Photography Friday 7 {White Balance}
February 25, 2012 by Aimee • 34 Comments
Phew! I mean seriously…say it with me! Phew! Those metering classes were definitely more technical than I prefer, but I totally think that you, my loves are truly getting it and that makes me so SUPER HAPPY! Who said, it takes knowing the ins and outs of a camera to become a photographer!?!? Can someone say WRONG!!? Around here, we’re just talking pretty pictures!!!
So now that we’ve gotten the crazy technical parts squared away {or in the process of being squared away…remember: practice, practice, practice}. Let’s move to some more basics that will definitely improve your pics! Today’s lesson: White Balance! Many of you have written to me asking how to adjust your camera so that you won’t have to do so much editing…well, here you go!!!
Our eyes naturally adjust to our surroundings and we don’t have to reprogram our minds each time we enter a new setting so that the lighting looks accurate, that’s just a special gift from our Maker! If you take some time to think about how we live in a totally colorful world and yet we’re able to correctly perceive our surroundings from the coolness of the blue sky to the super warm light of a candle without having to switch gears, I think you’ll be pretty amazed!
Not a huge surprise, but cameras have a mode that helps balance the coolness or warmness of light, too. This is the auto setting for white balance. And it does alright at perceiving the temperature of it’s environment, especially when there’s a good contrast of dark and light. But if there isn’t a good contrast, it has a real tough time! Because your camera isn’t always able to decipher the truest white, which also affects all the other colors in your photograph, too…it’s important to learn how to choose the white balance yourself so that your pictures will have accurate colors, every time!
So, without further adieu…let’s chit chat about the different options for white balance on your camera…shall we!!? And then as always, I’d love for you to try it out yourself!!!
for your particular camera!!!
Now for a little playing around…set your camera to manual or auto, depending on your comfort zone at this point. Select menu…White Balance…go through each of the modes and take a SUPER CUTE picture of something you love {the same object each time}! I love looking at the examples from this exercise…it’s so crazy to think how different lighting is in different settings and yet for the most part we’re not all that aware…until we become photographers! As photographers, lighting can make or break our pictures BIG TIME! With that said…be sure to test this out in bright light…indoor light…wherever you capture pictures, be aware of which setting is going to offer you the best results!!! I’m totally excited to see what you link up at Photography Friday’s Party here!
Here are the pictures I took while playing around a bit…Enjoy…and as always, I’ll see you next Friday {if not before}!
I just recently learned about changing the white balance and it really helps!! I appreciate the side by side comparison of the differences!! Thanks for the great posts!!
Wow…I guess the first step would be to get an actual camera and not just use my phone. LOL.
I so need to get my butt in gear and really learn my camera! I am enjoying your series… just need to apply it!!
I just recently read about white balance. What are your recommendations for inside with natural light?
thanks for the tips! very helpful!
This is great! Thanks!
Thanks for this information! Very informative. I really liked the contrasting pictures at the end. I just started shooting in manual last month so this is really helpful.
I think I need to get off the computer, go and find my camera and find the white balance and have a play!
Of all the photos, which did you think was the truest color?
In this setting…on my porch outside on a sunny day…I definitely think the SHADE setting was the truest to my actual dish! Great question Cheryl! XO, Aimee
Wonderful info!!
I can’t wait to try this! I’m going to be wild and crazy and go in MANUAL mode! I wonder if this lesson won’t help me when I’m photographing food in the evening under the lights of my stove’s hood when the sun has already gone down???
Awesome info! I LOVE your beautiful family picture by the way!
I love the fact that you have all the side by side pics for comparison – VERY useful! Will definitely be checking out your other photography posts!
Thanks so much for sharing!
Lowri
http://papervinenz.blogspot.com
Love that family photo!
Great photo tips! I would love for you to share your post at cowgirl up, one party, four blogs at cedarhillranch.blogspot.com I do love the white balance adjustment on my camera, but I don’t use it. When I do, I forget to move it when I change lighting sources. Oh well! But my new camera does an amazing job in auto, and I am pretty surprised at how well tungsten light looks with no adjustment. And photoshop has that awesome adustment from as shot to auto for raw images that seems to make just the right adjustment if my camera is off. This is great advice though, since it does really help to have your camera set properly. Thanks for the tips. I’m going to look at some of your other photo tips.
These are great photography tips!! Thanks for sharing. We loved having you link up to “Strut Your Stuff Saturday.” We hope to have you back again soon!! -The Sisters
Thanks for sharing these amazing tips. I have bookmarked them so as I have them on file all the time. It is a great help. Cheers SpecialK XoXo
Great post! I would love for you to link up at my Linky Party via: http://www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com
Mrs. Delightful
http://www.ourdelightfulhome.blogspot.com
Loving these great tips!
Super helpful, as always! Thanks so much!
this is such an awesome series! I’m learning a lot. Can’t wait to try out the pics playing aroud with white balance.
Sharon @ mrs. hines class
Can i use a white piece of paper to use as a customise white balance instead of the grey card?
Manaal,
Yes, I’ve just started to experiment with that and using a white object (piece of paper, plate, lid of a white tub etc.) all work wonders when the camera struggles with the auto or pre-sets for white balance.
Cheers, Rolaa
Thank you for sharing!
Hello! I’m a new Linky Follower and look forward to learning how to improve my own photography. If you get a chance, come visit me at feelLOVDeveryday! I’m starting over with Linky Followers since the GFC fiasco and would love to have you on board! LOVD tidings, Lilly
I just love all this great information that you are sharing each week – I am really learning a lot. I need to take a couple hours to go back through your series and really apply it though. Thank you so much for sharing at Taking A Timeout Thursday!
Hi there! I’m visiting you from your link up on Tip Junkie. I’d like to invite you to link up with us for Fun Stuff Fridays linky party! http://www.toysinthedryer.com/2012/03/fun-stuff-fridays-13.html
Aimee, this is great!!! Thank you for linking up at Uncommon!!
Boonie
Thanks again for the great and simple lesson on something that I was scared to death about!
Wow, thanks so much, I am learning alot from your series. I really feel like doofuss when it comes to this. I liked learning about the white balance and will be playing with it. Thanks for sharing your creative inspiration at Sunday’s Best.
I’ve got a few Friday’s to catch up on… went to vegas and had a fab time!!!!!!!! back soon for a good read! Hope everyone is doing well with the learning..
Lesley
(Sunday Linkies)
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