essential skills: photographic lighting
Summary of exposure compensation Hand-held light meters A hand-held reflected light meter reading measures the level of light reflected from the subject. The resulting exposure is an average between the light and dark tones present. When light and dark tones are of equal distribution this average reading is suitable for exposure. When light or dark tones dominate the photographer must either take a reflected meter reading of a known mid-tone and compensate accordingly, or take an incident reading of the light falling on the subject.
TTL meters The ‘through-the-lens’ (TTL) light meter measures the level of reflected light from the subject. The TTL meter does not measure the level of illumination (ambient light). The resulting exposure is an average between the light and dark tones present. When light and dark tones are of equal distribution within the frame this average light reading is suitable for exposing the subject. When light or dark tones dominate the photographer must either meter a known midtone or compensate the exposure accordingly.
Summary of exposure compensation Dominant light tones Dominant dark tones
increase exposure decrease exposure
Extreme contrast Color film/image sensor Increase highlight detail Increase shadow detail
decrease exposure increase exposure
Black and white negative SBR exceeding 128:1
increase exposure and reduce development time
Activity 3 Place a small subject of dominant mid-tones one metre from a bright white background. Light with a diffuse light source (floodlight) and take a reflected light reading from the camera position. Next take a reflected light reading of the subject only. Test your judgement by determining correct exposure and exposing one frame only.
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