This site documents a modern RAW photography workflow built on open standards, file-based metadata and open-source tools – and the tech that makes them possible.
I wasn’t planning to write another update so soon, but this one felt necessary. The RAW DEV experiment is very much alive: I’ve already received several submissions, and to those who sent something in, thank you ! It’s great to see people jump in this quickly. And since it’s Friday and the weekend is right... Continue Reading →
Just dropped a field review over at The Bushcraft Family - examining a neat little tool that eats wood like there’s no tomorrow. If you’re into compact, practical gear that survives real conditions, this one might turn out to be your next favourite side-kick. Field Review: Nordic Pocket Saw – The Small Beast That Eats Wood
7 minutes read time There’s always talk about a photographer’s “most used camera” - their daily driver, their EDC, the one they supposedly rely on the most. But I’ve always wondered how much of that is actually true and how much is gut feeling mixed with wishful thinking. Most of us think we know our... Continue Reading →
3 minutes read time An experiment ! I’ve been toying with this idea for a while, not entirely convinced anyone would be interested - and to be honest, I’m still not sure - but I’m launching it anyway. Who knows, it might even turn into a roaring success. So yes, please join in. For this... Continue Reading →
7 minutes read time If you’ve been struggling to find a Photo Manager - digikam or PhotoPrism kind - that doesn’t trip over its own features, this article is for you. And no, the solution isn’t the one you think it is. "When nothing else seems to work, slipping into a true Open Source Photography... Continue Reading →
A commercially-interested guy told me: most popular LUTs barely make it past 5,000 to 30,000 downloads. Anything above 50,000 is already considered “exploded,” “blew up,” or “viral-ish” in the community. So yes - I’m rather proud of this one. Which is exactly why I’m back here again with that one LUT. And don’t worry -... Continue Reading →
4 minutes read time The Test: I’m not going to drag you through every twist and turn of my PhotoPrism experiment. Let’s just say it was… educational. One minute everything looked great, the next a database vanished, an index restarted, or a thumbnail batch decided to take a holiday. Nothing exploded, but it never felt... Continue Reading →
Now and then readers ask if I can publish my articles in other languages. I understand the question - not everyone is comfortable reading English - but rewriting everything manually would quickly become unmanageable.So instead, I’ve put together a simple guide that shows how to translate any OSP page instantly in Google Chrome. Whether you... Continue Reading →
Thanks for all the comments, suggestions, and emails over the last day. It’s great to see so many people interested in testing Linux on their older laptops - and just as many recommending their own favourite distros. This Q&A is also here for anyone who finds this article later - next week, next month, or... Continue Reading →
Well, here we go again - at least that’s what a few people will be thinking 🙂 And honestly? Fair. But what else are you supposed to do with a perfectly good laptop when Windows 10 refuses to grow up into Windows 11? That doesn’t magically mean your hardware is ready for the retirement home.... Continue Reading →
Half-kilo multitools look great in reviews, but nobody actually carries them. A 79-gram mini does - and it’ll do more than you’d expect. From tightening those tiny vintage-lens screws to securing the Arca Swiss plate under your camera (yes, that one), to peeling an apple on the trail - all with the same pocket-sized tool.... Continue Reading →
Well, this is the one I’ve been putting off for a while - the Contrast Mask. Why? Because it’s a tricky beast, and in my view it only really clicks once you’ve spent some time in RawTherapee, especially with the Focus Mask. That’s why I tackled the other workflows first.Sharpening with a Contrast Mask isn’t... Continue Reading →
It feels a bit like watching a steam train gather speed. You start slow - a few adjustments here, a bit of fine-tuning there - and before you know it, everything’s in motion. The three sites aren’t just running; they’re rolling together now, tracks aligned, pulling the same line of thought forward. And here’s the... Continue Reading →
If you’ve read Part I, you’ll remember I ended with a promise:I was running a full, real-world 2025 test of digiKam - no theory, no demo files, just my own archive, my own workflow, and the occasional swear word.And honestly? That test taught me more than I expected. But not in the way most people... Continue Reading →
If you’ve never heard of PhotoPrism: think Google Photos, but fully offline, open-source, privacy-friendly, and running on your own hardware. Smart search, object recognition, clean interface - minus the data mining and the cloud dependency. It doesn’t edit photos; it simply organises them incredibly well. After years of wrestling with old and new digiKam’s database... Continue Reading →
If you’ve ever tried changing a tripod plate with cold hands, fixing a loose strap in the rain, opening a freeze-dried meal, or peeling an apple after leaving your kitchen knife, pliers, or screwdrivers at home - you already know this story.There’s a reason why more and more photographers carry this tool next to their... Continue Reading →
Sometimes a global edit just won’t cut it. This shot had no deep shadows, no bright highlights - the whole frame sat in that dull middle zone where the Shadows & Highlights tool tends to over-lift everything. The result? Flat, washed-out leaves and no real focus on the bird. So instead of applying tone mapping... Continue Reading →
This one didn’t start easy - the background was messy, the pose off, and the light just… stubborn. But with the right exposure in RawTherapee, a well-placed crop, and a touch of selective editing, it turned into something worth keeping after all.More on that editing approach in today’s article - and don’t forget to drop... Continue Reading →
2 minutes read time. This part ties into the “Stop Calling It RAW” series - this time tackling the myth of editing order - some of you might be surprised by what’s coming next, and it can be a tough one ! During a recent bushcraft weekend, I ended up talking to a professional woodworker... Continue Reading →
Intro – The Art of Not Cooking in the WildPhotographers who’ve ever camped at a shooting site know the drill: golden hour fades, the temperature drops, and suddenly you realize you haven’t eaten since lunch. Cooking? Sure, sounds great, until you’re fumbling with wet wood, lukewarm gas, and a half-empty stomach while your lens fogs... Continue Reading →
5 minute read. Or, better yet - do you actually know what it does? Intro This weekend, by pure accident, I got hit in the face twice - metaphorically speaking. First came the RAW confusion - and the deeper I looked, the worse it got. Turns out only a small fraction of photographers, ever realized... Continue Reading →
5 minute read. Well, “Stop Calling It RAW” caused a bit of a stir, didn’t it? I’ve never seen that many readers on a single day for one article - that says something. Not everyone agreed with me, and that’s perfectly fine. But one truth remains hard to ignore: RAWs are never truly raw. So... Continue Reading →
6 minutes read time. The Cooked RAW I normally process my camera’s RAW files in RawTherapee - most of you know that by now. This weekend, I stumbled into a forum thread about film simulations, presets, and RAW editing in Darktable. People were complaining that the results looked off. Too strong, too contrasty. So I... Continue Reading →
