RE: [Leica] Incident Metering - resources needed

[Paul Chefurka <Paul_Chefurka@pmc-sierra.com>]

I've always used method b - it rarely fails.  Method a. seems clearly
incorrect - an incident meter is intended to measure the light falling on
the subject, so pointing the dome at the subject is likely to give major
overexposure.

Method c. is more problematic.  What the photographer was simulating in that
case was a situation where the camera was directly overhead of the subject.
Another way of putting it is he was metering for the highlights.  If he was
using fill flash this may be exactly what he intended - he would have been
approximating the technique used in the studio with a flat incident disc to
measure lighting ratios.  Without fill flash this technique would probably
result in a stop or so of underexposure.

Paul

>-----Original Message-----
>From: William Gower [mailto:wgower@eco-tec.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 9:34 AM
>To: Leica Users Group
>Subject: [Leica] Incident Metering - resources needed
>
>
>The last few threads on Reflected vs. Incident metering has gotten me 
>thinking:
>
>How do _you_ incident meter ?
>
>I has been only in the last year that I've weaned myself off 
>reflected TTL
>metering. Some success, some failure. It's to be expected, but 
>I am getting
>much, much better. Years back, I picked up a used Gossen 
>LunaSix meter but
>it mostly sat in my bag. I never had the patience or the need 
>to be really
>proficient with it. Now, armed with a meterless Leica, I am, 
>as they say in
>Pennsylvania Dutch country - "Euchred".
>
>My theory: Learning hand-held metering is analogous to 
>learning Chinese -
>it's best to totally immerse oneself.
>
>....or as they say at summer camp - "sink or swim".
>
>I've had the opportunity to observe 3 photographers lately 
>using incident
>metering at 3 weddings this summer (all three using 2-1/4 cameras w/WL
>finders) . All three fellows used incident meters in totally 
>different ways.
>(And seeing as they were working, the last thing they needed 
>was someone
>asking them questions.)
>
>One fellow pointed the meter directly at a. the SUBJECT. One 
>fellow pointed
>the meter with his back to the subject at b. the CAMERA, and one fellow
>stuck his arm up at 90 degrees and metered c. the SKY. All 
>three situations
>were basically identical, group shot, on the lawn, subdue 
>3-4pm sunlight, no
>apparent tricky shadows.
>
>I use method b. But barring all other factors, does it matter 
>how you meter
>in these cases, or does it come down to personal preference? 
>Are there any
>"rules" here ?
>
>Thanks
>
>William
>
>