Why
do we need a handheld incident/flash meter?
(Just look at the images
below for some great examples) Also, don't miss THIS
for more info on this important subject. |
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| The
benefits of using light metering: |
Our
assignment: A china manufacturing company
has hired us to photograph their newest line of dishes for their
catalogue and web site. They're offering this new design in three
different colors: black, white, and gray (see
the pictures below for a great comparison of in-camera metering
versus handheld metering - and you'll never go back to your camera's
meter again).
They have given us a pure
white plate, a pure black plate, and a gray plate to photograph
for them. We used the meter built into our camera for our exposure
settings, and we ended up with the three photos in the "Reflected
Metering" column (on the right, below). Aargghhh! Our client
was not happy with our images. Then, after reviewing the
wonderful and brilliant information that Richard at Photographer's
SupplyStation posted for us on his web site - for free, no less
;-), we ran out and bought a handheld incident meter, and then
used the meter to determine our camera settings. Voila! Magnificient
and ACCURATE images! Notice, also, the ugly, washed-out colors
(in the fruit on the plates) we get with reflected metering,
and compare it with the faithful and accurate colors we get when
we use a handheld meter. |
| Incident
Metering |
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Reflected
Metering |
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Because incident metering reads the intensity
of light falling upon the subject, it provides readings
that will create accurate and consistent rendition of
the subject's tonality, color and contrasts regardless of
reflectance, background color or brightness or subject textures.
Subjects that appear lighter than middle gray to your eye will
appear lighter in the finished image. Subjects that are darker
than middle gray will appear darker. Colors will be rendered
accurately and highlight and shadow areas will fall naturally
into place. Neat, huh?
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First, be aware
that all meters built in to all cameras are reflection
meters! Because reflected metering reads the intensity of
light reflecting off of the subject, they are easily fooled
by variances in tonality, color, contrast, background brightness,
surface textures and shape. What
you see is often not at all what you get. Reflected meters
do a good job of reading the amount of light bouncing back
from a subject, but the trouble is they don t take into account
any other factors in the scene. They are merciless in recording
all things as a medium tone.
Reflected measurements of any single tone area, for instance,
will result in a neutral gray rendition of that object. Subjects
(like a white cat) that appear lighter than gray will reflect
excess light and cause them to record darker than they appear.
Subjects (like a black cat) that are darker than gray will reflect
less light and result in an exposure that renders it lighter
t in other words, a gray cat instead of a black one. |
| Results when using a handheld meter for exposure
settings |
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Results
when using a camera's built-in meter for exposure settings |
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White Plate
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Gray Plate
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Black Plate
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So, do you see now why I emphatically
recommend acquiring a decent flash/ambient meter to all my beloved
customers? Photography isn't so terribly difficult, but you need
a basic understanding of just a few concepts on how to get great
results - and that's why I go to such great lengths to explain
things on my web site and on eBay - to help you understand it.
ALL meters built-into cameras are set to return settings keyed
to18% gray. Why? Read this.
I want you to get fabulous images - not just to sell you
stuff. If that makes me weird or different, then so be it. Also,
I dont sell meters, so I can't be trying to "sell"
you anything. All I'm trying to do is to help you make the best
pictures and/or videos you possibly can. |
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