some of those whom I perceive to be advanced photographers (some who appear to earn their living with what is simply a passionate hobby for me and many others well beyond my level of skills here) appear to not even use jpeg images. Unless some final usage needs to be in jpeg format, their images never reside on their storage in that form.

How common is this?

I shoot RAW as well as jpeg, but I've only fiddled... (show quote)

I shoot raw only, transfer from camera to computer. I don’t use dng or jpegs in my workflow. I then import into Lightroom where I have an import preset that applies a general “look” that I like as a starting place. Sometimes no more is needed, but often there is. I do basic editing in Lightroom and take many that I’m thinking of printing or sharing into Photoshop, work with layers, plugins or whatever, then let those PSDs join their originals in the LR catalog. I export jpegs as needed for posting, emailing etc but delete them after I’m done. I print directly from Lightroom. Prints larger than my printer will handle go to local or online print services. If I’m traveling I have either my laptop or ipad with me and download into Lightroom CC, edit there, and when I get home, Lightroom copies these to my main computer and catalog so that everything is in one place. Backups are automated.

I was uneasy when I first started shooting raw so shot raw+jpeg for a few weeks till I was confident I wouldn’t ruin my pictures.

Hip Coyote

I shoot raw only unless somewhere where I want to quickly share photos. Then I shoot raw and small jpgs. Import all raw photos into LR. Then go through the pics and DELETE DELETE DELETE the pics that will never see the light of day. Then delete a few more. Then process and export into jpg for prints.