White Balancing with fins

Hi all

I most often shoot still with dual strobes and in RAW. But recently I started doing video mostly without but sometimes with lighting and I'm constantly using manual with balancing.

I most often white balance using sand patches even tough I usualy cary a card. Because of the length of the housing I find it practicaly impossible to hold card in front. Plus when you want to shoot up toward surface one needs to rebalance with that ambient light. So bottom and card no good. I was wandering if anybody has ever seen or know a model of fins that would be a color suitable for white balancing. I\m sure sombody has tought of that before me???

Any suggestions anybody?

Michel

This is a silly idea aesthetically, but it might work. How about getting some thin opaque plastic and molding/attaching it over what fins you have now? If that fails, paint them over? As for fins, I have no idea for particular model or brand, but I think the easiest thing to do would be to visit your dive shop with something white or about 18% (neutral?) grey and just look for fins that are a similar colour. I don't remember the last time I've ever seen bland grey looking fins though.

I always white balance pointing the cam to the white sand or the palm of my hand or make one of my dive buddies wear something white! And it works all the time!!!!

I used to attach a white slate to my fin, that way it was always there. I have seen some divers come through with pure white fins, they were from Singapore, you may want to check that out.....just google search

Hope it helps

Karen

Thank you for answers.

Michel

These work great for me.

hi

firstly i started a thread about over a year ago here called "white fins for white balance" there were some very good tips and links posted here, so check it out.

i use a coat of sickaklex (bathroom sealer) on my fins. it does the job really well as it flexes with with the fin. it lasts about a year and if it gets dirty it just wipes off easily.

gull makes some great fins which you can get order in japan, though the fin has a slight green tint, i held it up against my amphibico white balance slate and the colour is quite a different shade of white. The amphibico slate is excellent, but in crystal clear water it tends to add just a little too much red (the slate has a slight blue green tint), it can be fixed in post production, but getting it right in the camera first is much more satisfying.

most of the time i use the amphbico slate, but for quick balancing or snorkelling or big currents, the fins are great and much easier to use.

good luck

Seeesharky

Michel,

I have a pair of white fins, MantaRay by APS; however the reality of sticking your leg out in front of you and zooming in to MWB is something else. This action causes you to start rolling backward underwater - rather disconcerting - while trying to WB. As far as using sand, that's worked for me on occasion, but I've been in situations when there was no sand anywhere.

My greatest limitation to MWB appears to be the 5 screens I have to toggle through since I'm using a Canon HV20 with an Ikelite housing. I'm currently saving my pennies for a housing that offers one-touch WB.

If anybody knows how to stick your leg out without somersaulting, please let me know. (I've only been diving for 30 years.)

Good luck,

Galapagos Girl

Before sticking my leg out, I get into a vertical position with my legs pointing down. Never had a problem somersaulting.

http://www.scubatoys.com/store/detail.asp?...iteAplloBioFins

there yer go!!

or you could get a white wet suit!!

http://www.edgeriders.com/product_info.php...ucts_id=2576%5D

While your on this subject, slightly off topic....I notice reading my deep course PADI book that the diver in the photos has white fins, I guess this would help post processing the raw in photoshop to white blance off the fins there?

I tried painting my fins, but used the wrong paint, it flaked off.

I had an idea: You know the type of vinyl "sticker" letters that some companies custom cut for lettering the names on the transom of boats, I think I am going to try to try to locate one of those companies, and try attaching some scrap white letter stock and attach that to my fins and try that. I figure, the material they use should be waterproof, and likely flexible.. Will see how that works.

I have not personally used them, but a few customers have had me order the APS Manta Ray fins. They are available in an off white color and Ive heard that work well for white balancing from those that have used them. They are small in size in comparison to other fins (I use Atomic and Oceanic Splitfins). They are definitely inexpensive ($95) for fins.