How to set white balance

Introduction: The English name of white balance is White Balance, abbreviated as WB. The human eye can correctly identify colors because the human brain can detect and correct color changes caused by environmental factors. The photosensitive component inside the digital camera can also detect the color temperature of the light and adjust it inside the camera. Its purpose is to correctly reproduce the color of the scene being photographed. This is the camera's automatic white balance mode. How to set white balance

Setting white balance

Although automatic white balance can adapt to a variety of lighting conditions, color cast problems may still occur under some special lighting conditions. In order to correct this color cast, SLR cameras provide a variety of white balance settings for users to choose from. This allows photos to better present natural-looking colors, or allows photographers to emphasize a certain color in the image based on their own creativity. For Canon EOS 5D Mark III, it provides a variety of white balance settings, including automatic white balance, daylight mode, cloudy mode, shadow mode, tungsten light mode, incandescent light mode, flash mode, user-defined mode and Color temperature mode.

Operation method

1. Press the white balance button on the body.

2. Turn the quick control dial to directly adjust the white balance. The current white balance setting can be viewed on the top LCD screen.

Expert Tips

Use the Quick Control Button to set the white balance. Press the Quick Control Button and select the white balance setting. You can also adjust the white balance by turning the main dial or the Quick Control Dial.

Effects of applying different white balance settings

Listed below are the effects of taking photos using different white balance settings on Canon EOS 5D Mark III. It can be clearly seen through comparison. See the difference.

▲Automatic white balance.

▲Daylight white balance. Photography tutorial

　▲Shadow white balance.

▲Tungsten lamp white balance.

▲White fluorescent light white balance.

▲Flash white balance.

Use white balance to correct color cast

Under normal circumstances, we adjust the white balance to avoid the color cast problem caused by the influence of light on the scene, so that the restoration is more realistic and realistic. Accurate color. For example, photos taken under incandescent lighting will appear yellowish or reddish. Set the white balance to incandescent mode to restore colors. It should be noted that incandescent lamps themselves have many colors, and the color temperatures of lamps of different colors are high and low. Therefore, using incandescent lamp mode sometimes does not necessarily accurately restore the true color of the subject. In this case, you need to use manual preset. Set balance or select color temperature adjustment.

▲Automatic white balance.

▲Incandescent white balance.

Adjusting the white balance reflects the creativity of the photographer

Whether the true colors are restored, the picture effect must be good? In fact, the function of white balance is not only to restore the true colors , it also allows photographers to deliberately use "color cast" to express their own shooting creativity. For example, when shooting at dusk, it is often necessary to enhance the warm golden light. This can be easily achieved by using the white balance adjustment.

▲Shooted with automatic white balance, the shadow part of the swan appears light blue.

▲Aperture priority, F5.6, 1/320 sec, ISO 400, focal length 100mm, exposure compensation? 0.67EV. Adjust the white balance to select color temperature mode, set the color temperature of 8800K, which will significantly enhance the warmth. Adjust the color to make the water surface and swans appear rich golden yellow to better express the atmosphere of dusk.

Expert Tips

Use RAW files to freely adjust the white balance. Use RAW files to save photos, and then freely adjust the white balance through post-production processing software such as DPP and Photoshop. You can adjust the white balance freely at the shooting scene. Concentrate completely on observation, composition and photography.