Comments on: RAW vs JPEG Benefits and Risks

By: Bipin

Bipin — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 13:40:15 +0000

I mainly photograph Indian weddings, shooting in varying lighting conditions just as most wedding photographers have to do. In my opinion RAW is the only option.

As you correctly point out the colours just jump out at you and also there is a leeway for not nailing the exposure for every image. Get your workflow correct and it doesn’t take too long to process the images.

By: Tiny Malone

Tiny Malone — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 06:25:19 +0000

Another option is shooting in both JPEG and RAW simultaneously. Of course this only exacerbates the issues you already addressed concerning raw, however there may be some advantages to doing so for our New To Photography friends and Working Pro’s. How so? After the excitement of getting that new camera on Christmas morning and the new photographer starts looking at their captures, editing raw files is initially a more complex process than just opening a jpeg and doing some quick levels / layers / healing brush (et al) then posting online or sending servicable images to Famly & Friends. To most eyes, that new DSLR set on auto mode can capture surpringly good images after even a few modest skills are grasped. And as that New Photographers eye improves, a yearning comes about for better image creation and more gear! However, as they learn raw workflows, initially the JPEG gives them the visual (and familiar) idea of what the image sorta looked like when she released the shutter two weeks ago at Aunt Bertha’s birthday party. She can begin the raw processing with an end in mind.

The working pro can simplify her workflow post shot by using properly exposed/composed jpegs as quick outtakes to send clients to whet their appetite or make sure that the creative direction is correct. I’ve even experienced odd instances when I was able to produce a better image in post with a jpeg than a raw file (very rarely but it happens).

Fast cards, fast os read/write speeds and big buffers are KING!!

By: Jimmy Beech

Jimmy Beech — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 12:29:33 +0000

In reply to Tony Reddrop. Thanks, Tony!

By: Tony Reddrop

Tony Reddrop — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 05:00:51 +0000

Great article Jimmy.

By: Jimmy Beech

Jimmy Beech — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 19:31:12 +0000

In reply to Kevin Brown. Hi Kevin, Yes, that's an issue as well. Luckily when Exposure is used as a standalone, the editing workflow is nondestructive. Edits saved as sidecar files keep file degradation from happening.

By: Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 18:38:30 +0000

Another issue with jpeg files is the continual loss of data every time the file is opened and saved. The compression algorithm re compresses the data with each save and more “unimportant” data is eliminated.