The real meaning of white balance

[Ed Matuod]

Hey, anybody out there could share a detailed meaning of white balance, its importance and uses in our everyday (mostly bird) photography? Is it okay to use the AWB every time. Is it related to 'metering' also. What's metering anyway? Is there a standards for both functions?

[Neon Rosell II]

edmatuod said:

Hey, anybody out there could share a detailed meaning of white balance, its importance and uses in our everyday (mostly bird) photography? Is it okay to use the AWB every time. Is it related to 'metering' also. What's metering anyway? Is there a standards for both functions?

Ed,

Here's a link that explains white balance. I just copied the text from this link.
www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/white-balance.htm

WHITE BALANCE -

"White balance (WB) is the process of removing unrealistic color casts, so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in your photo. Proper camera white balance has to take into account the "color temperature" of a light source, which refers to the relative warmth or coolness of white light. Our eyes are very good at judging what is white under different light sources, however digital cameras often have great difficulty with auto white balance (AWB). An incorrect WB can create unsightly blue, orange, or even green color casts, which are unrealistic and particularly damaging to portraits. Performing WB in traditional film photography requires attaching a different cast-removing filter for each lighting condition, whereas with digital this is no longer required. Understanding digital white balance can help you avoid color casts created by your camera's AWB, thereby improving your photos under a wider range of lighting conditions." Hope this helps

Cheers,

Neon

[Ed Matuod]

Thanks, Neon. How about 'metering'? Are they (WB) somewhat related?

[Neon Rosell II]

edmatuod said:

Thanks, Neon. How about 'metering'? Are they (WB) somewhat related?

Hi Ed,

I think they might be related, when your metering is not spot on it will generate some color cast??.

Here is a tutorial from the same website, regarding metering
www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/camera-metering.htm

Cheers,

Neon

[Nilo Arribas Jr.]

edmatuod said:

Thanks, Neon. How about 'metering'? Are they (WB) somewhat related?

Hi Ed,

Metering = Exposure while
White Balance = How camera will render white objects in various lighting conditions.

You can have correct exposure with unpleasant color cast as a result of inaccurate WB or the other way around.

Nilo