Yellow photos??? Help please

[donmash]

I have noticed as of late that shooting outdoors in the bright sun, I can't get any "good" colors in my photos. I have tried everything (that I know) and nothing changes the outcome. I purcahsed a Expodisc to help assure that I am getting the proper white balance and still I am getting yellow photo's.

I don't have my photos on this computer as I am sure that you would want to see some samples, but maybe without (while I am at work) someone will know what I am talking about. If needed once I get home I will post some if that will help.

I can tell you that I have been shooting at 5.6 using Aperature Priority, the shutter has been between 1000-2500 as a good guide. I am using the white balance programmed. I am not using a filter (polarized that is), not sure what else would help.

This is driving me crazy, your help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Don

[jorgemonkey]

Yess, samples would be most helpful

So are you using the pre-programmed white balance (such as sunny, cloudy, shade) or auto white balance? Also what camera/lens setup are ya using?

When ya get home post a few samples and we'll do our best to help ya

[JSPhoto]

I can't remember what camera you are using so check these items:
1: Your WB settings - use the standard setting as a start yellow tint = too hot, blue too cold
2: color temp - some, especially higher end cameras allow you to adjust individual colors, make sure if your camera can do this it's set properly
3: profiles: some cameras have different profiles or modes that allow use of different "filter affects", make syre your not set to one of these.
4: Are you using a UV filter? if you are, are you using a UV(0) filter? Anything other than a UV(0) such as a UV(1), UV(10) can change colors or give off a tint.
Post some examples so we can see what they look like so we can help you. Also post the camera type/model and so on (including any filters. flash...etc).
If all else fails, take your camera to a well known camera store and see if the sales people can help out, it is possible the camera has a sensor issue thats affecting the Auto WB.

JS

[livin4lax09]

do you know how to correctly use the expodisk?

[Tom_Proctor]

Set white balance on auto or manual?

[donmash]

I use a Canon 1d Mark II N, with a Canon f2.8 70-200mm L IS, with the Canon 1.4 II extender.

1. Do I know how to use the expodisc? I followed the directions, seemed to work since I got it, but who knows
2. All the attached photos have the metadata attached.
3. Filter used Quantaray digital UV clear filter

Here goes with the information on the photos
#4493
f 6.3---1/640 sec with exposure bias +1.33---Aperature Priority--200 ISO---Custom manual white balance @280mm (nothing done to the photo)

#4728
f5.6---1/1000---AP---200 ISO----Custom manual white balance @ 280mm

#3865
f4 ---1/1000---AP---200 ISO ---WB Manual---280mm

This is all I can think of, just dying to hear what I may have set wrong, or are doing wrong. This problem is new in the last few weeks and I can't figure out what is wrong.

Thanks for any attempt.

Don

[donmash]

photo's won't attach right now says the server may be down. I will try again later.

[JSPhoto]

Don,
Sounds to me like you have two possible issues.
#1: Impropper setting of the WB, could be your setting it wrong or it could be a bad WB sensor in the MKII N....it happens on rare occasions.

#2: Have you changed the Color Temperature? The MKII N color temp settings may be changed which can also cause this.

#3: This is a personal peeve of mine - OK, you have a $4000 body (give or take a few $$), why on earth do you have a cheap filter on it? Go out and spend the $46 for the Hoya UV(0) filter. Your "clear" filter may not be that clear. The HoyaUV(0) will not affect colors but will keep out the harmful (photographically) UV light.... make sure the number is 0 and not 1 or anything higher as they can affect color!

JS

[jorgemonkey]

I use a Canon 1d Mark II N, with a Canon f2.8 70-200mm L IS, with the Canon 1.4 II extender.

Well there's your problem right there. Switch to Nikon & you won't have that problem anymore :ihih:

jk. You're got yourself a fine camera

Hopefully the server will come up so we can see the images.

[donmash]

JS,

thanks for the insight. As far as the filter goes, I must have received some bad information on the filter. A camera expert told me it was a good one. I think you can see from my equipment list, I tend to purchase good equipment, one that will last a lifetime of my type of use.

I will definatley go out and get the filter.

I just tried to download from a different computer this morning and it says it is still down.

Thanks,
Don

[livin4lax09]

host your images on imageshack.us and then just post them here.

[JSPhoto]

You don't need to upload your photos to a webhost, you can upload directly to the forum as long as they are in the proper format and size.

JS

[donmash]

here we go.....

Well I have tried from two different computers and I keep getting the same response..

