How to correct Wb

trishytee · 05-02-2010, 02:11 AM

A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white.
Thanks.
Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements?
Thanks

trishytee · 05-02-2010, 02:15 AM

I seem to have lost the photo, so here it is.

ovim · 05-02-2010, 05:19 AM

I don't think wb has anything to do with this. The sky is white because it's overexposed.

hcc · 05-02-2010, 05:27 AM

Nice shot. I love the the light in the hairs of the girl.

By the way, I would suggest that you regroup this thread and your earlier thread (https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/general-photography/99982-how-correct-white-balance.html) into a single thread, for the benefits of the Pentax Forums users.

hangu · 05-02-2010, 08:34 AM

Originally posted by trishytee

A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white.
Thanks.
Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements?
Thanks

Use a CPL filter to prevent the sky from blowing out. With a fill flash, you should have been able to decrease the exposure of the sky without the need for a polarizer though.

egordon99 · 05-06-2010, 07:56 AM

Originally posted by trishytee

A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white.
Thanks.
Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements?
Thanks

Used 1/200? If something is overexposed, you just need to use a faster shutter speed/lower ISO/narrower aperture.

Wheatfield · 05-06-2010, 08:11 AM

The lower part of the sky is blown because it is to bright to do anything else.
A higher shutter speed would probably be the best bet.
I'm thinking high speed sync might have saved the day on this one.

Generally, with fill flash, you want to set the camera's ambient exposure to properly expose the background, and then set the flash to properly expose the subject.

**Lowell Goudge** · 05-06-2010, 02:35 PM

while a polerizer will help I don;t think there is much you can do to protect against a blown out sky with a back lit subject,

You exposed the subject correctly and let the rest fall where it wants to,

photography is never perfect, you only have limited range with the sensor

JeffJS · 05-06-2010, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by trishytee

A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white.
Thanks.
Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements?
Thanks

With Photoshop, I just double click the PEF file from explorer and it opens in Adobe Camera RAW.

mysticcowboy · 05-07-2010, 07:48 AM

The photo looks like it was shot in a studio with a white screen background. So what if the sky is not blue? It's still a nice photo. With such a strong back light there's not much else you can do except shoot HDR.

michael mckee
My Port Townsend – A City in Photographs – 365

Blue · 05-09-2010, 12:08 PM

Originally posted by JeffJS

With Photoshop, I just double click the PEF file from explorer and it opens in Adobe Camera RAW.

+1 Sometimes you just don't get a do over on an image and you have to work with what you got.

Originally posted by mysticcowboy

The photo looks like it was shot in a studio with a white screen background. So what if the sky is not blue? It's still a nice photo. With such a strong back light there's not much else you can do except shoot HDR.

michael mckee

That is along the lines of what I was thinking but not the HDR part.

writeb · 05-09-2010, 09:28 PM

Or you could go the easy way and shoot RAW, and use full screen metering. (Assuming you used center/spot metering for the original). You'll have more leeway in PP to adjust for overall acceptable exposure.

Just would like to reiterate earlier post that this is not related to white balance, but exposure.

DreTAX · 05-10-2010, 06:40 PM

Originally posted by trishytee

A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white.
Thanks.
Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements?
Thanks

Hi trishytee, I believe this is where your AE-L button will come in handy. Meter the sky behind your subject and press AE-L ( now the camera will expose the sky correctly) recompose and shoot with flash ( flash will take care of the subject exposure ) as in your original shot. As your subject is quite large in the frame you may find you need to change to "spot metering" to get a more accurate measure of the sky. You may lose the highlights in the hair with less exposure of the sky, so you will need to readjust to a slightly less bright part of the sky before you lock exposure with the AE-L. Much easier to do than to explain! Hope this helps, have fun.

05-02-2010, 02:11 AM	#1
trishytee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mandurah Perth Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 221	How to correct Wb A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white. Thanks. Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements? Thanks

05-02-2010, 02:15 AM	#2
trishytee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Mandurah Perth Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 221 Original Poster	with regard to question of white balance I seem to have lost the photo, so here it is. Attached Images

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05-02-2010, 05:19 AM	#3
ovim Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Tre, Finland Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	I don't think wb has anything to do with this. The sky is white because it's overexposed.

