Improper Exposure?

[P3D <Linnstaedt@xxxxxxx>]

Greg writes, "A meter is cheap insurance
against this possibility, and makes my picture taking that much more
fun.  I *hate* screwing up.  Call me a perfectionist, I won't argue."

I too, hate wasting film, time, and "photo opportunities".  In simple
situations, one can get by without a meter.  But when optimum results are
critical--or at least important--a meter is a powerful tool.  Some
photographers never use a tripod; I keep mine handy, using it extensively.
 Using the right tools helps me get high-quality, consistent results.

And yet, I don't own a "stand alone" light meter.  My Canon SLR and a gray
card give me all the options for accurate readings.  The set of gray cards
cost me $8.  

BTW, a recent roll of print film (2D) produced odd-colored prints.  The
processor claimed photographer error, until I pointed out the first frame: a
shot of a Kodak gray card (one of those serendipitous "oops!" events).  Sez
I, "Please calibrate your equipment to reproduce that gray card accurately."
 The final results were perfect.

Greg quotes George T., >...when in doubt I expose more!  Not less.  Do I end
up
>with overexposed slides?  Never.  Can it be that the Fujichrome films are
>more forgiving...?  Maybe...

Greg's response, about Velvia's true speed, is based on scientific tests.  If
I may speak more subjectively (which is what gets me into this doo-doo), E-6
films don't burn out to a pure white (colorless transparency).  Therefore,
one may find those blanched vacation snapshots preferable to the utterly dark
ones.  ;) ;) ;)

One need only look at the ends of a developed roll to understand why F'chrome
(and virtually all E-6 types) gives consistently "good enough for most folks"
results.  The blackest black is the unexposed ends.  Hold them up to a bright
light and what do you see?  Not black!  Deep charcoal gray; nowhere as rich a
black as K'chrome under the same test.  The same is true of the whites.  Look
at the severely overexposed leader --if you ever get one  ;-)  --and see that
E-6 isn't colorless.  So if you start with a film incapable of rendering a
true black neither a pure white, what do you get?  Less contrast.  More room
for error.  Less possibility of really terrible shots.  Also, less
possibility of tremendous shots.  E-6 films are great; cannot achieve the
same contrast as K'chrome; but it's probably good enough for most folks.  Use
it in your Loreo. ;-)

And never forget...the piece of equipment which most determines picture
quality is the nut behind the camera.  ;-)

Regards, Robert 


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