Understanding Exposure, Bryan Peterson (Page 2): I use a Nikon and keep it on cloudy in certain climates, mostly east of the plains. Local climates really have distinct light. I find...

Tjohn Loc: Inverness, FL formerly Arivaca, AZ

I use a Nikon and keep it on cloudy in certain climates, mostly east of the plains. Local climates really have distinct light. I find that I can see where many watercolors come from by the different light.

Tom47 Loc: Gettysburg, PA

I set mine to cloudy but shoot both Raw and JPEG. I am wondering about the setting it to cloudy.

tomcat

What is the year of publication for his book? In the early days (i.e. 5 -6 years ago), Nikons did do better on cloudy WB as they were tending towards blue in the overall exposure for the D1, D2, and D70 line of cameras. You may be reading info that is outdated?? But I have not noticed that in the newer D800, D7100 cameras. When I shoot cloudy, it gives me an overall color cast that is too warm on the jpgs and I have to adjust the sliders back towards blue in LR. So I adjust the WB with my finger wheel to one of the presets that are listed on the LCD panel.

h1h1d4mje

Peterson like a red/yellow cast on his pictures and the cloudy wb give that. I like to get the wb as the light really is and modify in Photoshop if I wish the red/yellow cast.

sueyeisert Loc: New Jersey

Having heard Tim Cooper speak, I follow his suggestion and set white balance according to the conditions in which I'm shooting. In mixed lighting I use a custom white balance. A cwb is really very easy when I shoot infrared I do it all the time.

chapjohn Loc: Tigard, Oregon

juicesqueezer wrote:

Never read Petersons book, but I set camera balance to cloudy. Pictures seem to pop more and only change when shooting indoors!

This my usuall practice as well.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

On the topic of White Balance, I found this piece of info on Canon's web site regarding the new DIGIC 6 processor (As in the new 7D MkII):

"The DIGIC 6 Image Processor counters difficult situations like a backlit subject of a too-bright lighting source by powering a highly advanced Automatic White Balance system. Other cameras typically make one overall adjustment to the image, but Canon's system analyzes several different areas of the image, making adjustments where needed to produce a beautifully natural scene with true color."

Of course this is Canon, so obviously there is a bit of sales pitch to this, but the idea of Auto White Balance that adjusts "several different areas" is interesting. (They don't define, at least not here, what "several areas" means. Is it 3 or is it 300? ).

RRS Loc: Not sure

will47 wrote:

I got this book from the library and have been reading it. He mentions in this book that he sets is white balance to cloudy and rarely changes it. I am going to try this very soon but I was wondering if anyone here has done this and how did it work out for you? Would this also apply when using fill flash? Thanks.

If you are shooting RAW it won't make any difference. I use the color picker in Photoshop and always set my own color. I guess automation is good but I like to control as mush of the outcome as I can. I tried those settings with my Canons and didn't like the results.

maxmphoto1 Loc: Aloha, Or

I generally use 'K', set to 4800 to 5600, depending on the situation.

Basil Loc: New Mexico

RRS wrote:

If you are shooting RAW it won't make any difference. I use the color picker in Photoshop and always set my own color. I guess automation is good but I like to control as mush of the outcome as I can. I tried those settings with my Canons and didn't like the results.

Otherwise your pictures will come out all mushy. :)

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

will47 wrote:

I got this book from the library and have been reading it. He mentions in this book that he sets is white balance to cloudy and rarely changes it. I am going to try this very soon but I was wondering if anyone here has done this and how did it work out for you? Would this also apply when using fill flash? Thanks.

While his book is generally good, I found odd inconsistencies in several areas and a somewhat dogmatic approach which is not shared by many equally talented photographers. It's a good starting point, but should not be taken as gospel, despite what some here think. It's really all about ones vision, intent, what works for you.

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

^^^AGREED!! :thumbup:

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

will47 wrote:

I got this book from the library and have been reading it. He mentions in this book that he sets is white balance to cloudy and rarely changes it. I am going to try this very soon but I was wondering if anyone here has done this and how did it work out for you? Would this also apply when using fill flash? Thanks.

It is THE recommended book here on UHH. I have this book and it's great.
The reason he uses the Cloudy WB setting is because he prefers 'warmer tones." Since reading this, I use the cloudy setting almost always when I'm shooting outdoors. Also, since I like strong color, I usually have my camera setting set to Vivid.
Flash. Not Cloudy. And sometimes the Flash WB setting doesn't always work. Best thing to do when shooting indoors is to test all the WB settings and see which comes closest to the actual colors. But, who am I to say anything about flash indoors. My indoor shots are really poor.

emmons267 Loc: Arizona, Valley of the Sun

For two years I've read the recommendations about Bryan Peteson's book, but I never purchased it. Recently, I decided to read it and I was rather disappointed. I had read two other books about exposure (Jeff Wignall, Exposure Photo Workshop and Sean Arbabi, The BetterPhoto guide to Exposure) and found both of these to be much more informative and in depth then Peterson's. I believe setting WB to cloudy and leaving it is a simplified generalization and an example of what I'm speaking of. But I have to say, many, many people really like his books; and, no matter which ones you read, you're always going to learn something.

Bill Emmett Loc: Bow, New Hampshire

Since I now shoot in RAW, I now set a custom white balance, and use a X-rite Color Checker Passport, for about all my outdoor shot series. It gives me a much better product than using a preset white balance, such as cloudy. I PP in Lightroom, and set-up a camera profile. I've noticed my colors are spot on, and between the my 6D, and 7D are exactly the same. Keep in mind, Brian Peterson writes for the majority of photographers, who just want acceptable photographs.

B