Glare and Color Balance

[KoiShot]

I shoot unusual photos of koi. For far too long, I struggled with the problem of glare on the water surface. I of course tried polarizing filters, heavy shade covers to block glare, and artificial lighting. The problem with these trials was that the colors (especially whites) where often way off. I tried adjusting white balance, and manipulating the colors in photo editing software. Nothing worked well, until a pal gave me a hint. He said, set the camera to manual, 1/200th shutter, and 20 aperature. So, fast shutter and wide open lens. Oddly enough, this work to both cut glare and still provide close color balance. I'm confused, however, why this works. Can anyone explain this to me?

Here is an example of some shots I took, along with the associated settings. None of these photos were manipulated except to crop them.



All photos were taken with a Canon EOS Digital Rebel, using a Canon EFS 18-55 lens set to autofocus. Cloudy conditions, with all photos taken within minutes of each other.

Picture A = Auto exposure, no flash.
Picture B = Auto exposure, using the camera’s built-in auto-flash.
Picture C = Auto exposure, using a Canon Speedlite 580EX.
Picture D = Manual exposure, using a Canon Speedlite 580EX.

Please note that I am in no way an expert on photography, and so can only make assumptions as to the differences in each photograph.

Photo A is too dark (as expected), and has too much glare off the water. Since the flash was turned off, the shutter speed increased to 1/30 second, which allowed for some blurring as well.

Photo B has the most natural color balance. Whites are always difficult to capture, as they tend to shift based on light temperature. Notice how the white areas in the other photos have a grayish tint to them (especially photos A and C). Photo B, however, has the worst glare of all photos.

Photo C is slightly on the dark side, probably because the koi was slightly closer to the camera than when compared to Photo B. The white is on the gray side, but the glare from the water is less pronounced. Not a bad photograph in any event.

Photo D has very little glare, as so provides for the best representation of the koi. The camera was manually adjusted as noted previously. The white is good, but still shows some gray tint when compared to Photo B.

Kind Regards,
Bill

[Peter_AUS]

Maybe a Polorising Filter on the front of the lens would help in this situation.

[another view]

He said, set the camera to manual, 1/200th shutter, and 20 aperature. So, fast shutter and wide open lens. Oddly enough, this work to both cut glare and still provide close color balance. I'm confused, however, why this works. Can anyone explain this to me?

Hmm... No. 1/200 shutter speed and the aperture setting (is it f20?) are two settings that determine exposure. Without knowing the light level (and having it likely be at least a little different every time), the settings are meaningless. However, if the flash is the main light source you might be on to something - but I wouldn't normally use these settings with flash. Exposure settings also have nothing to do with white balance and glare.

Polarizer filters are great for cutting glare, and I see you've tried them. To make them really work, the light has to be coming from a 90 degree angle to the polarizer. The filter itself can be rotated, and if the light is at 90 degrees or close to it, you'll see the effect get more pronounced as you turn the filter ring. With a flash on the camera, the light is straight on so a polarizer will do almost nothing.

I guess I'd probably recommend eventually getting comfortable with the RAW workflow. It's a lot more work but the white balance can be set after exposure. With this, you're sure of getting the whites correct. To correct the glare, try the polarizer again but with the light at more of an angle (maybe pointing thru the glass from the side). Another light or reflector from the top may be helpful to even out the light. This would take a lot of experimenting to make it work though. If this can be done with natural light, it may make your life a lot easier!

[KoiShot]

Thanks guys!

Unique set of circumstances perhaps. I own a retail shop that sells koi, including over the internet. As such, I have hundereds of koi at any given time, and so need a fast and efficient way to photograph them . For example, you can check my web site at http://www.mystickoi.com/koiForSale.php?page=9
Plus... these koi are kept outside, in large 3,000 gallon raised tanks, which are under a patio cover with shade cloth. So, there is ambient light, but with reflections of the patio slats and shade cloth. I can not move them indoors to shoot, or out to an open area, as they tend to get "skittish" and want to jump out of the blue bowl. So, these bowls float in the tank while we photo them... and if they jump, they simply (hopefully) land back in the open water. Fruther... to manipulate the pics to correct color balance is labor intesive, and therefore not economical.

Anyway, I'm please with the result as noted in picture "D", but am simply confused why the camera settings eliminate the glare. What additional information would you need to perhaps understand why this works?

Kind Regards,
Bill

[another view]

am simply confused why the camera settings eliminate the glare. What additional information would you need to perhaps understand why this works?

The exposure and white balance settings don't make a difference in glare - they're very separate issues. But hey if it works, it works!