05-02-2010, 05:27 AM	#4
hcc Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,002	Nice shot. I love the the light in the hairs of the girl. By the way, I would suggest that you regroup this thread and your earlier thread (https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/general-photography/99982-how-correct-white-balance.html) into a single thread, for the benefits of the Pentax Forums users.

05-02-2010, 08:34 AM	#5
hangu Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,071	Originally posted by trishytee A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white. Thanks. Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements? Thanks Use a CPL filter to prevent the sky from blowing out. With a fill flash, you should have been able to decrease the exposure of the sky without the need for a polarizer though.

05-06-2010, 07:56 AM	#6
egordon99 Inactive Account Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Outside of Philly Posts: 1,561	Originally posted by trishytee A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white. Thanks. Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements? Thanks Used 1/200? If something is overexposed, you just need to use a faster shutter speed/lower ISO/narrower aperture.

05-06-2010, 08:11 AM	#7
Wheatfield Moderator Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The wheatfields of Canada Posts: 15,981	The lower part of the sky is blown because it is to bright to do anything else. A higher shutter speed would probably be the best bet. I'm thinking high speed sync might have saved the day on this one. Generally, with fill flash, you want to set the camera's ambient exposure to properly expose the background, and then set the flash to properly expose the subject.

05-06-2010, 02:35 PM	#8
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,888	while a polerizer will help I don;t think there is much you can do to protect against a blown out sky with a back lit subject, You exposed the subject correctly and let the rest fall where it wants to, photography is never perfect, you only have limited range with the sensor

05-06-2010, 10:33 PM	#9
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Originally posted by trishytee A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white. Thanks. Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements? Thanks With Photoshop, I just double click the PEF file from explorer and it opens in Adobe Camera RAW.

05-07-2010, 07:48 AM	#10
mysticcowboy Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: port townsend, wa Photos: Albums Posts: 968	The photo looks like it was shot in a studio with a white screen background. So what if the sky is not blue? It's still a nice photo. With such a strong back light there's not much else you can do except shoot HDR. michael mckee My Port Townsend – A City in Photographs – 365

05-09-2010, 12:08 PM	#11
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377	Originally posted by JeffJS With Photoshop, I just double click the PEF file from explorer and it opens in Adobe Camera RAW. +1 Sometimes you just don't get a do over on an image and you have to work with what you got. Originally posted by mysticcowboy The photo looks like it was shot in a studio with a white screen background. So what if the sky is not blue? It's still a nice photo. With such a strong back light there's not much else you can do except shoot HDR. michael mckee That is along the lines of what I was thinking but not the HDR part.

05-09-2010, 09:28 PM	#12
writeb Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: San Jose Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 150	Or you could go the easy way and shoot RAW, and use full screen metering. (Assuming you used center/spot metering for the original). You'll have more leeway in PP to adjust for overall acceptable exposure. Just would like to reiterate earlier post that this is not related to white balance, but exposure.

05-10-2010, 06:40 PM	#13
DreTAX Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Melbourne, Victoria. Photos: Gallery Posts: 118	Originally posted by trishytee A friends three year old climbed my ladder, the sun behind her looked nice on her hair so I shot this using the flash 1/100 f16. What could I have done to avoid the lower part of the sky going white. Thanks. Oh, using a borrowed computer at present and have only elements 7. What can I do to open RAW files as there is no Bridge with elements? Thanks Hi trishytee, I believe this is where your AE-L button will come in handy. Meter the sky behind your subject and press AE-L ( now the camera will expose the sky correctly) recompose and shoot with flash ( flash will take care of the subject exposure ) as in your original shot. As your subject is quite large in the frame you may find you need to change to "spot metering" to get a more accurate measure of the sky. You may lose the highlights in the hair with less exposure of the sky, so you will need to readjust to a slightly less bright part of the sky before you lock exposure with the AE-L. Much easier to do than to explain! Hope this helps, have fun.