fall colors

[nicuRNmama]

This is my first attempt at shooting and processing a RAW image. I'm posting the .jpg version recorded at the same time SOOC and my image post-processed. What do you think about the color intensity, contrast, and sharpness? My husband thinks I went too far and made it glow, but I didn't like it as much when I backed it off a little. Also, if anyone could tell me... after using the RAW converter, do you still adjust the lighting (shadows, highlights) and color (saturation) in Elements (or whatever program)? I'm confused because it seems like that is what I did during the conversion, so does that make Elements just the place where I fix blemishes, dodge/burn, and crop?

Thanks for your time in reading, looking, and answering.
Susan

Nikon D5000
Nikkor 55-200mm Zoom
ISO 200
200mm
EV 0.7
f/5.6
1/80
taken 9/24/11

[shashin]

Well, I find the multiple out of focus parts very distracting in both the photos... The brighter one is perhaps marginally better, but maybe you could retry the exercise on a better example. I hesitate to answer any of your questions because I'm not in a position to give any advice to anyone, especially so as I have no knowledge of Elements or its raw converter! If you're asking whether you should try to get it right before generating the jpeg, then the answer is yes - you try to do as much as you need to and can by making reversible changes that don't actually alter the pixels, you do the irreversible changes and the modifications that aren't possible in the previous stage, and then you generate the jpeg. Anyway, what I've learnt is that raw is the way to go, so stick at it - it's a long, long learning curve - and your photos will benefit from it. Of course you'll spend more and more time processing them, but that's the way the cookie crumbles.

[nicuRNmama]

Thank you shashin, for the comments and encouragement. I have played with a few more pictures - just a few snapshots not worth sharing - and the basic adjustments seem to be easier. Thank you for explaining the difference between the pixel damaging and non-damaging processes - that helps the whole process make more sense.