Unit Two : The Gear
Chelsea London © 2023. Fujifilm X100F | 23.0 mm | ƒ/2.0 | 1/500s | ISO 1250 - Straight out of camera JPEG (Velvia Film Simulation)Introduction to Image File Types
You probably have already encountered the terms ‘JPEG’ (an acronym for Joint Photographic Experts Group) and ‘raw,’ in regards to file types. To really understand the difference between the two, we need to go back to the components of a camera. As you may remember, a digital sensor is a grid of photo-sensitive receptors. The result of an exposure is just a big bunch of numbers corresponding to the light level recorded at each pixel. This does not make a visible image. A number of steps are still required before an image can be viewed: obtaining color information for each pixel, applying white balance, adjusting contrast, sharpening, adjusting saturation, and possibly some other treatments.
There are two ways to perform this task. You can let your camera do it for you, with minimal input, resulting in a JPEG image file. Or, you can tell the camera to do as little as possible and perform each step yourself with dedicated software later on. This process requires a raw file.
Sean Makin © 2020. Nikon D610 | 16.0 mm | ƒ/7.1 | 1/160s | ISO 100 - JPEG of the unedited raw file.Processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic. (click for full size)So, what are they, exactly?
JPEG has the advantage of simplicity. There is no need to spend additional time in front of a computer. In-camera processing has come a long way, and many skilled editors still use straight out of camera (SOOC) JPEG images as their final photo. Some camera manufacturers have become known for their SOOC images, notably Fujifilm and their film-replicating recipes. In some fields such as photojournalism and sports photography, JPEGs are commonplace for their speed of transfer and ability to rapidly push good looking images to editors for quick publication.
Raw files are more complex and will require additional effort from the photographer. There are, however, significant benefits - namely control over every aspect of the final image. Think of a raw file as all the ingredients to a sandwich laid out in front of you. It’s your job to cut the bread, assemble the meat and vegetables, and top it off with a sauce. The same principle applies to raw files. You have all the data there, and it’s up to you to make choices in exposure, white balance, contrast, color balance, sharpening, et cetera.
Processing a raw file can feel daunting at first, but don’t stress over it too much at the moment. We have an entire unit about post processing coming up where we will learn how to turn raw files into the final image you’ve envisioned. For now, remember this key point: raw files give you more control over the final image. They also allow for more leeway in exposure at the time of shooting.
You may be asking now - ‘why would I choose one over the other?’ There are some key points to acknowledge when choosing whether you’ll be working mostly in raw or JPEG. Most cameras allow you to record both simultaneously, as well. So, let’s look at the benefits of each.