RAW, NEF jpg ORIGINALS and DQ Warning

06/27/2011 07:20:27 PM · #1

After a quite long effort from my part to send my original image for the Symbolic Still Life and a lot of patience form the SC and good advice on "how to", it seems that I failed to be able to send it properly.
This is not to complain in case I'll be DQ-ed, just to let people who use RAW image know that on occasion there can be a problem with it.

I am on a Mac and my iphoto seem not to recognize the RAW format. Unfortunately I downloaded the image on my computer and erased it from the card afterwords, instead on downloading on a computer that recognizes the file.

In case someone has a similar problem I have great advice from

scalvert. Unfortunately it did not seem to help me this time.

06/27/2011 07:25:35 PM · #2

Bummer. What is the actual problem?

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

06/27/2011 07:41:57 PM · #3

Originally posted by bspurgeon:

Bummer. What is the actual problem?

I could not send the RAW original picture. The SC got only a jpg of it, no matter how much I tried.
I tried to send a NEF that I managed to get at

scalvert excellent advice:

"There's nothing wrong with shooting RAW on a Mac. I do it all the time. If you're using iPhoto, just select the image and choose File > Export > Original to your desktop and submit that. If the resulting file on your desktop is not RAW (NEF for Nikon, CR2 for Canon), then you have to get your hands a little dirty...Make a note of the date and file name of the photo in question. Locate your iPhoto Library (usually in your Pictures folder) and right-click or control-click on it. Choose "Show Package Contents" from the pop-up menu and it will open like any other folder. Look inside the "Originals" folder and navigate to the date you shot the photo. Your original RAW file will be in there. Once you're found the correct file, drag it to your desktop while holding down the option key to make a copy and then close your iPhoto Library window. NEVER change or move anything in the iPhoto Library itself or you will damage the file structure (that's why the contents are hidden). Submit the copy on your desktop and you're all set."

but it did not seem to have worked.
For me it is really matter of principle and I am sorry for my ignorance.

kenskid

Nikon D700

06/27/2011 08:03:16 PM · #4

Ha....the big question is ....who actually tagged your middle of the pack image for a possible DQ Offence?

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

06/27/2011 08:07:17 PM · #5

Originally posted by kenskid:

Ha....the big question is ....who actually tagged your middle of the pack image for a possible DQ Offence?

Hmm Kenny, I do not want to think in those terms or I leave the site. You are probably right but I hide my head in the sand.
The funny thing is that the image in question had just 3 steps of processing: crop, tiny saturation and unsharp mask.

jamesgoss

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

06/27/2011 08:07:20 PM · #6

What part are you getting stuck on, maybe we can walk you through?

amsterdamman

Canon EOS-5D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

06/27/2011 08:07:49 PM · #7

have you tried to use card rescue software to retrieve the original from the camera card?
Even if you format the card and shoot some more photos, you may still be able to retrieve the original deleted image from the memory card.
Just do the same as if the card won't read. Use a card rescue app. Its worth a shot if the original file is what you need but deleted it from the card.

Tamron AF 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 XR Di II for Canon

06/27/2011 08:08:14 PM · #8

Originally posted by jamesgoss:

What part are you getting stuck on, maybe we can walk you through?

Sending the RAW image to the SC. I already asked help on the forum FORUM_THREAD_ID=1084944
(I still don't know how to send to a specific forum. No wonder why I get stuck here and there)

Message edited by author 2011-06-27 20:11:37.

jamesgoss

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

06/27/2011 08:10:16 PM · #9

Originally posted by mariuca:

Originally posted by jamesgoss:
What part are you getting stuck on, maybe we can walk you through?

Sending the RAW image to the SC.

I meant in finding it. Are you able to get past the "show package contents" and navigate to where your image is hiding?

06/27/2011 08:12:30 PM · #10

Yes. But the image is hiding in RAW and even making it a NEF apparently did not get there.

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

06/27/2011 08:13:56 PM · #11

My mistake in downloading to a computer that does not identify RAW. I'll shoot in jpg only from now on, as I always did.
Well, I get DQ for my ignorance.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

06/27/2011 08:45:24 PM · #12

Originally posted by mariuca:

My mistake in downloading to a computer that does not identify RAW. I'll shoot in jpg only from now on, as I always did.
Well, I get DQ for my ignorance.

Just shoot RAW+JPG â�� and never touch the JPG except for validation. That covers all your bases.

R.

06/27/2011 09:27:42 PM · #13

Did you dig through the iPhoto libray through the finder? That file is buried in there. However, if you tried export original, then you may never have had the RAW file in the library.

You should also try the search function. Right down the original file number and then use the search function (top right, go to desktop first) to search for that file. Use the .NEF extension as well.

06/27/2011 09:31:23 PM · #14

Originally posted by mariuca:

My mistake in downloading to a computer that does not identify RAW. I'll shoot in jpg only from now on, as I always did.
Well, I get DQ for my ignorance.

Your mac is fine with RAW. Do you have an old OS X?

