Photo Question: White Balance

[MG Jennings]

As you may notice, this is my first post on this wonderful site.

I am interested in hearing opinions regarding if there is generally a best white balance setting for dark storm clouds and for lightning. Obviously, the available light can vary considerably but do you generally find "shade" or "cloudy" works better than AWB? Likewise, does anyone prefer custom balance.

Thanks so very much.

 

[Bryan_Knitter]

If you have the ability to shoot in RAW, you can easily correct WB in post. Otherwise, I find the "cloudy" setting to work pretty well on my Canon.

 

[James Wilson]

Yes RAW is the way to go if you can. The amount of editing you can do to a photo is so much more to include light issues. I actually shoot both RAW and JPEG at the same time as the JPEG's go in a folder for easy viewing for documentation.

 

[Allan Jeffers]

I just leave my white balance set to AWB but I shoot in raw that way I can adjust it later in DPP. I have even started to move away from the pre-sets in DPP and just use "click white balance" that way you can way more control

 

[Bryan Stokes]

Another vote for just shooting in RAW and then adjusting WB in post. Lighting changes so rapidly when shooting storms and rarely is there enough time to worry about anything other than composition and a proper exposure. By shooting in RAW, you'll have the ability to fully adjust WB in post, and make any other changes too with a wide range of flexibility.

Bryan

 

[MG Jennings]

Thanks for the suggestions....I usually shoot all JPEG for the convenience. I might should try RAW again.

 

[Sean Ramsey]

I've started shooting with both RAW and JPEG images as well but I've found that there is so much quality lost in the JPEG photo vs RAW (and converting to TIF), and RAW is also much more flexible in post processing. I'm still learning as I go but I can definitely see the advantages of using RAW files.

 

[Jennifer Palmer]

I have just started photography with a DSLR and shooting in RAW is where it is at! You can so easily correct your mistakes!!!

 

[Darren Addy]

You could use the "coffee filter filter" custom white balance trick.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/diyphotography/discuss/72157603805698706/
http://www.digital-photography-scho...ect-white-balance-in-every-lighting-situation
http://www.diyphotography.net/worry-free-digital-white-balance-the-5-cent-expodisc

Advantage: Works without requiring post-processing, so it will work on your JPEGs too. Personally, I like to shoot in dual mode, so my camera (Pentax K-x) saves both RAW and JPEG. I don't want to be forced to fix everything in RAW, so I want my JPEGs as good as possible. For a lot of things, the JPEG is good enough. Nice to have the RAW file when you want to work on something more intensively though.

 

[MG Jennings]

Thanks folks.....I do have a filter designed to work like the coffee filter but have not played with it but once. Something to do tomorrow.

 

[Mike Parker]

Shoot in .raw and use Lightroom as your processing software. Trust me.

 

[Darin Brunin]

Shoot in .raw and use Lightroom as your processing software. Trust me.

Don't listen to him...he has no idea what he's talking about!

 

[Mike Parker]

Only listen to me of you want to be a world class photographer ;-)

 

[Todd Renshaw]

You could use the "coffee filter filter" custom white balance trick.

Darren, do you use the coffee filter/ExpoDisc method? Any advice on where you should point the camera when setting the WB? (Since usually you have to point it at the light source rather than the subject. And knowing that finding an exact light source during storms in various stages may be tricky. Another possible problem is that the light source from your camera's position is not necessary the same as the light deep in the storm you're trying to shoot.)

My 2 cents on post-processing photos: it's great that we have that ability, but the fewer steps I have to go through in post to get what I want, the better. If I can get things close to "correct" at the time of the shoot, I'm all for it.

 

[Kris Harmon]

The folks in this forum suggested that I shoot in RAW when I first came here. I have experimented with it and now the only JPEG images I shoot are for family functions and when my wife uses the camera. Everything else is shot in RAW. The options for editing and correcting white balance and colors is top notch in RAW mode.