Manual White Balance

I recently found lots of info about manual White Balacing at www.warmcards com

Warmcards are NOT grey cards.

I wonder if manual white balance is the Digital version of filters on the lens ?....without the hassle.

I used the warmcards on a recent trip and the photos were great, no flash taken with, bliss... I would manually white balance at 5m increments of depth, I shot most of my photos in jpeg with most of the colour coming out balanced and natural.

I liked the result so much that I painted my fins to match the two warmcards that I use the most, so please dont laugh if you see a diver with one off white, and one light blue fin. its easier than trying to hold a card in front of the camera with one hand, the bulky camera in the other hand, then stretch the index finger for manual WB, and trying not to behave like a yoyo in the water.....

The one limitation I discoverd about manual WB is that sunlight is required

May the strobes be without you...

hey eyefish

i have alyaws wanted to have a go at manual white balance underwater.

some of the results can look v good . must try it next trip.

matty

I liked the result so much that I painted my fins to match the two warmcards that I use the most, so please dont laugh if you see a diver with one off white, and one light blue fin. its easier than trying to hold a card in front of the camera with one hand, the bulky camera in the other hand, then stretch the index finger for manual WB, and trying not to behave like a yoyo in the water.....

Any other clever approaches to manipulating WB/exposure cards, cameras, and diving simultaneously?

Hi!

Don't you have lots of buddies? I've got an amazing all in one "help with a torch - hold the camera for a while - find some nice critter - be my model - have a look after me sometimes - etc." type of buddy. Wouldn't trade her in for a fortune ;-)

Helge ;-)=)

Any other clever approaches to manipulating WB/exposure cards, cameras, and diving simultaneously?

I've tried pre-loading the CF card with old "white" images from underwater. That seems to work pretty well, but this can fail if the water color is different. But at least you can get that first shot. What happens if you jump into the water and something amazing is right under the boat?

I've also tried doing the WB after-the-fact, which seems to work, if you shoot in RAW mode.

Dear Eching,

The only item I have found under a boat is the boats keel, (sorry couldn't resist that).

Different water colours ?.

correct me if I am wrong, water is a translucent but very dense medium. The colour of the water is determined by the background or backdrop to the water. If its a shallow white sandy bottom, then greenish whiteish, if the background is black mud at 5m then the water colour appears deep blue to black. If there is no backdrop then the first 4 primary colours are gradualy absorbed, reflecting colours 5, 6 & 7.

I see the light or is it a train...?

Heh, this reminds me of when my buddy jumped in and there was a silky shark swimming circles right underneath her as she cleaned her mask and put it on!

The color of the water is also affected by what is in it. If there is plankton or particulate, then the water will actually act as a filter to the light passing through it and into your camera. A green filter.

Cheers

James

Go ahead mock my painted fins, maybe I should patent the idea, any ideas on the royalties ?.

case fin ish now..

I use plastic grey card (12"x8") that I keep stuffed under the cummerbund of my BC. That seems a pretty convenient place to stow one.

When I had my Sony, I used a white slate which I attached to my housing with a bolt snap. When I wanted to set WB, I'd unsnap it, hold it in front of my lens, work the menus, screw the whole process up, repeat, give up.

Now with my D60, I'm toying with carrying a grey card, but since the BP / harness I have has no pockets, I'm not sure where I'll stuff it. Maybe in the wife's pockets!

I like the idea of painting fins actually. The less cr@p I have to manage, the better.