In the past I have used the sunny 16 rule (usually fumbling for an old Kodak box among the lint of my camera bag) with some success. However, when I was a darkroom rat I could usually nail my print exposures to within 90% of final values simply by looking at the projected image on the easel.
Most of my photography in the past few years has been "eyeball" exposure. Very rarely do I have a negative that's significantly underexposed, even more rarely are they significantly overexposed.
With large format and pinhole, I've regained the habit of metering -- in one case because of the expense of sheet film, compared to a frame on a roll, and in the other because reciprocity failure calculations need a better start than "Sunny 16" (in my experience).
If a contact print at arm's length is too small to see, you need a bigger camera. :D
I rarely (if ever) shoot during the hours of the day when "Sunny 16" is applicable. From 30 minutes prior to dusk until 30 minutes after dawn is when I shoot most often - the light is constantly variable and I shoot tranny film.
A meter is essential for me.
Cheers,
Graeme
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks