Bright smiles under the golden hour sun. A shiny tear on the cheek of a happy bride. As photographers, we live for capturing special moments of deep emotion and light.
But perfectly balanced exposures can be frustratingly hard to get. You rush into place just in time for a great sunset, only to see your dreams of a masterpiece photo turn into a dull silhouette.
Sadly, the unpredictability of light can seem to have a mind of its own. But what if you could tap into an insider's view of that mind?
Welcome the light meter - your new partner in exposure excellence!
How Can a Light Meter Benefit My Photography?
Think of a light meter as a translator between lighting conditions and camera settings.
This handy gadget gauges brightness levels in a scene and then reveals exactly which aperture, shutter speed, and ISO combinations are needed to portray details as your eyes perceive them. Light meters measure light so you don’t have to.
But with built-in light meters in cameras, why bother with another device?
Higher-end external light meters excel in precision and flexibility. They unpack rich information on lighting that even the finest embedded camera meters overlook.
Many models measure both ambient and flash, while advanced meters can scan contrast levels spanning up to 22+ stops – a far cry from the 5 – 9 stop range of average built-in meters.
The ability of a handheld light meter to extract such an intricate spectrum of brightness data lets you meticulously craft exposures with far greater acuity.
External meters also excel by meeting exact studio standards right away without needing ongoing custom adjustments. They give a standard reference to compare and match exposures across different cameras. Not to mention they are essential for film photography working in the dark without a digital preview.
So in short, external meters help you:
Systematically calibrate ideal exposures
Conquer contrasty and backlit scenarios
Standardize precision across equipment and teams
Understand nuances of light like an expert
(Understanding how to set up photography lights properly can greatly enhance your ability to capture well-exposed images.)
Types of Light Meter
Light meters come in different types, each with unique abilities. Learning what they're good at helps in mastering metering.
Incident Light Meters
Picture a meter that can see through objects to measure only the brightness hitting them. Incident light meters work this way. They measure the light rays shining on your location rather than bouncing off your subject.
So if you meter an intricate tree and then point at an icy lake, your numbers would be the same. This stops incident meters from being tricked by reflective things. Their readings stay reliable no matter the color, contrast, or what's in the frame.
Cons: Requires being at the subject’s position to meter.
Pros: Provides consistent readings despite subject reflectance. Great for product and portrait photography.
(If you're new to portrait photography, our beginner's guide to portrait photography can help you get started.)
Reflective Light Meters
This is the most common meter type - built into camera bodies. Reflective meters measure light bouncing directly off your subject into the camera. They consider brightness, distance, and surroundings for balanced exposures suiting the whole frame.
Advanced versions break down scenes into grids, judging each section to best suit the overall shot.
Cons: Can be fooled by light or dark subjects. Requires understanding of metering zones.
Pros: Can meter from a distance. Built into most cameras. Good for landscapes.
(Landscape photographers might also be interested in the best photo contests for landscape photographers.)
Spot Meters
These meters trade width for very precise accuracy. Spot meters examine exposures within a very narrow central area as narrow as 1 - 3°. Like a speed gun, their narrow beam analysis finely tunes dialing-in ideal settings suited for specific parts of high-contrast scenes. For example, spotlight the wedding dress while making distracting backgrounds into silhouettes.
This specialized usefulness does require more effort. Expect to take time checking compositions zone by zone, one reading at a time. Repeat as needed to map even tricky lighting situations with skill and tack-sharp precision.
Pros: Micrometer-tight precision, exclusive zone targeting
Cons: Time-intensive, skill testing
Handheld Light meter vs Built-In Light Meter
External handheld meters promise appealing advantages. But built-in meters offer unmatched convenience by embedding robust tools right inside your camera. Looking at their differences shows which device deserves to be the best.
Convenience - Built-in
Built-in light meters travel lighter with no batteries or calibration. Hybrid shooters can frame and meter at the same time. Though limited controls often hide deeper in sub-menus.
Accuracy & Versatility - Handheld
Not constrained by batteries, dedicated handheld meters have expanded sensitivity to record up to 22+ stops of dynamic range with laboratory color precision. Their analog displays elegantly simplify settings without distraction.
Essential for Film
Take heart film fans! Analog handheld meters remain strong in producing reliable exposures that endure over time.
Consistency & Durability
Standalone meters withstand daily professional use with minimal drift. But built-in meters need frequent adjustments to stay accurate as a camera’s sensor changes over its lifespan.
While built-in meters give ample capability for most uses, handheld units surpass them on critical dimensions. Choose what fits your goals, then master your gear for stunning success.
Okay, time to use our meters! Let’s explore best practices for using both handheld meters and built-in camera metering systems.
