Using Light Meter Settings

[teepee12]

I was surprised to discover how many people who I thought knew a lot more than I do pretty much never change the kind of metering they use, but leave it on the general "ambient light" setting all the time.

If there is one single setting that I am constantly fiddling with, it's the light meter because how you read the light has a huge impact on how your picture turns out. You can leave a lot of setting to the automatic functions of your camera and these days, with the high level of sophistication of most cameras, you'll get away with it ... but if you don't read the light right, the picture won't look the way you want it to.

Being as I'm no expert (really, really NOT an expert!), I'd love to here from a lot more people about how they use metering to get the effects they want. Long time ago, I wouldn't even use in-camera metering but stuck with my beloved Weston Master 5 and I still miss it. I could take multiple reading from the narrowest spot reading to the broadest ambient reading and then calculate exactly how to shoot to get what I wanted. It is much harder, ironically, using the internal meter of the digital camera, or so I think. It's one of those 'buried" settings, so you can't change it easily on the fly.

Anyone want to start a dialogue on this subject?

[zona5101]

The meter is just a tool. Whether you're using an external meter or the meter in your camera, you need to understand what it is reading and how that reading is interpreting the lighting so you can then decide if it is appropriate for the shot. Modern electronics and computer algorithms read multiple sections of the scene and apply weighting and even have the color influence the results...but all of that can't replace your brain.

[teepee12]

Originally Posted by zona5101

The meter is just a tool. Whether you're using an external meter or the meter in your camera, you need to understand what it is reading and how that reading is interpreting the lighting so you can then decide if it is appropriate for the shot. Modern electronics and computer algorithms read multiple sections of the scene and apply weighting and even have the color influence the results...but all of that can't replace your brain.

No need to treat me like an idiot. I can write whole sentences and sometimes, even without a typo! It must be those advanced degrees at work ...

I think you missed the point. Yes, there are readings the camera takes. Uh huh. The question is HOW TO USE THEM TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE. Not that they exist. Not only do I know that, but EVERYONE knows that.

For example, my camera's spot metering has 3 "flavours" (as opposed to center-weighted or ambient) and each produces a different result. It's not just getting a nice clear shot. I think most of us can manage that. Even on fully automatic using a point and shoot. My invitation to have a dialogue was about how to make the best use of various metering options.

Reading light affects everything in photography. If no one is interested, I'm sure a few people have written books about this. Light is basic -- maybe THE single MOST basic issue in taking pictures. Not, I would have thought, something to just dismiss as no big deal. If LIGHT isn't a big deal, what is?

[zona5101]

???
ahhh, i wasn't treating you like ...anything. I was making the point that no matter the technology, no matter the method or technique, your meter reading still needs to be evaluated by your brain. Practical application of my post is "don't merely rely on your meter" which is good, usable advice as a fair percentage of "problems" people have with their exposure is simply letting their cameras choose the exposure (even in manual modes).
A dialogue about "how to make the best use of various metering options" is pointless if you don't understand what the meter is telling you...spot, center-weighted or average matters very little if you don't do some interpretation of the results.

Reading light is everything, and I would agree the single most important element in photography. Choosing your desired metering program is superficial to that.

[ErikUngerPhotography]

Zona is right. The meter is a good way to judge if a shot is going to be exposed properly, but not necessarily something to go by entirely. Outside of a studio, you will not find any one situation with the exact same lightning. If you are in a situation when you have the ability to adjust settings you have the ability to use the exposure dial.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by teepee12

No need to treat me like an idiot. I can write whole sentences and sometimes, even without a typo! It must be those advanced degrees at work ...

I think you missed the point. Yes, there are readings the camera takes. Uh huh. The question is HOW TO USE THEM TO THE BEST ADVANTAGE. Not that they exist. Not only do I know that, but EVERYONE knows that.

