Shooting in RAW (was old digital cameras)

Some photographers want to express their creativity through photo realism as opposed to photo illustration.They don't like excessive post -processing.They research their location, turn up early or stay long enough to catch it in just the right light (Photo Realism), as opposed to those who've learned to do lots of amazing tricks on their computer(Photo Illustration).They know all about composition and perspective.A truly great image is made in the field.

Many professional photographers recommend we always shoot in RAW format. A RAW file can appear quite flat.The resulting image is not  a true representation of the vibrant sunrise or sunset you saw on location.

We need to learn a few simple techniques to bring out the fullness of that glorious scene in our final image.I'll be searching for post-processing techniques to bring out the diamond that's hidden in the rough raw file.

A RAW image is not a photograph. It is simply a file within the camera holding information from the scene photographed. The image you see on the screen of your camera is a jpeg image created in camera according to preset programmes by the respective camera manufacturer. This is why RAW images do not show up in a lot of basic image processing programmes. Windows own image viewing programme for instance requires a specific addon download  from the Microsoft website in order to view a RAW image

As Ken rightly says RAW images are usually not exactly as seen by the eye, hence the need for post processing. Which is an ongoing feud but is no different whatsoever from what we used to do prior to digital with films in darkrooms. The Raw image is simply the modern equivalent of the negative we got from film and as such needs to be processed to get the best possible from it. You can give 3 different people the same RAW file and end up with 3 vastly different results. Again nothing different from the darkroom days. 

I fully agree with those who say you get the image right in camera which again is nothing new and quite correct. However RAW files do give you the opportunity to correct mistakes and should not be dismissed. 

There are many truly excellent images on POE but the vast majority could also be improved with a little post processing. 

The human eye has a very sophisticated image processer called the human brain. Try watching a sporting event on television on a day when half the arena is bathed in light, the other half in deep shadow. The cameras that bring these images are state of the art but the pictures are far harder on the eye than they would be if you were actually at the event. The same is often the case when seeing a scene through the viewfinder of a camera. It all looks perfect. Hopefully, we then select a suitable aperture and speed looking forward to seeing a fine captured picture. The results are often not quite as we remember the “live” image, because our cameras are only able to do so much.  

Think of the RAW image as being a bit like an exposed frame on a film, latent until it’s processed. We use Photoshop or other software to bring the images to life. With film, some of us merely sent the film to a lab, where automatic machines developed the film and printed the results, on mostly paper that was too small. Those with darkrooms used developers of choice to suit the film and when it came to printing, used all manner of techniques to burn out, hold back and employ filters to adjust contrasts in various parts of the print. So, RAW or DNG files are very like film negatives, and as such are only the first step in producing a final result worthy of being printed or shown by other methods (POE included). It is very hard to obtain a perfect exposure simply by pointing the camera and pressing the shutter, hoping the various “auto” settings will do the total job. They won’t. Well, maybe if everything is of a similar tone a decent result may follow, but most photographic subjects are not taken in subdued lighting.

The hard truth is that RAW / DNG provides the best start in life for a latent image. We then, as photographers have to use skills at the point of taking, converting and post editing our work to get the best results. It’s not simple, but that’s just the way it is. The other great thing about RAW and DNG is that you keep the original as well.

Sometimes, when I see a series of thirty pictures submitted to POE, I really do wonder if the people taking these images realize just how much they are losing by a “camera to submission” with little done in between.  Yes I’m banging on about that again!

By Jove, I’m getting vertigo on this soap box, so I’ll jump off now and retreat to a darkened room, as I don’t have a darkroom anymore.