Strategy for Holiday Pics ...
Discussion
I mainly shoot microstock photography; always in RAW. Next month I'm off to Italy spending time in Florence and surrounding areas. I know I'm going to shoot LOADS of stuff. Should I ditch the RAW and go JPEG, primarily to save space and reduce the daunting task of 100s of images needing post-processing when I get back? I'll be taking a 5D with 24-105mm F4 IS L and 70-200mm F4 L (and a collection of CF cards).
What would you do? Also, any thoughts on using the 5D's picture styles (like Landscape Style) on those lovely Tuscan landcapes? I've never used these and won't have time to experiment before I go.
Ed ...
What would you do? Also, any thoughts on using the 5D's picture styles (like Landscape Style) on those lovely Tuscan landcapes? I've never used these and won't have time to experiment before I go.
Ed ...
Well having recently done my NY trip with very similar equipment, I'll tell you what I did.
Shot the whole lot in RAW. I took 4 X 4GB cards and a couple of smaller ones and only used 3 of the 4GB cards, about 750 shots in all over 5 days.
It took me about 10-12 hours in total to process all I wanted to and turn them into a book.
I never used any of the camera modes, I image you could achieve all the effects post processing but I've never looked into it. I just used aparture and shutter priority.
I also shot 1 roll of film on my Leica Mini II which fit for the bin.
Shot the whole lot in RAW. I took 4 X 4GB cards and a couple of smaller ones and only used 3 of the 4GB cards, about 750 shots in all over 5 days.
It took me about 10-12 hours in total to process all I wanted to and turn them into a book.
I never used any of the camera modes, I image you could achieve all the effects post processing but I've never looked into it. I just used aparture and shutter priority.
I also shot 1 roll of film on my Leica Mini II which fit for the bin.
nick_bbb said:
Well having recently done my NY trip with very similar equipment, I'll tell you what I did.
Shot the whole lot in RAW. I took 4 X 4GB cards and a couple of smaller ones and only used 3 of the 4GB cards, about 750 shots in all over 5 days.
It took me about 10-12 hours in total to process all I wanted to and turn them into a book.
I never used any of the camera modes, I image you could achieve all the effects post processing but I've never looked into it. I just used aparture and shutter priority.
I also shot 1 roll of film on my Leica Mini II which fit for the bin.
Likewise. I usually shoot ca. 1000/wk on my travels. That sounds a lot but only about 15/hour during daylight hours, and usually bracketed or multi exposure. I have two portable storage devices and shots go straight on those (one of which I try to keep in a safe in my room and will live in my rucksack if the others in my camera bag). Shooting RAW+JPEG it works out about 10GB a wk. Never had a problem sorting through them (usually use Adobe Bridge), it's a pleasure if anything! I'd never not shoot RAW, I don't want to rely too much on my abilities to set the camera up 100% in a busy street in 40deg heat whilst trying to ignore the need to go to the toilet with the trots!Shot the whole lot in RAW. I took 4 X 4GB cards and a couple of smaller ones and only used 3 of the 4GB cards, about 750 shots in all over 5 days.
It took me about 10-12 hours in total to process all I wanted to and turn them into a book.
I never used any of the camera modes, I image you could achieve all the effects post processing but I've never looked into it. I just used aparture and shutter priority.
I also shot 1 roll of film on my Leica Mini II which fit for the bin.
I spent a week in San Francisco at the beginning of April, and I took 1700 RAWs with a 5D + 24-105L (primarily).
My routine is to empty my CF cards onto a laptop every evening (so if kit breaks or gets stolen the next day, at least I keep something), then copy the files from the laptop to a portable hard disk before travelling, in case of theft again.
I import the whole lot into Aperture on return, then wait a week or more before looking through them. I take one pass through them all - any image worth even a second look is flagged as one star. That knocks about 80-90% out - then I can make decisions about what's left, and worry about cropping & balancing, etc.
But that's just me.
My routine is to empty my CF cards onto a laptop every evening (so if kit breaks or gets stolen the next day, at least I keep something), then copy the files from the laptop to a portable hard disk before travelling, in case of theft again.
I import the whole lot into Aperture on return, then wait a week or more before looking through them. I take one pass through them all - any image worth even a second look is flagged as one star. That knocks about 80-90% out - then I can make decisions about what's left, and worry about cropping & balancing, etc.
But that's just me.
Mine are both ebay constructs -
a DigiMate II-plus caddy that I've fitted a 30Gb drive to. Few years old, been round the world a few times, many problem is harddisk is too small for the housing. Only by about 4mm, but just enough for it to become disconnected. Fixed with a bit of gaffa.
another one from ebay (can dig it out and have a look another time) with a 120Gb Drive (split into four 30Gb partitions thanks to windows (FAT) partition limits ). Works well, good battery but will timeout and shut down half way through copying a 2 gb card so you need to keep it awake.
Both were around £20 delivered from hong kong (ebay), an the hard disks around £40 at the time. Fairly easy to fit if you are happy to format and partition drives.
