Changing White Balance for Artistic Effect - share yours!
Feb 21, 2019 10:19:13 #
The color of an object is affected by the lighting conditions under which it is viewed. White balance in digital photography means adjusting the colors to look more natural. But what if we aren't interested in "natural?" 
Please post a before/after or series of photos demonstrating how white balance affects mood and story.
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One of the most enjoyable experiences I've had experimenting with WB is from a series shooting towards sunrise in a foggy field. Screenprints from PS Elements raw editor:
#1 - auto wb, temp 2850
#2 - fluorescent, temp 3800
#3 - custom, temp 2000
#4 - Using #3, I changed the mood quite a bit right there in ACR - with adjustments to whites, blacks, clarity (went to negative side), vibrance and saturation.
Please post a before/after or series of photos demonstrating how white balance affects mood and story.
-----------
One of the most enjoyable experiences I've had experimenting with WB is from a series shooting towards sunrise in a foggy field. Screenprints from PS Elements raw editor:
#1 - auto wb, temp 2850
#2 - fluorescent, temp 3800
#3 - custom, temp 2000
#4 - Using #3, I changed the mood quite a bit right there in ACR - with adjustments to whites, blacks, clarity (went to negative side), vibrance and saturation.
Feb 21, 2019 10:45:50 #
Hi Linda - Given my limited experience with changing white balance (generally keep it on auto) I don't have any examples to contribute. However, kudos for raising an interesting question....and I like what you did with #4!
Feb 21, 2019 10:51:18 #
Hmmm, Linda. I’ve always found myself trying to get wb to look as I initially viewed it rather than something I did not see. Not much an experimenter I guess. My habit has been to catch an image of a scene with a wb card in it first, as a point of reference, and then use the eyedropper in LR to set the color temp. Now you’ve upset my apple cart. Thanks for the food for thought. Interesting idea. I’ve always been mostly a play by the book guy but this is intriguing when looking at the images you posted.
Feb 21, 2019 11:14:35 #
Shhhhh! You're confusing people and encouraging fraud. Moderate, dont generate. 
Feb 21, 2019 11:16:14 #
srt101 and pesfls - thanks for commenting! I hope you'll keep this topic on watch for a few days (and add PP Forum to your subscriptions!); perhaps we'll convince you try experimenting
The most obvious would be blue for a feeling of cool and red/orange for warm. Here are more two examples below. But there are many other times you may want to tweak WB in your editor. One of the articles I linked in my opening is this: https://digital-photography-school.com/white-balance-creative-tool/
It provides additional and more subtle examples.
The most obvious would be blue for a feeling of cool and red/orange for warm. Here are more two examples below. But there are many other times you may want to tweak WB in your editor. One of the articles I linked in my opening is this: https://digital-photography-school.com/white-balance-creative-tool/
It provides additional and more subtle examples.
Feb 21, 2019 11:18:00 #
gessman wrote:
Life is not meant to be lived in moderation 🤗Shhhhh! You're confusing people and encouraging fraud. Moderate, dont generate.
Feb 21, 2019 11:41:48 #
Creative approaches. As you know Linda when looking at an image, you are seeing the camera image and possible post processing. We do have some purists who show you Out Of The Camera OOTC image.
Feb 21, 2019 11:46:33 #
PixelStan77 wrote:
The purpose of this topic is not to discuss PP vs. sooc - especially since we're in the PP Forum Creative approaches. As you know Linda when looking at an image, you are seeing the camera image and possible post processing. We do have some purists who show you Out Of The Camera OOTC image.
It is simply a "share" topic (i.e. members are encouraged to post photos to the thread) to explore creative uses of white balance. Thanks for taking a look, Stan.
Feb 21, 2019 12:48:54 #
I'm always interested in creative processing threads. I think your examples are pretty wonderful!
I do use WB as a creative approach as well as a curative approach especially when I'm editing in LR (which is the same as ACR) without going into Photoshop where there are some extra options. But if I'm getting way down in the weeds on color changes, I'll probably go into PS.
One thing I do with creative WB is develop dam bird shots different ways. Since it is a contained environment and I now have a pretty good collection of the place in different light, I know the WB values for the colors of light I like most, based on photos I've shot during those times, and will sometimes apply that WB to photos taken in different, less interesting light. It works best with images like this one that was shot on an overcast day in fairly neutral, non-contrasty light. I didn't try to finish these out with other edits as I normally would, but just to show the options I'd be starting with in each case.
Below I put the same one through the paces of the blue shady light of a cloudy late afternoon or pre-dawn shot, the slightly rosy sunset light, and the bright yellow light I sometimes find shooting into the sun on morning with lots of mist or fog.
