Beecher's Handouts /

White Balance / 19.2 - Is AWB the Best Method?

Many photographers use the automatic white balance (AWB) setting all of the time.

The AWB setting averages the color in a scene.

It's easy to use AWB.

But averaging the color doesn't work well when the color in a scene isn't average.

Two Examples

Red Barns

Lets' say you're photographing something that's all one color, such as a red barn.

If you use AWB, the red of the barn will be muted in the photograph.

Use the sun icon if you're in the sun, the cloudy icon on a cloudy day, and the shade icon if you're in the shade.

Sunsets

If you photograph a sunset using the AWB setting, the camera will decrease the intensity of the oranges and reds in the photograph.

Set the white balance on the sun icon to retain the color of sunsets.

In the photograph below, to the left, I used the sun icon.

Note the warmth of the color in the field and trees behind the flowers.

The color was warm because the photograph was taken around 5 P.M.

The photograph to the right was made using the AWB setting.

Note how the warmth of the late light was averaged away.

Use the sun icon to preserve the colors of a sunset.


Sun Icon	Automatic White Balance

Here's the top of each photograph, for easier comparison:

Sun Icon

Automatic White Balance

Don't use automatic white balance all of the time.

Adjusting White Balance

You can use the products below to adjust white balance.

You can also use PhotoShop and other programs to adjust the color.