RAW files do take up more room, but it is well worth it. If your current computer doesn’t have the hard drive space, an external drive would be a good solution. They are pretty cheep, work with both Windows and Mac, and can be your backup drive when you get the new computer.

As for Mac versus Windows–that’s an epic question akin to religious wars! I have used both but stick with Windows because of my work. They are both good machines at this point.

Best,
Cooper

Firstly, I am very new to digital photograpy so forgive me for sounding stupid.

I want to be as effeicient and productive as possible, but I don’t know a whole lot. I am trying to find a good way to organize my files and that’s how I found this blog. It’s all very interesting, but a little over my head. Do RAW files take up more space than jpg’s? One of my biggest problems right now is that my computer is pretty old. My husband says it’s dying and running out of storage. We are hoping to buy a new one soon, but in the mean time should I switch to shooting just RAW or should I wait? Same with organization. Now or later? Any advice on organizing family photos? While we’re at it, does anyone feel like recommending a computer? My husband thinks we should get an IMAC.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

I think you may find pertinent information on the two programs here:

http://learn.adobe.com/wiki/display/LR/Home

I’d be interested to share your opinions on your research.

Thanks for your suggestion, but it’s best to keep this blog on the subject of digital asset management, don”t you think?

My mind is like a sponge, I absorb a lot, but lose the information all too fast, as well. This kind of forum is so stimulating for me, to expand my interests, as well as to pick up some practical info.

The concepts that I have mentioned are so multifaceted, going into history of photography, both film and digital. I find that single articles designed to provide detailed information are an oxymoron. They remind me of a situation several years ago, when I had a brief conversation with a well know film photographer interested in and very motivated to learn Photoshop. He had the program newly installed on his laptop computer, and asked the question, what do I do next? I answered with yet another question, What do you want to do with your image? He seemed puzzled, but then I explained that he should consider getting a book or taking a course to become familiar with the program’s features. His reply was a classic, heard all too often in today’s instant gratification society, “But, I’m a quick study”.

I love it!!! I would be like my turning on my camera and asking him what do I do next? Could I expect to become Ansel Adams, because I was a “quick study”, and had a fully automatic SLR that someone had set up for me.

Albeit the detailed comparison! Anything comprehensive should assume some experience and knowledge of the subject on the part of the learner.

I get my most useful information magically, through experience, practice, reading, daily internet searches, related classes in art, and both traditional and digital photography, image processing, and conversations with other digital artists and photographers. On some days, there is even some time left to shoot some images. No individual source is comprehensive in my opinion, and you can sense that I am very opinionated.

No need to reinvent the wheel by writing yet another article on the pros and cons of ACR/Bridge vs Lightroom. The Adobe website has great information on the subjects, as well as current books on Digital Photography that I find relevant by Martin Evening, Scott Kelby, and older books up to four years old by Bruce Fraser and Jeff Schewe. Scott Kelby and Kevin Ames have current books on Lightroom and Photoshop for Photographers. Subscribing to iTunes video podcasts such as Adobe Creative Suite Podcast, Adobe Lightroom Killer Tips, All things Adobe, Creative Photoshop with John Reuter, Jeff Curto’s History of Photography, Layers TV, Peachpit Author Tips, Photoshop Essential Skills, Photoshop for Digital Photographers, Photoshop Killer Tips, Photoshop Kitchen, Pixel Perfect, and Understanding Adobe Photoshop are my favorites. Most update weekly, and the rest more randomly.

The Radiant Vista Internet Site hits both photography in detail and digital postprocessing as well.

Program comparisons abound on the Internet. Almost any question can lead on in the right direction on Google. The trick is to decide what question to ask.

Thanks for the info about Lightroom. Any chance you might go into more depth with a Lightroom vs. Bridge discussion? I would love to learn more about it, from someone who has used both, and made the decision to use Lightroom for photo management. Brian - any possibility Trudy could do a guest article?