Importance of White Balance

[returnofsid]

I was just messing around, taking some pictures of a couple new Zoanthids saw something I wanted to share.

A few days ago, I was at another members home, taking pics of his tank. While there, I set a custom white balance, from a pic of his new, WHITE sand. The pictures were still a bit off, in color. So, I settled for Auto White Balance, which never gives me a true color representation in my tanks, but seemed to in his tank.

So today, while taking some pics, I noticed the color was just slightly off and realized I still had it on AWB.

Sooo, I switched over to the Custom White Balance, forgetting that it was set to the other member's tank...lol.

WOW!! That's way off!! So, I took a quick shot at my not so white sand bed and used this photo to re-set my Custom White Balance.

Here's a very true representation of my new Zoanthid colony!! Peanut Butter Cups. Thanks Tony!!

I was amazed at the difference in color rendition, so thought I'd post this to show the importance that White Balance can play in our photography!!

 

[CarlaW]

You know, I have never even messed with the white balance on my new rig, I am sure it is set to auto, but I have never really noticed any color differences in the colors of my corals?????

 

[CarlaW]

You know, I have never even messed with the white balance on my new rig, I am sure it is set to auto, but I have never really noticed any color differences in the colors of my corals?????

If I make it over there in a couple of weeks, that'll give us something to screw around with.

 

[returnofsid]

Well, like I said, Auto worked great on Tony's tank...not so great one mine. One other thing I've noticed...I set my white balance to a custom setting. As my light bulbs degrade, I have to re-customize it. It's a great indicator, for me, that my lights are changing. Also, my custom white balance in my 75 is WAY different than it is for the 46, which has PC lighting.

 

[CarlaW]

Oh man, I imagine that there would be a difference, especially as crisp as those T5's are!!!!

 

[ajnweb]

Good looking shots, I am getting ready to take pics of the tank right now!

 

[returnofsid]

Good!!! Looking forward to seeing them!!

 

[Curtswearing]

Great mini-tutorial

 

[fatboyt123]

I have always here you talk about this and never though it was that big of a difference where it was set or not but man are you right

I never new how to set it even after i have had it for over 6 month and never messed with the setting that much just took pic on auto mod because it is easy but when taking pic of my sister tank i knew they didnt look like they should but didnt know what i was doing wrong so it was time to get out the manual and do alittle reshearch and figure out how to set it


here are some of the pics of my sister 55 with the awb on

they just look kinda dull

one on left awb on one on right custom set white balance

here are some with the cutom balance i could not belive the difference when i was taking the pic's

 

[fatboyt123]

does any one know what these are

 

[returnofsid]

That is a very noticeable difference!! Glad you figured it out!! Unfortunately, can't help you with those Zoanthids, though they're very cool. Check out www.coralpedia.com and www.reef2reef.com

 

[fatboyt123]

That is a very noticeable difference!! Glad you figured it out!! Unfortunately, can't help you with those Zoanthids, though they're very cool. Check out www.coralpedia.com and www.reef2reef.com

tried both still cant find them

 

[fatboyt123]

even though they arent mine if i did frag them what would you guys pay for frags how many zoas on a frag also? she has tons i bet she would even now if i took some when she was at school:lol::lol::badgrin::badgrin:

 

[returnofsid]

LOL I don't know about that. Angie, my girlfriend, would know if a single polyp was missing out of any of our Zoanthid colonies...lol.

 

[fatboyt123]

LOL I don't know about that. Angie, my girlfriend, would know if a single polyp was missing out of any of our Zoanthid colonies...lol.

i dont think she would notice i would take them from the back

 

[returnofsid]

More examples of how White Balance can have a huge effect on the look of your pictures. Last night, while taking some pictures in the 75, I didn't realize that my custom white balance was set to a wedding I recently took some pictures at. This morning, I realized it and reset the CWB to my 75. Then I retook some of the same corals. Here are the results.

Superman Monti (Wedding WB)

Proper WB

Pom Pom Xenia (Wedding WB)

Proper WB

Acropora loripes (Wedding WB)

Proper WB

Purple Rimmed M. cap (Wedding WB)

Proper WB

In some pictures, the differences aren't drastic, but can be seen. In some pictures, the wrong WB actually improves the look of the coral, as in the Superman Monti. I wish mine were that red...lol. One thing that it makes me realize...when looking at pictures of online coral vendors, keep in mind that pictures can be easily manipulated to give a different, and maybe more desirable look, than the true color.