Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

[DPNow]

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DPNow book review: The popular wildlife photographer, Andy Rouse, has published a book on getting to grips with RAW image shooting. Liberally illustrated with many of his best wildlife shots 'Understanding RAW Photography' is an unusually captivating book for a technical guide. We find out whether it delivers the goods. Ref: 4TFD -+-

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[Stephen]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

I remember a discussion on this forum(well the old one actually) in which many thought the need to use raw was debatable, and that there was no real need, and this was backed up by the writings on Ken Rockwell. I disagreed with him then and IMHO the people who argued enthusiastically for the benefits of raw have been proven right. Its good to see Rouse writing at length on its use. I often think he is a bit of an opportunist and sees a commercial opportunity in a subject like this, nevertheless it shows a change in the acceptance of using Raw mode which is good to see.

[Ian]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

I remember a discussion on this forum(well the old one actually) in which many thought the need to use raw was debatable, and that there was no real need, and this was backed up by the writings on Ken Rockwell. I disagreed with him then and IMHO the people who argued enthusiastically for the benefits of raw have been proven right. Its good to see Rouse writing at length on its use. I often think he is a bit of an opportunist and sees a commercial opportunity in a subject like this, nevertheless it shows a change in the acceptance of using Raw mode which is good to see.

I wrote a humorous editorial on the use if RAW for one of the magazines I used to write for a couple of years back. My point was that I could see a lot of people actually producing images that were worse than the JPEGs that their camera would otherwise deliver. This wasn't down to any doubt that RAW was better, but that the available tools were so hard to use. That's changed a lot now, of course. I still tend to shoot RAW+JPEG for convenience as not all programs will thumbnail RAW files and, or of they can they are very slow and for in a hurry use JPEG is more universal (and Web compatible), but for most other uses I opt for RAW.

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

I wrote a humorous editorial on the use if RAW for one of the magazines I used to write for a couple of years back. My point was that I could see a lot of people actually producing images that were worse than the JPEGs that their camera would otherwise deliver. This wasn't down to any doubt that RAW was better, but that the available tools were so hard to use. That's changed a lot now, of course. I still tend to shoot RAW+JPEG for convenience as not all programs will thumbnail RAW files and, or of they can they are very slow and for in a hurry use JPEG is more universal (and Web compatible), but for most other uses I opt for RAW.

Ian

I think this is quite true. We had some friends staying with us last weekend, he uses a D200 and was showing us some shots he had taken recently in Scotland. He uses Raw but seemed most indignant that a similar shot to his taken by his wife with a Panny digicam seemed so much better in terms of colour, contrast and sharpness. He wanted to know why. I explained that it was because he was using Raw and that he had the ability to control the end result as he wanted to, in his software, and not have all the work done by the camera. We spent a couple of minutes in Lightroom tweaking his image, and the realisation of what was happening suddenly dawned on him. A seminal moment

[Ian]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

I think this is quite true. We had some friends staying with us last weekend, he uses a D200 and was showing us some shots he had taken recently in Scotland. He uses Raw but seemed most indignant that a similar shot to his taken by his wife with a Panny digicam seemed so much better in terms of colour, contrast and sharpness. He wanted to know why. I explained that it was because he was using Raw and that he had the ability to control the end result as he wanted to, in his software, and not have all the work done by the camera. We spent a couple of minutes in Lightroom tweaking his image, and the realisation of what was happening suddenly dawned on him. A seminal moment

One of the problems with independent RAW converters is that their defaults aren't necessarily very good. My experience with the software supplied by camera manufacturers is that while they tend to be slow, unintuitive and lacking in tools, they will usually produce an initial view of a shot that very closely resembles what the camera would produce as a JPEG, so you get a much better starting point. I know that the Olympus RAW (Master and Studio) software basically reproduces the camera's own adjustment options so the software models the camera's own image processing. But, alas, even with an AMD 64 X2 5600+ powerhouse of a PC, Adobe ACR leaves it standing

Ian

[Stephen]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

One of the problems with independent RAW converters is that their defaults aren't necessarily very good. My experience with the software supplied by camera manufacturers is that while they tend to be slow, unintuitive and lacking in tools, they will usually produce an initial view of a shot that very closely resembles what the camera would produce as a JPEG, so you get a much better starting point. I know that the Olympus RAW (Master and Studio) software basically reproduces the camera's own adjustment options so the software models the camera's own image processing. But, alas, even with an AMD 64 X2 5600+ powerhouse of a PC, Adobe ACR leaves it standing

Ian

It kind of begs the question then that if the same software technology is built into the camera processor, Olympus are doing well to have a camera that in speed terms is as fast as it is. Conversley, the camera could potentially be even faster at emptying its buffer if the software was improved. A simplistic view I know, but it makes yer think

[Ian]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

It kind of begs the question then that if the same software technology is built into the camera processor, Olympus are doing well to have a camera that in speed terms is as fast as it is. Conversley, the camera could potentially be even faster at emptying its buffer if the software was improved. A simplistic view I know, but it makes yer think

I think it's a case of general purpose computers are inherently less efficient than signal processors inside the camera devoted to a set of predetermined tasks. On top of that, the computer software must provide the flexibility of fine adjustment, which the camera doesn't need to.

Most computer applications programs today are not written in machine code, but I would bet that Adobe use some machine-coded routines to speed things up.

Ian

[peter]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

I have seen this book but only quickly . Well it is a christmas present. I had to open the post as it had my name on it . I will agree with Ian it does have some great photos in it.

[Ian]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

I have seen this book but only quickly . Well it is a christmas present. I had to open the post as it had my name on it . I will agree with Ian it does have some great photos in it.

Oooh, I wonder if there is anything in the book that you won't already know, Peter

Ian

[peter]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

Oooh, I wonder if there is anything in the book that you won't already know, Peter

Ian

Oh do not say that. I have been on the look out for a good book on raw for a while now and saw this on Amazon. I also picked up a new book on Lightroom at the same time. I have only had a quick look at that one as well as it is also a Christmas present. Yes I do have buy most of my own presents but that way I know its not going to be socks and hankies . People just ask what would you like for Xmas and when I start talking about books or things like that they always say well just order it and that way you will get the ones you want. Oh and that works on sport books. I also have a great book about Schumacher that covers all his races from his first with Jordan to the last Ferrari one .

[StuartR]

Re: Understanding RAW Photography by Andy Rouse

Apparently I'm also getting this book for Christmas . Won't be allowed a preview though