Mailinglist Archives:
Infrared
Panorama
Photo-3D
Tech-3D
Sell-3D
MF3D

Notice
This mailinglist archive is frozen since May 2001, i.e. it will stay online but will not be updated.
<-- Date Index --> <-- Thread Index --> [Author Index]

Practical outdoor use of light meters


  • From: P3D allan carrano <allan.carrano@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Subject: Practical outdoor use of light meters
  • Date: Sun, 02 Jun 96 12:26:24 EST

     I've been reading all the comments in the last several digests about 
     the need, or not, of light meters to judge exposures for shooting 
     stereo slides with 50's stereo cameras.  Here's my two cents:
     
     Most of my photos are taken outdoors.  I rarely have problems with the 
     envisioned results, when the existing light is Sunny bright (reflected 
     sand/snow), Sunny (Sunny 1/16 rule), Hazy sun, Bright overcast or open 
     shade.  I don't need a meter to help me under those conditions.  
     
     When I enter the Twilight Zone of exposure (below open shade), I NEED 
     A LIGHT METER!  My eyes get accustomed to the shaded environment 
     (usually a wooded area, for the places I like to be), and my meterless 
     judgment, as to how much light exists, goes awry.  I am jealous of 
     anyone who can say they can still evaluate lighting under such 
     conditions.  I simply can't do it.  And that's why I carry a 
     relatively inexpensive Gossen Scout II meter in my camera bag.
     
     Anyone viewing Expo 2 will see a stereo slide I took of a deer just 
     into the edge of a wooded area.  My judgment would have been to shoot 
     at f/5.6 at 1/25 sec. using Fuji Velvia (ISO 50).  My meter indicated 
     at least 2 stops lower.  I trusted the meter and still bracketed a 
     stop above and below the meter reading.  The result was that I got a 
     shot I deemed worthy enough to include in Expo.  Without the meter, 
     the half dozen or so slides I took would resulted in all toss outs.
     
     Going back to the Sunny 1/16 rule - if you're going to be critical on 
     your exposures, you probably want to bracket or use a meter under the 
     "easy to read" conditions at times, e.g., I'm thinking of that 8 to 10 
     AM period when you're tempted to shoot Sunny 1/16 because you are 
     obviously in a sunny cloudless situation.  The correct exposure you 
     (actually "I") envision is typically a stop or more over the Sunny 
     rule.
     
     I'm sure I haven't told any of the experienced meter carrying or "I 
     don't need a meter" experts anything they didn't already know, but I 
     believe the original post (now lost in antiquity) was from a newbie 
     wanting to know "Why a meter"?  I hope my post is something that is 
     useful to him and others with the same question.
     
     Allan     


------------------------------