So New it's Scary

[JessCumbie]

OK I've never shot with RAW does this give you some huge advantage??? Shouldn't you just set everything correctly in your camera so you don't have to lean on ole photoshop so much.

I'll admit my photos aren't the greatest in technical skill, cause I'm still learning. I've just gotten a great camera it's a Canon EOS 30D and I love it. I've had it for about a year but have just recently gotten to spend some time with it. Trying to set different settings and things of that nature. I took photography/tv production in highschool but was way more interested in boys than f/stops and white balance.

Long story short, I'm most likely going to need lots of help!!! I'm gathering enough to get started trying to support myself in the photography biz, but have lots and lots to learn. The basics are good but that's just about all I got.

Thus far my images come out flat and dark. I've learned a lot in tweaking them in photoshop but I don't want to rely on photoshop!!! I want to understand what I'm shooting and how I'm doing it!!!

[Mike]

Welcome to the forum Jess.

You'll be able to learn quite a bit here and have some fun at the same time.

PS: don't be scared:D

[RTMiller]

If you are going to shoot Raw, this book (http://www.amazon.com/Real-World-Camera-Adobe-Photoshop/dp/032127878X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_11/002-8348953-9284855?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175281449&sr=8-11)will help you a lot.

[inthedeck]

Or, you could get the book by Bryan Peterson: Understanding Exposure -- this should be available on amazon, etc. and is a great place to start.

You could also post a pic, with exif data, and some other's could guide you in terms of what you could do to better the pictures themselves, straight out of the camera.

Lots to learn here...so, enjoy the experience, and welcome to the boards.

[canoflan]

First, learn all you can about exposure. Shooting RAW allows a lot of latitude and foregiveness, but in no way is it designed to be a substitute for getting the best exposure possible for your intended purpose. Additionally, RAW will provide you the ultimate in what your camera can offer in terms of quality; therefore, buy the largest memory cards you can afford, put your file format on RAW or RAW + JPEG and start to learn about the excitement of RAW shooting.

FYI - I shoot a 5D and I will always seek to get my histogram where I can get the most from a picture. The risk for me is getting the photo too dark because when increasing the exposure in some photo editing program, you increase noise, regardless of how low the ISO was. I am a big fan of the ultimate in quality and I use a tripod/monopod all the time. You simply never know when that next photo may be one of your best.

[In2Photos]

Welcome to the forums. Like you I had many questions when I first began. Everything I now know I learned from this site or from some link from this site. So let me throw a few links your way to help you get started:

Post Processing Sticky (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=138533)

RAW FAQs (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=80337)

Adobe Camera RAW FAQs (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=244018)

I also want to second the books mentioned above. They are great resources to have. In fact they should be your next purchase.

[timbernet]

I was talking to a film shooter about RAW and photoshop - she was saying how she doesn't like how people in photoshop do so many adjustments.

I asked her if she knew what the local photo lab did to her photos... She said "No"... RAW is like a digital darkroom... The difference between digital + RAW vs. film + local lab, is that YOU are controlling the RAW process...

The local film lab might increase the exposure a bit, they might dodge and burn, etc - there is nothing wrong with using RAW/Photoshop to make the image look like what you saw it as...

[Mcary]

Thus far my images come out flat and dark. I've learned a lot in tweaking them in photoshop but I don't want to rely on photoshop!!! I want to understand what I'm shooting and how I'm doing it!!!

The reason your image are coming out flat and dark may be partly doto how the sensors in most DSLRs are designed to capture data. Here a link that does a very nice job of explaining how the sensors in most DSLRs capture information.

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorials/expose-right.shtml

Mike

[jklewer]

there is nothing wrong with using RAW/Photoshop to make the image look like what you saw it as...

I agree, but the problem seems to be people using photoshop to enhance boring shots of boring scenes into brilliant colors and all. Photoshop ends up being used as an excuse for not seeking the best conditions when setting up a shot...

I don't own photoshop, and dont plan on owning it, but I will admit that at times I wish I could "fudge" my photos a bit! Just a thought...

[Mcary]

I agree, but the problem seems to be people using photoshop to enhance boring shots of boring scenes into brilliant colors and all. Photoshop ends up being used as an excuse for not seeking the best conditions when setting up a shot...

I don't own photoshop, and dont plan on owning it, but I will admit that at times I wish I could "fudge" my photos a bit! Just a thought...


There’s this little light bulb that at some point goes off in head of every photographer that shoots digital when he or she realizes that what takes 5-10 minutes to fix in PS can usually be fixed in 5-10 second if you do it before pressing the shutter.


Mike

[JessCumbie]

I don't want to rely on photoshop, I want my photos to be crisp, and nice from the camera. Photoshop has some very nifty actions and features but I don't want to preform two actions to get my desired effect.

Thanks so much for all the helpful hints. I have a girl I went to highschool with that's also a photographer and she seems to see me as competition any time I try to speak with her about photography related issues she won't give any info with out something to trade or payment of some kind.

So, again thanks! :)

Oh and I'm horrible at the forums! I can't keep up with conversations!!!!!