06/27/2011 09:55:49 PM · #15

Originally posted by bspurgeon:

Originally posted by mariuca:
My mistake in downloading to a computer that does not identify RAW. I'll shoot in jpg only from now on, as I always did.
Well, I get DQ for my ignorance.

Your mac is fine with RAW. Do you have an old OS X?

Thank you all! Oouf. I finally managed to send the NEF file, thanks to

scalvert again. Now if I'll be DQ'd I'll be for the right reasons, ha ha!

Yes Ben, my Mac OS X has a few years but I still love it.
I think that the problem is with the iphoto. The RAW images are OK on the lap top but I prefer to work on this one.

06/27/2011 09:58:54 PM · #16

They are there as you out. Did he take you through iPhoto or opening the "contents" of iPhoto via the finder?

Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 Aspherical MF Wide Angle - Black

06/28/2011 02:13:54 AM · #17

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

Originally posted by mariuca:
My mistake in downloading to a computer that does not identify RAW. I'll shoot in jpg only from now on, as I always did.
Well, I get DQ for my ignorance.

Just shoot RAW+JPG â�� and never touch the JPG except for validation. That covers all your bases.

R.

I always upload the RAW even when I have shot RAW+JPEG; I figure that someone following my editing steps on the JPEG when I used the RAW would get a different result... After all, that's why I use the RAW, to get a better (and thus different) result from the higher dynamic range.

Have I misinterpreted something? Would I not be DQ'd if my editing steps did not yield my entry?

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/28/2011 10:37:43 AM · #18

Originally posted by paulbtlw:

Would I not be DQ'd if my editing steps did not yield my entry?

Sure, but it doesn't have to match exactly. If we can see that the result is possible with the steps provided, then it's OK. Most people don't remember their exact settings to the number anyway, and if there's a question you could always resubmit with the RAW. It's easier to work with the JPEG on our end, too, since it's a smaller file to download and can be viewed online without conversion.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

06/28/2011 10:56:22 AM · #19

Originally posted by paulbtlw:

Bear in mind that the primary purpose of uploading the original is to validate that time/date of shooting. And perhaps to verify that there's no illegal cloning-out of stuff. I would think it's pretty rare that they have to delve deeper than that into the routine validations (i.e. top-5 shots) to see if they can be replicated. And, as Shannon says, they can always ask for the RAW if they need it.

R.

Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 Aspherical MF Wide Angle - Black

06/28/2011 11:56:41 AM · #20

This is really useful. I tend to submit really detailed, blow by blow editing steps. Sometimes though, I play around with filters and end up with something I like. I then start all over again to get to that look but this time keeping a blow-by-blow account.

I'm in that position with my pending FS entry. I love it and don't want to re-edit but I didn't record the steps.

Are you saying that as long as I roughly know what I did (and I do), I should chill??

Thanks

Paul

scalvert

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

06/28/2011 11:59:47 AM · #21

Originally posted by paulbtlw:

Are you saying that as long as I roughly know what I did (and I do), I should chill??

Yep. It's a contest for fun, not the Spanish Inquisition. If there's a question about an editing step, we'll ask.

Voigtlander Ultron 35mm f/1.7 Aspherical MF Wide Angle - Black

06/28/2011 12:13:14 PM · #22

Originally posted by scalvert:

Originally posted by paulbtlw:
Are you saying that as long as I roughly know what I did (and I do), I should chill??

Yep. It's a contest for fun, not the Spanish Inquisition. If there's a question about an editing step, we'll ask.

Fabulous!

DCNUTTER

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

06/28/2011 12:41:05 PM · #23

Originally posted by paulbtlw:

Paul, you don't know how glad I am that you asked this question! The things I often have to do to keep a record of everything little thing I do to my images for the challenges is a bit crazy. I always shoot in RAW and have that file backed up so that's never been a worry, but I also thought that you have to be so detailed in your steps the SC could almost reproduce your edits. They should be able to with in reason, but having to detail every little layer mask etc. was cumbersome. I would write things down, even take a screen shot of my layers..sometimes a few screen shots etc. all out of worrying that I wasn't covering my editing steps fully. I know that Photoshop can even store your values for each step such as levels, curves, HSL etc. and I used to save that file as well. The problem with that is when you do a lot of personal editing of photos etc. the data gets appended to one large file and you have to go in and remember to separate out the data for your submission etc.

I'm 3 challenges shy of my 100th challenge, and I've never once had a validation request (knock on wood) on any of them except of course for my one and only ribbon, but that was expected obviously. In general I tend to be pretty conservative with my edits for challenges (much more so than my personal stuff) because I don't want to open a can of worms. That's probably a big reason why I only have the one ribbon to be honest. That and probably boring subjects. LOL. I know that all my steps are legal...even with my own advanced edits, but I just never want to risk a DQ or have to constantly validate.

Anyway, I'll still continue to do what I feel I need to do to cover my butt, but at least I know I don't have to continue going overboard with what I document. Thanks for asking!

Dave