Incident light exposure

[kodioneill]

Can anyone tell me the accepted method for determining proper exposure (with hand held light meter) shooting into the light? For example sunrise, sunset.

[ic-racer]

Trial and error.

[Ari]

I will point the meter into the light, and depending on the effect sought, I will over- or under-expose by about 1.5 stops, and bracket like hell.
Not sure if that's the accepted method, but I've used it successfully.
Also, you can use a DSLR to gauge what the light is doing if you need a visual preview.

[Mark Barendt]

There is not a standard, you have to define what you want from the shot first.

For example pointing the dome toward the lens will allow you to take a well exposed shot of a person's face with the sunset behind them. The sunset itself will go very bright.

Holding the dome at a 90 to the lens will get you some detail in the face and some in the sunset.

Pointing the dome at the sunset will get you a dark silhouette of the person and probably provide great detail in the sunset.

If you want great detail in both the face and the sunset you will need artificial light on the person, reflected or strobe or ...

[vinny]

You need a spot meter. An incident meter with a dome won't give you accurate readings in this situation.

[rguinter]

You need a spot meter. An incident meter with a dome won't give you accurate readings in this situation.

I agree with Vinny. Can't be done with anything other than a spot meter.

Or as others mentioned, pure trial and error until experienced.

I have done hundreds of sunset/sunrise photos for many years and my method is to measure the sky eV value about 6 sun-diameters adjacent to the sun. That reading (if used for a base exposure) will give a good value for sky colors. Then I bracket in the direction toward greater exposure.

You can also try using a graduated neutral density filter to darken the sky a bit and open up a couple of stops to get better foreground detail.

My best photos tend to come well after the sunset however when the sky-light intensity has dropped off. I especially like shooting when the sky is eV 6 as this tends to be the point where sky-light and city lights balance in intensity.

Cheers.

Bob G.

[Mark Barendt]

I agree with Vinny. Can't be done with anything other than a spot meter.

Really, dang I've been breaking the laws of physics again and regularly for years.

Probably wont work anymore now that you told me.

[vinny]

He's not inquiring about shooting faces. That's what a incident meter with a dome "shaped like a human face" is for. And just cuz it works for you doesn't mean it's the most accurate method. A lot of folks use incident meters because they don't know how to use a spot meter. Using the right tool for the job will produce more consistent results.

Really, dang I've been breaking the laws of physics again and regularly for years.

Probably wont work anymore now that you told me.

[Mark Barendt]

And just cuz it works for you doesn't mean it's the most accurate method. A lot of folks use incident meters because they don't know how to use a spot meter.

A lot of people use incident meters because they are so accurate.

Using the right tool for the job will produce more consistent results.

Any meter needs interpretation and a dose of experience.

[Sirius Glass]

A reflectance meter can be used if a spot meter is not available but the reflectance meter will over compensate. Therefore open the lens one or two stops from the reflectance meter measurement.

Steve