Bob's lightmeter question

[P3D Jamie Drouin <jdrouin@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi Bob!

     The small dome on your Gossen meter (and on many others, whether a
dome shape or not) 'averages' the light in the direction you are pointing
it.  What 'averaging' is based on is 50% gray/value.  What you normally do
to get a correct meter reading using this dome is point the dome towards
your main source of light and turn the dial till the needle is centered.
At this point, you have found the correct set of exposure combinations for
a subject that is 50%gray in that particular lighting condition, and
therefore, all of the other values in that same lighting condition will
fall into place.

     It is best to get as close to your subject as possible and then point
the meter towards the main lightsource, or at least get into a similar
lighting condition as your subject, if the subject is not approachable.
You have probably seen movie lighting crews hold a meter up against the
actors face to achieve the same thing.

     Let me know if you need this explained better...


                                                         :-)jamie.

Jamie Drouin (jdrouin@xxxxxxxx)
______________..______________
    View-Master Collector
    and Stereophotographer
______________..______________

















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