Re: Color temperature

[P3D Gregory J. Wageman <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I asked:

>> Here's a related question: should one ideally be matching the color
>> temp. of the viewing light to the color. temp of the taking light, OR
>> is the original scene more naturally reproduced with viewing light of
>> a particular, fixed color temp., and if so, what temp. is ideal?

Paul Talbot replied:

>According to McKay, it is extremely important
>and beneficial to determine the proper color correction required for
>each stereo slide we shoot, and use the appropriate filters.  (The
>color correction required is determined by measuring the color
>temperature of the light source and comparing it to the film's color
>temperature rating.)

It all depends on the desired result, though, doesn't it?  If your
intention is capture the "absolute" colors of the scene (i.e. independent
of the light source color temp.), then you'd want to measure and
compensate.  If, however, your intention is to capture the colors as
altered by the prevailing light, then you wouldn't want to compensate.
In McKay's world, "golden hour" doesn't exist, because you'd banish it
with blue filters. :-)

Paul S. Boyer replied:

>First part: No way!  This would further exaggerate the effect of
>non-standard color temperature.  You might as well use colored
>filters.

Yeah, I figured as much, but I thought I'd throw the question out
anyway. :-)

>The worst effect is the overcast blue.  I have never found a really
>good way to correct for this, and find the best solution is simply to
>avoid shooting in those conditions.  Even filters don't help much,
>because if the warm colors are not there, they just aren't there.

Even at 10,000K the warm colors are there; it's probably just that the
degree of orange filtering you'd need to restore a 5,000K color balance
isn't readily available (or maybe even practical).

Dr. T. added:

>I discussed this sometime ago when I took tabletops outside.  They turned
>out blue because of the blue sky.  Those who do tabletops or copying work
>are aware of color temperature problems.

In the case of copy work, you're trying to duplicate as closely as
possible an existing photo.  The color temp. of your light source and
the color sensitivity of your duplicating film are critical to
maintaining the original color balance (whatever it might be).  In the
case of tabletops, you're creating the original work, and the color
temp. of your lighting is as much a part of the composition as anything.
That includes making adjustments, of course.

>Some people find these photos appealing and recommend not using a flash
>indoors.  The issue is more subjective than "correct exposure".  That must
>be one reason that color temperature is not considered a big issue.  It is
>an issue but not a very important one.

I wouldn't go so far as to not use a flash (for more reasons than just
color temperature) indoors, but I agree that color perception is highly
subjective, and that people are much more tolerant of inaccurate color
rendition than many other flaws...  Just look at how poorly many people's
televisions are set, color/tint-wise. :-)

	-Greg W.


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