Wordless Wednesday: Twinkle Toes & White Balance

July 1, 2008 | Filed Under Wordless Wednesday, people 

I’ve been making the move from auto to manual settings this week. One of the biggest hurdles is convincing myself that every shot won’t be blown out (overexposed) or dark (underexposed). The auto mode has been helpful as a reference point: if I’m unsure which settings to use, I switch to auto and see what the camera choses.

I love Scott Kelby’s books on both photography and Photoshop. This weekend I read an acronym, WHIMS, that he made up to remember to check his settings at the beginning of a shoot. In auto modes, the camera will chose the settings, but in manual mode you begin with the same ones as the last time you used the camera.

Here’s what it stands for:

W: White balance check
H: Highlight warning turned on (to tell if portions of your shots are blown out, or overexposed)
I: ISO check (correct ISO for your surroundings)
M: Mode check (whether aperture priority, program, or manual mode)
S: Size (image size and quality settings)

While this acronym is easy to remember and amazingly helpful, using it isn’t yet a fully integrated habit. The following photos were taking of my sleeping daughter’s feet (awwww), and in the first one the white balance was set for full sunlight. Oops.

In the second, the white balance is set to auto (I wasn’t completely sure which setting to use for indoor natural light).

The difference is obvious, although I confess to liking the yellow one best. What do you think?

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Comments

31 Responses to “Wordless Wednesday: Twinkle Toes & White Balance”

  1. smarmoofus on July 2nd, 2008 12:13 am

    I kind of like the first one (the more yellow one) better, too. It’s a warmer image, even if the colour isn’t “natural”. Since it’s a photo of your sleeping daughter’s adorable little toes, I think the added warmth is appropriate for the picture.

    Happy WW!
    -smarmoofus

  2. carrie on July 2nd, 2008 12:15 am

    at first I didn’t see anything wrong with the first shot, but when I saw the second one, I felt more drawn to it. With my own photos I’m always gravitating towards the ones that are a little bit overexposed and full of light.

  3. pete on July 2nd, 2008 12:27 am

    Yellow, for sure. It may seem unnatural, but the tone is not as harsh as the second photo (which is still a great shot in its own right). nice work!

  4. Dawn- Sweet Pea Cakes, etc. Blog on July 2nd, 2008 12:34 am

    YOu can tell the difference for sure between the two. But I like the first one the best too. It has a glow about it that I like.

  5. Cocoa on July 2nd, 2008 12:47 am

    The first one definitely looks better. Most photos with people in them look better in warmer tines versus cooler ones as in the second photo.

  6. Urban Thought on July 2nd, 2008 1:18 am

    I’ll go for the yellow one as well. Something about it is awesome. It looks like there is an aura around the foot.

  7. Red Lotus Mama on July 2nd, 2008 1:23 am

    I love baby feet! They are so yummy! Happy WW: http://tinyurl.com/59ej9a

  8. Raven on July 2nd, 2008 1:44 am

    They are both beautiful but I definitely like the first one best. Two reasons, I think. I just like the position of the foot and the angle better and I think the yellow quality of the blanket and light makes it seem more intimate – and more like nap time, like the shades are drawn and we want to tiptoe around the sleeping baby. Lovely photos.

  9. clarence on July 2nd, 2008 2:11 am

    Yeah, I like the first one better, though they are both lovely and sweet photos. It’s just such a warmer feel.

  10. Michelle Gartner on July 2nd, 2008 2:55 am

    I am thinking perhaps that the first one is preferred becuse it is the underside of the babies foot. I have 5 babies (well various ages) and the underside of a babies foot is irresistible. Not saying the tops aren’t is cute- but to me they aren’t as cute and chubby as the rounded baby foot bottoms.

  11. Gallicissa on July 2nd, 2008 3:23 am

    Neat capture. Glad the subject was still!

  12. Angie on July 2nd, 2008 3:45 am

    I like the first one better. It seems warmer and draws you in… Cute subject.:)

  13. Tracey on July 2nd, 2008 6:06 am

    The first one looks more natural. I am drawn more towards the second one though since I like nice clean, crisp, and bright pictures.

  14. Busymama Karen on July 2nd, 2008 6:09 am

    Feet make great pics…I love little toes. I like he first one best…something about the bottom of a kids foot is adorable.

  15. strawberrygurl on July 2nd, 2008 6:13 am

    i like the first shot, too. there’s more ‘drama’ to it than the 2nd one.

    i like your photoblog, it’s so neat.

  16. June on July 2nd, 2008 7:34 am

    Right after I read the word “oops” I was saying “but I like it”…and I do like it best. There are few hard and fast rules…all depends on what you want to see and that makes one photo potentially a hundred!

  17. Laura on July 2nd, 2008 7:58 am

    I’ll chime on the yellowed one, as well…just seems warmer and more inviting! Great pictures! I LOVE baby toes!

  18. Kelly on July 2nd, 2008 8:10 am

    LOVE baby toes! I do like the yellow one better. It feels warmer. Great photos.

  19. Dolls Clothes Gal on July 2nd, 2008 9:00 am

    I love baby’s feet – they are so cute. Great shots. Happy WW.

  20. Secret Agent Mama on July 2nd, 2008 9:21 am

    I just LOVE the feel of the first one.

    Lovely shots, both of them, but that first one speaks to me!

  21. Allison on July 2nd, 2008 9:41 am

    Very cool post. I actually like the first one a little better, too. The second one looks a little too bright, and you don’t get the same feel from it.

    Good luck moving to manual! You look like you are doing a fine job so far. I’d love to learn about all the manual setting on my camera. One day!

    Happy WW :)

  22. Jenileigh on July 2nd, 2008 9:55 am

    How sweet! Happy WW!

  23. marcia @ joyismygoal on July 2nd, 2008 10:20 am

    oooh I love the lesson and bottoms of toes are always sweeter than the tops

  24. Mojo on July 2nd, 2008 10:34 am

    For the purpose, the first shot is definitely more appealing. Technically, the second one may be more “accurate” in terms of color reproduction. But this isn’t a journalistic shot, so “true” color is much less important that the overall feel.

    They’re both good shots, but there’s a “warm fuzziness” in the first that you don’t get from the second.

  25. Erin on July 2nd, 2008 11:00 am

    Wow, what a difference. I like the yellow better too, in this instance.

  26. HRH on July 2nd, 2008 2:15 pm

    Both are cute pics. I like the first one too. I have been playing with these settings recently and am SLOWLY learning what might work…sometimes.

  27. Chica & Pumuckl on July 2nd, 2008 4:03 pm

    These are both very nice photos. But the first one has such a warm atmosphere which makes it really special.

  28. Muthering Heights on July 2nd, 2008 9:15 pm

    Those are great! I like the first one better too.

  29. Dianne on July 2nd, 2008 11:36 pm

    I love both shots. Even though the first one wasn’t set where you’d have wanted it, it turned out very nice. I think it’s kind of fun when we get something cool even from “mistakes.”

    Thanks for sharing the acronym. :D

  30. Tiff@Three Peas on July 3rd, 2008 3:24 pm

    I like the yellow one out of the two!! I’m learning all the setting on my camera too. Sometimes it seems overwhelming.

  31. Miz Booshay on July 8th, 2008 4:29 pm

    I like the light from the second shot and the pose of the first shot.

    Every day I learn something in this big world of digital photography.

    Did you try lightening the first one and making it a black and white?

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