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DPChallenge Forums >> Tips, Tricks, and Q&A >> Cloudy Setting?
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 07/02/2007 09:40:38 AM · #1
I saw this comment from Bruce Dale (for Photographer Tips and Techniques), who does photos for National Geographic.

"Choose âcloudyâ mode. The auto color balance on most digital cameras will likely destroy the beautiful colors at sunrise or sunset. In auto color mode, it sees the strong colors and tries to compensate by removing the red. I suggest you take it off âautoâ and try setting it at âcloudy.â In fact, I have my cameras set on âcloudyâ 90% of the time."

Do any of you use this method? If so, what do you think of it? Probably a dumb question, but wouldn't this setting only be for photos taken outside?

Message edited by author 2007-07-02 09:41:52.
 07/02/2007 09:44:15 AM · #2
On my sony a100 there is actually a way you can choose the color temperature you want, usually i just set it to the temperature number i like and then keep it there most of the shoot, i did a shoot yesterday and used cloudy because...it was cloudy...and i was in the shade and the shade mode seemed too strong. For sunsets i use the sunset mode no my camera...haha but i dunno, cloudy doesn't seem like a bad thing to pick. the tungsten light setting hasn't ever worked well for me and i don't really use the others alot eather...
 07/02/2007 09:48:15 AM · #3
I'm wondering how it would do on most outside shots with my 20D. I've just been trying to come close and correcting in PS since I usually shoot RAW now. I read about all of these tips and different tricks that photograhers use. Just wondering....

Message edited by author 2007-07-02 09:49:28.
 07/02/2007 09:50:47 AM · #4
I use cloudy all the time. If I don't like the result, I adjust the white balance during the raw conversion.
 07/02/2007 09:54:15 AM · #5
Interesting....sometime when I apply the cloudy wb in PSE5.0 and like the coloring much better. I will have to try the cloudy setting. I'm shooting a parade this afternoon and will test it out.
 07/02/2007 10:04:24 AM · #6
Originally posted by quiet_observation:
I use cloudy all the time. If I don't like the result, I adjust the white balance during the raw conversion.


Do you only use it outside?
 07/02/2007 10:05:09 AM · #7
Originally posted by Buckeye_Fan:
Interesting....sometime when I apply the cloudy wb in PSE5.0 and like the coloring much better. I will have to try the cloudy setting. I'm shooting a parade this afternoon and will test it out.


Let us know how you like it, ok?
 07/02/2007 10:10:25 AM · #8
Originally posted by pianomom:
Originally posted by quiet_observation:
I use cloudy all the time. If I don't like the result, I adjust the white balance during the raw conversion.


Do you only use it outside?


All the time.

07/02/2007 10:17:12 AM · #9
Looks like I'm going to have to try this too then! :)
 07/02/2007 10:30:06 AM · #10
I shoot almost everything that is outdoors on cloudy. It is very seldom that I switch to sunny or shade.

On the other hand, I shoot raw ... so if cloudy doesn't work out, I can always adjust later. But I very seldom do. Most of my WB adjustments are done on indoor photos.

07/02/2007 10:41:54 AM · #11
Originally posted by dwterry:
I shoot almost everything that is outdoors on cloudy. It is very seldom that I switch to sunny or shade.

On the other hand, I shoot raw ... so if cloudy doesn't work out, I can always adjust later. But I very seldom do. Most of my WB adjustments are done on indoor photos.


When do you NOT use it outdoors? Can you give an example?
 07/02/2007 10:46:55 AM · #12
Originally posted by pianomom:
Originally posted by Buckeye_Fan:
Interesting....sometime when I apply the cloudy wb in PSE5.0 and like the coloring much better. I will have to try the cloudy setting. I'm shooting a parade this afternoon and will test it out.


Let us know how you like it, ok?


I'll try to post something tonight!
 07/02/2007 10:54:49 AM · #13


Here is one I shot on a sunless, foggy day at the coast. Normally I would adjust the color shift during RAW processing but this one seemed to work. Shooting on 'cloudy' also gives a slightly warmer feel to portraits, unless you are shooting them near sunset, then it makes them too red for my taste.
 07/02/2007 11:00:37 AM · #14
Looks like it's time to go experimenting.....:)
 07/02/2007 11:33:30 AM · #15
I also use "cloudy" 99% of the time and adjust during conversion if necessary. I even use it in studio with flash units, even though I made a custom WB setting for my AlienBees.
 07/02/2007 11:59:38 AM · #16
Originally posted by pianomom:
Originally posted by dwterry:
I shoot almost everything that is outdoors on cloudy. It is very seldom that I switch to sunny or shade.

