Newbie Chronicles: White Balance Revisited: Using the Expodisc
Sooooo.
I’ve talked about White Balance before in this post.
I’ve admitted that White Balance has always been my nemesis. But I had figured that I could just fix it in post using Lightroom. My photos would be nice…but something STILL wasn’t right..
Enter the ExpoDisc
And cue the angels singing.
This thing has become invaluable. Now that my white balance is right, I find myself spending much less time in post because my photos look great straight out of camera (SOOC)!
This is my SOOC NOT using the ExpoDisc. ( Don’t judge and PLEASE excuse the clutter!)
I used the auto white balance setting on my camera. It’s OK, but it’s a little cool. Notice the blue undertones?
(Settings: SS: 1/125 f/2.5 ISO 800)
This is another shot a few seconds later, same settings, using the ExpoDisc .
(Settings : SS 1/125 f 2.5 ISO 800)
Yessssss…….
And this is the photo after I have taken it into Lightroom and done a clean edit.
What used to take me FOREVER fiddling with the first photo to make it right and still not being satisfied because I couldn’t figure out what was wrong, now only takes a few clicks to:
- up exposure just a little because that’s what I like, .
- add a little vibrance and contrast to pop the colors,
- take away a little orange on the Saturation slider to fix skin tones for Pookah’s skin, after the color pop.
- add a little sharpening and
- export to my hard drive.
In fact, I made my own preset for just this purpose! But more on that in another post….
Soooo, get one folks.
It changed my life.
It can change yours.
This was not a paid review, all the opinions here are my own. I just love the Expodisc so much that I had to share!
As I read this I became confused…..I have no idea what you are talking about and this is why I will never become a photographer. I will say though I do see a difference in the pictures.
Lol! You need to go back and read my original post on white balance!!!
I can see the difference between the first picture and the final two using the ExpoDisc! I probably wouldn’t have paid any attention to the blue under tones, if you didn’t mention it. The final picture looks great! Pookah is precious!
thank you!!
VERY nice! I’d love an Expodisk, but I’m rather broke right now – I’m currently experimenting with the poor man’s Expodisk – a coffee filter. Even THAT is worlds better than what I was doing before!
I saved for mine for a minute before I had the money to get it! But it was worth every penny!
I think this is a must have, it does seem like it saves so much tim in post just trying to get it right. I need to look into this.
Yes, since I got the expodisc last fall, it is amazing how much less time I spend in post! I realized that when your white balance is off, sometimes, it makes it seem like your photo is underexposed. So you spend time trying to fix the white balance and exposure that doesn’t need to be fixed! This thing is a life saver!
I’m back and catching up on all my fave blogs! What a big difference – WOW! I need to get back on the photography kick. My DSLR stayed behind cause I was too scared to take it along on the trip, but I think I’ll get an ExpoDisc and practice some close-ups on Nia! TFS!
Yes get one! I would have HAD to take my camera on the trip! just the idea of the beaches….
Yes, I have a T3. I’ve heard that some people get cooler photos with the expodisc, but I find that I sometimes get warmer photos that I expect. But when I do get a cool photo using the expodisc, it’s because I haven’t used the correct light for my white balance.
Pookah is ADORABLE, blue undertones or not 🙂
Wow, I totally notice the difference though. Do you just slap the disc on and set your camera WB to auto? Hm, I usually set mine in Kelvin and that’s challenging to get just right.
This is the one quirk that you have to get used to: you stand where your subject is and point the camera in the direction where YOU will be standing. That way, you get the light that is falling on your subject. But even though it sounds complicated, it takes like two seconds. I put on the disc. take the photo, then set the custom white balance to use that photo. My camera doesn’t have Kelvin. I would be ALL over that!
Thank you LaShawn, you know I salivate over these newbie chronicles posts!
Um. Pookah…can he get any cuter?!
Okay so I need this expo disc. I am adding it to my wish list. I can totally see the difference. I can’t believe I actually understand what you are talking about LOL
YAY!!!! Get one!!!!!