Picture of the day! by you!

[mikepmcs]

Not an expert but i'll answer.  You are not only close, but pretty much dead on.
Think of a RAW image as a film negative.  It's not usable just yet as an image but has all the info in order for you to manipulate it with various programs to create the image you want.
A raw image has a wider color gamut than a jpeg. It prevents loss of data and overly compressed files leading to loss of color.  Hope that answers your question a little bit. If not, ask away.
jpeg compresses files and you lose color and tone.

OK, now you are ready for bracketing.    

What kind of rig you sporting?

[dodgecharger-fan]

Thanks for the info.
I've got a
Nikon D5000
AF-S DX Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6G VR
AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED

I was really holding out for a D90, but my wife went and bought this setup for me for Christmas.
Now that I have it, I think it's more than enough as I think I have a lot to learn before the rig really matters.
And the store where she got it has a pretty decent trade up program - if I catch on to this stuff quickly.

Off to google bracketing.

[mikepmcs]

Service advisory for the D5000(check your serial number, a certain number experienced an issue with powering up)  http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Service-Advisories/D5000-Service-Advisory.page  Just an FYI. I'm a huge Nikon fan as well, so I will now spend an enormous amount of time assisting you.  We can all learn this stuff together. If you would have said Canon, I would have deleted my post and most likely never spoken with you again.( i can't imagine what kind of crap that's gonna stir up.....it's a joke people, kinda like Chrysler and Chevy)

What's cool about the D5000 bracketing selection(when you have it selected) is you only have to release the shutter once and the camera records 3 shots with different exposures. Where that is most beneficial is you don't have to worry about any movement in between shots in case you were using them for layering purposes(ie: HDR high dynamic range. GTS(Google That Shit)
Even on my camera, I have to make sure my camera doesn't move because I have to release my shutter for each individual shot while using bracketing.  I set mine on manual and manipulate the A/S settings every shot.  Mostly I set the aperture and select different shutter speeds for my bracketing.  That is..unless I'm shooting something close up and then of course I would want a large aperture setting(low f number f2.8 f4 etc...) to blur out the background. Ok, I'm rambling...... read this for aperture explanation... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number

You will want to try your ADL(auto dynamic ranging) as well.  This will really perk up your pics as well.(contrast, color,etc...)  Don't know how that would work in RAW format though.  (check this out  http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d300/dynamic-range.htm )

Ok, time for me to get in to my manual and on the net to make sure I don't get complacent with my limited knowledge.  Thanks for bringing up the question, you have my brain working again.  Photography is continuous and if you stop learning or trying new things, then you limit yourself.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with just wanting to take family snapshots as well.  But you'll have the best damn photos in the family that's for sure.

[hemi-hampton]

Looks like I'm not the only one that collects old bottles

[hemi-hampton]

Looks like I'm not the only one to collect old sheets of cans.

[dodgecharger-fan]

Service advisory for the D5000(check your serial number, a certain number experienced an issue with powering up)  http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Service-Advisories/D5000-Service-Advisory.page  Just an FYI. I'm a huge Nikon fan as well, so I will now spend an enormous amount of time assisting you.  We can all learn this stuff together. If you would have said Canon, I would have deleted my post and most likely never spoken with you again.( i can't imagine what kind of crap that's gonna stir up.....it's a joke people, kinda like Chrysler and Chevy)

What's cool about the D5000 bracketing selection(when you have it selected) is you only have to release the shutter once and the camera records 3 shots with different exposures. Where that is most beneficial is you don't have to worry about any movement in between shots in case you were using them for layering purposes(ie: HDR high dynamic range. GTS(Google That Shit)
Even on my camera, I have to make sure my camera doesn't move because I have to release my shutter for each individual shot while using bracketing.  I set mine on manual and manipulate the A/S settings every shot.  Mostly I set the aperture and select different shutter speeds for my bracketing.  That is..unless I'm shooting something close up and then of course I would want a large aperture setting(low f number f2.8 f4 etc...) to blur out the background. Ok, I'm rambling...... read this for aperture explanation... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number

You will want to try your ADL(auto dynamic ranging) as well.  This will really perk up your pics as well.(contrast, color,etc...)  Don't know how that would work in RAW format though.  (check this out  http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d300/dynamic-range.htm )

Ok, time for me to get in to my manual and on the net to make sure I don't get complacent with my limited knowledge.  Thanks for bringing up the question, you have my brain working again.  Photography is continuous and if you stop learning or trying new things, then you limit yourself.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with just wanting to take family snapshots as well.  But you'll have the best damn photos in the family that's for sure.

