I LOVE RAW!!!!! - DPChallenge Forums

10/07/2006 11:21:29 PM · #1

OK, so I've been a sceptic about shooting raw since, well forever. I decided that today was the day to put it to the test.

RAW is AMAZING! It's sooo easy to manipulate the images and, and... wow! =]

Here are a couple of shots from today. I shot these two different ladies this afternoon in Lafayette, LA.

Please feel free to tell me what you think about the pics (and the procesing)

fotomann_forever

10/07/2006 11:23:06 PM · #2

OK, you wow over RAW and I'll wow over the subject matter...err, I mean skilled photography :-)

Message edited by author 2006-10-07 23:24:25.

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

10/07/2006 11:24:17 PM · #3

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

OK, you wow over RAW and I'll wow over the subject matter :-)

Easy... One of them is my sister... =]

fotomann_forever

10/07/2006 11:27:15 PM · #4

Blowing the highlights in this one, and coming close on a few others, but you may be able to regain some of that by dialing the exposure back a bit in RAW conversion.

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

10/07/2006 11:28:03 PM · #5

Originally posted by tryals15:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:
OK, you wow over RAW and I'll wow over the subject matter :-)

Easy... One of them is my sister... =]

Lucky for you I moved from MS then ;) Anyway, NOW you understand the hoopla over shooting in RAW. It may add an extra step in processing, but well worth it. Good job.

P.S. Leroy's right...you can back off a bit in that shot and still keep all your details.

Message edited by author 2006-10-07 23:29:23.

10/07/2006 11:30:02 PM · #6

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Blowing the highlights in this one, and coming close on a few others, but you may be able to regain some of that by dialing the exposure back a bit in RAW conversion.

That one, in particular, was intentional... The original was fine...

edit: It's possible I may have gotten a bit carried away... =]

Message edited by author 2006-10-07 23:31:22.

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

10/08/2006 12:05:59 AM · #7

Originally posted by tryals15:

Originally posted by fotomann_forever:

Blowing the highlights in this one, and coming close on a few others, but you may be able to regain some of that by dialing the exposure back a bit in RAW conversion.

That one, in particular, was intentional... The original was fine...

edit: It's possible I may have gotten a bit carried away... =]

Is this any better? It looks like it on my monitor... =]

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/08/2006 01:17:08 AM · #8

Originally posted by MrEd:

[Anyway, NOW you understand the hoopla over shooting in RAW. It may add an extra step in processing, but well worth it. Good job.

P.S. Leroy's right...you can back off a bit in that shot and still keep all your details.

In my experience, working from RAW shortens my processing time, especially on images that have nagging problems, particularly in the color balance area but also in dynamic range. These problems are MUCH easier to solve in RAW, so more images only need a lick 'n a spit polishing in photoshop before they go out the door. I don't see it as an "extra step", I see it as a major labor-saving FIRST step.

R.

Photologist

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max

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

10/08/2006 01:30:36 AM · #9

I agree with Robert. There may be some time savings during your workflow.

However, what folks need to realize is that RAW is not a substitute for poor focus, poor composition, or for poor lighting.

(Not that your sample photos exhibit those attributes)

Message edited by author 2006-10-08 01:43:30.

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

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

10/08/2006 01:40:43 AM · #10

Originally posted by lesgainous:

I agree with Robert. There may be some time savings during your workflow.

However, what folks need to realize is that RAW is not a substitute for poor focus, poor composition, or for poor lighting.

Right. It just gives you more options in the processing, and to a certain extent can help you recover from dumb mistakes (wrong WB, no problem!) although it's usually best just not to make 'em in the first place. Here's an expanded list of what RAW cannot do:

1. Fix your focus
2. Improve your lighting
3. Compensate for motion blur or camera shake
4. Bail you out when you forgot to switch back to 100 ISO from last night's 3200 ISO
5. Get rid of sensor dust
6. ... You get the idea.

RAW isn't a substitute for a brain: it just allows you to make many in-camera parameter decisions after the fact, so it's extremely flexible. And to a certain extent it allows you to fine-tune exposure; if you got it in the ballpark, RAW can perfect it. This is particularly noticeable when you're dancing on the edge of blown-out highlights, when you can pull the exposure back a stop and lower the contrast and get everything contained to where you can work with it in PS. It's best to get the exposure right to begin with, of course, but that doesn't always happen in real life.

R.

Message edited by author 2006-10-08 01:41:16.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/08/2006 11:22:37 AM · #11

Robert, I totally agree. I found that while it was technically an extra step. I spent very little time in photoshop tweaking the images... Yay for RAW! =]

I'm still interested in feedback on the shots, too!

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

10/08/2006 11:32:44 AM · #12

I'll chime in here too. After working with RAW for only the last two weeks I'm a convert. Working with 16-bit seems to add that control needed for fine-tuning. But it sure does chomp away at the memory...

Sheryll

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/08/2006 09:53:36 PM · #13

Maybe someone should do a tutorial thread on this. Both how to shoot in RAW as well as how to convert to RAW during editing. I'm new so I have no clue. Maybe I'm not ready for it who knows.
Sheryll

Sigma 15-30mm f/3.5-4.5 EX Aspherical DG DF for Minolta

10/08/2006 10:20:48 PM · #14

Originally posted by Sheryll:

Maybe someone should do a tutorial thread on this. Both how to shoot in RAW as well as how to convert to RAW during editing. I'm new so I have no clue. Maybe I'm not ready for it who knows.
Sheryll

I think that's a great idea.. but I'm definetely not the one to do it... =]

MrEd

Sony DSLR-A100

10/08/2006 10:31:29 PM · #15

Originally posted by tryals15:

Originally posted by Sheryll:
Maybe someone should do a tutorial thread on this. Both how to shoot in RAW as well as how to convert to RAW during editing. I'm new so I have no clue. Maybe I'm not ready for it who knows.
Sheryll

I think that's a great idea.. but I'm definetely not the one to do it... =]

I am certainly not qualified to do it either.
But:
1. You can't change JPG or Tiffs to RAW, only from RAW to 1 of them.
2. You'll need some RAW conversion program.
3. Start by reading this. Good place to start.

Message edited by author 2006-10-08 22:31:52.

Sheryll

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/08/2006 10:40:03 PM · #16

That's exactly what I wanted. I already bookmarked that page so I can go back to it. For now I just skimmed over it. Thanks!!

Best-Buy Easy Point & Click

10/08/2006 10:57:07 PM · #17

This is the program that I got for Raw. Mostly due to the recommendations of others...

Message edited by author 2006-10-08 22:57:16.

nfessel

10/08/2006 11:23:47 PM · #18

I prefer cooked.

Krikkit

Nikon D700

Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 EX DG APO IF for Nikon

10/08/2006 11:31:36 PM · #19

Ironically, I shot in RAW for the first time today as well. My problem with it, though, is that I can not figure out how to open them in PS. I tried to open it under "all formats" but no-go. I tried under "camera raw, nef" and still no lcuk. I was hoping someone here could explain to me how to do this! I have seached online and even went to PS help section. any advice? It would me much appreciated!

Thanx!

Deb :-)