If taking a Caucasian skin portrait photograph with natural light in a room where the light is more or less even, would you expose the face for Zone VI using a spot meter or would you just take an incident reading close to face
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If taking a Caucasian skin portrait photograph with natural light in a room where the light is more or less even, would you expose the face for Zone VI using a spot meter or would you just take an incident reading close to face
An incident meter with a hemisphere cone -- NOT a flat incident reader -- pointed at the camera.
I use spot meter and expose to zone vi.
I use an incident meter, but will measure in several different directions to figure out and allow for light vs shadow. It probably wouldn't occur to me to take a picture in a place where the light was genuinely 100% flat.
Why don't you try it both ways and tell your results!
Both techniques will get good results if you know what you are doing. For me, it would depend on what kind of meter I had :)
If you have both, then do what's easiest. Incident metering needs a lot of walking back and forth if you need more than a couple of readings. That said, you may be able to compare lighting ratios a lot easier with the incident meter. It's more direct that way.
Best,
Doremus
It is a matter of personal preference. I prefer spot metering from the camera point of view, because it delivers a very exact reading of the fill vs key illumination ratio. In portraiture you have several illumination control factors, even with available natural light you can "modify" illumination, for example by placing subject closer to a window. One of the important factors is fill vs key illumination ratio, with spot metering you read the light amount that is directed to the camera, as illumination can be directional (like rim light) an accurate reading needs to be taken from the camera point of view.
IMHO best photometer is a DSLR spot meter and preshots.
Of course a Pro with a lot of experience/knowledge about his lightning gear may prefer incident reading, also subject feels more confortable than if you point him with something. Me, I feel more self-confident if I use an spot meter and I check well fill and key light.
Anyway, incident metering is a good practice for being proficient with flashmeters.
Rate your film (B&W or color neg) at half box speed. Expose for the shadow side of the face. Develop for box speed.
Scan the negs or print normally to multi-contrast paper.
Yes, this is "over-exposing" the film. Prepare to be amazed at the contrast control, very long tonal (dynamic) range, grain control and over-all excellent image quality.
Works beautifully with any kind of lighting or subject, but especially for back-lit, high-key subjects.
Rich
Some good tips there, thanks for the suggestions, evry one noted and I will certainly be trying most of them if not all