Sunrise/Sunset K Value at DVinfo.net

Sean Malone · September 23rd, 2008, 08:44 PM

From what I can tell, most people do not white balance when shooting a sunrise/sunset to hold the warm orange/red richness of the scene. Has anyone found a temperature setting that works, or do most people use the AWB or the Sun setting? I used 5500K tonight and it looked fairly good on the view finder and on my LCD monitor. Not sure what to expect on a calibrated monitor.

Sean Malone

Steve Phillipps · September 24th, 2008, 01:59 AM

Don't use auto white balance as it'll try to get rid of the orange cast that you're wanting!
Just use a regular white setting (ie 5600-6300), then you can also change it in post - these days white balances are so easy to alter that in very many cases people don't WB at all, just leave it on preset and shot match/colour balance in post. Also means that in a programme with several camera people working on it, if you all just shoot preset you're all getting a similar look to start with in the edit.
Steve

Gareth Watkins · September 24th, 2008, 03:13 AM

Hi there

Yes I do what Steve suggests and nearly always shoot in Preset.. unless it obviously looks wrong or there is mixed light (when I try for the best manual balance I can get. Head shots in the evening light can often give the subject a very orange complexion.. so a manual balance often works better.
A nice feature on the Z1 is the way you can tweak the preset colour balance with the Assign buttons.. I often cheat in a sunset situation and crank up the orange dominant.. It can give really nice deep colours to you sky, without looking false. A bit like the old Cokin sunset filters..

Cheers
Gareth

Sean Malone · September 25th, 2008, 08:12 AM

Thanks guys. I've got some more footage using 5500 to 6300 that I'll play around with in post. Now I need to get my monitor calibrated as good as I can to play with the white balance.

Thanks again.

Hubert Duijzer · September 25th, 2008, 02:31 PM

I use the SUN preset all the time for this kind of stuff. I actually use the SUN preset all the time outside. It gives me always some nice red/orange/purple coloured shots, just as intended.

September 23rd, 2008, 08:44 PM	#1
Sean Malone Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 40	Sunrise/Sunset K Value From what I can tell, most people do not white balance when shooting a sunrise/sunset to hold the warm orange/red richness of the scene. Has anyone found a temperature setting that works, or do most people use the AWB or the Sun setting? I used 5500K tonight and it looked fairly good on the view finder and on my LCD monitor. Not sure what to expect on a calibrated monitor. Sean Malone __________________ Sean Malone

September 25th, 2008, 08:12 AM	#4
Sean Malone Regular Crew Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 40	Thanks guys. I've got some more footage using 5500 to 6300 that I'll play around with in post. Now I need to get my monitor calibrated as good as I can to play with the white balance. Thanks again. __________________ Sean Malone

September 24th, 2008, 01:59 AM	#2
Steve Phillipps Inner Circle Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 2,130	Don't use auto white balance as it'll try to get rid of the orange cast that you're wanting! Just use a regular white setting (ie 5600-6300), then you can also change it in post - these days white balances are so easy to alter that in very many cases people don't WB at all, just leave it on preset and shot match/colour balance in post. Also means that in a programme with several camera people working on it, if you all just shoot preset you're all getting a similar look to start with in the edit. Steve

September 24th, 2008, 03:13 AM	#3
Gareth Watkins Major Player Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: France Posts: 578	Hi there Yes I do what Steve suggests and nearly always shoot in Preset.. unless it obviously looks wrong or there is mixed light (when I try for the best manual balance I can get. Head shots in the evening light can often give the subject a very orange complexion.. so a manual balance often works better. A nice feature on the Z1 is the way you can tweak the preset colour balance with the Assign buttons.. I often cheat in a sunset situation and crank up the orange dominant.. It can give really nice deep colours to you sky, without looking false. A bit like the old Cokin sunset filters.. Cheers Gareth

September 25th, 2008, 02:31 PM	#5
Hubert Duijzer Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 177	I use the SUN preset all the time for this kind of stuff. I actually use the SUN preset all the time outside. It gives me always some nice red/orange/purple coloured shots, just as intended.