Importance of White Balance

I took these 2 photos just few minutes apart. The first was using auto white balance and the second using the Expodisc to get the white balance. The second photo is definitely more pleasing and is the accurate rendering of the scene. Try as I may, but I could not replicate the white balance from the second photo through Lightroom nor Photoshop.

Lesson learned: ALWAYS use the Expodisc :)

Christmas Lightings - Senado Square

Equipment List update

Latest acquisition in blue

Olympus E-520 DSLR (2008: S$950)
Olympus E-420 DSLR (2008: US$469)
Zuiko 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 SWD (2007: S$1,337)
Zuiko 50-200mm f/2.8-3.5 (2007:US$829)
Zuiko 50mm f/2 Macro (2006:S$729)
Zuiko 25mm f/2.8 Pancake Lens (2008: US$199)
Zuiko EC-14 Teleconverter (2006:S$625)
Zuiko EX-25 Extension Tube (2007:S$250)
Olympus FL-36R Flash (2008: S$315)
Olympus RM-UC1 Cable Release (2007:S$79)
TwinMOS 1 GB 70x Compact Flash Card (2006: US$54)
Kingston 2 GB 50X Compact Flash Card (2006:S$66)
2 x Sandisk Extreme III 1 GB Compact Flash Card (2007:S$104)
Feisol CT-3441 Carbon Fibre Tripod with CB-30 Ballhead (2007: US$310)
Mamiya Carbon Fibre Monopod (2007:S$185)
Expodisc 72mm White Balance Portrait (2008: US$99)
B+W 72mm MRC Circular Polariser (2008: US$129)
B+W 72mm Graduated Neutral Density Filter (2008: US$94)
B+W 72mm 3-stop Neutral Density Filter (2008:US$94)
Manfrotto Table-top Tripod (2006: S$85)
Joby Gorillapod SLR-Zoom (2008: US$49)
Dry Box (2006: S$48)
Lowepro Fastpack 350 (2007:S$159)
Lowepro Slingshot 200AW bag (2006: US$59)
Crumpler Six Million Dollar Home bag (2008: US$105)