How to use Adobe Lightroom to adjust white balance in underwater photos.

Last week I did a blog about "Mastering White Balance" but continue to get great questions on how to do it. In this post, I will give more details on how to use Adobe Lightroom to make these adjustments. Keep in mind that white balance is a crucial aspect of post-processing in Adobe Lightroom, especially when working with underwater photography. It is one of the first steps I take in post-processing every photo using Adobe Lightroom. White balance helps you correct the color cast caused by the underwater environment, which is often tinted in blue or green due to the absorption and scattering of light. Here's why and how to adjust the white balance in Adobe Lightroom, along with the pros and cons of this method compared to in-camera adjustments:

Why Adjust White Balance in Adobe Lightroom for Underwater Photography:

1. Correcting Color Cast: Underwater photos often appear blue or green due to water's inherent color and the loss of certain wavelengths of light as they travel through water. Adjusting white balance in post-processing helps correct this color cast and bring back the true colors of the subject.

2. Enhancing Image Quality: Proper white balance adjustments can significantly improve the overall image quality and make your underwater shots appear more vibrant and natural.

3. Flexibility: Post-processing allows you to fine-tune the white balance to match your artistic vision and the specific conditions in which the photo was taken.

How to Adjust White Balance in Adobe Lightroom:

1. Import Your Photos: Open Adobe Lightroom and import your underwater photos.
2. Select an Image: Choose the photo you want to work on and enter the Develop module.
3. White Balance Tools: In the Develop module, you'll find various white balance adjustment tools.
4. Auto White Balance: You can start by clicking the "Auto" button to let Lightroom automatically adjust the white balance. This often provides a good starting point.
5. White Balance Presets: Lightroom offers several presets (e.g., Daylight, Cloudy, Shade) that you can apply to your photos to adjust the white balance.
6. White Balance Dropper: Use the white balance dropper tool to select a neutral area in the image, like a part of the subject that should be gray or white. Lightroom will adjust the white balance based on that selection.
7. Temperature and Tint Sliders: Manually fine-tune the white balance by adjusting the temperature (blue to yellow) and tint (green to magenta) sliders until the colors look natural and pleasing.
8. Before and After: Always compare the adjusted image with the original to ensure the colors look accurate and appealing.

Pros and Cons of Using Lightroom for White Balance Adjustment vs. In-Camera Adjustments:

Pros:

1. Flexibility: Lightroom allows for precise and customized adjustments to match your artistic vision and the specific conditions in which the photo was taken.
2. Non-Destructive: Lightroom's adjustments are non-destructive, meaning the original image remains intact, and you can revisit and modify the white balance at any time.
3. RAW Format: If you shoot in RAW, you have more data to work with in post-processing, making white balance adjustments more effective.

Cons:

1. Time-Consuming: Adjusting white balance in post-processing can be time-consuming, especially when dealing with a large number of photos. However, once you develop a consistent processing procedure, you can cut down the amount of time you spend on this.
2. Learning Curve: Adobe Lightroom requires some knowledge and experience to use effectively, which might be a barrier for beginners. Once you learn how to properly use Lightroom and develop your own processing flow/procedure, the benefits of using Lightroom far outweigh the disadvantages.
3. Not Always Perfect: In-camera white balance settings are often designed for specific underwater conditions and in many cases will give you inaccurate results.

In conclusion, adjusting white balance in Adobe Lightroom for underwater photography is a powerful tool that provides flexibility and control over the final image. While in-camera white balance adjustments are convenient, they may not always yield the best results, especially when dealing with challenging underwater conditions. Ultimately, the choice between in-camera adjustments and post-processing in Lightroom depends on your skill level, preference, and the quality of the final result you aim to achieve.

Let me assist you in your underwater photographic journey with my upcoming online training course, which I will be announcing soon. If you are keen on acquiring more knowledge about it, kindly email me at bob@robertherb.com. You can also visit my website (Robert Herb Photography) to view some of my exemplary work. 

I am eagerly anticipating your valuable feedback and suggestions. 

Sincerely, 

Bob Herb

Robert Herb Robert Herb Photography +1 (714) 594-9262‬  |  +504 9784-0024  |  www.RobertHerb.com Bob@robertherb.com  |  Roatan, HN or Aliso Viejo, CA (USA)