P3D Re: Anti-meter sentiment in photo-3d?

["Greg Wageman" <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Dr. George A. Themelis <DrT-3d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>


>Issue # 1 is unimportant. If the lightmeter helps you get a good
>exposure, then use it.  If you feel that relying in rules of
>thumb is better, then use those too or instead.  It is your film
>and your pictures.  Period.  (Same logic applies to using a
>light meter for any situation, not just Christmas lights.)


I can't argue with this! :-)

>Issue # 2 is, I feel, very important.  Stereo photography is not
>only for those who have money.  I have been telling people that
>they can get a Stereo Realist and get started for $100.  Some >people
(especially younger ones, students, etc.) find that even >the$100-$150
investment is a lot of money.  Now if you tell those >people that they
ABSOLUTELY NEED a light meter to get started >then you add an extra amount to
their budget.


George, what's the cost of wasted film and processing?  How many ruined shots
before the meter's cost is justified?

I agree completely that for daylight photography outdoors, a meter is often
unnecessary.  However, I challening you to consider how many of the truly
stunning photographs you have seen that are taken under these circumstances.
Complicated lighting situations often make for the best photographs, and that's
where rules-of-thumb often break down.  Can you learn from experience?  Yes!
However, the learning process is going to involve lots of disappointment and
wasted film, that a meter might save you.

>Greg and others have said that a light meter is necessary for a
>beginner because if they get bad results in the first rolls then
>they might get disappointed and quit stereo photography.  My
>personal experience tells me that this is not likely to happen.
>I went for a year without a light meter.  I have friends (two of
>them are officers of our stereo club) that have been taking stereo
>pictures for years and do not have light meters.  They rely on
>empirical rules and they are doing well.  Another new member of
>our club used a spot-meter in his first roll and got the entire
>roll 2-3 stops overexposed.


Any tool can be mis-applied.  A spotmeter is overkill for a beginner.  But I
know lots of people who are math-impaired, and would rather avoid the hobby
entirely if you told them they'd have to be able to multiply, divide and
remember the aperture progression in their heads in order to take photographs.
And personnally, while I *can* do it, I'd rather focus on the creative aspects
of picture-taking, not math.

>That has ALWAYS been my opinion :-) -- George Themelis


I'm just trying to strike a balance...

     -Greg W. (gjw@xxxxxxxxxx)




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