Abstract: The exemplary embodiments of the invention allow for parallel operations within a digital image capturing system. For example, raw image data can be processed while a subsequent image is being captured. In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a method includes: executing at least one foreground operation within a digital image capturing device; and executing at least one background operation within the digital image capturing device, wherein the at least one foreground operation includes: capturing raw image data via at least one sensor, storing the captured raw image data as an intermediate file, and activating a digital viewfinder, wherein the at least one background operation includes: accessing the intermediate file, performing image processing on the raw image data of the intermediate file to obtain processed image data, and storing the processed image data, wherein the at least one background operation is executed independently of the at least one foreground operation.