If not get an off the shelf one for £100+ (30GB). Bound to be better tested and reliable, but they don't half charge!
a DigiMate II-plus caddy that I've fitted a 30Gb drive to. Few years old, been round the world a few times, many problem is harddisk is too small for the housing. Only by about 4mm, but just enough for it to become disconnected. Fixed with a bit of gaffa.
another one from ebay (can dig it out and have a look another time) with a 120Gb Drive (split into four 30Gb partitions thanks to windows (FAT) partition limits ). Works well, good battery but will timeout and shut down half way through copying a 2 gb card so you need to keep it awake.
Both were around £20 delivered from hong kong (ebay), an the hard disks around £40 at the time. Fairly easy to fit if you are happy to format and partition drives.
If not get an off the shelf one for £100+ (30GB). Bound to be better tested and reliable, but they don't half charge!
Ed_P said:
Should I ditch the RAW and go JPEG, primarily to save space and reduce the daunting task of 100s of images needing post-processing when I get back?
NO!...Slow down, choose your shots, and delete anything that doesn't look like it's a "wallhanger" on the spot. Shoot "Neutral" and process each one individually...it's the only way to not miss something.Martin.
What I have is an older version of one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digimate-III-Large-OLED-Color-Photo-Bank-2-5-HD-Case_W0QQitemZ290226127773QQihZ019QQcategoryZ86758QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Cheap and cheerful (though the drives are laptop ones so more expensive), just make sure the drive fits well when you put it in and won't come off the connector. Mine's got a bent piece of brass holding the drive in that was fabricated from a light fitting bought in a Ugandan market!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Digimate-III-Large-OLED-Color-Photo-Bank-2-5-HD-Case_W0QQitemZ290226127773QQihZ019QQcategoryZ86758QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Cheap and cheerful (though the drives are laptop ones so more expensive), just make sure the drive fits well when you put it in and won't come off the connector. Mine's got a bent piece of brass holding the drive in that was fabricated from a light fitting bought in a Ugandan market!
Jenx said:
Ed_P said:
Should I ditch the RAW and go JPEG, primarily to save space and reduce the daunting task of 100s of images needing post-processing when I get back?
NO!...Slow down, choose your shots, and delete anything that doesn't look like it's a "wallhanger" on the spot. Shoot "Neutral" and process each one individually...it's the only way to not miss something.Martin.
jon- said:
Jenx said:
Ed_P said:
Should I ditch the RAW and go JPEG, primarily to save space and reduce the daunting task of 100s of images needing post-processing when I get back?
NO!...Slow down, choose your shots, and delete anything that doesn't look like it's a "wallhanger" on the spot. Shoot "Neutral" and process each one individually...it's the only way to not miss something.Martin.
CVP said:
jon- said:
Jenx said:
Ed_P said:
Should I ditch the RAW and go JPEG, primarily to save space and reduce the daunting task of 100s of images needing post-processing when I get back?
NO!...Slow down, choose your shots, and delete anything that doesn't look like it's a "wallhanger" on the spot. Shoot "Neutral" and process each one individually...it's the only way to not miss something.Martin.
That's why RAW + JPEG is great! If you have the storage there's no comprimise.
Martin.I do take a lot of photos, more than I should probably thanks to the digital format - I'm currently trying to train myself to get a quick shot off instantly to capture the moment and get it "in the bag" then take time over a more considered shot.
That said if it kicks off I'll still gladly overflow the image buffer!
Jenx said:
Ed_P said:
Should I ditch the RAW and go JPEG, primarily to save space and reduce the daunting task of 100s of images needing post-processing when I get back?
NO!...Slow down, choose your shots, and delete anything that doesn't look like it's a "wallhanger" on the spot. Shoot "Neutral" and process each one individually...it's the only way to not miss something.Martin.
That said if it kicks off I'll still gladly overflow the image buffer!
Thanks everyone for the very useful feedback. Looks like I'll be continuing using RAW (as I guessed).
I've just been offered the loan of two additional 4Gb Extreme III cards, so that will give me four 4Gb cards and two 2Gb cards; 20Gb in total! Should be able to manage RAW+JPEG with that and get best of both worlds.
Perhaps I'll post some shots when I get back (in early June).
Thanks again.
Ed ...
I've just been offered the loan of two additional 4Gb Extreme III cards, so that will give me four 4Gb cards and two 2Gb cards; 20Gb in total! Should be able to manage RAW+JPEG with that and get best of both worlds.
Perhaps I'll post some shots when I get back (in early June).
Thanks again.
Ed ...
Even if you hadn't been loaned them, (and for the future) it's probably worth buying a couple of extra cards.
Sandisk 4Gb Extreme III can be had for only £18 each these days (apparently):
http://www.picstop.co.uk/Compact-Flash-CF/Order_1/...
Sandisk 4Gb Extreme III can be had for only £18 each these days (apparently):
http://www.picstop.co.uk/Compact-Flash-CF/Order_1/...
Edited by C&C on Wednesday 30th April 18:37
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