In Pursuit Of Perfection

Getting JPEG images right incamera can be very satisfying. Gordon Laing explains why shooting raw is not the only option for successful digital images

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Some people think you need to shoot in raw to be a serious photographer. They believe pushing the shutter release merely marks the start of a journey of mandatory post-processing before being able to unveil an image to be truly proud of. Ultimately working with the idea that you can fix anything later.

Post-processing is certainly necessary for certain photography styles, and there’s the fact that some photographers simply enjoy the process, but it’s far from necessary for many. I’ve learned that the application of a few careful techniques in the field while exploiting electronic composition and modern in-camera processing means I can almost always achieve the effect I want straight out of camera. Yes, I’ll admit it: I shoot JPEG, and all the images you see in this article – not to mention in my social streams, are straight out-of-camera.

It hasn’t always been this way, of course. Ten years ago, live view or electronic composition was in its infancy and most JPEG engines left a lot to be desired, leaving raw processing as the only route to the best image quality.