On the other hand, I shoot raw ... so if cloudy doesn't work out, I can always adjust later. But I very seldom do. Most of my WB adjustments are done on indoor photos.


When do you NOT use it outdoors? Can you give an example?


When I'm shooting sports (which means I'm shooting jpegs instead of raw), I may switch to sunny or shade, depending on conditions. But even that is pretty rare.
07/02/2007 12:03:18 PM · #17
Hmm... when I shoot sunsets, I set my white balance to "sunset".

I generally find little difference between "cloudy" and "direct sunlight", except that "cloudy" has a slightly yellow cast. For most midday shots, "direct sunlight" works much better, but I can see using "cloudy" to really emphasize or slightly extend the early and late golden hours.
 07/02/2007 12:45:03 PM · #18
Interesting....I can also see where it would help with the sunsets or sunrises. I'll have to try it for the other conditions too.

dwterry, out of curiosity, why do you prefer to use jpeg for sports? I used to do more sports when my kids were younger & playing sports but don't really do much of it now.

07/02/2007 12:50:33 PM · #19
I have my camera set to cloudy most of the time, except when I use flash (hardly ever), or when I'm using custom white balance (when I'm shooting something against a white or very light background, or when I'm working on a special colour effect). I shoot RAW.
 07/02/2007 01:02:44 PM · #20
I take it a step further and often used open shade, especially when shooting animal photos. Helps pop the colors.
 07/02/2007 01:14:25 PM · #21
By and large, I prefer a cooler temperature, particular in BC, where there's plenty of lush vegetation most of the year. A warmer wb setting tends to make grass, moss and cedars look too yellow for my taste. Since images taken at dawn tend to have a fairly cool cast too, I often reduce the temperature of pictures shot a little later in the day, to give the illusion of some sort of a magic hour.

B & w images also benefit from cooler tones.
 07/02/2007 01:17:40 PM · #22
Originally posted by zeuszen:
By and large, I prefer a cooler temperature, particular in BC, where there's plenty of lush vegetation most of the year. A warmer wb setting tends to make grass, moss and cedars look too yellow for my taste.


I agree that cloudy and open shade can make vegetation look unnaturally yellow. In fact, I've found it can be quite interesting to play with tungsten setting, especially when a lot of greens and purples are involved.
 07/02/2007 01:21:42 PM · #23
Yep, Cloudy almost all the time, except with flash or if I am trying to get some sort of weird effect color wise.
07/02/2007 01:28:27 PM · #24
Originally posted by zeuszen:
By and large, I prefer a cooler temperature, particular in BC, where there's plenty of lush vegetation most of the year. A warmer wb setting tends to make grass, moss and cedars look too yellow for my taste. Since images taken at dawn tend to have a fairly cool cast too, I often reduce the temperature of pictures shot a little later in the day, to give the illusion of some sort of a magic hour.

B & w images also benefit from cooler tones.


Really. That's very interesting. I'll have to try it.
 07/02/2007 02:18:42 PM · #25
Originally posted by ursula:
Originally posted by zeuszen:
By and large, I prefer a cooler temperature, particular in BC, where there's plenty of lush vegetation most of the year. A warmer wb setting tends to make grass, moss and cedars look too yellow for my taste. Since images taken at dawn tend to have a fairly cool cast too, I often reduce the temperature of pictures shot a little later in the day, to give the illusion of some sort of a magic hour.

B & w images also benefit from cooler tones.


Really. That's very interesting. I'll have to try it.


Red filters are often used on film cameras when shooting b/w to punch up the contrast. Try shooting outdoors using the fluorescent setting, which gives everything a pink hue and/or a FLD filter and you might come up with a similar effect in conversion.

Yellow filters are often used to bring out detail.

I'm thinking a blue filter would deepen shadows, judging by what it does to a color balance tweak.

Message edited by author 2007-07-02 14:19:53.
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