Can someone help me with my WB please???

[JETA]

I'm really confused as to which WB catagory I pic. There are settings for everything.

I will be under a well lit field. Do I pick flourescent, twilight or custom? Or is there a different category? What about AWB? Not good to use?

[masdog]

It depends greatly on the conditions of the field. If the field is lit evenly, then you can just use an 18% grey card and do a custom white balance. If there are two or three "lighting zones," for lack of a better term, you can do a custom white balance for each spot. For example, if the center of the field is very well lit and the endzones are fairly dark, you can do a custom white balance for each area and switch between the two.

If there is uneven light across the stadium, you might have to use AWB.

[JETA]

I think the lighting is consistant over the whole field.

I don't have a gray card. I guess I'll just go with awb then.

Would I need a hood on my lens?

[masdog]

I don't know about using a hood at night. I would say yes to help keep stray light out of your lens, but you might want to check with someone else on that.

As for a grey card, you can probably pick one up at a nearby photography supply store. Otherwise, you can use the white jersey of the other team. That could work just as well. I wouldn't really recommend using the AWB setting since that takes its best guess. Unless you plan on shooting RAW, I would try to stay away from it.

[Lionheart]

I'm really confused as to which WB catagory I pic. There are settings for everything.

I will be under a well lit field. Do I pick flourescent, twilight or custom? Or is there a different category? What about AWB? Not good to use?

How about using the manual Kelvin temperature settings? You'll have to experiment to see which temp color setting looks pleasing, but I often use this under difficult lighting when nothing else works.

[masdog]

How about using the manual Kelvin temperature settings? You'll have to experiment to see which temp color setting looks pleasing, but I often use this under difficult lighting when nothing else works.

That option isn't available on all cameras, Lionheart. My Rebel XT doesn't have it. Neither did my Digital Rebel.

[Lionheart]

That option isn't available on all cameras, Lionheart. My Rebel XT doesn't have it. Neither did my Digital Rebel.

Oops. Sorry dude. I assumed too much.

[JETA]

Thanks all!

I ended up using the awb. Not sure how the pics turned out. I know a lot of them didn't.

I'm not sure why, but I can't get the pics imported off of my camera. I did use a new memory card that is 2 gigabytes. I thought maybe my battery was a teeny bit low so I'm charging it up. The computer kept on saying there were no pics on the card. I'm not getting it. This has never been an issue.

[JSPhoto]

How about using the manual Kelvin temperature settings? You'll have to experiment to see which temp color setting looks pleasing, but I often use this under difficult lighting when nothing else works.

This IS the preffered method of the "Pros", and one of those things they don't tell you about. I went through that learning curve with a pro. Once I figured out what he was doing he got all PO'ed
I'd shoot the same angle, same gym, same lighting and my pics looked awful color wise. Then I spent a whole night reading that darn little book for my camera and when I got to the "kelvin" part it hit me what I needed to do.
What really burned the guy though was when I gave his "secret" to the editor and he took some shots at a game and had correct colors SHOCK and dismay! lol

JETA, this is what I told you about earlier. I usually set it shooting something white, get the white I want by adjusting the color temp and boom, things come out great.

JS

[JETA]

I don't have a manual Kelvin setting on my camera. Maybe I need a new camera!

[mjs1973]

I think the lighting is consistant over the whole field.

I don't have a gray card. I guess I'll just go with awb then.

Would I need a hood on my lens?

Hey Jeta. If you have lens hood, put it on. I don't have hoods for all of my lenses, but I wish I did. I have never regretted having one on a lens I was using, but I sure have regretted NOT having one.

If you are shooting RAW, I wouldn't worry too much about WB because you can change it later. It's nice to get things right in camera the first time, but if you don't, RAW can be a life saver. If you're shooting jpeg's then I would set a custom WB. You don't need a gray card to set a custom WB, just pick something that's white and go from there.

[JETA]

Thank you Michael.

Correct me if I'm wrong. I use the "custom wb". Not one of the other settings like flourescent light, twilight sunsent etc.

The field I'm shooting at is light nice and bright and I would say it is consistant over the whole field.

I'm in Washington state. It is cloudly out now and gray. How many times would it be normal to set my wb? How do I know when it needs to be reset? I hope these aren't the dumbest questions in the world. I'm kind of confused about it all.

Thanks!

[JTcooper]

hey Jeta, don't feel sorry for yourself. I had been follow this thread right along with you buddy. me myself really want to know how, when, where to do that, even though I got my 20d for about 4 month now and still didn't quit get it. most of the time I shoot it in awb and did not like it at all, hopefully these smart folk would help us...

[masdog]

JETA,

First, a lot of the things you are asking come from experience. I'm relatively new to trying to get as much right without post processing as well, so I know where you are coming from. First, don't be afraid to experiment. If you think you might do better with a different white balance, give it a try and see how things come out. You never know what you get until you try.

Second, the best thing to do when it comes to custom white balance is to get a grey card. At least that is what is recommended. If you don't have one or don't feel like spending the money, find something white to use. The college I shoot at uses all white warmup jerseys, so I try to get a close shot of one and use that as my custom WB. If you can't get something like that, find someone with a white shirt that you can get a quick picture of and use that as your WB.

JETA and JT, the best thing I can tell you is to experiment. If you think you might do better with a different WB setting, give it a try. If you're not doing this for a publication or sale, then you gain experience. There is no one sure-fire answer for how to shoot a sport or sports. What works at one stadium or for one photographer might not work for others.

[mjs1973]

Masdog is right. Experimentation is the key. I have been a real slacker lately when it comes to WB. I leave mine set on auto almost all of the time now, and try focus on my exposures better. Unless I'm by myself in the field, I feel rushed so I don't take the time to experiment with WB like I should. I shoot RAW, so the WB can be adjusted later if need be, and with auto, it almost always does... The exposure can be too for that matter, but I'm still playing with slide film, so nailing the exposure is more important to me at this time.

