Hi all, just wondering if anyone could tell me how to set the white balance for taking outside pictures of snowy days? I currently have the Nikon D200 and it seems that they turn out a little on the "blue" side when taking ski pictures. I have tried the adjustable white balance settings but seem to be getting the blue's. Thanks

I'm not a Nikon shooter but it may be a case of setting it manually or just adjusting it in PS. My Canon seems to be able to handle snow real well when I just leave it on auto. I only know this because I was out playing with my new 17-40mm L lens on Friday. I did no white balace adjustment on this one.

 

 

I know this sounds very unscientific, but on the many snowy pictures I've taken over the years, with nothing but a camera, I always used the trick to meter off the sky, or something around that's more neutral.   Because if you don't the glare of the snow will tend to cause you to underexpose. But in some images, I love it when the snow looks all blue.  Like those Marlborough ads!  Just watch out for yellow snow!  

Like everything else, I would set a custom white balance using my gray card.

If an avalanche buried my gray card and I had to improvise I would probably set a custom white balance using the snow as a target.  :-)

Luminous Landscape has a great article about getting good exposure in snowy scenes.
 

Shoot in RAW mode. Why shoot a gray card for every lighting situation?

eth:

Shoot in RAW mode. Why shoot a gray card for every lighting situation?

So the color is correct straight out of the camera. I like to show my clients the raw images, directly after shooting, and I want the color to be perfect. 

This is the reason why cameras have a custom white balance setting, so you can get good color straight out of the camera.

After setting my custom white balance I also make an exposure with the gray card in frame, using the new custom white balance. This is so I can check my color and adjust if needed.  Having a reference shot eliminates the guesswork. If the color is on I know it, if it's off I know exactly how far and which direction and it's a one click fix.

If perfect color SOOC is not important to you then by all means, continue to let your camera guess and spend your time fixing it's mistakes when you convert each raw image.
 

Also try positive exposure compensation of +0.3 to +1.0 this will help with exposure

If you don't like the AWB or daylight pre-sets, try cloudy day setting.

What a nice shot!

MikeVan:

I'm not a Nikon shooter but it may be a case of setting it manually or just adjusting it in PS. My Canon seems to be able to handle snow real well when I just leave it on auto. I only know this because I was out playing with my new 17-40mm L lens on Friday. I did no white balace adjustment on this one.

 

 

great picture!!  can someone tell me what to do after shooting in RAW.. do you open in PS or another program and edit picture.. if you want to edit it?

RVsForFun.. did you get my answer back on your email about my dog??

Cupp Run, Snowshoe, W. Va.

one more

 whats the difference between making 2 corrections before you shoot and the lighting changes and making one to the raw file when you process-- I will give you a hint--"It takes half the time"

shannone:

Just watch out for yellow snow!  

 

You know, yellow snow is usually the result of too much PP.

 

The Nerd Husband:

shannone:

Just watch out for yellow snow!  

 

You know, yellow snow is usually the result of too much PP.

 

 

Ha Ha!  Where did this old thread come from???????

Actually it's a relief!  My central AC has been broken since Sunday.  It's been like living in a sauna!  Every time they "fix" it, it shuts down 30 minutes after they leave!  I'd go to a hotel, but tomorrow is  just the second day of school, and I drive the whole neighborhood!

Why did I leave New England?  (I actually bought a new room AC for up there, and never even had to unpack it from it's box!

"There's no place like home!!!!!!!"

I wanna put my fleecie on and go have a cold glass of wine on the deck of the DYC!!!!!

Please send ice!!!!