Comments on: My Two Bits http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/ The Photography of Brian White Fri, 06 Jan 2012 22:09:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Brian White http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-33522 Brian White Thu, 09 Jul 2009 19:47:25 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-33522 An update... I've changed my attitude slightly over the last couple years with regard to this. 1) I now shoot in "RAW + JPEG(basic)": It turns out that even "basic" has a pretty high Q-factor and nothing is gained by setting it higher when you have the RAW versions available. 2) I no longer delete the RAW files: The RAW versions sit beside the JPEG ones and stay forever. No matter how much I shoot, it really doesn't make a dent in today's hard drives so why bother to give up something you may want in the future. 3) I keep all my editing in full 16-bit resolution in Photoshop PST files. I still save the output as a high-quality JPEG, however, because it's just easier to pass around that way. When Gimp finally becomes 16-bit capable, I'll probably abandon Photoshop for it. An update… I’ve changed my attitude slightly over the last couple years with regard to this.

1) I now shoot in “RAW + JPEG(basic)”: It turns out that even “basic” has a pretty high Q-factor and nothing is gained by setting it higher when you have the RAW versions available.

2) I no longer delete the RAW files: The RAW versions sit beside the JPEG ones and stay forever. No matter how much I shoot, it really doesn’t make a dent in today’s hard drives so why bother to give up something you may want in the future.

3) I keep all my editing in full 16-bit resolution in Photoshop PST files. I still save the output as a high-quality JPEG, however, because it’s just easier to pass around that way. When Gimp finally becomes 16-bit capable, I’ll probably abandon Photoshop for it.

]]> By: george http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-3990 george Thu, 27 Sep 2007 19:33:55 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-3990 Sure.. if you always take a perfect shot there is no need to do anything in the computer.. but who really takes perfect shots. I used to shoot JPG and in general was very happy. But, I can't tell you the number of times I needed to change the exposure or modify the white balance... with the RAW file.. at least I know I'm not losing any data by making these adjustments. Sure.. it takes some time to convert and edit the files.. but not that much time. Worst case.. just apply some profiles with Auto and export the whole lot to JPG. I think as Lightroom get better and quicker.. you'll want to shoot RAW exclusively.. I know I do and love the workflow. Thx for the article though.. gave me some thought. Sure.. if you always take a perfect shot there is no need to do anything in the computer.. but who really takes perfect shots. I used to shoot JPG and in general was very happy. But, I can’t tell you the number of times I needed to change the exposure or modify the white balance… with the RAW file.. at least I know I’m not losing any data by making these adjustments.

Sure.. it takes some time to convert and edit the files.. but not that much time. Worst case.. just apply some profiles with Auto and export the whole lot to JPG.

I think as Lightroom get better and quicker.. you’ll want to shoot RAW exclusively.. I know I do and love the workflow. Thx for the article though.. gave me some thought.

]]> By: phojus http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-3919 phojus Mon, 24 Sep 2007 19:42:17 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-3919 Pretty much in full agreement there. I like to hedge my bets with raw jpeg. I wish I didn't need raw but sometimes... Pretty much in full agreement there. I like to hedge my bets with raw jpeg. I wish I didn’t need raw but sometimes…

]]> By: The Generation Gap at Background Exposure http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-101 The Generation Gap at Background Exposure Fri, 23 Feb 2007 11:59:47 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-101 [...] across time, there have been epic battles. David vs Goliath, Intel vs Motorola, RAW vs JPEG. And of course, film vs digital. Everybody has opinions on this, so why should I be any different. [...] [...] across time, there have been epic battles. David vs Goliath, Intel vs Motorola, RAW vs JPEG. And of course, film vs digital. Everybody has opinions on this, so why should I be any different. [...]

]]> By: Brian White http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Brian White Sat, 09 Dec 2006 11:58:57 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-31 You can do more with RAW/NEF, yes. However, if you set your camera settings correctly while making the exposure, then there should be very little <i>to</i> do. Also, not everyone can afford or wants to pay for Photoshop and not everyone uses Windows or Mac. I will definitely be giving Lightroom a try. I need to switch my PC over from Linux to Windoze because soon it will be shared with my wife. You can do more with RAW/NEF, yes. However, if you set your camera settings correctly while making the exposure, then there should be very little to do.

Also, not everyone can afford or wants to pay for Photoshop and not everyone uses Windows or Mac.

I will definitely be giving Lightroom a try. I need to switch my PC over from Linux to Windoze because soon it will be shared with my wife.

