Playing with color balance...

[jscotti]

These two versions of the same raw file were processed differently only in what white balance was used. The first with a more grey sky was closer to what I saw and is the result of auto white balance while the second, with the blue sky was generated by picking the white spot in the doorway at the center of the building. This is Old Main on the University of Arizona Campus from the west side of the building.

Exposure time was 10 seconds at f/5.6 using a Sigma 24mm f/1.8 lens.

Jim.

[jimsolt]

These two versions of the same raw file were processed differently only in what white balance was used. The first with a more grey sky was closer to what I saw and is the result of auto white balance while the second, with the blue sky was generated by picking the white spot in the doorway at the center of the building. This is Old Main on the University of Arizona Campus from the west side of the building.

Exposure time was 10 seconds at f/5.6 using a Sigma 24mm f/1.8 lens.

Jim.

If, as you say, the first shot is close to what you saw, then I'd say the white balance is set correctly. In fact, I think the second shot is really out of balance with the blue windows. Also you refer to "color balance" in your title. That is a different animal than white balance.
As to selecting the white spot in the picture, I think this has nothing to do with white balance, but rather with exposure.
If you want to achieve a special effect, by ajusting white balance or color balance, that is sometimes very effective, but your first picture is better by any standards in my opinion.

"Another" Jim

[jscotti]

Yes, I did mis-speak - I meant white balance, which is what I was playing with.

I know my brain wanted to make the lit areas around the building white and in some ways, the 2nd image does represent what I saw at least in part. The blue in the window is just a reflection of the sunset behind me, I think. I was really pleased with the lens, though - after taking this shot, I wandered around the fountain and was able to get shots as short as about 1/250 sec with my Sigma 24mm lens at f/1.8 and with my 20D set to ISO 3200 in order to stop the water in the fountain. Not that I prefered that - I liked the longer exposure and the affect of the water spray below the peak of the water's trajectory that you can see a little of in these pictures.

Jim.