Update: White Balance Yer Camera
Before I shoot anything I take the time to white balance my camera so the subject is displaying true colors. Plants looks more attractive in white balance even when they are lid by hps lights or any kind of light really. Most common photos for cannabis community is taking pictures under HPS light, the yellow colors can often hide deficiencies in plants that we don't see, and too much of the yellow we have no idea the true colors of the buds.
For more appealing photos white balance your camera. It works for any light condition, and can also work for LED (purple cast) too.
Some basic (point-n-shoot/DSLR) and advanced (DSLR) tips for white balance.
HPS (left) - White Balance (right)
Basic:
- Configuration of digital camera white balance for tungsten light sources.
- Good for High Pressure Sodium (HPS), any wattage. CFL (warm/softwhite)
- Adjustment of digital white balance for fluorescent lamp light sources.
- Good for metal-halide, T5/T8/T12, CFL (daylight).
Advanced:
- (Canon) Custom white balance. Adjusts the presumed white point for digital cameras.
- Good for any color temperature. Most accurate white balance. Great for LED.
For custom balance you need a DSLR, unless your camera point-n-shoot camera has custom white balance. What you need is a white printing paper. Before taking pictures of your plants under any lighting, use the paper as a tool to give you accurate colors in your pictures.
- Hold the white paper and fill the view finder with it, it does not have to be in focus. Meter the camera from the paper then take a shot. Go into your camera and select custom white balance and select the photo you just took of the white paper as your source.
- You are now free to shoot and will have color perfect in your photos.
- When you change location and the light is different color temperature, say you were in HPS room (flower) and now you're in MH room (veg), you will need to do this again.
There are fancy white balance tools for your camera (which can cost $10-20) but this is the most inexpensive and fast works the same.
Paper color under HPS
Paper color under MH
I don't have LED running but the steps is the same. Once the camera is set to the correct white balance the differences is rewarding. It gives life to your photos.
See the difference? Much pleasing to the eye. HPS (top) - White Balance (bottom)