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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Fluorescent Problems
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Showing posts 1 - 9 of 9, (reverse)
AuthorThread
 02/02/2005 07:57:11 AM · #1
First time poster here. Nikon D70 user.

I've been having problems with fluorescent lights in a kitchen setting with lots of grey stainless steel and odd light reflections. Photo's are coming out too dark in both the subject and/or the background. At low shutterspeeds the colors are less realistic. The white balance seems to be a bit tricky and I try not to up the ISO too, too much. I also try to avoid flash if possible. My old point and shoot cameras did a far better job of things.

I've tried so many setting combos and nothing works well.

Any thoughts?
 02/02/2005 08:00:32 AM · #2
shoot in raw?
 02/02/2005 09:02:45 AM · #3
If the on camera meter is incorrectly causing underexposure, try setting positive exposure compensation: +/- button plus main command dial.

Nikon site

Also, if you shoot RAW, you can tweak exposure and white balance afterwards. If you really don't want to use RAW, read the bit in the manual about manually measuring and setting white balance.

Edit: typos

Message edited by author 2005-02-02 09:03:21.
 02/02/2005 10:43:12 AM · #4
Some flourescent bulbs don't emit a full spectrum of light, that may not be helping you.
 02/02/2005 11:14:37 AM · #5
I don't have Photoshop CS(PS 6.0 only)so I don't believe I can process RAW shots. And I'd like to get it right the first time if possible.

Would a light(1/16)flash settings help?

I kinda hate flash but I'll do whatever is necessary to get the shot.
 02/02/2005 11:49:52 AM · #6
In general (there are exceptions) flourescents tend to make an image too green. They are hard to compensate for in custom WB because they are not full-spectrum light sources. Try doing a color balance adjustment in PS (new adjustment layer/color balance) that begins by adding magenta across the board, and tweak from there. You should be able to compensate pretty well.

Robt.
 02/03/2005 12:59:50 AM · #7
Take make a filter called a FL-D filter that is a magenta-hued filter that helps to remove the green cast under fluorescent light.
 02/03/2005 01:11:23 AM · #8
You can try replacing your flourescents with full spectrum flourescent bulbs that are made by GE company. They are called Sunshine. They are very inexpensive and come in different sizes. That may help with the white balance/color problem. What metering mode are you using? All of the reflecting chrome may be causing excessive influence over exposure. Decide what you want to meter off of using spot metering so that the reflections don't effect the exposure. You can also try a custom white balance reading.

Also, the flourescents may be causing too much in the way of spectral reflections so you may want to cover them with a diffusing filter, such as a white sheet so they aren't so much of a point source.

Message edited by author 2005-02-03 01:11:53.
 02/03/2005 07:42:01 AM · #9
All great suggestions, thanx.

I haven't had the problem with the greens bu that filter might make things easier in different way's.

To be specific. I'm shooting students in a cooking class doing various things, mostly working and occasionally posing with their finished products.

So while their chef jackets and food plates/platters are perfect their faces might be innacurately a little dark and the medium greyish stainless comes out almost a dark, dark grey. I should also add that they wear baseball caps which they must leave on but still, their faces are lighter than they appear in the photo's.

I assume with the white jackets, odd lighting and reflection I'm having lighting dynamics problems.

Does that make sense? And will spot metering help? I'll try it out today. I can't wait to beat this problem. It's a pain in the butt BUT half the fun of shooting.

Cheers

Message edited by author 2005-02-03 07:43:57.
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