Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/05/11
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>> http://www.streetphoto.net/paw2002/paw2wk19.html<<<< Eric wrote: >>> I'd much rather have a reflective meter in this type of situation than an > incident one. An incident one tells you nothing about the exposure you need > for the shadows. Meter a shadow that you want to have some detail and then > close down 2-3 stops. As long as you're shooting B&W negatives, you can > control highlights while developing. Seems easy enough. Or, even the > reverse. Read off somebody's face, open up a stop, and let the shadows and > everything else fall wherever. In either case, just make one reading and > then keep shooting. > > Am I missing something?<<<< Hi Eric, In answer to your question: > Am I missing something?<< I suppose, yes. ;-) because: A/ Steve is in a place where he need not draw any more attention to himself by taking readings in the shadows, besides the shadows really don't matter as they'll fall into the correct level with the incident reading. Ask yourself, "are there any super details in the shadows required to make this a better picture?" Surely the answer is "No." Would they make it a better picture fiddling with the exposure for the shadows? Surely "no." And the crucial question, "Would the couple still be there by the time one fusses about getting readings in the shadows and the highlights? Trust me that one has to be a, "quite possibly NO!" It wouldn't be a consideration of exposure here because it's the over all light for the main subject, the couple, the shadows will be there anyway and why start screwing around with techie "expose for the shadows develop for the highlights etc." It's not a rock and fern, peeling paint picture. Besides it's on a 36 exp. 35mm roll where the question has to be, "what happens to the other 35 negatives once you start playing.... "expose for the shadows...develop for the highlights?" It's a "life moment" that an incident reading will give the correct overall reading for an exposure to capture the moment. Which we all know Steve does this kind of thing very well, using an incident meter with a no fuss no - muss picture taking method. >>Seems easy enough. Or, even the reverse. Read off somebody's face, open up a >stop, and let the shadows and everything else fall wherever. In either case, just make >one reading and then keep shooting.>>> Surely you're not suggesting he walk over and hold a meter up at the face of the patrons? If so, he may find himself "deep in the shadows" if he picks the wrong guy. Or gal! He can get a solid reading where he's sitting without creating any embarrassment with the incident meter if the light is roughly the same level where he's sitting. Which in many of these cases it is, or so close the difference will be negligible. Bottom line? It's always...... "KISS" Keep it simple sweet heart!" ;-) and make life as easy as you can while being a photojournalist. :-) I trust this answers your question," > Am I missing something? <<<< :-) ted Ted Grant Photography Limited www.islandnet.com/~tedgrant - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html