Photo Question: White Balance

[Darren Addy]

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.

The coffee filter/ExpoDisc method probably doesn't really apply in lightning or dark storm photography, which was the original question, so perhaps I shouldn't have added it to this thread.

It is easy to see what your cameras white balance settings are going to do if your camera has a separate WB button on it, like my Pentax K-x does: You take a shot, hit PLAY to see it on your screen, and then hit your WB button and select the various WB options. You'll see the color of the image on the screen change with each setting. Go with the one that looks most natural to you for the lighting condition you are under.

Obviously, the suggestions of doing WB in post from the RAW file will be the ultimate in control. Also obviously, if you forget to check your WB and change it when you change settings, then AWB will be the best compromise for you - otherwise you will be doing a lot of post-processing on the images you forgot to change the WB setting for specifically.

Regarding the use of the filter, keep in mind it is used in setting a Custom White Balance. Yes, it is supposed to be aimed at the light source. If you aim it at the subject it may be affected by the reflected colors of the scene and not the light itself, which is where the overall color temp comes from. I personally have the biggest problems with white balance shooting inside with lots of fluorescent lights, which are often of different color temps.

Also, keep in mind that sometimes the color shift is what MAKES the photo. For example, the "golden hour" is called that because of the way the color of the light changes as the sun rises or sets. If you ExpoDisc it, you are in effect canceling out the very color that makes the scene extraordinary.

In mixed light settings you need to choose which you are exposing for. Imagine a shot of a girl in a darkened room, sitting close to the television and lit by it's light. The rest of the room, perhaps a dog sleeping on the floor behind her, is lit by a tungsten end table lamp. Which color temp do you want to be "normal". If you normalize on the tungsten the light from the television will be blue cast. If you normalize on the television light, the dog will probably be orange. Using your camera's AWB, will probably select a middle ground. I use this as an example for you to think through what the camera (and/or filter) is doing to make its corrections.

 

[Cameron Redwine]

Cloudy is the way to go outside. Inside, you can play around - I've rarely had trouble with AWB. Cloudy saturates the colors a bit more. Also, try setting your exposure compensation to -0.3, which will generally give you a well saturated exposure without losing anything.

RAW is great, so get what you can out of it in post processing, but it's nice to get what you want from your camera when you're shooting.