The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.

Is anyone else having problems uploading the photos?

[jorgemonkey]

My test to try to upload.....

[livin4lax09]

You don't need to upload your photos to a webhost, you can upload directly to the forum as long as they are in the proper format and size.

JS

here we go.....

Well I have tried from two different computers and I keep getting the same response..

The page cannot be displayed
The page you are looking for is currently unavailable. The Web site might be experiencing technical difficulties, or you may need to adjust your browser settings.

Is anyone else having problems uploading the photos?

yeahhhhh... like i said, imageshack or imagesocket

[masdog]

yeahhhhh... like i said, imageshack or imagesocket

Or photobucket...

[JSPhoto]

sounds more like a computer or isp issue. I have never had a problem uploading files here except when the site was down for service which is not very often.

JS

[donmash]

try again to upload,

Ok got it to work....let me know what your thoughts are...

thanks for your support

[livin4lax09]

this just looks like the type of day that you are shooting at. when the sun is low on the horizon like it is now, pictures tend to have more of a golden glow to them. therefore, they get the name the golden hours. Some people like this look, some don't. but yeah, nothing really wrong with your camera or WB procedures

[JSPhoto]

Don,
with the 1D MKII N on AWB you shouldn't get this. If your on manual WB you may get it, but it's EASY to fix once you learn how. Get out your manual and read up on the Color Temp and how to adjust that. I have found that once I set mine I just leave it unless I have an odd situation where I need to change it. This won't eliminate post proccessing color wise, but it makes it a lot simpler.
Keep in mind that yellow means it hot and blue cold etc.

You change Color Temp by pressing the white WB button and the WB button next to the * button at the same time. You can then adjust the Green or Magenta from the Large dial or Blue or Amber from the small dial.
In my case I leave it B 2 G 2 or +2 on the blue and +2 on the green. Since doing that the paper hasn't had to change the color in my photos for print either.

Keep in mind that each camera is different no matter how good QC is and no two MKII N's are the same, your exact settings may differ from mine, not too mention differences in the computers we are using as well as the video cards and monitors. Three of my computers I use the most have different video cards, different monitors (OK ones a laptop) and all three are calibrated for the newspaper. It made a big difference in post proccessing time on their end as well as mine. I get them close and they tweak them and it takes about 30 seconds at most. It also helps now that they FINALLY got a MKII N and were on the same page camera wise again.
Play with the different settings on this until the color looks close to what you want.
One way to cheat though is in post proccessing go to Adjust For Skin Tone. Point the eye dropper on a skin tone and click. 9 times out of ten it will make the colors pretty darn close to what you want and you can then make changes in hue & saturation to get the finer touch.

JS

[masdog]

Don, what time of the day was it when you were shooting? Just from the images, it looks like they were taken in late afternoon. The whites seem fine on my monitor.

[donmash]

The first two photo's were late morning, maybe 11:00 am. The sky was blue and the grass very green, but not in my photos. The final photo was taken around 3:00 pm.

At first I was thinking that it was the time of the day, but these shouldn't be based on what I am used to getting.

JS,

Once again I will follow the suggestions that you have laid out. I can't wait to get home and try them....this is just one of those problems that I have not been able to fix. (Frankly I was embarrased to ask here because I thought it was something simple I was doing)

Thanks for the help. I will let you know how the changes effect the outcome, assuming that the sun ever shines again here in Michigan.

Thanks,
Don

[JSPhoto]

lol, I'm beginning to think the same here in Indiana, but we had sun for a couple of hours today. Of course as soon as I start the mower up the sun vanished and those ominous clouds came back

The best way to try this is take shots at each setting of the same thing so you can see exactly what each change does. You can track them either by adding an audio file or just by looking at each shots properties. The color temp settings seem to be hidden away as many who use the MKII N don't realize it's there.

JS

[livin4lax09]

ok now that I'm looking at them again, these are very yellow. second shot wasn't at 11 AM though. Half of the face is shaded, meaning low sun. But your AWB should be making fine colors. Cameras handle sunlight very well with AWB. Usually better than anything else can do. If it's not, and you're getting these with AWB, then you need a replacement.

[donmash]

Just to make this clear....the second photo without question was shot between 10:30 and 11:00 am. I know this as this was the state championship game and it started on time. This was last weekend and the sun is lower on the horizon than it is in the summer, but none the less I will have to adjust the camera as has been suggested to see if this improves.

Thanks again,

Don