Exercise - Judging Colour Temperature

Part One

2013.04.14.Oyster (sunlight)
f/9  1/640  ISO-100



2013.04.14.Oyster (shade)
f/9  1/100  ISO-100



2013.04.20.Oyster (low sun)
f/5  1/125  ISO-100

I wasn't really surprised with what I saw at the time, or the outcome comparing photos later.  The light in the sun is warmer than in shade, and with the low sun warmer still.  The differences are more apparent looking at the images later, as your eyes adjust to the different conditions at the time.  The light in the shade is more blue.

 

 

Part 2

2013.04.14.Rock (shade-autoWB).jpg
f/9  1/50  ISO-100



2013.04.14.Rock (shade-daylightWB).jpg
f/9  1/50  ISO-100



2013.04.14.Rock (shade-shadeWB)
f/9  1/50  ISO-100

 Of the above three images taken in the shade, the auto white balance is least appealing to me. The shade white balance setting gives the warmest image, and daylight fairly neutral. With the backrground fairly neutral as well, the last image works best for me, as the subject is more distinguishable from the background

 

2013.04.14.Rock (sun-autoWB).jpg
f/9  1/800  ISO-100

2013.04.14.Rock (sun-daylightWB).jpg
f/9  1/640  ISO-100

2013.04.14.Rock (sun-shadeWB).jpg
f/9  1/640  ISO-100

With the WB set to shade, the above image in full sunlight was warmer than with the daylight and auto settings.  This does really make sense, as the daylight and auto settings compensate and tone down the warmth, while the shade setting does the opposite.  I liked this image more than the other two, although with WB set to daylight the image is a truer representation of the actual subject.  In some circumstances this may be more desirable.

 

2013.04.20.Rock (lowsun-autoWB)
f/4.5  1/100  ISO-100



2013.04.20.Rock (lowsun-daylightWB)
f/4.5  1/100  1/100



2013.04.20.Rock (lowsun-shadeWB)
f/4.5  1/100  1/100

The above three images with the sun low follow the same pattern as the other two sets, although there is not much between the auto and daylight white balance settings.  The shade WB setting is the warmest again.  I like the last image, although it is perhaps unnaturally orange, and I think the first image with auto white balance is the most balanced of the three photos.  Clearly it may be desirable to tone down the colour temperature for other subjects and scenes, so I would not always choose to add warmth through white balance variation.