P3D Zone System, was Re: Sunny 16 rule, baaaaah

[siragusa@xxxxxxxx]

> 
> However, I'm hoping that the more I do this sort of thing, I 
> will be able to just
> point my meter at the the whole area and think, "Is this area 
> brighter or darker
> than that gray card, and if so, how much should I deviate 
> from the meter setting
> to capture the right mood."
> 

For what it's worth, your meter (assume it's a spotmeter pointing 
at a uniformly lit area), if calibrated properly, will give you an 
exposure setting that will render your subject as 18% gray.  If 
you want your subject lighter or darker than 18% gray, you adjust 
your exposure accordingly.  This is the basis for the Zone System,
which Ansel Adams is famous for using...

http://www.cicada.com/pub/photo/zs/


jon



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