DPP Part 2 DR Exercise 6 - Colour Cast and White Balance

DPP Part 2 DR Exercise 6 - Colour Cast and White Balance

The exercise asks for images shot in jpeg with different white balance.

I shoot in RAW and so I've decided instead to use the white balance options in my post processing tool to show the differences. In addition I get exactly the same image and so contrast the differences will be much easier.

Part 1

The purpose of this exercise is to shoot 3 outdoor lighting situations that fit either a sunlight, cloudy or open shade on a sunny day scenes and using the white balance options (I have chosen to use my post processing tool to adjust these rather than the camera) and compare the results

1.1 Sunlight Scene

1.1.a As Shot

The colours are reflective of the scene, and are natural and vibrant

1.1b Auto White Balance

Auto WB has muted the colours in this image, the yellow of the daffodil petals are no longer vibrant in the bright sun and the green foliage has also lost its vibrancy and appears a different colour

1.1c Daylight White Balance

This more reflective of the original image

1.1d Cloudy White Balance

The image is close to the original and I can see where the WB change has accentuated contrast in the shadows however the colours remain slightly unnatural, it appears to have tried to warm the image

1.1e Shade White Balance

I think the WB setting has tried to brighten the image, again close to the original

1.2 Cloudy Scene

1.2.a As Shot

Rather Dull

1.2.b Auto White Balance

Auto WB has muted the colours further making the image more dull

1.2c Daylight White Balance

This setting is nearer the original but the colours are are subdued

1.2d Cloudy White Balance

This has warmed the image but the colours are not quite right

1.2e Shade White Balance

Appears to have warmed the image

1.3 Open Shade on a sunny day scene

1.3.a As Shot

1.3.b Auto White Balance

Auto WB has enriched the colour and given more contrast to the image

1.3c Daylight White Balance

This option has warmed the image but the colours have changed and look less natural

1.3d Cloudy White Balance

This option as above has warmed the image but the colours have changed and look less natural and appears to have some desaturation

1.3e Shade White Balance

.

This option as above has warmed the image

Part 2

The purpose of this exercise is to obtain a mixed outdoor / indoor scene at dusk

2.1 Daylight

2.2 Tungsten

2.3 Auto

Very interesting changes with auto and tungsten very similar


Exercise Learnings
a. the white light that we see has different colour tints subject to the scene and lighting conditions. Since the camera sensor records these differently then our eyes and brain must make adjustments for this

b. Light sources have there own colour temperature, this is measured in Kelvin which I remember from my school days. Absolute zero is measured as 0 degrees Kelvin . I've attached a diagram explaining this in more detail

c. Auto white balance performs a fairly good automatic method of adjustment but will not get it right each time

d. I think its preferable to shoot and manipulate RAW files rather than using the camera settings. Viewing the LCD for the jpeg image at such a small size will not always give an indication that that you set it right. Using post processing of RAW file by either doing all the processing yourself or using the presets and then fine tuning will ensure a much better image is produced, in line with the photographer's original vision

e. I've attached this link for personal reference for my self and anyone else using my blog where WB is given a good description