Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1999/12/22
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Bernard wrote "As a matter of fact, reflected light metering can and will be *much* more relevant than incident light values. Just think about high key, low key and anything else in which you have to make a real choice or otherwise force events. Who cares how much light hits your object. You need to know the range of light your object(s) are returning to you, so you can determine what parts you want on the linear part of the film-curve, and what parts you choose to live without. This goes for any premeditated shot of anything at all. It's reflected metering that give you real spot-on information. Incident metering is only nice for very average subject and for when you're in an unimaginative mood." I can not argue with more experienced guys but would like to make a few points. 1) incident measurement measures the light impinged on the subject. Knowledge of the actual reflectance is not necessary to get a correct exposure. It is still possible to manipulate the exposure to emphasise as one wishes typically if the scene contrast exceeds that of the film in use. 2) Basic physical laws mean that an incident meter will give a correct exposure (manipulate to emphasise as required etc). A relected meter will in principle not, unless either the experience of the photographer, or the accuracy of the matrix metering algoritm intervenes. 3) The best photographers I know well use incident measurement FWIW, this is not to denigrate those that don't, just a comment on the, probably atypical, pros I know. Few use autofocus very much either! 4) IMHO because cameras now have meters built in reflected light measurement is so prevalent that many photographers today either never knew (younger ones!) or have forgotten incident light techniques. 5) OTOH I do not normally practice what I preach here. I am an amateur who has been taking photographs for nearly 40 years now, starting with entirely guessed exposure and I have sufficient experience to use my M6 meter and manipulate according to prevailing conditions. But if I am being very serious I always use incident measurement. My photographs have many shortcomings but poor exposure is not normally one of them! Hope I make some sense Frank