Metering? Someone told me to do this?

12 years 7 months ago #150197 by knit4u
At the beginning of the shoot meter once. Take your subject and fill your frame their skin. Meter off this. For Caucasians you meter one stop above the '0'.
Your meter will change all the time. It will read your background and your foreground and try to find a happy medium. So if you background is pure white its going to scream over exposed when your background doesn't matter and you will end up underexposing your subject.

I am wondering if this is a good technique to use? I seem to have a problem with there being different skin tones in the same person, same session, same location.


,
12 years 7 months ago #150200 by Brushet Pics
Which of the 3 metering modes are you using?


,
12 years 7 months ago #150202 by knit4u

Brushet Pics wrote: Which of the 3 metering modes are you using?


I normally use center weighted.


,
12 years 7 months ago #150204 by Brushet Pics
Well, the method described is an attempt to equalize all exposures made during a session. A similar method is to take an incident light meter reading, which will help you "peg the high tones" and will allow the shadows to fall where they may...

Using the described method will eliminate shot-to-shot variations on sequentially-made photos, which can actually be desirable...many times it is best to get the highlight exposure "nailed" and then disregard the meter's variations caused by large expanses of background which is relatively unimportant.

The metering method does work splendidly is when photographing a person in front of a dark background, like a hedge or treeline. A person standing in front of dark trees or hedges when using centertweighted will often require an exposure that is around 1 and 2/3 f/stops darker than what the light meter indicates, to avoid over-exposing the person.

So, yes, the method you asks about is a good method.


,
12 years 7 months ago #150208 by knit4u
Thanks. I just never heard such a thing, so I thought I would ask others. I am learning so much from this forum. :thumbsup:


,
12 years 7 months ago #150561 by Henry Peach
These days I just look at the histogram as it tells me much more about the exposure than a single meter reading does, but back when I shot film I used a similar technique. I compared my palm to a gray card, and found it was approximately 1 stop brighter than the gray card. When I was on the scene I would meter my palm in the same light as the subject, and set the exposure to get 1 stop over middle gray. This kept me from having to carry a gray card around. I also compared my camera bag (or jacket or anything else I was likely to have with me) to the gray card so I could use that for metering also. Sometimes it was easier just to set my bag (1.33 stops darker than middle gray) next to the subject, and meter off that.

For me what was important was not making the subject's skin tone 1 stop brighter than middle gray, but rather just to have the equivalent of a gray card to meter.

Depending on your metering mode you may not have to fill the frame. If you set the camera to spot meter you just need to fill the spot.
,
12 years 7 months ago #150652 by KCook
Link to a rather elaborate treatment on settings for skin tones -

laurencekim.com/2011/05/23/spot-metering...ortrait-photography/

Kelly Cook

Canon 50D, Olympus PL2
kellycook.zenfolio.com/

,

817.3K

241K

  • Facebook

    817,251 / Likes

  • Twitter

    241,000 / Followers

  • Google+

    1,620,816 / Followers

Latest Reviews

The Olympus Pen E-P7 is an affordable micro four thirds mirrorless camera with 4K video capabilities, a 20.3MP sensor, and 121 focus points, making it a solid entry-level camera for beginners.

May 13, 2024

The Panasonic G9 II is a 25.2-megapixel micro four thirds camera with numerous features that make it punch out of its weight class, like 779 AF points, 5.8K video, and weather sealing.

May 10, 2024

The Fujifilm XT5 is a 40MP mirrorless camera capable of 6.2K video at 30p. With those specs, it’s an ideal choice for photographers needing a camera to pull double duty for imaging and video.

Apr 25, 2024

The Canon EOS R100 is an entry-level mirrorless camera introduced in 2023. But just because it’s an entry-level camera doesn’t mean it’s a bare-bones camera. Find out why in this review!

Apr 22, 2024

Forum Top Posters

Latest Articles

Upgrade your kit in 2024 with the best intermediate camera on the market! The question is, what camera fits the bill? We’ve got three top options for you to choose from in this buyer’s guide.

May 15, 2024

The best photography jobs right now are a mix of tried-and-true gigs like wedding photography and new jobs highlighting AI’s capabilities, travel, and videography.

May 15, 2024

The Olympus Pen E-P7 is an affordable micro four thirds mirrorless camera with 4K video capabilities, a 20.3MP sensor, and 121 focus points, making it a solid entry-level camera for beginners.

May 13, 2024

Starting a photography business is one thing; sustaining your business over a long period of time is another. Use the tips in this professional photography guide to build something with longevity!

May 13, 2024

The Panasonic G9 II is a 25.2-megapixel micro four thirds camera with numerous features that make it punch out of its weight class, like 779 AF points, 5.8K video, and weather sealing.

May 10, 2024

Cinematic photography is an interesting genre that combines photographic and videographic skills along with effective storytelling techniques. The result? Highly impactful images!

May 09, 2024

Newborn photography requires skill, the right gear, and a lot of patience. This beginner’s guide discusses critical topics that will help you be more prepared for before, during, and after the shoot.

May 08, 2024

To fill the frame means to expand the footprint of the subject in your shot. Get in close, zoom in, crop the image, or use other techniques to bring the subject to the forefront.

May 06, 2024