P3D Re: Sunny 16 vs meter

["Greg Wageman" <gjw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

From: Tom Deering <tmd@xxxxxxxxxxx>

>>Memorize Dr. T's table of offsets and you can shoot with abandon!
>
>Well no, unless you ever want to shoot:
>
>sandy beaches
[snip]

>indoors, or anywhere the sun doesn't shine
>
>Then the "simple" Sunny 16 rule either has to be adjusted, modified, or
>thrown out completely.  At which time most people will wish they had a
$20
>meter.


"Dr. T's table of offsets" (which is not really Dr. T's personal
discovery, he only posted them for us) covers many, if not all, of the
above-mentioned situations, Tom.  Basic exposure guidelines (which cover
more than just sunny-10-til-2) are also printed inside the box of many
Kodak films.

My problem with the concept of sunny-16-plus is that it is based on
verbal descriptions of sometimes very complex situations, which can lead
to some errors of interpretation (which the old hands will tell you is
where experience comes in to play).  The same old hands will tell you
that blindly believing a meter can produce bad exposures.  They are
correct on both counts, which is why experience in reading a meter and
correcting for particularly bright/dark subjects, backlighting, etc. is
also a matter of experience.

In short, neither method is foolproof under all possible photographic
circumstances; both require some learning curve, experience and above
all, judgment, and both are quite capable of producing proper exposure
when their use is mastered.  Use the one you are most comfortable with.

     -Greg W. (gjw@xxxxxxxxxx)



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