A few threads recently indicate there is a group that like using incident meters. I thought it would be nice to have a thread for sharing info on incident technique and calibration.
To start off the thread, here is a list of the methods I have used in the past (in no particular order). I'm sure everyone has their favorites, so please post yours.
These methods are somewhat based on the following "incident theory" for B&W NEGATIVE exposure readings that I follow. Your methods may be different, so lets hear it.
- 1) Gray card and spot meter calibrated alrady to 0.1 above film base. Meter gray card with spot meter. Set to zone v. Place Incident meter on gray card and match settings.
- 2) "4 stops below" method. Take incident reading and subtract 4 stops. Put a gray card in the same light and photograph it. If the negative density is 0.1 the meter was set correctly, repeat and adjust as needed.
- 3) "Modified Jones, 'panel of observers'" method. Take an incident reading using your favorite method (shadow, highlight, combined, direct toward lens, etc) and bracket at various ISO/ASA settings on the meter.
Print the pictures, show them to your friends with them sleecting the best ones. Work backward to find the fastest meter ISO/ASA settngs that gave excellent prints.- 4) "Sunny 16" Face dome at sun. Adjust meter to read f16 with shutter speed denominator same as ISO/ASA
- 5) "Transparancy method" Bracket some transparency film. Select the best exposed slide and work back to the ISO/ASA
- a) usuall objects reflect light over a 5 or 6 stop range represented by white paint and black paint (5 stops)
- b) outdoor representaional photography can involve objects lit by the sun, the sky or both.
- c) a flat object lit by the sun or sky alone can be properly exposed when the indicent meter is set to provide shadow detail 2 to 3 stops below middle gray (some meters may come factroy set like this)(copywork)
- d) an outdoor representaional scene with objects lit by the sun and the sky can be exposed correctly by placing the meter (calibrated like "c" above) in the shadow
- e) a meter calibrated to give shadow detail 4 or 5 stops below middle gray can be used in 2 ways. Average a shadow and sunlight reading or place the dome so that sun hits part of it, similar to the sun hitting the subject matter and take a single reading.
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