In photography, what is white balance used to correct?

White balance is an essential adjustment in photography that is used to correct the color temperature of the light in a photo. Different light sources emit different colors of light – for instance, sunlight has a different color temperature compared to incandescent bulbs, which can appear more yellow or warm. If white balance is not properly set, the colors in the photograph may appear inaccurate, leading to a shift in the overall tone, such as a blue or yellow cast.

By adjusting the white balance setting, a photographer can ensure that whites appear neutral and that other colors are rendered accurately. This correction helps to maintain the true colors of the scene, leading to a more realistic or aesthetically pleasing image. This is particularly important in situations with mixed lighting or when capturing subjects in natural settings under various lighting conditions.

In contrast, brightness levels, contrast differences, and exposure settings deal with the overall lightness or darkness of an image, how distinct the elements within the image are from one another, and the amount of light that reaches the camera sensor, respectively. While these aspects are crucial to successful photography, they do not specifically address the color accuracy that white balance aims to correct.