This is a tutorial about adjusting degrees of Kelvin white balance. Most of us when shooting in RAW mode don't worry too much about white balance. We know that we can change it in post editing. But seriously we should try to photograph the scene as we see it as accurately as possible from the outset. No matter if we are shooting in jpeg mode or RAW mode.
Rock on Kelvin!
Shhh don't tell ...but I had a date with Kelvin!
I'd seen him before but never really took any notice of him. Moreover he's a bit of a colourful guy along with being a maths geek. Though he sounded like he was a bit out of my league.
Then at the weekend I came across him again. I thought ...hmmm one day I'll have to find out more about him. Well I didn't think it would be so soon. Girls ...talk about speed dating!
We finally met up on Tuesday afternoon thanks to Jill.
No phone call was even necessary.
Now just in case you're thinking 'Hey Rosie's publicly admitting to adultery here!' well it's not quite so.
I'm a bit of a creative writer after all!
Degrees of Kelvin White Balance Guidelines
Degrees of Kelvin is a measurement for setting your white balance in the camera. There are a few ways of setting your white balance in camera. Usually it's AWB (Auto White Balance), CWB (Custom White Balance), Preset White Balance (Sunny, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent), or White Balance by degrees of Kelvin. BUT if you really want your SOOC jpegs to rock and remove colour casts ...then you need to have a date with Kelvin too. Instead of using auto white balance you use degrees of Kelvin when shooting in the lighting conditions below.
Types of Light
- Incandescent artificial lighting conditions: around 2500-3500 degrees of Kelvin white balance
- Fluorescent artificial lighting conditions: around 3500-4500 degrees of Kelvin white balance
- Daylight conditions: around 4800-5800 degrees of Kelvin white balance
- Cloudy/Shade conditions: around 6200-7500 degrees of Kelvin white balance
ColorChecker Card
You can take it a step further when working with RAWS and bring a ColorChecker card with you on your photoshoot. Take a photograph of the colorchecker card in the light conditions you are working in. Then photograph your subject as normal.
Back home you can upload the photo of the colorchecker along with your other photos into either lightroom or photoshop. Make a few clicks on the colorchecker to correct the white balance. Sync that with your batch of photos from the shoot and voila! You've got the correct white balance on all your photos.
Capturing Natural Colours In-Camera
It's a bit like having photoshop actions in your camera. You can be quite creative with the warmth and coolness of your image. Or like me just want your sooc to appear as natural as you saw it with your own eyes.
Me and Kelvin clicked immediately! In fact all the photos in this post are sooc's using various degrees of kelvin sharpened and re-sized for the web.
Rock on Kelvin!
Ellie
Rosie, these are wonderful I was looking at one thinking that's a great shot and then the next and the next.
I'm going to have a look at Kelvin and see what I can learn. Thanks for sharing.
Just had another look at your pictures you verbena is jumping out at me. Beautiful!!!
Kim Stevens
Oh Rosie, that Kelvin sure is a two timer! ha I've actually been trying to wrap my head around all this white balance too, have been reading in my book (on how to better master my camera) on how to change this in my camera. Now I need to go out and see if I learned anything! ha
I'm so in love with that last image – it is sooooo beautiful!!
Sarah
WOW! So gorgeous. I need to have a date with Kelvin too… I have been sooo busy!
Ashley Sisk
I'm thinking Kelvin is about to get busy as we're all going to need a date with him!
Jill Samter Photography
LOL! I love this post so much!
He he he! Our humor is so similar 🙂
LOVE IT!
Hey KELVIN you got a pretty sweet following and I know you will treat all my friends very nicely! Take good care of them all around the world for me!!!
XOXO
Jaymi
These are really great photos! I'm so impressed that they are SOOC. The rules of Kelvin are so important to learn–I definitely need to brush up on it a little. Thanks for linking up!
Pieces of Sunshine
Rosie these are delightful. I love your mosaic in particular. The colours remind me of Christmas. Also love your phone booth and waterfall. So much beauty to fill our days with.
Susan
Looks like you and Kelvin had a great time together.
Love the results.
I really need to meet him myself.
Thanks for sharing.
Your pictures are stunning!!
Traci Michele
WOW! amazing shots esp. the first one!
Kimberly
These are all amazing! Love the flowing river/creek!
I really need to have a date with Kelvin also! But I'm still not sure how to reach him. Reading that manual now though. 🙂
Michelle
GASP! Rosie!! Wow!! I love how Kelvin is getting around and rocking everyone's world… haha! In the most platonic of ways, of course! hehe! Isn't it amazing how one setting on your camera can change so much??? I'm looking forward to my second date with the guy…
Anyway, LOVE your shots! Beautiful! And wow! My jaw dropped with that last one!! Forget the salmon – that's perfect!! 😀 (although seeing some salmon jumping would be pretty cool, too!)
xoxo
Chell
Zondra Art
Dera Carol,
These are really amazing photos!
Thanks for shering this beauty with us.
Kisses and nice day.
deb duty
Gorgeous photos, Rosie! You really did nail the white balance. I was just reading about using Kelvin and was thinking about trying it out. Thanks for the link. By the way, I love the movement of the water that you captured!
Tara
These are gorgeous Rosie! You crack me up, I was thinking..wait, what? LOL, I need a date with Kelvin too 🙂
Traci Michele
ur in my top 5!
Branson
Gorgeous, gorgeous photos! I need to learn more about kelvin for sure.