Creative White Balance Manipulation

As with so many aspects of exposure, there is no right or wrong white balance. If you want a white sheep sunning itself on the beach in midafternoon light to look realistically white (and who wouldn’t?), of course it’s worth your effort in setting the proper white balance for the existing light. But there are a lot of situations when setting the “correct” white balance leads to a bland photograph. Most people, for example, look far better in a photograph when their skin tones are a slight bit warmer than they might be in reality. And a lot of other subjects, such as landscapes and architectural subjects, also look more inviting when their warmth is enhanced. Conversely, some scenic shots look better if you exaggerate their coolness.