Shooting RAW

 As I said in the previous post, I suggest you to shoot all your photos in a RAW format. I do the same and many other photographers aswell. Now you probably wonder what is this type of format. Well, I'll make everything clear for you.

Your camera, when you buy it, it is set to shoot in JPEG format which is a very common file format.The important thing is that the format can be changed and there is where RAW comes in.Once you       change into RAW you will be able to shoot less photos (RAW files are bigger) but it worth it, trust me!

 A RAW file is...

-A different file format which will require a special software to to view (Adobe Lightroom for example)
-Uncompressed (A 10 megapixel camera will produce a 10 MB file)
-The complete (lossless) data from the camera's sensor.
-Higher in dynamic range ( ability to display highlights and shadows)
-Lower in contrast
-Not as sharp
-Not suitable for printing without post-processing 
-Ready to be processed by your computer.

Shooting RAW has both advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

-Compared to 8-bit JPEG that can only contain up to 16 million colors, the RAW (12-bit) can take up to over 64 billion colors!
-RAW format contains the most dynamic range so you will be able to change the lighting after if it's over or underexposed. (To do that you will need a special piece of software such as Adobe Lightroom)
-As I said, It is a compressed file but comparing to a JPEG file, the file utilize a lossless compression. This means that the photo doesn't suffer from image compression artifacts.
-No image sharpening is performed so you can apply more complex one in your PC.
-RAW files can be used as evidence of your ownership of the photograph.

Disadvantages:

-The files require post-production and conversion before using them.
-Takes much more of the camera's space
-You will have to convert them into other formats (JPEG,TIFF) before giving them away.

So I use RAW or JPEG?

If you just started and want to take hundreds of photos just to have them, then shoot JPEG.
If you just started and you want to make something out of it, the switch to RAW. I know it's bigger format and you can take only few hundreds photo but don't worry because if you messed them up, you can fix them later. Storage memory is cheap these days so that shouldn't be a problem.
You don't have to do it now, you can try. Go outside, switch to RAW, take few photos then go home and edit them, make them as you like and don't worry you will get used to it.

Ok, now we know what RAW is, how to edit it, how to convert it?

I am using Adobe Lightroom for this. It's a great software that allows you to play with the exposure, colors etc. and i'm not the only one using it. You can also use Photoshop which also gives you many other editing options. Both let you to export the photo in a different format  and both are great!

Shooting RAW is a way in which you can improve your stile and your skills and it also makes you see the things different. Being limited in terms of numbers of shots makes you think the composition before actual shooting. It opens your mind and your eyes and I think it's great change that you can do in your photography career. Take it slowly, as I said, practice it and it will get better and better.

Now let's say it together: I Shoot RAW!

Digital Photography Class: Break Time!