Pure white snow color.

Before I am heading for Niagara Falls next week, I tried to shoot snow sceneries at a local park and water dam on a nice cold crisp and sunny day. However, the snow and also the frozen water formation at the dam is not pure white but rather bluish. Is that the reflection from the blue sky? I overexposed 1 f stop. I would like to have the snow and also the frozen water formation look white just as our eyes sees it. Thanks for the tips.

sounds like a WB issue... shoot RAW and correct it in PP...

focus.pocus wrote in post #11746078
sounds like a WB issue... shoot RAW and correct it in PP...

I alway shoot RAW and set at AWB.

What light color did your camera record the shots at? Early morning light is quite blue, but AWB can sometimes be off the mark.

Most landscape photographers will use a natural daylight setting (around 5000-5500k) instead of AWB. That way the scene is captured as it was, without any color correcting.

Keep in mind that the color of light is constantly changing. By sticking with a consistant WB setting on your camera, you will be recording the changes as they occur without your camera trying to compensate for it.

Also, our eyes do a sort of color-correcting that we sometimes have to work against while photographing. Especially if you're referencing off of your LCD as you shoot.

Capturing RAW of course allows you to change your WB in PP if you're not happy with the results.

You're correct in overexposing a bit - just reference your histogram to make sure you're retaining your highlights while exposing to the right.

custom WB is your friend...use it!

If you've shot in RAW, the fix is very easy. Whatever you're using for a RAW converter should have some type of white balance tool. It usually looks like a medicine dropper. Since we know you want the snow to be white, just click on an area of plain snow, and you should be set.

For the next time you shoot, take a picture of just snow and then use the custom white balance in the camera. That will be one less thing for you to do in processing.

Shoot RAW of you can. If it is sunny be sure to check the histogram because there is a good chance of blown highlights from the reflected sunlight off of white ice/snow. If shooting jpg you may want to increase exposure to have white rather than grey snow/ice but check for blown highlights!!

Make sure to visit from BOTH sides of the border. The US side is more photogenic so you need to be on the Canadian side to better capture the view. Prevailing winds make the trees on the US side to be covered in ice.

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/phil_marion/5​424917069/

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com …s/phil_marion/5​424917559/

IslandCrow wrote in post #11784400
If you've shot in RAW, the fix is very easy. Whatever you're using for a RAW converter should have some type of white balance tool. It usually looks like a medicine dropper. Since we know you want the snow to be white, just click on an area of plain snow, and you should be set.

That is so simple I never would have stumbled upon it myself! Thanks!!!

dave

That's what I love about shooting snow. I never have to remember to bring my white balance card.

If you shoot raw, you never have to own a white balance card. In post processing adjust the temp and tint (calibrated monitor please) to be pleasing to your eye. After all, if you are not happy with the final image...what is the point?


BTW, raw is not an abbreviation....no need to capitalize the word.