The Color Temperature Paradox
Color temperature, measured in Kelvin, is used to describe the color of light in photography. This is due to the historical and physical relationship between the temperature of a light source and its color. As objects heat up, they glow in different colors, from red to blue. However, this can be confusing as 'warm' light is actually from cooler objects and 'cool' light from hotter ones. Cameras need to balance these colors to match our perception. Additionally, not all light sources derive their color from heat, and can also shift towards green or magenta. The color temperature setting in a camera is actually a compensation for the light's color, not a setting for the image's color.