feathers and

[lensoreat]

why do shadows on snow sometimes look so blue ?   when i try to make them less blue it messes up the color of the fur,   that is pretty much the right coloring;    anyway.......    ( k-5,  m150mm 3.5 )

[Ron Kruger]

Some lenses are better about that than others.

[Pacerr]

  why do shadows on snow sometimes look so blue ? 

For the same reason water looks blue on cloudless days - reflection. If the sky was pink in your world those shadows would be pink. Note that it's different on gray overcast days.

[lensoreat]

quote :   For the same reason water looks blue on cloudless days - reflection. If the sky was pink in your world those shadows would be pink. Note that it's different on gray overcast days.   end quote .

quote :  Some lenses are better about that than others.   end quote. 


snow is weird to capture,   probably a whole 'nother art to learn ?    i never see any blue snow shadows in dominiques photos .   

[blackcloudbrew]

Snow is hard, blue snow is ok though, but yellow snow is better to stay away from.

[tcom]

Well, snow is actually slightly blue and the shadows on the snow do just bring out the color much better.

When I capture snowy landscapes, I try to reduce the blue cast on the snow a bit, but without removing it completly as it would bring strange colors on the sky.

In case interested, here is my latest snow series, captured over the last weekends: http://www.pbase.com/tcom/belalp&page=all, the blue cast on the snow is definitely there.

[Pacerr]

Try using 'Open Shade' white balance for a bit of initial correction. If you've noticed, open shade on a sunny day gives somewhat of the same effect.

[lensoreat]

Try using 'Open Shade' white balance for a bit of initial correction. If you've noticed, open shade on a sunny day gives somewhat of the same effect.

open shade ,  pacerr ?    a setting in the camera or in software ?   i'll look.

Well, snow is actually slightly blue and the shadows on the snow do just bring out the color much better.

When I capture snowy landscapes, I try to reduce the blue cast on the snow a bit, but without removing it completly as it would bring strange colors on the sky.

In case interested, here is my latest snow series, captured over the last weekends: http://www.pbase.com/tcom/belalp&page=all, the blue cast on the snow is definitely there.

i see a little blue,  tcom,   
not as severe in the shots here ,  but i guess it's ok to have some blue,    it does depend on the sky and lens i guess. 

( and i know about that yellow snow ,  bcb ;  blue is probably better than yellow  )     

[lensoreat]

today the sky is blue and clouds mixed,   not as blue as the other day,   these are with the k100d super,  A 50mm lens,   whereas my dog shots are with the k-5,  m150mm lens,   but the super seems to be generally better at not getting as much blue-- course this is another non-scientific experiment--  but the super seems to almost expose more towards red than blue-- no blue at all really,    could it be that ccd sensor ?   

[Pacerr]

. . . but the super seems to almost expose more towards red than blue-- no blue at all really,    could it be that ccd sensor ?  

Looks more like a white balance difference to me, Dave. A l'il heavy on the magenta side?

There's WAY too many exposure and in-camera processing things goin' on to judge such things from the data given. An in-depth audit via PhotoMe or another EXIF reader may offer some clues if you compare images - at least that indicates what parameters were set in each case.  

For instance, the WB section in PhotoMe shown here provides a detailed look at that situation. Also, you can check/compare the three color channels in the histogram in PhotoMe or FsIV.

[As a side bar issue, did y'all know you could "adjust" the WB parameters (and many other items shown in blue) in PhotoMe. This also gives a clue as to how the camera processor adjusts the JPG and display settings. There's also a very interesting graphic of the metering matrix system and the recorded values used to set exposure. ]

[lensoreat]

guess ( thanks for the trying to enlighten me, though , pacerr) i would have to hope to come back in another life with a different kind of brain to 'get ' this stuff,   but oh well.   good thing though there are you guys that understand the technical stuff like this.
   

[Pacerr]

. . .  oh well.    guys that understand the technical stuff like this.

Uhhh . . . who sez anyone actually understands it? Myself, I just play around til I think it looks mo' bedda.

Short story then:

Open that last image in FsIV. Go to the Adjust Color mode HUE slider and move it between +/- 5 points and watch the color cast change between magenta and green. Set it back to zero and do the same with the individual Red slider one at a time; zero-ing the settings each time. Save the effect ya like best. (About + 3 on the HUE slider or -5 on the Red slider maybe?) (Try the individual Green and Blue sliders and max out the HUE slider too -- just for fun.)

Also note that there doesn't seem to be blue sky in that image like in the dawg pix, looks gray and overcast -- therefore there's very little blue in the shadows anyway. Helps if WB is set to the appropriate conditions when you take the shot since Auto WB isn't very smart about color casts or reflections in shadows.

[lensoreat]

yeah,   i think a lot of it is the amount of blue in the sky,   aside from the tech stuff,   even the shadows with my eye were not as intense blue today,   maybe it even has something to do with new snow,   and old snow,   and how it reflects the light.   ?   will try the fs viewer stuff too.    thanks pacerr