RAW Images and Editing with Lightroom

Hello Students,
For this assignment we will be using a feature on our cameras that let us capture RAW image files and editing them with Lightroom, a professional image editing program.

What is a RAW file?
"A camera raw image file contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of either a digital camera, or motion picture film scanner, or other image scanner. Raw files are named so because they are not yet processed and therefore are not ready to be printed or edited with a bitmap graphics editor."

Raw files come in different formats, such as CR2 and DNG, which stands for "Digital Negative" and is the closest we can get to the analog/chemical photo processes with a digital camera and computer.

RAW File Advantages:

• Higher level of quality
• Greater levels of light/dark
• Recover overblown or underexposed shots
• Adjust white balance in post
• Reduce noise
• Utilize non-destructive editing workflow
• Flexible Color Space
• Greater editing control without exposing flaws in JPG compression

RAW File Challenges:

• Each photo requires editing before being shared
• High file size and memory requirements increase
• # of shots before SD Card buffer overload decrease

RAW/LIGHTROOM ASSIGNMENT:

For this assignment you must capture 3 images in the RAW format using our DSLR cameras, then edit the images to improve color, quality, detail, sharpness, exposure. Then you will show the before and after images to demonstrate your skill in using Lightroom.

Part 1: Lightroom Tutorials

 1 - Follow this link to see tutorials: https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom/tutorials.html

 2 - Complete the 5 modules in the get started tutorials

 3 - Complete 2 of the beginner projects (your choice)

 4 - Complete the following unit "Edit your first photos" 

Part 2: RAW Photo Shoot

After you have completed the tutorials, grab a camera and set it to shoot in RAW. Walk the campus and take 3 of your best shots of these subjects:

 - The school main building from front

 - A Portrait

 - A Group Photo of Students

Part 3: Lightroom Edit

Backup your photos and place them in a folder called "Lightroom Project 1". Import your images into Lightroom and edit them. When complete show the original and the edited version side by side to show how you have improved the photos to demonstrate your understanding of Lightroom.

Before editing, RAW image straight out of the camera.

After editing in Lightroom, details and exposure recovered.

Due Monday, have fun!

 - Mr.W