Light has color.
We describe the color of light in as having a specific color temperature. Color temperature is measured on the kelvin (K) scale and temperatures on this scale are called kelvins.
The white balance setting on your camera deals with the color of light and each of the icons that represent your white balance settings represents a specific color temperature .
If you’ve been leaving your camera on the automatic white balance setting you’ve been missing a opportunity to explore the color of light as a compositional element to consider when creating a photograph.
If your camera is set to automatic white balance your camera will pick a white balance setting/kelvin for you.
If you pick a white balance setting you can begin to get intentional color shifts that can add another level to your use of color.