Strange color cast...

[iN5P1R3]

I'm having trouble with color casts in my images.


This image is fine.
http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/9217/63267344gb7.jpg

However...occasionally I get images like this:
http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/6941/99074350yl5.jpg

Does this have anything to do w/ the cycling lights issue? Thanks :)

[FlyingPhotog]

99% sure that's what you're seeing, yes...

[iN5P1R3]

Thanks FlyingPhotog. Is there any way to resolve the issue? I remember reading something about shutter speed, but I'm not sure.

[DDCSD]

Buy some Alien Bees to eliminate the problem. ;)


The first image actually has the green cast at the top also. Not much you can do about it shooting ambient light with a shutter speed high enough to stop action.

[S.Horton]

Yes.

Assuming that you're in CS3 / 4 --

You'll need to color-correct two regions differently, blend to taste, and that will only get you close.

(BTW, if you do go after them in post, the thing to watch is the skin tone; let that be your guide)

To avoid it in the first place, either strobes or a compromise - see
http://www.sportsshooter.com/message_display.html?tid=20873

[Zivnuska]

Buy some Alien Bees to eliminate the problem. ;)


The first image actually has the green cast at the top also. Not much you can do about it shooting ambient light with a shutter speed high enough to stop action.

Yep. Been there, suffered through that, bought the Bees.

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q225/zivnuska/PrairieHills-147-4.jpg

[iN5P1R3]

Thanks for replies & helpful information everyone!

The AlienBee route sounds too complicated (I'm clueless when it comes to lighting). I guess I'll just color correct & blend.

[mspringfield]

You are correct. Light cycling. A problem with the external flash (Alien Bees) solution is that many venues and/or competitions do not allow external flash for the safety of those competing. A flash in someone's eyes at the wrong time, such as when they are in the air, can disorient them and cause a nasty fall/injury.

One solution I have used is to shoot in 3 frame bursts. You will usually get one of the 3 with a correct exposure. It's a pain but...

Michael

[liam5100]

You are correct. Light cycling. A problem with the external flash (Alien Bees) solution is that many venues and/or competitions do not allow external flash for the safety of those competing. A flash in someone's eyes at the wrong time, such as when they are in the air, can disorient them and cause a nasty fall/injury.

One solution I have used is to shoot in 3 frame bursts. You will usually get one of the 3 with a correct exposure. It's a pain but...

Michael

It is a pain, light cycling is a pain, almost as much as when you find yourself shooting in venues that have 2 or 3 different color of lights at the same time.

Its a big reason when I shoot ambient, which is most of the time, I shoot in raw and adjust each image by eye in LR, one by one.

[mspringfield]

It is a pain, light cycling is a pain, almost as much as when you find yourself shooting in venues that have 2 or 3 different color of lights at the same time.

Its a big reason when I shoot ambient, which is most of the time, I shoot in raw and adjust each image by eye in LR, one by one.

That works most of the time but in the event we were shooting was a cheerleading competition and we shot close to 40K shots in 2 days. I wouldn't want adjust them one by one.. :D Have I mentioned that I hate cycling lights?

[rselinger]

You could shoot slower than the speed the lights are cycling, but then you run into the trouble of freezing the action.

In theory, I think you could use a flash to stop the action and remain shooting under the cycling time (I think it's usually 1/60 or slower) but I'm not certain if it would meet your needs or work.