Confused about custom white balance

[Quovadis]

Funny article. I guess every profession has the same technical jargon.
I have two main problems :
1. I need to perform and photograph at least 5 bags a day.
2. I am very passionate about learning photography, and need more time to understand lighting and diffusion, and experiment. This is perfectly inconsistent with having to perform.
If I had the time right now, I would join some photography course or school in a heartbeat, or go and train with a professional.
I am sure that one day it will all "click together". It's a "state of mind" that I have not yet acquired, it's more than a skill set. It's also a very creative art, in the sense that you have to visualize the whole scene before the shot.
Getting past negative emotions after repetitive bad shots is also a challenge, self-doubt, starts to crawl into the mind.

 

[Quovadis]

Few more questions :
1. With an AF lens 50mm prime, does the focus and recompose work? It has no AFS. I have been trying it but do not see the difference.
2. I often see photographers casually holding their cameras and taking portrait pictures of a person. Why do they not need a tripod? My pictures would be very blurry if i held the camera? Does experience give you a steadier hand?
3. Why do they often point the camera to the ground or downwards before taking a shot and then lift it up over the model and shoot?

 

[Quovadis]

I set up the strobes for a very first time and my picture is saturated with purple. The bag is a very light mauve color.
I tried to take white balance PRE, but the camera says it cannot measure white balance in it's current state (probably because it's too dark).
I then took a picture of the white background using strobes, and told the camera to use that picture (which was nice and bright white) as a white balance reference.
My bag is still deep purple...HELP PLEASE !!!

 

[Dave442]

Try setting a manual WB based on the color temp of the strobes.

 

[Quovadis]

I cannot
the camera says it cannot take a custom white balance, in it's current state...probably because it's too dark in the room

 

[Quovadis]

with continuous lighting you aim your camera at the lit white area or the backdrop which is white, and the camera will take a picture and record white balance. With strobes there is no light to start with ...so the camera does not want to take a custom WB.

 

[Quovadis]

Here is the picture taken with cfl light, and here is a picture taken with strobes...the colors could not be more off....what is all the purple on the white table?????

 

[table1349]

White balance card placed in front of the purse/subject. Take the shot.
Get your White Balance Right in Seconds Using Grey Card

 

[Quovadis]

ok im gonna use a white piece of printing paper. Hang on

 

[table1349]

NOOO. Your eyes and brain are terrible judges of color. White is not always white. You need a properly calibrated target as mentioned in the article.

 

[Quovadis]

So?
I took a pic with something white in front? And now?

 

[table1349]

So?
I took a pic with something white in front? And now?

And now you use that to adjust the white balance in post processing.

 

[Quovadis]

ok ...let me see if I can find a gray card in fort myers Florida?? Easier to find a pink elephant...

 

[Quovadis]

So wait? You are suggesting I import the horrible picture in photoshop and change all the colors around? It will take me ages to do...

 

[table1349]

ok ...let me see if I can find a gray card in fort myers Florida?? Easier to find a pink elephant...

Try harmon photo and video.