[DAMphyne]

Welcome to the asylum JessCrumbie,
One thing you should know about your high-end DSLR, the camera doesn't do a lot of processing of the image unless you instruct it to do so.
P&S cameras have post processing built in to produce "Finished" photos right out of the camera. with your DSLR you will need to PP in order to get the quality of image you want.
You can set your camera controls; sharpening, saturation, color balance, ect. to produce out of camera photos that may satisfy your needs.

[S.Horton]

Welcome to POTN.

You'll no doubt find POTN members will save you time and help you in any way possible.

I owe them a great debt myself.

If I were starting all over again, I would read these books, roughly in this order:
http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Photography-Book-Scott-Kelby/dp/032147404X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9680187-6037731?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175307398&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Mastering-Your-Digital-SLR-Camera/dp/2940378037/ref=pd_bbs_2/102-9680187-6037731?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175307467&sr=1-2

And, the one everyone has:
http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Exposure-Photographs-Digital-Updated/dp/0817463003/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9680187-6037731?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175307497&sr=1-1

I know what you are saying about the purist aspect, and it is, to an extent, true, but you'll need a way to develop the photos digitally.

The most used software is, of course, Photoshop. If you are using that, here is a great starter book: http://www.amazon.com/Photoshop-Digital-Photographers-Voices-Matter/dp/0321330625/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9680187-6037731?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175307743&sr=1-1

Ah, and one big timesaver: there's a [search] box on POTN, below the banner, right side, below your screename.

Enjoy!

[S.Horton]

...I don't want to rely on photoshop, I want my photos to be crisp, and nice from the camera...

Yes, I know exactly what you feel.

Another post here is spot-on: all photos are adjusted, it is normal.

What CVS or Kodak or any print house is doing is adjusting your photo for you in a machine. Since you've taken control, you'll be doing that on your PC now. How cool is that!?

[JessCumbie]

you guys are so cool!

[milleker]

RAW is certainly the new hotness. I don't even shoot RAW+JPEG anymore, being able to adjust exposure and color temperature has saved my butt on many occasions!

[JessCumbie]

RAW is certainly the new hotness. I don't even shoot RAW+JPEG anymore, being able to adjust exposure and color temperature has saved my butt on many occasions!


Yes but can you edit RAW in photoshop. I don't have any other software for editing

[PhotosGuy]

I don't want to rely on photoshop, I want my photos to be crisp, and nice from the camera. Good goal! OTOH, I've spent a few decades in darkrooms, & have no qualms about using PS with the lights on.

I also agree with, "but the problem seems to be people using photoshop to enhance boring shots of boring scenes into brilliant colors and all. Photoshop ends up being used as an excuse for not seeking the best conditions when setting up a shot...", but they need to start somewhere, no? Eventually the "light" will come on for them.

Why I love RAW - '53 Ford Sunliner (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=43761)

[Glenn NK]

Already mentioned is Bryan Peterson's Understanding Exposure.

He also has a book called, Understanding Digital Photography, which I higly recommend. His books can be found in a good bookstore.

And for the purist (I tend to be that way too - I try to get it right in the field), you might try Lightroom. It doesn't have all the manipulative tools of Photoshop, but it gives you superb colour and contrast control, with some minor "fix-ups" like red-eye removal, cropping (shouldn't be too sacreligious), and some spot repairs.

I only shot JPEG twice, both times by accident, and I'm still annoyed that I screwed up the setting.

[milleker]

Agreed, but the modifications I deem 'somewhat acceptable' can be done in the Photoshop RAW window. Those same modifications can be done once and applied to all of the other files with ease. Even if someone didn't have Photoshop I know that Canon (and Nikon) come with basic RAW software that should be able to do the same and then toss them out to JPEG.

I agree about getting it right in camera, less time on each image = more profit per print order.

Yes but can you edit RAW in photoshop. I don't have any other software for editing

[FotOz]

I know I've come in 5 days late, but after some experimenting I now shoot exclusively RAW. I can't afford PhotoshopCS, but I did buy Photoshop Elements 5 and love what it does for me. I used to use Pixmantec until I was offered a 'free upgrade' that only lasted for a couple of months. After the 'trial period' of the upgrade ended I could extend my trial but that gave me the Pixmantec watermark all over my shots. The 'new' upgrade was too damned dear so I told them to shove it! It's obvious since Adobe bought out Pixmantec they want to destroy it, and monopolise the market. I shoot around 25 weddings a year with my 300D, and use a 2GB and two 1GB cards. More than enough memory for each job.

[calicokat]

Raw is best served cooked

[Pete]

OK I've never shot with RAW does this give you some huge advantage??? Shouldn't you just set everything correctly in your camera so you don't have to lean on ole photoshop so much.

Exactly the right thing to keep in mind when shooting RAW.

Using RAW will enhance your best shots, not save bad ones. Get the photography right in camera and you're 90% of the way there.

Simply put, RAW let's you make the decisions in processing.
JPEG means you're trusting the camera to make decisions for you.

[JessCumbie]

Hmmmm all very interesting. I did do a RAW shoot and I'm not sure how I feel about it. I have some learning to do and getting used to different fstops and things like that. For now I'm pretty certain that I'll shoot RAW+JPEG just to see the differences.

Still really confused about the settings and the editing stuff in Camera RAW but I'm sure I'll learn it. :)