Better Available Light Digital Photography : How to Make the Most of Your Night and Low-light Shots

White balance techniques 83

Color Temperatures of Common Light Sources

Light Source Color Temperature (K)

Skylight 12000 to 18000

Overcast sky 7000

Average daylight 5500

Electronic fl ash 5500

White-fl ame carbon arc 5000

500-watt, 3400 K photo lamp 3400

500-watt, 3200 K tungsten lamp 3200

200-watt lightbulb 2980

100-watt lightbulb 2900

75-watt lightbulb 2820

In the fi lm era, this scene lit by fl uorescent light may not have been successfully made, Color Balance wise.
Skin tone, light hair color, and the white paint would have defi nitely gone green. The photographer would
have had to fi lter the camera lens, fi lter the fl uorescent bulbs themselves, or use artifi cial light strong enough
to overpower the available light. In the fi lm days, these techniques worked well if the photograph could be
set up or planned in advance. Can you imagine telling this youngster, and the other kids in line, to wait for
their face painting while the photographer fi ddles around with lighting? This was a grab shot, with no time
to do any of the fi ltering work. It was easy to set the camera’s White Balance to Fluorescent and concentrate
on capturing the moments. © 2006 Barry Staver.