Reflected Light Readings for Film and Digital Images
In order to correctly expose your film or digital CCD there are two variables that must be identified: average reflectance and average light. Unless you have some good reason to meter for other than these two averages, stick meticulously to the method outlined below.
This article deals with reflected light readings. This is the type of light reading taken with an in camera light meter or a hand held meter which is pointed toward the subject. This article does not deal with incident light readings which are a measure of the light falling on the subject.
Average Reflectance
A white painted wall, snow or the ocean reflect most of the light falling on them. A burnt tree, a black fireplace or a coal mine reflect little of the light falling on them.A mid tone falls halfway between these extremes and reflects 18% of the light falling on it. The ISO rating of film or a digital CCD is set so this mid tone is exposed as a mid tone.
Identify a Mid Tone
Identify a mid tone for average reflectance and meter off that. Look for some green grass or foliage, mid tone rocks or bare dirt, weathered timber or whatever you can find that is somewhere in the middle between dull black and shiny white. If you are unable to escape a predominance of one extreme or the other in your framed image, then find an area to meter else where.
If need be, point the meter toward yourself and meter your clothes or else take your coat off, throw it on the ground and meter that.
Sand at the beach, or the palm of your hand are about one stop too bright. These can be used to meter off but you must compensate and the liklihood of a mistake is introduced.
Average Light
Average light is half way between light and shadow. If it's overcast there isn't so much difference between the two extremities as when it's sunny but you still should take a reading of the average light.
Identify Average Light
If you are metering off some trees and scrub in full sun you'll probably find that the scene makes it's own shadows within the foliage. Be careful because the amount of sun and shadow can be confusing.
If metering a tree, aim your meter such that you read off half sun and half shadow on the tree trunk, then if need be, move around the tree to your chosen photo spot to capture the image. On a rough barked tree such as a pine tree, make sure that the texture of the bark on the sunny part has not created half shadow.
If metering a building, meter off a corner so you get one wall in the sun and the adjacent wall in the building's own shadow. Alternatively, meter half the sunlit building and half the shadow on the ground.
When photographing the landscape I always take my own shadow with me. Yes, as long as the sun is shining my shadow will be there with me. I crouch down and meter off the ground and point the meter so half of it reads my shadow and the other half reads the sunny area. That's my reading till the light changes. If I have any doubts about the average reading, I take a reading from the shadow area and another from the sunny area, then see if my average light reading is in the middle.
Metering Indoors
When photographing indoors by window light, be sure to meter for the average of the subtle difference between light and shadow. This difused, directional light, according to my view of the world, is the most attractive and useful light for photography. Although the level is low, the quality is high. Strive to meter it acurately.
Laurie McArthur is a wilderness landscape photographer, based on the New South Wales Far South Coast, Australia.
Laurie's images may be viewed at http://www.southimage.net/
Wholesale disposable cameras are disposable cameras bought in quantity. Bulk... Read More
Night photographs express a special something that cannot be seen... Read More
Here's the challenge. You have to photograph small items for... Read More
There are many different types of photography. You can take... Read More
A few years ago I became interested in digital photography,... Read More
Having an efficient work flow is essential for photographers. In... Read More
Are you buying your first digital camera? Well, you must... Read More
It doesn't matter if your emailing photos of your grandson... Read More
Probably one of the most common problems you will be... Read More
When I promised readers that I was going to do... Read More
Outdoor photographers shoot year round. That includes the hot summer.... Read More
The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will... Read More
Outlined below is a list of genres that call for... Read More
You may have already started to make money from your... Read More
Disposable Cameras (also called single-use cameras) first came on the... Read More
Infrared photography is sometimes placed on the outside edge of... Read More
If you have hopes of becoming a professional photographer, or... Read More
Pre-Production:It's all got to start somewhere, so before you even... Read More
There are really great advantages in digital photography:You can shoot... Read More
Composition is defined as the combining of distinct parts or... Read More
Dots Per Inch is a useful measure of relative resolution.... Read More
Panasonic is a world-renowned consumer electronics company today. Its digital... Read More
Digital Imaging is a process where an electronic photograph, scanned... Read More
Last month we bought the Canon Powershot A80 online for... Read More
There is a wide world of photography. It touches each... Read More
As you might imagine the paradigm shift from traditional film-based... Read More
There are many different types of photography. You can take... Read More
Underwater photography's is primarily focused towards entertaining and informing the... Read More
We all love our animals. They do such funny, adorable,... Read More
There is one simple technique any body can do to... Read More
By now I'm sure you've used Either a digital or... Read More
So, you have taken lots of pictures with your new... Read More
Your wedding day is without a doubt one of the... Read More
Candid photography is photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than... Read More
Started in a single-room by three Japanese men in the... Read More
Get a good face shot: Use Higher quality cameras at... Read More
Are you buying your first digital camera? Well, you must... Read More
Early cameras of the 16th and 17th century were able... Read More
Even though Nikon entered the camera world by 1948, today... Read More
Disposable wedding cameras (also called single-use cameras) will never replace... Read More
It's hard to find sometimes but it's making a resurgence,... Read More
HP has started making digital cameras only recently. However, the... Read More
When I promised readers that I was going to do... Read More
Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills... Read More
Composition is defined as the combining of distinct parts or... Read More
With such a fantastic device as the digital camera for... Read More
What Is... Exposure BracketingExposure bracketing is a simple technique professional... Read More
When should you use hyperfocal focusing? Well, sometimes when shooting... Read More
One technology that hasn't kept up with the rapid pace... Read More
The digital camera is not meant only for capturing images... Read More
Photography |