This Bold Move Unlocks Stunning Colours
A secret for achieving richer, more authentic images.
Hey Creators!
A person once commented on one of my photographs, “Why is this house so orange?”. I just thought to myself, “Because it was.”
Today, I will show you a bold move that helps you achieve more authentic images. And the best part is, you don’t have to do anything—quite literally.
To understand it, we first need to debunk a common misconception regarding colour balance.
Have a look at these two stills. The one on the top is my initial edit, the one on the bottom is a colour balanced version.
Undoubtedly, when looking at the scopes, the image at the bottom is more balanced. But is it “better”? I don’t think so.
From that, we can conclude that colour balance is not the end all-be all. Sometimes, scenes are just naturally warm or cold.
Now, if that is the case, why do we set white balance so religiously?
(A quick warning before things go south: Of course, if there is fluorescent light, or a colour cast you need to mitigate, go ahead. In general, all the time when a perfectly balanced image is what you’re going for, please DO set your white balance accordingly.)
However, I’d argue more often than not, we try to catch the vibe oder mood of a scene rather than a perfectly balanced representation of it.
For most of my work, I don’t even adjust the white balance in camera, unless I know I really need to. I have set it to 5400 K as a baseline and I’m fine in most situations.
Coincidentally, the photographer Sean Tucker has recently made a fantastic video on that topic. If you don’t know his channel, I highly suggest you check him out. If you enjoy my videos, you will likely enjoy his, too.
(Direct Link: https://youtu.be/eQPPa_8Z13o?si=dA58NfQnhUfwgems)
Give it a watch if you’re interested and if you find the time.
I’m writing about this topic because I recently discussed it in a one-on-one consultation. If you want all your questions answered or you have a specific issue you need assistance with, I’m happy to help!
👉 Book your One-on-One Session
See you next time!
Best,
Eric
