How To White Balance...

[kc7dji]

Hello everyone!

Just wanted some opinions on white balance. I white balance my camera for each event with a nice gray card that I purchased. I'm struggling to know if it is "right". Some of my church "ceremony" photos usually have an orange tint to them which I usually blame on the all pine wood that many of these places have. But for my own satisfaction I'd like your opinion.

1. I set the camera (20d) to AWB (Auto White Balance).
2. Shoot a photo of the gray card.
3. Set the camera to "custom white balance".
4. Select the photo to be uses as my white balance image.

The main things I'm concerned with is that I set my camera to AWB mode first to shoot they gray card. Is that the correct procedure? How do you set your custom?

[jfrancho]

It doesn't matter what the WB is set to for the calibration shot. What matters is that the grey card, or whatever target you use is a true, balanced grey.

[J.A.F. Doorhof]

Problem with graycards is that the must be in the light your are shooting your subject.
In a church this can vary due to the painted windows.

[jfrancho]

Yes, if the light changes, you'll need to recalibrate. One thing, though, about the stained glass, is it isn't always necessary to recalibrate, as the color cast can be a pleasing effect and that is how it is to the bare eye. But if everybody looks like blue smurfs, then it's time to set it again .

[Shortie]

LOL

I was one of the original Smurfs

Back in 197X I had a Saturday job Working for a National Petrol Station and had to dress up as a Smurf to serve the customers small world

[kc7dji]

well sad to say but my bride changed from person > smurf > pumpkin > smurf > pumpkin > person > smurf.....


lol learned from that one I guess.