I agree with Shel again! :-) I'm a big fan of spot metering, and I use
my old analog Pentax Spotmeter extensively, particularly when I have to
get something right. Most often I'll take a reading on the darkest
shadow area that I want to record, then stop down 2 stops from that
exposure. That puts the shadow area at zone 3, which assures some detail
will record. Or how about a sunset. Find the area of the sky that you
want to have value comparable to 18% gray and take a meter reading at
that point. That's zone 5, which will give you a nice orange ball if
you're shooting right into the heart of old sol.
Paul Stenquist
Shel Belinkoff wrote:
>
> Len,
>
> you make it sound as though using a spotmeter is some sort of
> protracted and complicated experience. And it's not just for the zone
> system. Nothing can be further from the truth. I use mine for street
> shooting, as well as for other subjects. I take a quick reading off a
> middle grey tone, or, any other tone, opening up or stopping down as
> appropriate, and that's it. I put the meter away and go on
> photographing. Since the light generally doesn't change while doing a
> series of photographs, there's no need to meter further.
>
> What is important, just as with an incident meter, is to understand
> the range of light, which is learned through experience. If the scene
> has a particularly wide contrast range, the spotmeter allows for a
> quick sweep of the scene, rapidly determining the highlights and
> deepest shadows, and in a brief moment one can determine a precise
> exposure and decide just what will be left to go black, where the
> highlights will be, and, if one wants to get really creative,
> determine the developing time. An incident meter is great for average
> scenes, but by itself will not always provide the photographer with
> the complete story.
>
> Len Paris wrote:
>
> > A spot meter, especially one that has been modified to respond
> > to colors correctly, is a valuable tool for folks that shoot
> > using the zone system. It's wonderful when you have time to do
> > that kind of deliberate, painstaking photography. When you are
> > trying to capture fleeting moments, incident readings are about
> > as much as I have time for. Sometimes, I have only the Sunny 16
> > rule and the filter factor to work with, along with the
> > experience of years of shooting that gives an instinct of when
> > to open up or close down a stop or so.
>
> --
> Shel Belinkoff
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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