For example, my camera's spot metering has 3 "flavours" (as opposed to center-weighted or ambient) and each produces a different result. It's not just getting a nice clear shot. I think most of us can manage that. Even on fully automatic using a point and shoot. My invitation to have a dialog was about how to make the best use of various metering options.

Reading light affects everything in photography. If no one is interested, I'm sure a few people have written books about this. Light is basic -- maybe THE single MOST basic issue in taking pictures. Not, I would have thought, something to just dismiss as no big deal. If LIGHT isn't a big deal, what is?

Seems like you already have all the answers and you're not really interested in having a dialogue about your subject. And I assure you with that attitude you will not get a lot of co-operation here on DPS.

[teepee12]

Originally Posted by ErikUngerPhotography

Zona is right. The meter is a good way to judge if a shot is going to be exposed properly, but not necessarily something to go by entirely. Outside of a studio, you will not find any one situation with the exact same lightning. If you are in a situation when you have the ability to adjust settings you have the ability to use the exposure dial.

No two situation are identical, but you can certainly group things into similar categories ... we do it all the time on this forum. Hell, what are the SCENE setting on cameras except an attempt to automatically do exactly this? Come ON! There are LOTS of general guidelines in our world, Not only do we use them constantly, but we swap this kind of data all the time to learn "tricks of the trade" and special techniques. What makes this different? What's the problem?

I know for example if I shoot from a dark woods toward a bright pond or waterfall, I use a spot or centre weighted reading to get the woods to silhouette the bright area. If I use an ambient reading, it will look like crap. Another simple example: I like to shoot backlit, for which spot metering works, but ambient readings will deceive you and ruin the picture. Basic for me, but not necessarily for everyone.

All I am suggesting is that it might be helpful to articulate some of the things we do, often without thinking much about them because we do them so often and/or have done them for so long that we no longer think about them. Am I the only one old enough to remember "the paper light meter" ... the insert that came in every box of Kodak film ... because you oops left the light meter home ... and amazingly, THAT worked too (speaking of broad guidelines)! In fact,, as I recall, the paper meter sometimes worked rather better than the Weston. Those Kodak folks were not dummies.

There is a ton of information we could share ... tricks we've picked up, knowledge gained through years in the field and on the street. Of course you have to use intelligence and judgment in applying guidelines ... did I imply otherwise?

Nor would I suggest that anyone not use his or her brain as the final arbiter for information ... but for heaven's sakes ... do NOT tell me that there are no meaningful guidelines for when one uses this kind of metering as opposed to THAT kind of metering. That's ridiculous.

[teepee12]

Originally Posted by autofocus

Seems like you already have all the answers and you're not really interested in having a dialogue about your subject. And I assure you with that attitude you will not get a lot of co-operation here on DPS.

I tried. I know that I don't know everything. I know that light is important. I know that you probably know more than I do. You probably know more than even you know that you know. I thought we might share. I guess not. Okay. I don't understand it, but okay.

[ErikUngerPhotography]

I don't even really use the meter anymore. Like I said, the meter is nice to get a basic idea, but after learning how the camera works, I have a very good idea of what settings to use just by looking at the scene.

When I did use the meter, I would use spot. I would meter off of what I knew would give a good reading, shoot, and then adjust the exposure compensation/settings as needed.

I'm not one to give a lot of advice on metering modes. It's one of those things that you need to experiment with and see what works for you. Then build your way to relying less and less on it and only use it as a quick guide. Then again, I only shoot in manual and the only thing the meter does is tell me what the camera thinks of the exposure.

[zona5101]

Originally Posted by teepee12

... do NOT tell me that there are no meaningful guidelines for when one uses this kind of metering as opposed to THAT kind of metering. That's ridiculous.

Meaningful Guidelines:
Use spot metering when you want to meter a smaller area so that the overall brightness or darkness doesn't influence your desired area within the frame.
Use center weighted metering when you want an average.
Use a matrix or zone metering when you want the camera to evaluate the scene and apply algorithms to calculate a weighted average.