Henning Serger
Member
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2006
- Messages
- 2,188
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- Multi Format
So, maybe I should have started with this question. How do you chrome shooters set the exposure?
It's extremely simple:
When using 35mm I use one of my Nikons with Matrix Metering. As Craig already said above, that is extremely accurate and has an almost 100% hit rate, especially with my Nikon F6 and its most advanced and sophisticated Matrix Metering.
When using MF I use my Mamiya 645 Pro TL, which has an also very good centre weigthed meter which is very precise (plus spot metering option).
If the scene contrast is very high I am doing an additional spot metering with the in-built spot meter (in my Nikons and the Mamiya), and if the result is that the scene contrast is higher than the max. contrast range of the film, then I am just using one of the several methods to manage the contrast and capture all the detail I want (see my posting above about these very helpful methods).
In landscape photography often a pol-filter is already enough to darken and intensify the sky and reducing the scene contrast by 1-2 stops so that all fits into the contrast range of the film.
If more is needed, I just use gradual ND filters. Problem solved again.
Sometimes I am using a fill-in flash in landscapes for the foregrounds (works up to 20 meters with my flashes).
I am doing quite a lot of portrait and fashion photography outdoors on colour reversal film. As generations of professional photographers have done for decades (reversal film has been the main used film type for advertizing, magazines, catalogs etc.).
If the scene contrast is higher than the max. contrast range of the film, I am just using fill-in flash (often in HSS mode) or reflectors for fill-in light. By that you can manage even very high contrast scenes perfectly.
High scene contrast is not a problem at all, you just have to use the for decades very well proven methods to manage and adjust that contrast.
Period.
It is as simple as that. That is why experienced prof. photographers are using these methods for decades.
Best regards,
Henning