Re: Good exposure

[P3D Gary Nored <gnored@xxxxxxx>]

>Dr. T writes...
>
>> IMO, there is a range of acceptable ("good") exposures. 
<snip>

>I agree that viewing method and its brightness does effect the way a
>picture's exposure is perceived, but there are some photographic
>situations where there is a perfect exposure.  If the brightness range of
>a scene is only 5 stops, the exposure latitude of many slide films, than
>setting the camera for the center of the high and low brightness values
>in most cases results in an exposure that covers the whole scene
>and is in most cases 'perfect'.  
>
>Since most scenes have much more than 5 or so stop
>differences in brightness,  3D photographers have many choices on
>how to handle the differences creatively by either exposing for a
>certain part of the scene or using neutral grad and other filters,
>flashes or lighting, or of course using the fine Realist or other older
>camera with a lens that isn't so darn contrasty.
>
>It took me using my Realist along side of my 'modern' SLR
>to finally understand this and I hope it will help others.
>

>Mike Sherer       Alto, MI
>
==============================

Well, someone has to disagree, right? Wouldn't be the internet other-
wise. More and more I am coming to believe that it is the SHADOWS
that determine our perception of brightness (at least as it is
recorded on film) -- not the relative brightness of the picture. 
For example, I was photographing in a small canyon nearby. Light was
pretty much the same everywhere. On one side, large portions of the
image were in deep shade. On the other, large portions were in the
sun (Zone VII). Using the same exposure for both sides yielded 
photos that were dramatically different, subjectively. Same range
of tones, but the dark side "looked" _much_ darker than the light
side.

This experience, and others, have taught me to adjust the shadow exposure
in contrasty situations when I want to control the viewers perception
of brightly/dimly lit.

Just a thought -- or two

Gary


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