WB: Grey card useless in Concerts?

[nimitzbenedicto]

After a series of concert shoots for experience and fun, I noticed, whatever WB I set, it eventually, did not matter.

I found out ambient White Balance was determined by the colored studio lights and how they were manipulated by the stage director.

These are some shots from the recent concert I went to at the Roxy Theater, Sunset Strip, Hollywood last Monday, 23Sep2013.


Reddish



blue lights



orange



red - blue - "white"



green



I figured , must be those array of colored lights that made the "ambient light".

I guess, I'll just set WB to auto in future concerts,.

Thanks

[revi]

This is typically one of those situation where you do not want a 'correct' white balance (assuming such a thing would even be possible):
the colour of the light is what makes the atmosphere of the shot.
I usually just select incandescent WB and adjust to taste (if needed) in post.

And nice images, I particularly like the 2nd shot.

Remco

[chauncey]

Shooting in RAW allows the photographer that artistic choice,
whereas jpeg give that choice to the camera's software.

[Manfred M]

Nicely said, this is a mixed light situation, so the right colour balance is whatever you decide it is. I can't think of any camera that would be able to work out the colour temperature of multiple gelled spotlights. Shooting raw will give you more latitude in how you present the image, but the colours are going to be so funky, it will be hard to argue whether it is what you saw when shooting or not.

[Shadowman]

Very nice images. What type of RGB or CMYK values are you getting for the skintones?

[nimitzbenedicto]

Very nice images. What type of RGB or CMYK values are you getting for the skintones?

Hi John,

Camera setting = sRGB. ViewNX2 = sRGB.
Picture Control = Standard. WB = auto

Used viewNX2 for conversion/downsizing from NEF to jpg.
No editing done. sooc. Same for all images. Did this for WB study only.

Thanks


Note the various colored stage lights above.

[Boatman]

So who was the band? Did they put on a good show?

[nimitzbenedicto]

So who was the band? Did they put on a good show?

Yes. shooting live bands really a blast of colors.

It's all RAW. ( pun intended hehehe......)

I think they're called "LedZepAgain".

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Saw your Blues Summit and New Orleans Night Life.. Cool series... Thanks

[Shadowman]

Hi John,

Camera setting = sRGB. ViewNX2 = sRGB.
Picture Control = Standard. WB = auto

Used viewNX2 for conversion/downsizing from NEF to jpg.
No editing done. sooc. Same for all images. Did this for WB study only.

Thanks


Note the various colored stage lights above.

Victor,

When you select info and hover the mouse over the skintones are they neutral, are they influenced by the light sources?

[Colin Southern]

On a side note, if you ever see the band again, can you tell those dudes to button up their shirts - get a haircut - and GET A REAL JOB!!!

[jcuknz]

Heard a Beetles record tonight and thought " Were they the start of mindless noise as opposed to music? "

[SteveF]

Heard a Beetles record tonight and thought " Were they the start of mindless noise as opposed to music? "

Ha,ha. My grandfather called their music 'static interference' ...

[Rob Ekins]

Victor,

The lights used to light that stage are all Par 64s as far as I can see. They are a tungsten lamp usually pretty close to 3200K. These lamps will all have the same source no matter what gel/filter the Lighting Director decided to put in front of them therefore they will all have the same colour temperature.

Setting the white balance to 3200K will give you more accurate control of the colours when the lamps are at 100%. This particular type of lamp though is dim-able so colour temp will vary widely during the show but it is best to start with 3200 WB so as you get a good starting point.

If the lamps on stage were non dim-able like most modern stage lighting fixtures are (LED excluded) you would not have this issue as the lights output is controlled by mechanically flagging the optical path not reducing the power to the globe, the result being constant colour temp but varying intensity.




EDIT.
I just noticed 3 x MAC250s on the floor in the last shot these are the type of lamp I was talking about being non dim, as you can see in that last image the three lamp are at varying intensity yet the blue light being emitted by them is pretty much the same across the three lights as there is no shift in colour temperature with the mechanical flagging.

Robbie.

[jcuknz]

Ha,ha. My grandfather called their music 'static interference' ...

Was he trying to restart the War[s] of the Roses ? I assumne you both live east of the Penines

[SteveF]

Was he trying to restart the War[s] of the Roses ? I assumne you both live east of the Penines

My Grandfather was a 'light the blue touchpaper and stand well back' sort of person. Don't think he ever had an agenda.

[nimitzbenedicto]

Interesting situation.

I have a question about the RAWs. Have you try to manipulate the WB in another software? I am thinking LR, Dxo Optics, Capture Pro. I am curious because sometimes, in my tiny experience, I can change the WB to one that works for me in a specific shot and with that in mind maybe you can set up each shot to match certain base WB/colors...

Hi Mau,

Ok. I'll test your recom and see if it comes out alright next time.

Thanks for the tip.

[nimitzbenedicto]

Victor,

The lights used to light that stage are all Par 64s as far as I can see. They are a tungsten lamp usually pretty close to 3200K. These lamps will all have the same source no matter what gel/filter the Lighting Director decided to put in front of them therefore they will all have the same colour temperature.

Setting the white balance to 3200K will give you more accurate control of the colours when the lamps are at 100%. This particular type of lamp though is dim-able so colour temp will vary widely during the show but it is best to start with 3200 WB so as you get a good starting point.

If the lamps on stage were non dim-able like most modern stage lighting fixtures are (LED excluded) you would not have this issue as the lights output is controlled by mechanically flagging the optical path not reducing the power to the globe, the result being constant colour temp but varying intensity.

EDIT.
I just noticed 3 x MAC250s on the floor in the last shot these are the type of lamp I was talking about being non dim, as you can see in that last image the three lamp are at varying intensity yet the blue light being emitted by them is pretty much the same across the three lights as there is no shift in colour temperature with the mechanical flagging.

Robbie.

Hi Robbie,

Wow, great post. Learned a lot from you. Especially about different stage lighting. Also, colour temperature does stay constant although different intensity.

I will definitely start off with your advice "3200 WB" in the next concert .

it is best to start with 3200 WB so as you get a good starting point.

Thanks Robbie......

[Rob Ekins]

Glad I could help Victor.

One thing I would add is that you are most likely to get better shots during ballads as these are generally set up lighting wise to be more static and moody, less of the chasing flashing lights stuff.

Set yourself up for a nice shot of the lead singer, he will usually have some contrasting static backlights framing him and you will have more time to adjust you camera setting as the lighting states will be more constant.

Robbie.