]]> By: Jeffrey Friedl http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Jeffrey Friedl Fri, 08 Dec 2006 15:20:13 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-30 You can do much more with a NEF than a JPG. Other than increased storage space and different workflow, there's no win with JPG. Of course, more storage and ease of workflow are exactly the reasons why someone might want to shoot JPG to begin with. Storage is so cheap that shouldn't normally be a reason. The pain of raw workflow is why I shot JPG RAW when I got my D200. I actually shot the JPG in small mode, because that was plenty large enough for 99% of what I would do with the shot, and I knew I had the NEF lying around should I need it for that rare occation. However, this all changed with Adobe Lightroom. Adobe Lightroom is a beta product and has its beta issues, but it's so freaking wonderful for my workflow that I switched to 100% raw, and bought Adobe stock(!). I find that I use Photoshop much less now, because the common things (tweaking exposure, white balance, cropping, rotating, sharpening, etc) can be done from Lightroom. Lightroom just *works*, and my workflow is so much smoother now even than when I shot JPG only. Even if you want to shoot JPG, Lightroom is a huge win due to its flowing workflow. Give it, or Apple Apperture (not a free product, but not beta) a try and you'll never go back. And you'll probably find that you switch to all raw, just because that makes things all the easier. Jeffrey You can do much more with a NEF than a JPG. Other than increased storage space and different workflow, there’s no win with JPG. Of course, more storage and ease of workflow are exactly the reasons why someone might want to shoot JPG to begin with.

Storage is so cheap that shouldn’t normally be a reason.

The pain of raw workflow is why I shot JPG RAW when I got my D200. I actually shot the JPG in small mode, because that was plenty large enough for 99% of what I would do with the shot, and I knew I had the NEF lying around should I need it for that rare occation.

However, this all changed with Adobe Lightroom.

Adobe Lightroom is a beta product and has its beta issues, but it’s so freaking wonderful for my workflow that I switched to 100% raw, and bought Adobe stock(!). I find that I use Photoshop much less now, because the common things (tweaking exposure, white balance, cropping, rotating, sharpening, etc) can be done from Lightroom.

Lightroom just *works*, and my workflow is so much smoother now even than when I shot JPG only. Even if you want to shoot JPG, Lightroom is a huge win due to its flowing workflow.

Give it, or Apple Apperture (not a free product, but not beta) a try and you’ll never go back. And you’ll probably find that you switch to all raw, just because that makes things all the easier.

Jeffrey

]]> By: Max http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-23 Max Mon, 04 Dec 2006 07:45:19 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-23 Great article and great blog. As I'ev just made the leap into the world of DSLR photography, this is something I'm still undecided on... Great article and great blog. As I’ev just made the leap into the world of DSLR photography, this is something I’m still undecided on…

]]> By: Helena http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Helena Mon, 04 Dec 2006 03:57:16 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-22 Hi,,I ran across your comment on one site,,and thought I'd check out your blog,,I too feel like a artist with a camera,,I love taking pictures,,Scenery also B/W,,not into the technical terms of all,. and perhaps my photo's that I take my night appeal to all,,but I love the shots I take. Check it out on a boring night,,,when I have no picture to post I usually put a off color humor. May your batteriers never run out on those perfect shots,,,I hate when that happens-- Hi,,I ran across your comment on one site,,and thought I’d check out your blog,,I too feel like a artist with a camera,,I love taking pictures,,Scenery also B/W,,not into the technical terms of all,. and perhaps my photo’s that I take my night appeal to all,,but I love the shots I take. Check it out on a boring night,,,when I have no picture to post I usually put a off color humor. May your batteriers never run out on those perfect shots,,,I hate when that happens–

]]> By: Larry Eiss http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Larry Eiss Fri, 01 Dec 2006 13:47:42 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-21 Brian, Thanks for the comment at LarryEiss.com. You have a great site here and I look forward to seeing more of your work and reading more of your thoughts. I'll place a link to you in my sidebar. --Larry Brian,

Thanks for the comment at LarryEiss.com. You have a great site here and I look forward to seeing more of your work and reading more of your thoughts.

I’ll place a link to you in my sidebar.

–Larry

]]> By: Phototutor http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/2006/11/my-two-bits/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Phototutor Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:42:48 +0000 http://www.backgroundexposure.com/blog/index.php/2006/11/20/my-two-bits/#comment-18 Nice article and I appreciate the comment left on my site. I haven't quite made up my mind on whether to shoot in RAW or JPEG format yet. I see the advantages and disadvantages of both, but I really haven't figured out which one works best for the images I like to shoot. I'll have to continue to play with both formats and draw some sort of conclusion down the road. For now though, I shoot in both. Nice article and I appreciate the comment left on my site. I haven’t quite made up my mind on whether to shoot in RAW or JPEG format yet. I see the advantages and disadvantages of both, but I really haven’t figured out which one works best for the images I like to shoot. I’ll have to continue to play with both formats and draw some sort of conclusion down the road. For now though, I shoot in both.

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