How to Use Handheld Meters
Follow these steps when activating your handheld meter’s powers:
You’ve got your shiny new handheld light meter locked and loaded. Time to make that baby WORK! Let’s run through using it like a pro:
Power Up and Select Your Mode
Most handheld meters have simple button controls. Refer to that intimidating manual or Google its model with “instructions” if unsure!
Once on, choose your metering mode. Key options:
Incident Metering – Dome or half-dome icon
Reflective Metering – Flat receptor or ° symbol
We covered their specialties earlier. Remember, incident meters are best friends for beginners.
Match ISO Setting to Your Camera/Film
This is crucial! ISO affects how sensitive your imaging sensor or film is to light. A low ISO needs abundant lighting while a high ISO requires less.
Digital cameras – Match meter ISO to your camera’s ISO
Film shooters – Match to film cartridge ISO
Got it set? Let’s continue...
Select Ambient or Flash Metering
We have to tell our meter WHAT kind of light it’s measuring so readings are accurate:
Ambient Metering – For natural or artificial continuous lighting
Flash Metering – For strobe lighting
Some high-end meters blend both automatically with fancy multi-sensor wizardry!
Get Into Position
This is make or break for reliable readings! Metering position varies by mode:
Incident Metering
Stand at subject
Point dome at camera
Ensure the dome isn’t obstructed
Reflective Metering
Position near camera
Aim at subject
Fill the frame with the area you want properly exposed
Get sloppy here and your readings will make scenes darker than a bat cave at midnight. Let’s keep things bright!
Read and Interpret the Results
The moment of truth! Press the measure button and note your readings. Most meters display aperture/shutter speed combos like this:
“f/5.6 at 1/250 sec”
This means f/5.6 aperture + 1/250 sec shutter speed will give accurate exposure. Dial BOTH into camera on Manual Mode.
If aperture or shutter priority modes are preferred, just set the single value + let automation handle the rest.
Easy peasy! But this is just our starting lap. Will give use advanced tips later on...
How to Use Your Camera's Built-In Meter
Most cameras have several integrated metering options with different strengths. Cycle through the choices using dedicated buttons or menu settings. Let's explain the key modes:
Evaluative / Matrix - Top all-around performer suitable for most situations. Smart firmware measures the whole frame to make adjustments for properly balanced exposures in different scenarios. A safe default for general photography.
Center Weighted - As the name says, readings emphasize the middle of images. Assumes your main subject is in the central area. Ideal for portraits and people photos against dark backgrounds.
Spot - Like a laser pointer, Spot Metering examines exposure optimization for very precise spots around 3-5% of the total picture. Typically links to chosen autofocus points shown by focus squares in viewfinders and touch focus areas on rear screens. Ideal precision enhancement for detail-oriented still life and products.
Partial - A compromise between center-weighted and spot metering. It averages around 10-15% of the frame. Useful for environmental portraits that include both foreground subjects and surrounding light.
Learning the options available increases creative control over metering adaptations to different subjects and situations.
Using the built-in meter requires interpreting the data reported and applying adjustments through exposure settings. Most cameras show metering scales, usually visible in viewfinders and screens. Standard scales slide from overexposed on the right to underexposed on the left:
[-3...-2...-1...0...+1...+2...+3]
Here, "0" indicates your camera's recommended "correct" exposure. Positive numbers mean brighter or overexposed, and negatives suggest underexposing compared to the metered baseline.
Exposure values mean:
-1 = 1 Stop Darker
+1 = 1 Stop Brighter
-2 = 2 Stops Darker
+2 = 2 Stops Brighter
And so on in full stop increments as you adjust between extremes. Changing your camera's mode, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO shifts the readings towards properly balanced exposures. With practice, interpreting the meter and applying exposure compensation becomes intuitive.
You’re now ready to harness whichever metering approach fits your goals. So let’s move onto common techniques for acing perfect exposures...
Pro Handheld Metering Techniques for Key Lighting Scenarios
You’ve got meter basics down. Now let’s unleash techniques that transform adequate snaps into visually stunning masterpieces!
But first, a key reminder about exposure...
Perfect Exposures Can Be Imperfect
Remember, recommended meter settings aim for a balanced middle-ground exposure. But creativity means sometimes PURPOSELY underexposing shadows for mood, or overexposing skies for impact.
So let these pro tips guide you, but don’t be afraid to tweak things to match your vision!
Let’s hop in:
Incident Metering for Consistent Exposures
Earlier we crowned incident mode king for beginners thanks to its versatility. But even pros leverage it for perfect results across assignments.
