I'm trying to detect white objects in a video. The first step is to filter the image so that it leaves only white-color pixels. My first approach was using HSV color space and then checking for high level of VAL channel. Here is the code:

//convert image to hsv

cvCvtColor( src, hsv, CV_BGR2HSV );

cvCvtPixToPlane( hsv, h_plane, s_plane, v_plane, 0 );



for(int x=0;x<srcSize.width;x++){

    for(int y=0;y<srcSize.height;y++){

        uchar * hue=&((uchar*) (h_plane->imageData+h_plane->widthStep*y))[x];

        uchar * sat=&((uchar*) (s_plane->imageData+s_plane->widthStep*y))[x];

        uchar * val=&((uchar*) (v_plane->imageData+v_plane->widthStep*y))[x];

        if((*val>170))

            *hue=255;

        else

            *hue=0;

    }

}

leaving the result in the hue channel. Unfortunately, this approach is very sensitive to lighting. I'm sure there is a better way. Any suggestions?