Exposure 1st, White Balance 2nd, Shoot 3rd
I wish I could say that mastering digital photography is as easy as 1-2-3, but it is not. Print film was so forgiving when it came to lattitude (how many f-stops you can be off, or how many f-stops ranges will pick up detail in an image). Digital is getting better when it comes to lattitude, but it still isn’t at par with film.
Sure, you can do HDR which offers some amazing results, but the results often look fake and over detailed. Plus, HDR doesn’t work for moving subjects. Don’t get me wrong, HDR is amazing, but it doesn’t imitate film.
I’ve learned that the first thing, and most important thing, in capturing any digital image is exposure. You’ve got to nail that exposure so that you have no blow-outs (100% white spots where you should have detail), and no block-ups (100% black spots where you have no detail). It is hard to do in contrasty situations, and in some cases, imposible due to the lack of lattitude with digital. But, that exposure has to be near perfect for the perfect image.
The second thing is white balance. But, before I talk about white balance, let me state this: Because of the laws of physics, if you do not have full spectrum light, you cannot get a full spectrum of colors. It is imposible. You can’t reflect a color that does not exist in your light source. So, when you are shooting in your studio, select your lighting carefully if you want natural colors and a full spectrum of colors. (Hence, a standard $1 G.E. 100W lightbulb will not deliver a full spectrum, and neither will many other household sources.)
So, choose a good light source, and then use a good white balance tool. I own several. My favorite is my Ed Pierce (Photovision) target. I’ve use all sorts of devices, and this one fits how I work. Choose one that fits your style, but use it, and use it correctly.
Then, once you’ve got your exposure and white balance set, shoot away.
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