 Sharon L. Weeks |
white balance I have been following discussions of white balance - and reading everything I can about it - and not mastering it at all. Today's discussion confused me further. What is the difference between not getting a white backdrop white (answers were about getting more light on the backdrop) and getting gray snow? Thanks, Sharon W
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Christopher A. Vedros |
When shooting with a white background, or on white snow, you either need to overexpose or put more light on the background in order to get the white to look white instead of gray. This is an exposure issue, concerning the "amount" of light reflected by the white surfaces. White balance is concerned with the "color" of the light that is shining on the white surfaces. "Daylight" is considered the standard or neutral-colored light that will make objects reflect their true colors (white looks white). If your white backdrop is lit with incandescent lights (household light bulbs), it can look warmer or more orange-red than pure white. If you light a white backdrop with flourescent lights, it can have a greenish tone to it. Electronic flashes and strobes are said to be "daylight balanced" because the light they emit is very close to neutral white light. White balance settings are applied to an image to "balance out" the color of the main light source, so that your subject will appear as its true color in your image, as if it had been lit with neutral white light. Does this help? Chris A. Vedros
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Sharon L. Weeks |
Won't overexposing change the subject as well as the background? My most recent photos were taken against a white backdrop on a screen porch with very good daytime light. I used ever white balance setting my camera (Konica-Minolta D5) has - with & without a flash -all gray. I understand incandescent and flourescent lighting differences, but not why my "real daylight" still turned out gray. I think I need a lesson in setting a custom white balance - will attach a photo before & after (I loved the result, but it wasn't what I was looking for). Thanks again for your response. Sharon
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