Manufacturers of cameras may have been incorrectly handling white balance adjustments for years.
In the world of photography and videography, achieving accurate colour representation is crucial. However, a common issue lies in the non-linearity of white balance settings in cameras, as highlighted in a YouTube video titled "White Balance is Broken" by @MinutePhysics.
The video, which focuses on science and physics rather than cameras, questions why white balance isn't treated more like exposure, which isn't linear but its increments reflect this. The non-linearity means small white balance changes at low Kelvin (cooler temperatures) cause disproportionately large shifts in perceived colour. This is particularly problematic for scenes lit by cooler light sources, where precise control can be challenging.
Mike Harris, an experienced photographer, writer, and editor, discusses this issue in an article published by Digital Camera World. Harris, who studied photography at college and honed his Adobe Photoshop skills, studio, and darkroom work, suggests that shooting in RAW can help improve white balance issues.
As a solution, MinutePhysics proposes recalibrating or redesigning white balance controls to be more linear relative to colour temperature. This would mean that changing white balance settings by a fixed amount would consistently result in a proportional colour change across the entire Kelvin range, improving accuracy and predictability of colour adjustments.
While the exact technical method is not detailed in the search results, the emphasis is on correcting the linearity to better match how humans perceive colour shifts and colour temperature changes. This approach would improve colour accuracy and ease of use in photographers' and videographers' workflows, especially under varying light conditions.
In addition to this, the article provides valuable information on techniques related to cameras, lenses, tripods, filters, and more. Harris, who has written for various publications including Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, Practical Photography, Digital Photographer, iMore, and TechRadar, offers insights that are both informative and practical.
It's worth noting that the best LED light panels allow altering colour temperature output on the fly, providing more flexibility for photographers and videographers. However, further technical solutions like tone mapping or LUT profiles were not directly mentioned by MinutePhysics in the provided text. Related concepts like exposure, contrast, and saturation adjustments are common complementary practices in colour correction workflows.
The article also touches upon another technical topic: field of view. As photographers and videographers, understanding and manipulating the field of view is essential for creating compelling compositions. By mastering these techniques, one can produce visually stunning images that accurately represent the intended colour palette.
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