“4 Reasons to Switch to JPEG” plus 1 more: Digital Photography School

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 11:06 AM PST

Last week, photographer extraordinaire Natalie Norton wrote a post here on DPS with 4 reasons not to write off shooting in automatic. And I totally agree that sometimes, as we climb the ladder (which never ends) towards ultimate knowledge (does it exist?) in our journey with photography (which also never ends), we can complicate things so much. Aren’t we all guilty of over thinking and forgetting our roots? The roots which made us fall in love with photography in the first place?

I would say (with complete confidence) that when we found our love for photography for the very first time, we all shot jpegs in automatic. And certainly, we need to move on, move up and learn learn learn. But don’t forget the joy you felt when you just shot because you loved it.

So following Natalie’s lead, here are my 4 reasons you shouldn’t underestimate the power of a jpeg (and why you just might want to go back to it from time to time)

Instant Use – If you want to use your images rather quickly and don’t have time to convert your raw files, you’ll want to go jpeg.
Less work – A well-exposed jpeg will be less in need of TLC than a raw file. The contrast is higher and the focus is sharper because your sensor has made all the important decisions instead of requiring time and brain power on your behalf. Sometimes a plus, sometimes not. You decide when it’s right for you!
Space – if you have a small(ish) memory card or you’re very nearly running out and you HAVE to get in 10 more shots, you might want to quickly switch to jpeg rather than risking the chance of losing the shots. Jpegs take up substantially less space than raw files.
Speed – if you’re shooting continuous (getting that perfect football goal) you’ll shoot faster in jpeg. Raw files take longer to store on your memory card and so the continuous bursts from your shutter will be slower. But switching to jpeg can mean the difference between getting the perfect shot and missing it by a millisecond.

Now, of course, my professional preference is shooting in raw. I’m a heavy editor type (and a control freak) and so I almost always shoot in raw because of the power and control it gives me. But don’t underestimate the times when shooting in jpeg could actually save your butt!

Challenge: If you have a camera that allows you to shoot in RAW + JPEG, give it a try! Take both images into your computer and see what the jpeg file compression did to help (or hurt) your image. This will help you understand the fundamental difference and envision the times you can picture yourself shooting in jpeg.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips. Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips, Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras.

4 Reasons to Switch to JPEG

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (30 Jan-5 Feb ‘11)

Posted: 05 Feb 2011 05:44 AM PST

Weekly Assignment

We finished up our Still Life: Food assignment. Still life assignments are a great photographic challenge when the weather is less than cooperative, or when you’re looking for something to challenge your creativity. Our winners this week really exemplified what we were looking for in a still life. Our winner this week really exemplified a classic and simple photograph. Ender_1982’s Pears had gorgeous lighting and excellent composition. It really showed how a simple subject can be very eye catching. Our first runner up was a more modern taken on a food still life. mshockley’s Oreos was nice and clean and modern. The lighting really made the detail in the cookies stand out, while the milk was nicely balanced. The reflection really added to the shot as well. And last, but not least was Shutterbugdeb’s fruit arrangement. This was a very nice example of a very traditional fruit still life. The glass bowl added another element to the shot, but because it was clear, it didn’t take away from the natural beauty of it. Well done everyone!

Still Life: Flowers is our newest assignment. Flowers can seem overdone when it comes to photography, but yet their beauty draws us to photograph them, and it’s a challenge to do it well. This week, your challenge is to photograph a flower still life. Remember, as a still life, this is not a shot of a blooming garden. You need to consider the design and placement of your subject, your lighting, and your composition. Check the first post in the thread for some helpful information about what a still life is. As always, a quick reminder of the rules. First, your photo must have been taken between 26 January – 9 February 2011. Second, your post must include the words “Still Life: Flowers” to show your permission for it to count in the contest, and the date the photo was taken in order to show that it is a valid entry. Finally, your EXIF should be intact, and it’s useful if you can include some of the main points, such as camera, ISO, aperture, lens, shutter speed, etc. See the thread for the full rules. Next week’s assignment will be The Weather Outside. Show us what the Mother Nature is doing in your neck of the woods. Good luck everyone!

Hot Threads

Who Inspires You?: Having photographic inspiration can be a real help when you’re struggling to move forward or when you’re just starting. But that doesn’t mean that we lose that inspiration as we move forward ourselves. Who are the people that influence you when it comes to your photography? Come share your favourite blogs and books over in the forum.
Poses: Ever Get Stuck?: Do you ever run out of ideas for posing your clients? Have you checked every site that you can think of and you’re still feeling lost? What do you do? Come share your ideas for when you’re feeling photo-blocked and need new poses for your subjects.
What Would You Do: If the weather outside is frightful, you might be interested in practicing your post-processing skills in our What Would You Do threads. These threads are a chance for you to practice your post-processing skills on someone else’s photograph. Not only do you get a chance to practice, but they might also get a chance to learn something from your edit.

Post from: Digital Photography School - Photography Tips. Check out our resources on Portrait Photography Tips, Travel Photography Tips and Understanding Digital Cameras.

This Week in the Digital Photography School Forums (30 Jan-5 Feb ‘11)