Cool! More stuff to learn.
I've already found that the bracketing makes a huge difference. I took many pics of stuff in low light and didn't use the flash - and they turned out fine.
I know it's just a start. As I figure out more, I'll build on it.
I've been spending time on http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/ as well.
Mostly looking for inspiration in the form of "That looks interesting. How can I do that?", and since they tend to post the EXIF info with the pics and explain their technique, I can find things that are within my limits and find things that I can work toward.

[dodgecharger-fan]

Looks like I'm not the only one to collect old sheets of cans.

Neat!
My wife is a Coca-Cola collector on a small scale. A colleague of mine at a previous company had this and was doing nothing with it. So, he gave it to me to give to her.
It competes with her Santa Coke picture as the number one piece in her collection. (I took a picture of that too but it didn't turn out very well at all.)

[Musicman]

Looks like another Saturday night spent with good friends

[Mr.Woolery]

99 bottles of beer on the wall,
99 bottles of beer,
take one down, pass it around,
98 bottles of beer on the wall!
98 bottles of beer on the wall
98 bottles of beer........

[mauve66]

Service advisory for the D5000(check your serial number, a certain number experienced an issue with powering up)  http://www.nikonusa.com/Service-And-Support/Service-Advisories/D5000-Service-Advisory.page  Just an FYI. I'm a huge Nikon fan as well, so I will now spend an enormous amount of time assisting you.  We can all learn this stuff together. If you would have said Canon, I would have deleted my post and most likely never spoken with you again.( i can't imagine what kind of crap that's gonna stir up.....it's a joke people, kinda like Chrysler and Chevy)

What's cool about the D5000 bracketing selection(when you have it selected) is you only have to release the shutter once and the camera records 3 shots with different exposures. Where that is most beneficial is you don't have to worry about any movement in between shots in case you were using them for layering purposes(ie: HDR high dynamic range. GTS(Google That Shit)
Even on my camera, I have to make sure my camera doesn't move because I have to release my shutter for each individual shot while using bracketing.  I set mine on manual and manipulate the A/S settings every shot.  Mostly I set the aperture and select different shutter speeds for my bracketing.  That is..unless I'm shooting something close up and then of course I would want a large aperture setting(low f number f2.8 f4 etc...) to blur out the background. Ok, I'm rambling...... read this for aperture explanation... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F-number

You will want to try your ADL(auto dynamic ranging) as well.  This will really perk up your pics as well.(contrast, color,etc...)  Don't know how that would work in RAW format though.  (check this out  http://www.kenrockwell.com/nikon/d300/dynamic-range.htm )

Ok, time for me to get in to my manual and on the net to make sure I don't get complacent with my limited knowledge.  Thanks for bringing up the question, you have my brain working again.  Photography is continuous and if you stop learning or trying new things, then you limit yourself.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with just wanting to take family snapshots as well.  But you'll have the best damn photos in the family that's for sure.

i dont see the humor.......................

[elanmars]

wanted to share some preview pics of a photo shoot I did Saturday night with a friend of mine, the car in it's "before paint" state (just dropped it off today!!).

[hemi-hampton]

Seen Santa's Sleigh Yesterday being pulled by a Tow Truck & Deer   LEON.

[The70RT]

wanted to share some preview pics of a photo shoot I did Saturday night with a friend of mine, the car in it's "before paint" state (just dropped it off today!!).

So does the hood ornament stay with the car 

[Dans 68]

 

[Magnumcharger]

Here's a picture I shot this morning as the sun came up behind the mountains......and I'll not say where it is. Somebody can guess!
And I closed down a half F stop to find the perfect exposure.

[mikepmcs]

CP-140(P-3 Orion) WOOOHOOOO!  I can hear those T-56's hummin' from here.   

[Magnumcharger]

Yeah...they're noisy bastards!! And I'm hearing them ALL NIGHT!!

[UFO]

I'll not say where it is. Somebody can guess!

Vancouver Island.

[Magnumcharger]

I'll not say where it is. Somebody can guess!

Vancouver Island.

Yup...cheater!

[69bronzeT5]

I'll not say where it is. Somebody can guess!

Vancouver Island.

Yup...cheater!

Robin, when were you on the Island?

[Magnumcharger]

You mean...when AM I on the island?
Now!

[Foreman72]

cast picture from the play i was recently in at school...pirate of penzance
...last show is tonight (weekend shows got snowed out... )

[69bronzeT5]

You mean...when AM I on the island?
Now!

Awesome! Where abouts are you staying? Do you plan on doing a trip around the Island?

[Magnumcharger]

I'm on the Base in Comox, but my work can take me to practically anywhere, depending on the need for my services. Tomorrow I'll be driving down to Pat Bay (near Sidney) to inspect a Sea King helicopter. While I'm down there, I plan on driving out to Deep Cove to see a house I used to live in, and a school I went to.

[69bronzeT5]

Very cool