White Sky

Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 10

Hi

Recently returned back from my holiday, and found that my photos taken with my Canon 400D have a white coloured sky-instead of the actual blue sky which was present on the day.

I tried various things with the caamera to correct this-but being relatively new to photography was unable to do so. My point and shoot Sony T9 camera picks up the colours of the scene far better in my opinion.

Can anyone explain why the camera does this? If it helps I was using mainly 'P' mode, with the white balence set to Sunny and metering mode in either partial or evaluative modes. I use a 28-135mm IS USM lens.

Would I be correct in guessing its a metering related problem?

Thanks
DSLR

Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 118 Location: Pacific N.W.

I'm by no means one of the Pro's here, but for now I would suggest changing your white balance setting in Photoshop (if thats what you use). You may want to consider getting a polarizing filter for future use.

Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 131 Location: Boulder, Colorado

Without an image to go by, this is all guess work....but sounds like you might have simply "blown out" the sky......that is, when the sky is significantly brighter than the rest of your shot, it can be overexposed, leading to a white out and wash of colours.

It is impossible to be sure without seeing the image about which you are speaking.

Joined: 07 Aug 2006 Posts: 10

Hi, thanks for your replies. I will post an example image later and hopefully will make things clearer.

DSLR

Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 179 Location: Lubbock, TX

Another vote for blown out.

I'm a real estate agent agent and tt happens to me all the time when I'm shooting houses for listing sheets. I'll be exposing for the details of a shaded porch or patio only to have the beautiful blue sky come out as a white blotch.

Brad

Joined: 25 Aug 2005 Posts: 594 Location: Sydney

I will echo the above comments of a blown out sky.

Irrespective of which camera you shoot, you need to be aware of two words "Dynamic range". That is, the difference between the darkest areas in your image and the brightest. You camera has a set range it can capture - and if the sky is significantly brighter than the foreground, one or the other will have to compromise.

Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 131 Location: Boulder, Colorado

If "blown out sky" is your issue, there are a variety of graduated Neutral Density (ND) filters you could try....the old "cokin" type system used square ones that you could even slide up and down to get the extra density right where you need it.