PS - It's true that WB changes the way a photo converted to monochrome will turn out, so it's something to remember to try as you tinker with a conversion.
I do use WB as a creative approach as well as a curative approach especially when I'm editing in LR (which is the same as ACR) without going into Photoshop where there are some extra options. But if I'm getting way down in the weeds on color changes, I'll probably go into PS.
One thing I do with creative WB is develop dam bird shots different ways. Since it is a contained environment and I now have a pretty good collection of the place in different light, I know the WB values for the colors of light I like most, based on photos I've shot during those times, and will sometimes apply that WB to photos taken in different, less interesting light. It works best with images like this one that was shot on an overcast day in fairly neutral, non-contrasty light. I didn't try to finish these out with other edits as I normally would, but just to show the options I'd be starting with in each case.
Below I put the same one through the paces of the blue shady light of a cloudy late afternoon or pre-dawn shot, the slightly rosy sunset light, and the bright yellow light I sometimes find shooting into the sun on morning with lots of mist or fog.
PS - It's true that WB changes the way a photo converted to monochrome will turn out, so it's something to remember to try as you tinker with a conversion.
Feb 21, 2019 13:25:52 #
kenievans
Loc: Dallas
Linda I used the Curves adjustment in PS to change the WB along with an exposure adjustment to change the first image from day to night. It was one of my first efforts in PS to go beyond basic post processing. It is certainly not my best attempt but it did open my eyes to the possibilities. Now in all my creative processing adjustment the WB is one of the first things I attempt to see how it changes the look and if I want to pursue my creative adjustments in that direction.
The third image is a recent one where I adjusted the WB of the background layer (sky) so that the orange/pink color matched more in tone with the moon from another layer. This is now how I most often use a WB adjustment.
Thanks for another great topic!
The third image is a recent one where I adjusted the WB of the background layer (sky) so that the orange/pink color matched more in tone with the moon from another layer. This is now how I most often use a WB adjustment.
Thanks for another great topic!
Feb 21, 2019 14:21:13 #
minniev wrote:
Fantastic examples and a great tip about b&w conversions. Thanks so much, Minnie!...It's true that WB changes the way a photo converted to monochrome will turn out, so it's something to remember to try as you tinker with a conversion.
Feb 21, 2019 14:29:05 #
kenievans wrote:
Super-engaging moon pic, Keni, as well as two excellent suggestions. I used the Curves adjustment in PS to change the WB along with an exposure adjustment to change the first image from day to night.
The third image is a recent one where I adjusted the WB of the background layer (sky) so that the orange/pink color matched more in tone with the moon from another layer. This is now how I most often use a WB adjustment.
The third image is a recent one where I adjusted the WB of the background layer (sky) so that the orange/pink color matched more in tone with the moon from another layer. This is now how I most often use a WB adjustment.
Here is a video on using curves to change WB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBDZwou1wKc
Many thanks for your input. I'm learning a lot already
Feb 21, 2019 15:20:15 #
I try most of the time to take my photos using the principles of ettr. Not as severely as some here do, but just enough to get a bit more detail if possible. The photo here is one I took atop Haleakala of the cinder cones that I plan on using in a collage of shot pieces. By letting in a bit more light, I can really take the image to an extreme to get the pieces I want. This was done in Photos on my iPad. You really don’t need an expensive program just to change the lights effect. Now I just need to go to big island and get some lava shots.
1/160 @ iso 100, f/10
(Download)
Highlights, contrast, black point, brightness and shadows adjusted.
(Download)
Feb 21, 2019 15:45:41 #
Linda, here's an example of a 'before' image and the finished results that I've posted previously to the landscape section. The adjustment to the WB is from 5050 kelvin of the original to the 4150K of the processed result. The flatness of the original is somewhat overemphasized being the unprocessed RAW before even the Canon Standard profile is applied during the LR workflow. While shooting, I was seeing the 'standard jpeg' that showed much more of the final potential of this image that I'm not sure I would have seen from only this drab RAW.
Marsh Sunrise by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Marsh Sunrise by Paul Sager, on Flickr
Feb 21, 2019 15:58:59 #
pmorin wrote:
Thanks for posting your stunning image, Pete! It's hard to tell for sure, but I believe your edits have kept the white balance pretty much "as shot." In other words, the color of the light has not been changed. This article provides additional examples to what has been posted in this thread. I try most of the time to take my photos using the... (show quote)
An extreme change to yours is below: from saturated orange sunlight to cool blue - maybe under a full moon?
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