Hi Tom,
In my example, I could have used an incident meter if the shadow area was
within reach or extended to where the camera was positioned. However, a wide
range of values might have moved me to pull out a spotmeter in any case. In
general, where scenes include a wide range of highlight and shadow, I like to
use the spotmeter to see where different parts of the scene might fall, and
what I might miss if I shoot an exposure right in the middle.
Like I said before, I've worked with DPs who use incident meters almost
exclusively as well as those who use spots almost exclusively. In terms of the
car shooters, I've noticed that the outdoor or location shooters are more
likely to use incident meters because the lighting is more consistent, while
the studio guys shooting under the big Fisher light boxes will tend to use
spots because they have to deal with extreme highlights. But as you said, they
may use both. Again, I agree that it is good to get a first reading with an
incident meter, then check your highlights and shadows with the spotmeter. I
enjoy using meters and thinking about what might be an optimum exposure for a
given photograph. And I enjoy discussing it as well (although it seems to
irritate some members.) I guess one could say that the more you meter and the
more you think, the better your exposures will be. Of course, the thinking part
is the most important step in the process. But you know that.
Paul
Tom Rittenhouse wrote:
> And just to be contrary you could have used your incident meter and openned
> up two stops.
>
> Paul, you are the one who said motion picture people use both spotmeters and
> meters. In my experience they usually use an incident meter to set exposure,
> and a spot meter to check reflectance. Then if the relectance of something
> is out of range they adjust the lighting on it. I have never even heard of
> motion picture people using a spotmeter to set basic exposure. Your
> comments?
>
> Ciao,
> graywolf
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Paul Stenquist <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >
> > It can. And there are cases, where a direct incidence meter reading does
> not
> > give the best possible exposure. I've shot subjects where it was important
> that
> > the shadow detail be recorded, but the scene included both full sun and
> shadow.
> > I knew I wanted the shadow area to fall at zone 3, so I aimed my spotmeter
> at
> > the shadow area, took a reading, and underexposed two stops from that
> reading.
> > That places the shadows at zone 3. An incidence meter reading would have
> been
> > in full sun from camera position, and would have placed the shadows at
> zone 2
> > or lower.
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