Different types of light are actually different colors, but we don’t see this with our eyes because our brain filters them for us. A camera sees color and light for what they really are. Therefore a little filtering has to be done in order to get the best out of a shot taking all that into consideration.

Many smaller home digital movie cameras have automatic white balance and will change the color temperature to fit a certain profile, like outdoors, indoors, portrait etc.

White balance is necessary in order for the camera to shoot the proper color. Even if we don’t see the light as the color it actually is, the imbalance will affect the other colors in the shot and throw it all out. Having the correct balance will enable everything in shot to appear as the colors they actually are.

For example, sunlight is actually blue, the light reflects of moisture particles in the air which turns it blue. This is why the light at the coast has a different quality to that inland, because there is more moisture around to reflect. Fluorescent light is actually green and incandescent is orange, yet out eyes filter them all to make the colors that we actually see.

If the camera didn’t adjust, these colors would influence everything else in the shot, giving them a blue, green or orange hue. White balance, either manual or automatic adjusts the camera so it sees light though our eyes.

Color temperature is much the same. It is measure in degrees Kelvin but doesn’t relate to temperature. The higher the number, the “colder” or bluer the light is, the lower the number the “warmer” or more orange the light. Remember, even though we’re talking about temperature and using Kelvin, it isn’t about hot or cold.

Sunlight is around 5400 degrees Kelvin whereas a street light is 2700. The street light is orange, and therefore warmer. This doesn’t have to be technical, to adjust the white balance of a camera manually or automatically, point the camera ay a white piece of card in the light you’re going to shoot in. Adjustment is easy.

You will need to do this every time the location changes, or throughout the day if it’s a prolonged shoot. The light will change as the day progresses so manual white balance should be checked regularly.

Using white balance presets if your camera has them is a great time saving tool when you’re shooting. Taking some time out to present the white balance for different situations or times of day is great because instead of manually adjusting it, you can activate a preset and it’s all good.