Dealing with flash WB

I recently got a Yongnuo 580II flash, and its my first endeavour in the world of flash. I plan on picking up 2 more in the near future. Before you all ask, I do automotive photography as my main subject matter.

I did start to play around with the flash, however its a pretty steep learning curve using manual flash etc. However, I think one of the biggest issues I will face is being in a situation where I have to deal with WB from 2 different lighting sources, 1 being ambient and 1 from the flash.

On a non-colored car, not an issue having a mis matched WB as I can just create a new layer and desaturate/black&white the area. However, the issue comes when the car is colored and having the messed up WB on that in relation to the BG. Usually if I set my WB to anything except flash, the flash gives off a blueish hue on the subject. When I "meter" for the WB for flash, the other light source is messed up.

What can I do to work around this issue? Note, I do shoot raw, use Lightroom for file management and most editing take place in Photoshop for me. Thanks!

Think of it this way, you have one scene, so you can only have one white balance. Thats a problem when you have two light sources. If you try to compromise, you end up with two badly colored light sources. If you pick one over the other, one is good, one is bad. What you need to do is gel your flash to match your ambient. http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Roscolux_Swatc​hbook.html will fit your flash.

gonzogolf wrote in post #14474571
Think of it this way, you have one scene, so you can only have one white balance. Thats a problem when you have two light sources. If you try to compromise, you end up with two badly colored light sources. If you pick one over the other, one is good, one is bad. What you need to do is gel your flash to match your ambient. http://www.bhphotovide​o.com …_Roscolux_Swatc​hbook.html will fit your flash.

Good answer So would it be better to focus on the WB of the flash, and worry about the ambient WB after in post? As for the gels, are there particular gels for each ambient light source to make everything even out, besides the creative gels. I will have to take a look at gels!

CTO = Color Temperature Orange .. Used to make flash match tungsten
CTB = Color Temperature Blue .. Used to make flash match open shade or daylight coming in against tungsten
CTG = Color Temperature Green .. Can help flash get closer to Florescent*
CTY = Color Temperature Yellow .. Can help flash get closer to Sodium Vapor*

These CT"X" values are usually expressed as "Full", "Half" and "Quarter" values. eg, 1/2 CTO is only half as effective as Full CTO.

(*Will only be an approximation due to the fact that florescent lights cycle and sodium vapor are broad spectrum with no true kelvin value)

Tony_Stark wrote in post #14474823
Good answer So would it be better to focus on the WB of the flash, and worry about the ambient WB after in post? As for the gels, are there particular gels for each ambient light source to make everything even out, besides the creative gels. I will have to take a look at gels!

Trying to fix it in post is pretty much like closing the barn door after the horse is gone. Without seeing the image I dont know what to suggest as to which is most important, or whether you can compromise.

Gelling a flash is a bit of an art. The various strengths of orange (CTO) or straw (CTS) are good for balancing with tungsten light and sunsets. Various greens match up with some fluorescent tubes. Other times you might have to do a little trial and error to see what works best with a given ambient source.

Looks like I have alot to learn about lighting! Any tutorials or good articles I can read to help me get started?

http://www.strobist.bl​ogspot.com/

Read 'til your head explodes!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #14474909
http://www.strobist.bl​ogspot.com/

Read 'til your head explodes!

Cheers!

FlyingPhotog wrote in post #14474909
http://www.strobist.bl​ogspot.com/

Read 'til your head explodes!

That is great. Thanks for posting that.