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

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.

But times change. Today, electronic composition, whether full-time with a mirrorless camera or in live view with a DSLR, allows you to preview a multitude of processing styles, immediately seeing the impact of white balance, saturation and contrast, not to mention various filters. Focusing aids – from magnification to peaking – ensure the subject is sharp, while alignment guides aid composition, and live histograms allow us to evaluate the tonal range. There’s no excuse for getting it wrong. If it doesn’t look right when you’re composing the shot, don’t fix it later, change something now!