Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1998/04/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]At 09:13 PM 4/6/98 -0800, you wrote: >Sorry, Eric, doesn't work. If I meter manually or program or whatever >with reflected light, the exposures are all over the map, though usually So let the meter go all over the map. The exposure in the camera doesn't change until you change it. Of course, if all one does it match needles, diodes, or whatever, they're not doing it right. They have to take a meter reading, and then in Zone System fashion make an adjustment based on experience. Like has been said here. Meter off the palm and open up one stop. If you don't adjust, then don't bother. But it works just fine when you know what you're doing. >dark. Like shooting a snow scene on reflected without compensation. The key here is "with compensation." With experience, it's easy. >close. In my normal photographers paranoia, I do check constantly the >differences between incident and reflected and always fight with myself A major labor leader (Lane Kirkland?) in the 50s was followed by a bunch of photographers (with speed graphics) who were saying "Just one more, please, just one more." He said, "I bet if you guys pulled back your jackets, I'd see a belt and suspenders. You photographers are the most insecure people I know!" Sure we are, we can't afford to miss. So we bracket and we do all sorts of things, but nothing beats experience and an understanding of the process of sensitometry, Zone system or whatever one wants to call it. The metering technique is less important than having something that works with the minimum of fuss. >Truth. Like most technical things, photography takes a bit of art and a >bit of craftsmanship and a bit of engineering. I use camera meter, and >both the reflected and incident modes of my hand meters, and often even >polaroid, and still I don't sleep well 'til I see the film (and >sometimes don't sleep well AFTER I've seen the film) :) Boy, can I relate to that! :-) I often put the film in the processor as I enter the building before I put my cameras down on my desk, or take my jacket and hat off. And I don't let the features staff eat the food until the film is dry and approved. ========== Eric Welch St. Joseph, MO http://www.ponyexpress.net/~ewelch We can never be born enough. We are human beings; for whom birth is a supremely welcome mystery that happens only and whenever we are faithful to ourselves. - - e. e. cummings