[Leica] Desert sand - sunny 16?

[henningw at archiphoto.com (Henning Wulff)]

>Ok - hit a rough patch in Egypt today: at Saqqara hit subjects that 
>were low contrast and high brightness (hazy blue sky against sand 
>and limestone pyramids).
>
>Shooting Tri-X and a yellow cut filter, should I trust the meter 
>(which is reading for what looks a stop underexposed - 1/700 and 
>f/16) and N+1 it to enhance the highlight contrast - or believe that 
>the sand is so bright?  Under normal conditions with a clear blue 
>sky and grey subjects, I have not needed to apply a filter factor 
>given my developing time (on the heavy side of N development).
>
>But here, I don't have the film to bracket very much, and I am a 
>little worried about shouldering.  Best guess, Mr. Spock?  Hopefully 
>Luxor will have clearer skies...
>
>Dante


It's bright. Trust the meter, but consider that you want the sand 
fairly light. When we were there a couple of years ago, it was the 
same. You should probably be shooting with the sunny 22 rule.

Luxor will be better. And hotter :-).

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    *            Henning J. Wulff
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