Anyone interested in a monthly RAW group edit?

[adamc]

Once a month somebody new posts a link to a RAW file, unedited, straight from the camera.

Could be a portrait, landscape, abstract, or whatever that person chooses to post.

We'll all have a crack at editing the photo, retouching, and creating a final image which we'll post at the end of the month. Use whatever software you want, I'm spending a lot of time lately digging deep in to lightroom, and want more practice with that particular suite.

Might be a good way to get out of our respective comfort zones and work with photos and techniques we might not usually get the opportunity to.

I think it'll be really interesting to see how differently people approach a file, especially portraits.

Anyone game?

[ExtraSlow]

I like this idea, because I like to see how people interpret a scenario. I it'll be awesome.

[98type_r]

interested

[rage2]

Sounds like fun. I'll even offer up prizes.

[kvg]

:thumbsup:

[Kijho]

I'm in!!

[MrSector9]

does sound fun, and I suck at editing but need/want to get better

[kobe tai]

sure im in.

[Eride]

Great idea, I'm in!

[Go4Long]

Sure...I'm down.

[klumsy_tumbler]

I'd be game to try!

[almerick]

I'd be down, I'm always in the need for more editing practice :thumbsup:

[Go4Long]

OK... so when we starting? 😊

[mboldt]

I'm interested too

[Seahorsepower1]

Count me in! date and time?

[msommers]

Sounds fun, I'm in.

[smc]

interested

[Mitsu3000gt]

Pretty cool idea actually. I'd try it to at least see what it's like.

[Dalking]

I'm down for this, keep the final images anonymous too so we have to guess who did what.

[Strider]

In! I'm a lightroom noob and generally very conservative with my edits, so looking forward to seeing what others do and pushing my boundaries.

[Mitsu3000gt]

I think it would be cool to also have some "recovery" files. People can post their throw-away RAWs and see how you may be able to get a completely usable file from it depending on a few things.

[msommers]

We already know the Sony sensor is great lol. Let's stick with the original idea for now :)

[Mitsu3000gt]

Originally posted by msommers
We already know the Sony sensor is great lol. Let's stick with the original idea for now :)

That's not what I was getting at but OK haha. I figured it was along the same lines.

I personally have fun trying to salvage people's images including my own.

[ga16i]

I'm game. Prepare to be horrified. :D

[Go4Long]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt


That's not what I was getting at but OK haha. I figured it was along the same lines.

I personally have fun trying to salvage people's images including my own.

Actually I'm with Mitsu on this one. Scott Jones over on PhotoGP has done this a few times this year, putting out a raw that was kind of a throw away to see what people come up with for it, then posting up his version of it.

It's not about a necessarily under or over exposed image, just an image that didn't make the cut as shot, but with some creativity became something different...

http://photo.gp/2014/08/23/the-raw-challenge-edwards-at-cota/

Anyway...who's going to run it? and when are we starting it?

[adamc]

Thanks for the strong response, I was just waiting a few days to make sure everyone got a chance to post in here.


I'll run the first one, and we can see where it goes from there.
Starting November 1st there will be a new thread created with general instructions and the first RAW file posted.
I'll likely set a deadline of a short time before month end so we can all have time to discuss the edits that come in.
Post your edit any time during the month.
I don't necessarily have any files in mind for the first go round, but I will dig through my stuff up until the 1st and see what I can find.
If you would like to volunteer one of your own files to be the first group edit, please PM me! A familiar landscape shot or portrait would be great for the first go.


And yes, this could definitely be a file that came off the camera less than ideal. But I have way less interest in making a shitty image passable than I do in making a good image great, make sense?

:thumbsup:

[rage2]

Maybe we should do a practice one before Nov 1st. There's a lot of free RAW samples out there.

[ga16i]

Originally posted by rage2
Maybe we should do a practice one before Nov 1st. There's a lot of free RAW samples out there.

This sense of urgency suggests that this is an elaborate ploy to goatse everyone or worse. :rofl:

[D'z Nutz]

Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
I personally have fun trying to salvage people's images including my own.

Yeah me too. I'm not big on excessive editing so if the RAW is already well exposed, properly balanced, and technically good I probably wouldn't bother doing anything with it, but it could be fun seeing how people can save a throwaway.

Let me look through my archives. I have a shoot in mind where the shooting conditions were less than ideal so there were a lot of throw aways. I'll just have to see if any of the ones I didn't give to the client are usable for this purpose.

So can people contributing RAWs assume any format is fair game? Are any of you guys using converters that don't support files from another camera brand? Or we can assume that it's your responsibility to find a way to convert it if your software doesn't support it?

[blitz]

I'll throw in some Monochrom RAW's and fuck everyone up :poosie:

[D'z Nutz]

Originally posted by blitz
I'll throw in some Monochrom RAW's and fuck everyone up :poosie:

Then I will convert it to colour out of spite! :rofl:

[luuluu]

sweet idea! i would be game!

[Mitsu3000gt]

If everyone has at least a semi-new version of ACR or Lightroom, they should be good to go with any camera brand I would think. You can download trial software as well which is usually good for 30 days.

[Viper55555]

Im interested in trying this.

[Kijho]

When we starting this!!! :burnout:

[Dirty_SOHC]

I am in

[adamc]

I'm going to create a thread before the end of the month.


If anyone has a raw file that they think would make a good first go, please send it to me via PM.

Yes, we're trying to "recover" a shot that might not be great off the camera. Keep in mind that means at least in focus, and not so under/over exposed that "recovering" to a good image is impossible.

If nobody has anything, I'll dig through lightroom and find something or go shoot a few shots around the city to use.

[Eride]

I PM'd you a landscape file, let me know if you want something different.

[adamc]

Thread is up!

http://forums.beyond.ca/st/387029/beyond-raw-november-2014-/


Any questions or problems, post here, we'll leave that thread for posting the images only until the last week of the month where we'll discuss the edits.

Thanks for everyone's interest, grab the file and have a look!

[ExtraSlow]

Are we permitting crops? Also, would be handy to be more specific on the deadline, just post a date and time.
I'm not any kind of editor, but I may mess around with it, could be instructional.

[adamc]

I'm not sure entirely how to deal with this but I think:

Crops are allowed, for sure!

When to post? Up to you, as long as it's before the end of the day on the 24th. If Rage is offering prizes it could be strategic to wait until the deadline to post, keeping your edit a secret.

That might be kind of a fun way to go, getting to see everyone post on the same day.

[msommers]

I agree! A release of the raw file and then a submission day. Even sending the jpgs to someone's email much like the theme contests worked really well.

[The_Rural_Juror]

Great idea and nice photo for the first edition.

[taemo]

not the best at post-processing but I finished editing my submission this morning, 2 actually, 1 color and 1 B&W

does the rules state only one or can we submit more?

[adamc]

1 sub per person plz

"alternate" edits can be posted up at the very end of the month.



Also it seems that some people are having a hard time opening the file with older versions of Photoshop and Lightroom. I'm on LR 5, and PS CS6, but I'll try to find some solutions for those people.

[Kijho]

Was talking with Erik on Facebook briefly yesterday about this. I was using Camera Raw 7.1 in Photoshop CS6. Wasn't able to open the .NEF file.

For some - CS6 isn't updating to the latest version (as was the case with me..)

Click this link if you wish to read up on it: https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1310360?tstart=0

Click this link and scroll down to "Camera Raw 8.6 for Windows / Mac": http://blogs.adobe.com/crawlspace/2011/03/keeping-photoshop-up-to-date.html#notconnected

Download the file and run the update - restart your system.

This worked for me :)

[89coupe]

Just to be clear, I can post my entry right away if I want?