P3D Sunny 16 rule etc.

[Keith Sanborn <mrzero@xxxxxxxxx>]

The discussion of metering on this list is most illuminating. My experience
has been that as Eric said, the problem is in ourselves. Meters are tools,
not solutions. They require interpretation for proper use. I have taught
many people the use of light meters and am always amazed at how much
responsibility they want the meter to take for their own (mis)judgments.

I wouldn't think of shooting anything outside without a handheld spot
meter, on the other hand there are a lot of ways to meter and they don't
all require a spot meter. They do require knowledge of how to use whatever
meter one has. I think for most people the problem lies more with the
habiting of relying on through the lense metering in slr cameras. Most of
the time the average photographer has no idea the kind of meter his/her
camera has: center weighted, overall averaging, template, etc. With any of
the stereo cameras I've ever been able to get my hands on, through the
lense metering isn't a possibility, though that leaves the neophyte stereo
photographer with a lot of ground to make up and a lot of
self-deprogramming to do. It's a big step from point and click to
interpreting exposures according to the zone or other system.

I am vaguely familiar with the sunny 16 rule having seen those little
drawings on Kodak instructions, but could someone give a summary of the
details or refer me to where I could find them: i.e. what shutter speed it
assumes, what asa, what time of the year or geographic location, etc.?

Keith Sanborn



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