Here is a sample of RAW and how it can help make your photos better.
Normal RAW exposure.
Normal exposure jpg. They look pretty close because you are looking at a computer monitor. The RAW has been converted to jpg in post. The original jpg was done by the camera, a 1Ds Mk III in this case.
However, suspose you got something wrong. In this case I under exposed it by 3 stops. But it could be any condition. WB, color balance, saturation, and on and on, etc.
Corrected RAW.
Corrected jpg. But below lets look a little closer.
Especially check the shadows. Can you see the difference? Need a better look? OK, here is a 100% crop of that enlargment.
It should be blantly obivious that RAW is the way to go. All else was equal. Same camera. Same lens. Same time of day. Same, same!
Get Lightroom................
@jazzman1 wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:"On a Monitor, I'm going for a HP 23" 1080P mod # 23cw. What do you think????"
I have no opinion since I never used one or even remember seeing one. I can't give a yay or nay on it. When I can't give a personal review, I don't. I generally don't trust any of those reviews you read. As I stated the best you can draw is a general, loose, consensus from them. Unless, of course, I know the person doing the review.
However, as I salo stated, I would get the very biggest monitor possible. For me right now, that is two 27" monitors. Currently, I am in the process of considering the new Microsoft 32" curved monitor. I think I could work with just one with it. Pretty impressive. But for you get the biggest you can. You won't regret it.
"LR 5 or 6??? 6 is newest, reading mixed reviews. Some think 5 better."
There you go, again, believing the reviews are gospel. Without doubt get LR6, geeze. It requires a 64-bit machine, you know?
Also buy it. Don't do the cloud, BS
, that Adobe pushes.
That said, I am not so sure you are going to benefit from LR 5 or 6. After the latest go round with you. Get the monitor (hopefully a 27") up and running first. If you are not able to see the vast array of adjustments and/or corrections, stay with the free DPP. There is a newer version 4 of DPP out. Its pretty nice especially for free. I just d/l the latest DPP4, as is my routine, and am toying with it. Bob from Boston,
would be proud and grinning ear to ear. Canon is getting there.
Again, one more time....I don't take reviews for the gosple. I only mentioned some say they have problems with LR6. And yes, it reqiures 64bit processor, I know that. I never buy anything cloud, nor buy download, if I can help it. I always prefer a CD/DVD in hand. I just don't like to pay for software I don't physically own. I don't do cloud anything if I can help it.
@ebiggs1 wrote:Shot these yesterday. LR6, of course.
No offense, but these pics don't look real. I know they are, I know you took them, but there's so much manlipilation with LR that it looks more like a painting. If that's your intention you succeeded. I want my pics to look like something I take with my camera. This is the downside of Photoshop, LR, PSE, etc........... for me. Sometimes you guys go overboard with editing your pics. Seriously my friend I would use editing very sparringly, just slight touchups. These pics are nice don't get me wrong, but not the look I want to go for in my pics.
@ebiggs1 wrote:Shot these yesterday. LR6, of course.
All are too saturated for my taste, but the second one (a nondescript shot brought to life by the cloud formations) gets away with it. The first and third also manage to look a trifle oversharpened, though that's probably an illusion. The third picture is the pick of the litter for its impeccable composition; at the risk of being accused of an unforced carp, I think I'd perfect it by cropping off that last tree on the right-hand edge. All three pictures are clearly the work of someone who knows what he's doing.
Just my 2¢ worth.
@RobertTheFat wrote:
@ebiggs1 wrote:Shot these yesterday. LR6, of course.
All are too saturated for my taste, but the second one (a nondescript shot brought to life by the cloud formations) gets away with it. The first and third also manage to look a trifle oversharpened, though that's probably an illusion. The third picture is the pick of the litter for its impeccable composition; at the risk of being accused of an unforced carp, I think I'd perfect it by cropping off that last tree on the right-hand edge. All three pictures are clearly the work of someone who knows what he's doing.
Just my 2¢ worth.
I can see most of what you point out in these pics. All are very nice pics and if Biggs had painted them they would be marvelous. I'm somewhat an artist so I do appriciate good art work. I would most certainly like all three pics here if they were paintings. But as camera photo's they're not my taste. Too much editing malipalation for me. where is the photographers skills, talent??? In photoshop, LR, PSE, etc!!!!!!!!! I suppose alot of peeps just see editing software as another tool like the camera itself, but I disagree. As pics these are not my cup of tea.
Gentlemen, gentlemen, you obiviously do not understand HDR ? 
High-dynamic-range imaging (or HDR) is a set of techniques used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of lumunosity than is possible with standard digital imaging or photographic techniques.
HDR is a process where you take 3 or 5 or more photos. Each with a slightly different exposure setting. Than you use software to stack and align the multiple photos into a single. The new version of LR6 and DPP4 can do this. It is similar to a stacking process that astrophotographers use to get the glorious shots of the planets and stars and galaxies, etc. Those pictures are impossibile with out stacking.
A normal photograph had a DR of around four but an HDR image can exceed 10 or 11 or even more.
The tone mapping actually removes most of the contrast and very little sharpening is done. In fact I added none. Expand your horizons and check out HDR, guys!
Demo.
Of course like it or not, it is up to you. I think they are great and a little something different. Plus they offer another challenge. I am doing a new book titled "All you have to do is look.......and HDR Study." Sould be here by the 1sr of June.
@ebiggs1 wrote:
Gentlemen, gentlemen, you obiviously do not understand HDR ?
High-dynamic-range imaging (or HDR) is a set of techniques used in imaging and photography to reproduce a greater dynamic range of lumunosity than is possible with standard digital imaging or photographic techniques.
HDR is a process where you take 3 or 5 or more photos. Each with a slightly different exposure setting. Than you use software to stack and align the multiple photos into a single. The new version of LR6 and DPP4 can do this. It is similar to a stacking process that astrophotographers use to get the glorious shots of the planets and stars and galaxies, etc. Those pictures are impossibile with out stacking.
A normal photograph had a DR of around four but an HDR image can exceed 10 or 11 or even more.
The tone mapping actually removes most of the contrast and very little sharpening is done. In fact I added none. Expand your horizons and check out HDR, guys!
Thanks for the explanation. It makes sense the way you explain it and as I said they're nice pics on their own merit. It's just not my cup of tea for pics. I have heard of this process but don't know much about it. In fact my Canon SX60 65X Zoom Bridge Camera has a "HDR Mode". But I think it's a movie (video) mode. I have'nt explored it yet but I will check it out. Biggs I gotta give you your game though as I said this is not my cup of tea for my pics. You do know your stuff. You do have much talent my friend and am looking forward to your new book. Keep up the good work and keep doing your thing whether others (including me) don't like it. Maybe in time I may change my mind but I really don't believe we have to resort to this to highlight and enjoy our work with our pics. I do support and encourage you if this is what you like.
