[ueharak]

I tend to think about Ansel Adams when I see spot metering and landscape photography being used together; particularly in BLACK & WHITE landscape photography. If you are familiar with his Zone system, then that would be a case where spot metering would come in handy. If there is a part of the scene that you would like to appear middle grey or 'Zone V' in the final image, then use your spot meter on that area, and the other parts of the scene will fall into their corresponding zones (shadows will fall around Zones II or III, highlights will fall around Zones VIII or IX). Or, if you would like that area to appear darker at say Zone III, then you would meter that same area, then set your camera exposure two stops down, since Zone III is two stops less than Zone V. Seems simple enough. One thing to keep in mind is a concept Adams called 'pre-visualization', or being able to see the final image before the shot is even taken. It requires a keen eye - one that is developed through lots of practice.

I am by no means an expert on the Zone system or Adams' techniques, but I am familiar with the general concept and have employed its use in my own work. That said, if you are looking to become very deliberate about your B&W landscape photos, then the use of a spot meter coupled with the Zone system can be a useful tool.