One of the great things about digital photography is the ability to experiment and not have to pay for developing your film, and waiting a few days to see your results. So next time you're at a game, take some shots, and look at them on your LCD. If you don't like them, make some adjustments and try again. The LCD might be hard to notice the dif. but it's worth a shot.

[JETA]

I just bought my grey card so hopefully it will be here in a few days.

At the game on Friday night there was a photographer there with one of the local papers. He asked me who I was shooting for. Um, myself and the coach?

Anyway, instead of the normal dirty looks from other photogs this guy was really nice and helped me out with my wb. He just used his low sun setting for the beginning of the game and flourescent for the last half. I finally got all of my pics uploaded so I'm anxious to see if that helped at all from last week.

Hopefully this coming week my new goal will to be get used to doing my own custom wb. I'm still using aperture priority.

You all are so right that experience is so much of this. I appreciate the fact that you guys listen and don't rip my rear for asking the not so smart questions. I'm really happy to see someone else though who is right in line with me! :::::::waving at JT::::::::::

[JSPhoto]

There are no dumb questions....except the ones you don't ask.

Yea, pros tend to be jerks and know it alls. I have dealt with the papers staff photog for 4+ years now and he is STILL a jerk. In that time I have 3 complements from from him. But when I ask how he did something he won't say anything except "figure it out yourself". I finally figured out it is due to extreme insecurity and a "God like" feeling these jerks have. If he is sooo good then why hasn't anyone hired him? He's been putting in applications for three years that I know of but no wants him!

On occasion you will find a pro willing to help, even loaning a lens for few shots. But those people are far and few between in this business.

JS

[JETA]

There are no dumb questions....except the ones you don't ask.

Yea, pros tend to be jerks and know it alls. I have dealt with the papers staff photog for 4+ years now and he is STILL a jerk. In that time I have 3 complements from from him. But when I ask how he did something he won't say anything except "figure it out yourself". I finally figured out it is due to extreme insecurity and a "God like" feeling these jerks have. If he is sooo good then why hasn't anyone hired him? He's been putting in applications for three years that I know of but no wants him!

On occasion you will find a pro willing to help, even loaning a lens for few shots. But those people are far and few between in this business.

JS

Then plan on me to keep on asking.


I find the rudeness so weird and funny. If they only knew that I'm there for myself and pretty much know zip about photography.

They must be jealous cuz my lens is better then their lens! ;) (total joke)

[JSPhoto]

Ask away....answers may be delayed. You didn't show up to shoot my job tonight so now I have to go do it.. with a junk DRebel (compared to my 1D )

lol

[JETA]

Ask away....answers may be delayed. You didn't show up to shoot my job tonight so now I have to go do it.. with a junk DRebel (compared to my 1D )

lol

OK, spill. What is a 1D? The photog from the paper that was so nice told me I had good glass, but he seems to think my rebel is bottom of the barrel. Since I know what I paid for it I figured it was. He said I need a camera with faster response and the ability to take more the 4 pics in a row and less recovery time.

Was he right? Suggestions? Christmas is coming... Maybe if I'm nice Santa will bring me a new camera!

[JSPhoto]

OK, spill. What is a 1D? The photog from the paper that was so nice told me I had good glass, but he seems to think my rebel is bottom of the barrel. Since I know what I paid for it I figured it was. He said I need a camera with faster response and the ability to take more the 4 pics in a row and less recovery time.

Was he right? Suggestions? Christmas is coming... Maybe if I'm nice Santa will bring me a new camera!

Better hope Santa can find 1600-4900 dollars! The 1D is the first real pro digital body. They can be had for 800 - 1600 $$ USED! Or you can get the "new" version the 1D MKII which is around $4900.
The major differences are that the 1D shoots 8 frames second up to 20 frames, the MKII 40 frames at 8.5 frames a second. Another real big advantage is battery consumption. The MKII (same battery) uses 1/4 the power of the old 1D! .... now where did I hide that $4900???

Stay away from Nikon...they have cheaper gear but More NOISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JS

[masdog]

Calumet Photo has the new ID-MkII N for $4000. I know its still a lot, but one grand off is a significant chunk.

Of course, there is also the option to lease.

[JSPhoto]

You need to be carefull though, most discounted gear is either:
1: refurb repackaged
2: non US warranty
3: may not have battery & charger - this alone will set you back another $700!
4: a combination of the above

I had one place say it was the "complete deal" only to find out it was short the charger battery and US warranty. Took 6 months and the attorney general to get my $$$$ back!

JS

[mjs1973]

Jeta, when it comes to upgrading your gear, take a good look at what you need it for. The DRebel does have some limitations, but they can be overcome. The 4 shot burst is one of them. But that can be overcome with practice and timing. I would never consider upgrading my gear because someone told me my camera wasn't good enuf. If your camera gets you the shots you want, the it certainly is good enuf. There is definatly a point in photography when you have outgrown your gear and it's time to upgrade, but that time is not when someone else tells you that you need to. Just because there is something better out there, doesn't make your gear obsolete

[masdog]

The DReb, at this moment, is the bottom of Canon's digital barrel. It is the low-end entry-level camera with a very low rate of fps, low burst, slow write times and limited features. But since when was photography about the camera?

Photography is about the image, and the camera is only a part of that equation. It's actually a small part, in my opinion. The most important thing is the person behind the camera. That professional may snear at you because you're not using a top end digital body, but you're getting a couple added bonuses to your photography skills.

By not having a top end camera, you have to develop your timing more. You can't just fire off a string of pictures and pick the best of the sequence. You have to develop your skills to get the perfect shot.