photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

I went on a photo walk yesterday afternoon after being cooped up in the house for days on end due to very wet, rainy weather. There were heavy clouds in the sky, but my camera (Nikon D3200) captured the scenes correctly (I shot in RAW with Auto white balance). The situation changed close to sunset, when the photos took on a totally blue color cast. I use the D3200 for sunset photography and have never had a case of the blues with it.

The first photo is unedited from the camera, except to convert from RAW to JPEG (saved for web, i.e. low resolution).

The second photo is changing the white balance to "cloudy" in Adobe Camera RAW.

The third photo is using the eyedropper in ACR and clicking on the clouds. The adjusted custom color temp is 30000K. It is a reasonable approximation of the lighting conditions I saw with my naked eyes.

I changed the white balance in camera (I knew it would not affect the RAW data) to cloudy and then to shade. It did not visibly change the color cast in camera.

I've been into digital photography for about 10 years (converting from a long stint in analog--I bought my first "good" SLR in 197f3 while stationed in Germany). During my time in DSLR photography, I never had a case of the blues and I've shot around sunset numerous times (just never with such heavy cloud cover!)

Even with a case of the blues, I continued shooting until after sunset because I knew that ~gasp~ "I could fix it in post production."

oldtigger Loc: Roanoke Virginia-USA

are you sure your camera was on auto white balance for all shots?

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Looks like a possible tungsten setting!
Check that out.
SS

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Trust me, I know what photo setting it was on. I always shoot in Auto white balance because I shoot in RAW and will correct any imbalance during post processing.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

yes, I don't normally change the white balance (even inadvertently) because I shoot in RAW. I did change the WB to cloudy and shade to see if it would affect the outcome -- it didn't, so I switched back to auto white balance.

It was a learning experience for me in that I didn't realize how much a deep cloud cover, combined with a setting sun (although you couldn't see the sun) would affect the blue shift in a camera, or, at least, this camera.

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Just to make the point clear: The three photos are all the same frame; the last two have been adjust in Adobe Camera Raw.

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Since you shoot raw the whole question is rather... moot?

The color cast vs your eye? Simple one (camera) just record what it sees, the other (eyes) adjust to the light. You did not make a single error here and basically are worried for nothing.

How do you know something is red in the dark when the camera looks at it a muddy brown?

photoman022 Loc: Manchester CT USA

Yes, shooting in RAW makes it a moot question, but it's something I never experienced before and wanted to share it. I wasn't worried for nothing because I knew ~gasp~ I could fix it in pp. I didn't realize how much warming had to be done, though! Setting the ACR white balance setting the "cloudy" had no real impact on the photo -- that surprised me.

The eye-brain connection is masterful. I would hate to go through a "blue" life!

Rongnongno Loc: FL

Me too and I was going that way until I had cataract surgery...

"By the way doc, why is my right eye vision bluer than the left?" During an eye consultation for a near sighted correction.

THEN when seeing through the right eye white were white but the left eye was 'muddy'. Since I had the start of a cataract on that eye too I went fully 'Monthy' and now everything is really white... Did not really help with the white balance thought...