Question about using Whibal in landscape photography?

[milosh]

Hello everyone,

I have a question about using Whibal when shooting landscapes. I don't have an actual Whibal card, I printed myself a middle gray card and thought of using it as a Whibal.
I know it's not as neutral as the real thing, but I'm guessing it would help, better than to have nothing, at least I would have a gray object in my scene.

Now, as far as I understood, the card on my sample shot (the one I'll later use to set WB) should be lit by the same light as my subject. I guess that's fine if I'm shooting in diffused light (for example before sunrise, after sunset and on overcast days), but what if I'm shooting into the sun? Or if I'm shooting a night street scene, and all the lights are in front of the camera?

Thanks

[Elmo]

I am not sure how accurate your "neutral Gray" actually is. I might suggest a white sheet and set for slight under exposure, this will give a true gray to the sensor. Then correct the white balance in raw conversion.. For this to work the paper needs to be in the same light as the scene. when this is not possible use auto wb and adjust in post. At least that is what I do.

[dakwegmo]

You could also use a white sheet of paper (or a t-shirt, or anything that you know to be white) to set a custom white balance in camera.

[milosh]

Originally Posted by Elmo

I am not sure how accurate your "neutral Gray" actually is. I might suggest a white sheet and set for slight under exposure, this will give a true gray to the sensor. Then correct the white balance in raw conversion.. For this to work the paper needs to be in the same light as the scene. when this is not possible use auto wb and adjust in post. At least that is what I do.

I created it by filling a layer with 128/128/128 colour (RGB) and then printed it. There's of course the matter of printer calibration but I can't be that precise. I do shoot in raw and adjust wb in pp, but I would like to have a "true" wb reference as my starting point when pp-ing, sometimes it's hard to remember what it was really like.

Originally Posted by dakwegmo

You could also use a white sheet of paper (or a t-shirt, or anything that you know to be white) to set a custom white balance in camera.

Yeah, I know, I could for example use a piece of white plastic. But again it comes down to my question, what if I'm shooting a backlit scene. Do I just put the card in front of the camera so it's backlit as well or do I turn my camera so I can take a photo of the card lit directly? I'll have to try it, and show the results.

[Elmo]

Your reference device needs to be lit by the same source as the scene and the lighting needs to be from the same direction. Keep in mind light in the shade is different than light directly from the sun. What I often do is take a slightly under exposed image of my reference (makes sure it is not blown out) and use that in post to set the WB for the remaining images.

As I shoot a lot of similar scenes I know what items are neutral and just reference them in post.

[sk66]

For times when I want to set a custom WB I use one of these. They are really cheap, work well, and super easy to use (at least w/ my D3). It comes as two separate pieces, a screw on "adapter" and the actual cap thing.....I glued the two pieces together so it works as a single unit.

[milosh]

Originally Posted by Elmo

Your reference device needs to be lit by the same source as the scene and the lighting needs to be from the same direction. Keep in mind light in the shade is different than light directly from the sun. What I often do is take a slightly under exposed image of my reference (makes sure it is not blown out) and use that in post to set the WB for the remaining images.

As I shoot a lot of similar scenes I know what items are neutral and just reference them in post.

I'm guessing it would be better to shoot a card directly lit by the same light, even if it means turning the camera, as the card would be lit by the same light as the original scene.

Originally Posted by sk66

For times when I want to set a custom WB I use one of these. They are really cheap, work well, and super easy to use (at least w/ my D3). It comes as two separate pieces, a screw on "adapter" and the actual cap thing.....I glued the two pieces together so it works as a single unit.

Thanks sk, I really didn't know they make them like this (and this cheap). I have been looking into Expo Disc but it's way too expensive for me, at least for a thing used to set wb. I'll try to find some of these on eBay.

So, you just put the cap on, point it at your scene and use it to measure a custom wb image, right?

[sk66]

Yep, shoot thru the cap to set a custom WB reference image....I suppose you don't even have to put the cap on, just hold it in front of the lens....

[milosh]

Yeah, I also think that would do it. I found one on eBay and I'm going to order it tomorrow.

[Elmo]

Originally Posted by milosh

I'm guessing it would be better to shoot a card directly lit by the same light, even if it means turning the camera, as the card would be lit by the same light as the original scene.

If you turn the camera the angle of light will likely change. This will cause a slight shift in WB (partially shaded).