Exercise: Managing colour

The aim of this exercise is to learn how to correct colour casts.  I had to find a couple of images that have a significant colour cast and correct it for both JPEG sand Raw.  One of these images has to include a surface that is known to be grey.  This can be a pavement, concrete, steel, clouds etc.

I will use Lightroom for this exercise.

Image with a grey object

Original image taken on a platform at Canary Wharf tube station.  There is significant colour cast from the fluorescent lighting.

JPEG

I adjusted the exposure in this image to open up the dark areas and used the grey dropper in Lightroom to sample the grey.  I chose an are of steel above the doorways to the trains.  I think a more realistic colour balance has been achieved as the original image had a yellow tinge to it.  

Raw

I adjusted the exposure in this image too and reduced the blacks.  I simply changed the preset to Fluorescent to adjust the white balance.  The yellowish hue has been reduced.  And the colour looks realistic.

Image 2: 

There is a blue hue in this image that make it look unrealistic and unnatural.  There is also very little grey.  

JPEG

I adjusted the exposure for this shot to brighten up the detail in the towers.  

I used the grey dropper to alter the white balance which I used gangway in the left under the tower.  The overall bluish hue has been reduced and the image looks more natural. 

Raw

I adjusted the exposure for this shot and used the grey dropper to adjust the white balance.  I played around with the presets but I didn't feel any of the looked natural.  I think it is best to custom your own white balance either by adjusting the sliders or using the grey dropper when the presets don't give the desired results.