I have many albums filled with those 2.5x2.5 B&W prints - a record of our family from the early 1950's until the age of digital (along with color slides). How carefully I had to choose how to expend each frame -- I'm so happy to have digital now, where I can shoot lavishly as I enjoy places or events & look for that perfect image in the stillness of my office later. I remember I used to miss some of the joy of family gatherings or vacations because I was busy picking the "right" picture opportunity. Now I can enjoy the "now" AND the memories later.

Re what yooperfalls said about the electronics industry's boast of a million colors...Quite true that we can't distinguish that many variations (I was amazed at how many variations of yellow bumblebees can distinguish, needed to detect preferred food sources). We "clump" data so we can perceive patterns - of color & contrast (that's what we needed for survival - to detect an orange & black tiger against green leaves & stems...with less color perception, that would be great camouflage).
That's why Ansel Adams' photographs appealed to the general public -- he pushed his available materials & equipment to go beyond reality, but keep it "feeling real" (exposed to preserve as much detail as the camera/film could record, then pushed it in the darkroom to express HIS vision, which was surreal - but many people experienced it as what they remembered or what they would want to see) - just think how much fun he would have with RAW & a program like Photoshop!

There's some psychology of human perception in the quest for a "perfect" image. What we "see" is processed in our internal system before we "perceive" it; therefore each person's experience of things outside ourselves is unique. A RAW image in a quality camera is the data recorded that is received through a quality lens. Part of our internal filter includes our past experience and current emotions. The camera doesn't have these - so when we look at the RAW image it doesn't look like what we perceived when being inspired to take a photo. Processing with computer programs lets us adjust the image to recapture that memory (ah - there's another factor - our memories have embellished that moment-in-time in our minds). This allows us the best chance to share our experience, our vision, with others (allowing for the internal filters through which they view our image). With jpg & automatic settings of the camera (landscape, portrait, backlit, etc.) you might say we are appointing the camera to view the scene through the filter of "experience" of the subject.
No, I'm not an expert at working with RAW images - but I majored in psychology (some post-grad work in that) with a minor in art - & the principles I present here are covered in those studies plus a long lifetime of thinking about that subject. Hope this helps some to figure out when/why to choose RAW or jpg.

When I first switched to digital, I shot jpg, to learn the camera. Then I shot some flower close-ups for art & tried RAW -- at that point I was like the car-chasing dog who finally caught one & then didn't know what to do with it. I couldn't even open the original RAW image with whatever program I was using at the time, so all I could access was the embedded jpg. I gave up on RAW at that point - but many times since have wished I had that no-loss data & editing potential for my best art shots. Guess I need to study, now that I have Photoshop CS. I've learned a lot from this discussion (basically that while I'll continue shooting jpg for family/homestead snapshots, I need to learn to use RAW for my art photos), & appreciate the sharing of wisdom & experience.

We have this problem, too - have a slide scanner, haven't been happy with the results (also, way too slow so my husband just doesn't "get a round tuit"). We also have color film (negatives) -- & also B&W film (some 4x5, some smaller format). Any advice on getting those digitalized? My scanner would supposedly do negatives - didn't get good results & it was a nuisance to set up. Have some classic shots in B&W, would like to save them.

My best advice (to myself) is: Always carry your camera with you, easily accessible, with fully charged batteries & empty cards. I've missed some great shots when I didn't follow that. Most regretted: The adult bald eagle standing like a statue in a harvested soy bean field - looking like he was standing guard for 5 half-grown eagles (they were all black) feeding on the ground -- these were just about 30 feet from our car & stayed there when we stopped the car to watch them. I've tried to carry it since!

Amazing eagle shot, Swamp Gator. I've seen eagles around here, but never close enough for a shot other than "there's an eagle in there somewhere"

A long time ago, I photographed our kids (silhouette) against our indoor Christmas tree. Those were the days before miniature lights - or digital cameras - or gadgets that would turn lights into stars. So I cut a tiny star in black paper & held it in front of the lens. Made a great family photo, variation of the straight "kids with tree" record shot. I may try this again -- with the help of new technology -- or variations with other lights (I've done it with candles & a meditator). Hope this gives you some ideas for other things to try for something different. (I like the dripping lights caused by camera movement, shown above :)

Interesting - the way you handled it, you ended up with a picture that resembles an Impressionist painting rather than a photograph. It has a feeling of a fantasy world.
What you did preserves a feeling of wonder at seeing this deer.

I was in Los Alamos to visit my brother soon after WW II when family finally were allowed to visit, with passes arranged well in advance (after a background check). Photographs were not allowed "on the Hill" but that was well posted (including in the visitor's information sheet) & we all understood the security reasons for this. But I have been worried by the creeping infringements on the rights of citizens to photograph happenings in public areas - not posted, no reason - just the authorities do not want their actions on record (look at the difference between "official" reports & what is actually shown happening on videos of the scene, from different angles). We have been like the frog in warm water - we've been so busy trying to survive in a changing world we haven't noticed the water getting hotter (it's about to boil now) - some of us have, but haven't been able to get others' attention.
In the case you described (which was frustrating because the security person should have been supplied with the answer to your questions) I would have written to all the higher-ups I could think of, that he worked for - report this exchange, ask for an explanation & express my complaint. This is supposed to be a free country, with a Bill of Rights - that bill is being shredded & the only thing we can do is stand up (respectfully) & claim those rights guaranteed us by the Constitution of the USA.

I still don't know how to use all the tools available in my Photoshop CS -- but have been able to salvage some shots that had a great subject, but some element was ugly or distracting (in a closeup of a steam engine working hard up a mountain, I turned a railfan photographer on the other side into a bush) - lighten or darken background to emphasize the main subject (I have either worked with layers, sometimes using a "lasso" to mark & mask the subject -- or used dodge or burn tools as I would have in the darkroom).
I did most of the darkroom work back when we were shooting B&W film - got very creative with that. Now I think of Photoshop as my darkroom on steroids (plus a lot easier, no chemicals to depress my kidneys & stir up asthma).
Enjoy playing with an editing program - but keep in mind your goal for the eventual photo - what motivated you to take the photo? What do you want it to show the viewer? In addition to taking photographs, I also paint. I don't want my paintings to look like photographs - or my photographs to look like paintings (just my personal philosophy - each person has his/her own approach).
Have fun!

Good shot! Personally I like the framing of the eagle with Spanish Moss - puts the bird in his environment. Too-tight cropping, would be just a good shot of an eagle. I like the way one poster sharpened the pic in computer.

Sharp picture of the Northern Flicker & I really like the way you used the fishing rods to add an interesting design element to the sunset photo.