White Balancing Techniques

Hi All (AGAIN!):

Another question from a NOOBIE concerning white balancing.

I've found it somewhat difficult to white balance while underwater operating the camera, not so much with the controls, just the WB card. I'm usually wearing doubles, a drysuit and one or two slung deco bottles and doing video with all this STUFF is tasking.

What kind of card do you carry to white balance with? I have a small one and it's just not cutting it. I try to hold it out or set it down and, well, I'm less than successful. I suppose I could arm mount it to the camera, but how much does the camera need to "see" to WB? Fill the lens, just a portion, how far away? I have white fins, but only for wetsuit use which is less than 20% of the time.

I'm considering using a larger white plastic cutting board for a WB card that I could mount or clip off. My buddy could hold it at a distance, but unless I want it in the shot with him I would need it back. I could also duct tape settings, plans or even deco information on the opposite side...

Ideas?

THANKS...

Andy

FWIW I have found that you do not to get overly bent out of shape over WB. Here I am assuming you are shooting RAW, if you are not then you do need to get a bit more concerned as you have far less scope to fix in post with jpg.

If you are not shooting RAW then do whatever it takes until you are.

Almost any neutral grey area will work fine - sandy sea bottom, back of your hand, rock. The biggest issue I have had has been to get a 'good' or acceptable WB shot as far as the camera is concerned - this has pretty much been down to the camera not liking my manual setting.

Setting the camera to AV for this one shot has overcome the issue.

But one question (maybe two) - if you are wearing doubles and drysuit that would suggest that you are kinda deep what ambient light shots are you attempting here ?

Paul C

Drewski,

Have a good search through this forum, there is loads about white balancing, there are comparisons of different techniques, when to use filters and WB etc etc etc

Good luck

Jon

I recently got a WB slate attached to an arm from Gates that slides into the carry handle slot on the housing and it worked PERFECT!!! It's the first time that I have actually been comfortable doing WB on a regular basis...it's the third hand/arm that I needed...

But one question (maybe two) - if you are wearing doubles and drysuit that would suggest that you are kinda deep what ambient light shots are you attempting here ?

 

Paul C

Presume one should MWB with whatever light you are shooting in? Aim the video lights at the slate if that is what you are using to illuminate the subject matter? Use ambient light (even if poor) if that is what you are shooting with?