Picture 1: Misty morning light (The Backs, Cambridge) JPEG
This set of pictures was taken in the morning hours of a bright and sunny day. The image presents quite a challenge for the camera built-in computer because of significant variations of contrasting areas of low and high light: for example, the trees on the left are well lit up by the rising sun whilst the large tree on the right is in shadow and in turn produces a strong shadow that affects the foreground of the image.
The wide dynamic range of this image is evident from the histogram on the right. The values are reaching the edges and even slightly ‘falling off the edges’ of the histogram area.
Picture 2: Misty morning light (The Backs, Cambridge) raw 
Both JPEG and raw images are similar in the range of highlights, mid tones and shadows represented in them.
There is no significant difference between them. Perhaps the most noticeable is a slight variation in colour reproduction: the JPEG image seems to have a warmer tonal range.
Picture 3: Raw image after adjustment
Picture 4: Raw image before and after
Picture 4 shows the raw image before and after the adjustments. I liked the picture as it was shot, with the atmospheric light and shadows going right across the image. The contrasting area of highlight s and shadow emphasise the mood of the image and I did not want take the effect away by making too many exposure and recovery type of corrections. I decided to boost the colours slightly through carefully applying the Clarity tool and adjust the colours of the washed out sky a little bit. I’ve also realised that the adjustments to the sky area would need to be applied very carefully as bringing the sky back to the ‘sky blue’ would change the appearance of the image completely.
Picture 5: Raw and JPEG comparison
Picture 5 shows the post-adjustment raw and JPEG comparison. The enhanced sky in the raw image helps to bring out the best of the King’s Chapel and the university buildings visible on the background whilst still keeping the effect of the light and shadow and the overall mood of the image.
Using the loupe tool, I also compared the noise of the 2 mages and could not trace any major differences.
