The photography class of palm (5) goes further, about color temperature and white balance.

In the last hand-held photography class, we talked about some tips and opportunities about focusing and exposure compensation from the basics.

So this time, let's talk about the influence of white balance and color temperature on photos.

Our environment is full of different kinds of light, and they have different color temperatures. Therefore, when digital cameras and mobile phones take pictures, they often need to correct these lights to display normal white.

This calibration method and procedure is called "white balance".

Generally speaking, if you take photos with a smart phone, you will automatically correct and set the white balance (that is, automatic mode). With the present technology, we don't need to worry about the correction of white balance, most of them are accurate.

However, if it is in a scene that is easy to misjudge, such as in a dimly lit room, when we take portraits of food and dinner, the photos often misjudge.

At this time, if you can manually adjust the white balance of the mobile phone or camera, you can get more correct colors.

Nowadays, Android smartphone manufacturers pay great attention to the function of taking photos, so in automatic mode, there will be manual mode, and the parts that can be controlled by manual mode are different, but most of them will have the option to adjust the white balance.

For the iPhone of iOS, the camera APP preset by the original factory has no option to adjust the white balance. At this time, you need to rely on third-party apps, such as ProCamera, to make adjustments.

Whether it's Android or iOS, and whether there is an option to adjust the white balance or not, we can also make adjustments in the APP of the mobile phone after shooting. We will also introduce this part in the subsequent palm photography class. Don't miss it.

In addition to white balance, there is another concept that we need to understand. What is the color temperature?

Represents the "color temperature" of light, and the unit is K(Kalvin). The higher the k value, the higher the temperature, so it shows a blue color; A low k value means that the temperature is low and it is yellow. But our adjustment on the camera and the mobile phone is just the opposite, because if you choose a low K number like 3000K in the settings, it means that we tell the camera that the current light is warm yellow, then the camera and the mobile phone themselves have been corrected in the other direction (cold). However, we don't have to worry so much about these complicated concepts. Now mobile phones and cameras are what you see is what you get. As for the adjustment options, just adjust them directly to what we think the photos can do.

In addition, if you are not sure about the adjustment of K number, in fact, most mobile phones and cameras will preset some options to use if they can adjust the white balance, such as automatic white balance, tungsten lamp, sunny day, cloudy day and so on. Just set it directly according to the light source. We are very common, and the occasions that need to adjust the white balance are probably restaurants and cafes. Most of the light sources in these occasions are artificial light sources, which are prone to yellowing. However, there is still room for fine-tuning between complete yellow and accurate correction, because the color of a cold and warm photo will also affect our perception of the photo. For example, in the photo below, you will inevitably feel too rational and look less atmospheric after revision.

▲ The automatic white balance of the camera corrects the white color while retaining some yellow light. There is still an atmosphere in the restaurant. Shooting by ASUS Zenfone 4 Pro.

▲ After the camera is corrected, the color of the picture is accurate, but the atmosphere in the restaurant is relatively less. Shooting by ASUS Zenfone 4 Pro.

When do we need to adjust the white balance? Dawn is a very suitable scene for manual fine-tuning. If you can adjust the photos to look yellow and warm, you can also show the warm atmosphere of sunset and sunrise.

▲ The white balance is misjudged and the picture is cold. Although it can show the color of the blue sky, it doesn't feel like a sunset. Sony XZ2 shooting.

▲ We turned the picture warmer, and the whole picture immediately showed the gorgeous orange-red color that the sunset should have in our mind. Sony XZ2 shooting.

In addition, the white balance of the picture will actually affect our view of color, such as shooting maple red in autumn. If we can adjust it to yellow and warm, we can actually show the red leaves all over the mountain.

▲ Accurate mountain forest color. HTC U 1 1 shooting.

▲ Tuned into warm colors, showing maple red all over the mountain. HTC U 1 1 shooting.

Besides, when will you use a colder color? If you want to emphasize blue, such as blue sky, you can get a better presentation by slightly adjusting it to blue; In addition, the night view of the metropolis and the buildings full of science and technology are also quite suitable for adjusting the cold.

▲ The camera automatically adjusts the white balance, and Huawei Mate 10 Pro shoots.

▲ Tuned into a cool color, the building will show a sense of technology. Huawei Mate 10 Pro shooting.

In fact, the tone of the photo will affect our feeling of the picture. Blue and cold, it is easier to highlight the sense of science and technology and rationality; Yellow and warmth make people feel warm and kind more easily. As a basic concept course, the part about white balance and color temperature is here.

Follow-up, whether it is the adjustment of APP teaching or the shooting of food, cafes and night scenes. This concept will be used. We will introduce the actual shooting step by step, hoping to take you to complete many good photos with your mobile phone. Then, see you in the next palm photography class!

▲ Olympus PEN F shooting, urban science and technology night scene.

▲ Olympus PEN F shooting, the fusion of modernity and tradition.