When to Use: Portraits, still life scenes, studio work
How to Master:
Position the dome at the subject
Point towards camera
Take reading
Exposure stability, activated!
Incident readings remain reliable regardless of tonality changes. Photograph black cats or white cats – your exposures will purr!
Reflective Metering Tricks
While primitive compared to incident sorcery, reflective meters can pack a punch when wielded properly!
When to Use: Landscapes, wildlife, distance shots
Skill Unlock: For ultra-accurate daylight readings, point your reflective meter at a neutral mid-grey object. This gives a true baseline exposure reference point!
Why? Because reflective meters assume everything equals a middle grey tone. Meter actual middle grey, and boom – no more guessing games for white snow or black shadows.
Spot Metering for Extreme Contrast
Time to summon our inner hawk and take precision spot meter readings! This is crucial for high-contrast scenes.
When to Use: Backlit subjects, spotlit performers, sunrise/sunsets
How to Master:
Enable spot mode (check camera manual)
Precisely aim center spot at key subject area
For portraits, target skin tones
Tweak exposure to preference
Nail your subject, eclipse distracting background brightness variations, profit!
(Understanding depth of field in photography can further enhance your ability to create striking images in high-contrast situations.)
Metering Mixed Lighting
Multiple lighting temperatures in one scene can give meters headaches. Here’s how to tame the beast:
When to Use: Indoor/outdoor mixes, blending flash with ambient
How to Master:
Assess the direction and intensity of key light
Take an incident or spot reading from that source's coverage area
Dial exposure into the camera
Check the histogram for clipping
Tweak settings until balanced
Sunset and Sunrise Shooting
Golden hour dazzles our eyes but throws camera meters for a loop. Such rapidly shifting lighting drastically alters exposures over minutes!
Fear not, we can harness magic hour:
How to Master:
Meter exposure off the brighter sky at the start
Constantly review histogram for clipping
Every few minutes, meter again
Tweak settings to counter sinking sunlight
With some rhythm, you’ll beautifully capture the day’s full transition to night. Glorious!
Metering for Film Photography
Reveling in analogue glory? I salute you! But ransoming those film shots means meticulous metering. We got your back, grain gang!
How to Master:
Research film ISO speed (your sensor “sensitivity”)
Set the external meter to match the film ISO
Favor slightly UNDERexposing negative film
Meter each shot – light changes require compensation!
Use a handheld incident or spot meter for reliable accuracy
Check processing lab scans for ideal brightness
Repeat until capturing legendary images worthy of museum archives!
Troubleshooting Common Metering Problems
We’ve conquered tons of metering magic. But what happens when things go sideways? Have no fear – let’s troubleshoot metering mishaps!
Inconsistent Readings
Frustrated over varied exposures from back-to-back readings? Check for:
Lighting Changes – Re-meter as brightness shifts
Position/Aim Errors – Precise technique avoids errors
Faulty Meter – Compare against other meters. Consider professional calibration if issues persist
Consistent technique + meter testing avoids chaos!
Over or Underexposed Images
Spending too much time in post rescuing detail from ultra-bright highlights or coaxing shadows from abyssal blacks? Dang!
For OVERexposure issues, try lower ISO, faster shutter speeds, narrower apertures, negative exposure compensation
For UNDERexposure problems, try raising ISO, slowing the shutter speed, opening the aperture wider, and positive exposure compensation
If problems started after adding filters or modifiers, make SURE to meter/test WITH all equipment in place.
And remember, sometimes over or underexposure is intentional artistry! But if chasing accuracy, this is your fix.
Metering Errors in Challenging Light
Even advanced meters stumble in tricky lighting scenarios. Here’s how to steady your shots:
Low/Unbalanced Lighting – Bump ISO higher, widen aperture, slow shutter speed
Super Bright Scenes – Lower ISO, speed up shutter, tighten aperture
Extreme Contrasts – HDR bracketing, grads, reflectors, or selectively meter separate zones
When conditions get wild, expect to work hard for stunning images!
Key Takeaways
Let’s reflect back on key bits:
External light meters are WHERE IT'S AT for reliable exposures – invest in one!
Incident meters are extremely versatile for beginner to pro
In-camera meters handle most situations but stumble with extremes
Chimp that histogram to check clipping of shadows/highlights
Over and underexposure can be artistic choices – trust your vision
Remember, metering is a skill that improves with practice. The more you use your light meter and experiment with different lighting scenarios, the better you'll become at predicting and controlling exposure.
Putting Your Skills to the Test
Enter a photography contest. This can be an excellent way to challenge yourself and gain recognition for your work.
Contests provide a platform to compare your skills with peers, receive valuable feedback, and potentially win prizes or exposure for your photography.
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