What does the term "white balance" mean in photography?

The term "white balance" in photography refers to the process of aligning colors in an image so that whites appear neutral under different lighting conditions. When a camera captures an image, the light source can cast different color tones—such as warm (yellow/red) or cool (blue)—that can affect the overall color fidelity of the photograph. Correct white balance ensures that whites look true to life, allowing other colors in the scene to be accurately represented as well. This is crucial for achieving realistic photographs, particularly in varied lighting situations like indoors versus outdoors or under different types of artificial light.

By adjusting the white balance setting in your camera or during post-processing, you can eliminate unwanted color casts, enhancing the authenticity of your images. This ability to control how colors are rendered plays a significant role in conveying the desired mood and atmosphere in photography.