On Mon, May 14, 2012 at 10:08 PM, Mark Roberts <[email protected]> wrote: > > Bruce Walker wrote: > > >Bob and Darren have actually said all that needs to be said in defense > >of using a meter, and nothing more needs to be said, so here I go ... > > > >You're in the studio. There's seamless setup, the model has come out > >of makeup and hair and is raring to go. The studio costs $50 an hour. > >So does the model. The lights are setup: a couple on the background to > >blow it to white, two on the model. > > > >Larry: I'l take a test shot. > >Model: okay. > >L: POP > >L: hang on, I'm checking the histogram. > >L: ... > >L: hmmm. I think that's underexposed. Let me fix that. > >L: POP > >L: hang on, I'm checking the histogram again. > >L: Um. That might be overexposed. Shit, there's a huge spike at the > > right. WTF? > >M: I think my lipstick is smeared. <exits left> > > > >Versus: > > > >Bruce: I'm going to meter the light. > >Model: okay. > >B: POP > >B: f/8 > >B: okay, Shel, I want you to pout. Great! Now smile. Super! ... > > Of course, Bruce, in a studio situation, that only applies to the very > first shot. After that you've got the exposure nailed and you just go > on. I think Bill's example of using the meter to get lighting ratios > is the real advantage of an incident meter here.
Definitely, that's one of the big advantages. But there's more. The histogram is fooled entirely by the scene as it's showing you what's reflecting from it. If the scene is a white dress against a white backdrop, or a largely black business suit against a black backdrop, I wish you good luck histogramming that. The meter OTOH tells you the correct exposure for the light actually hitting the scene. Put your meter under the model's chin, pop your lights, read off the exposure, set it and you are done. It doesn't matter the clothing or skin colour, the textures, the backdrop, nothin'. You may have issues with hotspots in the scene or areas that are too dark, but that's lighting design. You need to add reflectors to get fill into too dark areas or add gobos to solve hotspots, but that doesn't alter the basic exposure. Anyways, this is one of those "you get it or you don't" issues, and can't be resolved to everyone's satisfaction here. I bought a digital flash meter and use it regularly after completely fscking up too many frames to count. I'm a happy camper now because when I work, I design my lighting and I carefully measure to get the results I want. -- -bmw -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net to UNSUBSCRIBE from the PDML, please visit the link directly above and follow the directions.
